Appeal No. 2004-1566
Application 09/452,982
Indeed, we determine that the disclosure at col. 5, lines 11-16, and col. 6, lines 27-29,
taken with the disclosure at col. 6, line 30, to col. 7, line 16, would reasonably suggest to one
skilled in the art that the reaction of a copolymer prepared with α,β-unsaturated dicarboxylic
anhydride(s) of the general formula E and/or F, with the polyetheramines of formula H or from
alkanolamines of the formula I would provide the polyetheramine radical “Y” is “NRR3” to form
the bivalent structural unit A in the copolymer. The disclosure at col. 6, line 30, to col. 7,
line 16, teaches that a compound of formula H is the preferred reactant with the copolymer, and
if compounds of the formula I are employed, the reaction product is subjected to oxyalkylation to
form the polyether radical.
We further find that Krull teaches in col. 7, lines 17-26, a variant wherein an
α,β-unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride monomer of the formulae E and/or F is reacted with a
polyetheramine of formula H to provide the polyetheramine radical “Y” is “NRR3” to form a
derivatized monomer that provides the bivalent structural unit A upon copolymerization. Krull
illustrates the variant in Examples 10-13.
Thus, Krull provides specific disclosure of two methods to prepare copolymers
containing bivalent structural unit A wherein radical “Y” is “NRR3.” Therefore, there remains
the determination of the teachings in Krull as to the manner that “[t]he radical X [of structural
unit A] is derived from the reaction products of the dicarboxylic anhydride groups with alcohols
of the formula HO-(C1-C30)-alkyl and/or amines of the formula ENR3R4” (col. 4, lines 38-40) to
form bivalent structural unit A. We find that Krull states that “[s]pecifically, the structural units
A . . . are derived from α,β-unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides of the general formulae E and/or
F” (col. 3, lines 48-65), and in this respect, Krull further teaches the preparation of copolymers
“containing structural units derived from an α,β-unsaturated dicarboxamide” (col. 6, lines 58-62).
Based on this evidence, we find that one skilled in this art would infer from this teaching
that copolymers containing the radical “Y is X” and/or the radical “X” wherein “X” is,” inter
alia, “NR3R4” are prepared from α,β-unsaturated monomers containing such radicals, for indeed,
Krull also shows the same method for preparing α,β-unsaturated monomers containing the
radical “Y” is “NRR3,” as illustrated in Examples 10 and 11, and there is no specific disclosure
in Krull to derivatize a copolymer with a compound having the formula ENR3R4.
- 5 -
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007