Appeal No. 2003-0402
Application No. 09/569,924
CITED PRIOR ART
As evidence of unpatentability, the Examiner relies on the following reference:
Frankenbach et al. (WO ‘594) WO 96/37594 Nov. 28, 1996
The Examiner has rejected claims 1 to 12 as unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
obvious over WO ‘594. (Answer, pp. 4 to 5).
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to fabric softening compositions. According to the
specification, page 1, the fabric softening compositions soften the fabric without adversely
affecting the absorbency of the fabric. Claim 1, which is representative of the claimed
invention, appears below:
1. A fabric softening composition comprising:
i) at least one nonionic fabric softening agent, and
ii) at least one anionic surfactant, and
iii) 0.05 to 4.5% by weight cationic polymer,
wherein particles formed from i), ii) and iii) have a net negative charge and the
composition comprises no more than 1% by weight non-polymeric cationic
surfactant and/or cationic fabric softening compounds.
DISCUSSION
We have carefully reviewed the claims, specification and applied prior art, including
all of the arguments advanced by both the Examiner and Appellants in support of their
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