Appeal No. 2003-1485
Application No. 09/885,086
We disagree with appellant. Dembiak discloses (column 2,
lines 12-15) that "slippage along the seam may be eliminated and
the effectiveness of the strip as a moisture barrier or shield
enhanced substantially if the seam between the overlapping edges
is sealed" (emphasis ours). Further, Dembiak teaches (column 2,
lines 32-37) that "to improve the corrosion resistance of the
barrier or shield and eliminate the slippage along the
overlapping seam, a special adhesive copolymer . . . may be
applied to both sides of the metallic tape to form a shielding
layer" (emphasis ours). Thus, Dembiak teaches bonding an
overlapping edge to prevent slippage as well as to create a more
effective moisture barrier. The skilled artisan would have
desired the prevention of slippage for the individual shield as
well as for the overall shield without regard for the thickness
of the layers. Further, the bonding of the overlap to prevent
slippage would not require any particular thickness of the layer.
Accordingly, the skilled artisan would have applied Dembiak's
teaching to bond an overlapping edge to Deitz's individual
shield.
Appellant alleges (Brief, page 7) that the examiner used
improper hindsight in combining the two references. We have
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