Appeal No. 2001-0742
Application 09/128,912
(1984). A prior art reference may anticipate when the claim
limitation or limitations not expressly found in that reference
are nonetheless inherent in it. Verdigaal Bros., Inc. v. Union
Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir.),
cert. denied, 484 U.S. 827 (1987). Under the principles of
inherency, the prior art anticipates if it necessarily functions
in accordance with, or includes, the claimed limitations. In re
King, 801 F.2d 1324, 1326, 231 USPQ 136, 138 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
However, underlying arguments based on inherency cannot stand
where there is no supporting teaching in the prior art. In re
Spormann, 363 F.2d 444, 448, 150 USPQ 449, 452 (CCPA 1966).
“Inherent anticipation requires that the missing descriptive
material is ‘necessarily present,’ not merely probably or
possibly present, in the prior art.” Trintec Indus., Inc. v.
Top-U.S.A. Corp., 295 F.3d 1292, 1295, 63 USPQ2d 1597, 1599 (Fed.
Cir. 2002) (citations omitted).
Each of Schwinum, Kolb, Bruschtein and Buchheim
disclose crosslinked latex compositions and films which include
an aromatic vinyl monomer, a conjugated diene monomer and a
component selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated
acid monomer, partial ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid
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