Appeal No. 2003-1251
Application 09/226,128
is fixed to the image receiving member as claimed. We agree
with appellants' views that Diggle's thermoplastic material
would simply melt upon the application of heat and not "cure"
the adhesive material as claimed.
Most telling, however, are the positions set forth in the
reply brief including the definition of thermoplastic materials
from the Condensed Chemical Dictionary. They are defined as a
"high polymer that softens when exposed to heat and returns to
its original condition when cooled to room temperature." Besides
not reciting a thermosetting material as required by independent
claims 1 and 4 on appeal, the properties associated with a
thermoplastic according to the definition do not provide the
claimed curing such that a transfer material is fixed to a image
receiving member as also required by these claims on appeal.
As such, we must reverse the rejection of independent claims
1 and 4 on appeal as well as their respectively rejected
dependent claims according to the examiner's first stated
rejection.
Next, we also reverse the rejection of claims 1-4, 6-8,
10-13 and 15-20 as being anticipated by Hindman.
Whereas independent claims 1 and 4 on appeal require a
thermosetting adhesive, we agree with appellants'
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007