Appeal No. 2005-0127 Page 4
Application No. 10/077,427
We are not persuaded by Appellants’ argument because Hendrix suggests forming the
product using foamed material. As made clear by Chen microcellular foams are a type of foam.
If the weather stripping of Hendrix can be formed from foam, it follows that it can be formed
from microcellular foam.
Moreover, Appellants’ argument is based on an erroneous reading of Hendrix. Hendrix
does not describe heating the primary extrudate after it exits from the die. In the process of
Hendrix, the primary extrudate and the first appendage extrudate “are joined in the die assembly
to form a unitary weatherseal 10 (Fig. 6).” (Hendrix, col. 4, ll. 44-49; emphasis added). “Heat
bonding” as described by Hendrix at column 9, lines 1-2 is not a process of heating extruded
materials after they exit the die, but is a process of urging two molten extrudates against each
other within the extrusion die to bond the molten materials together within the die (Hendrix, col.
8, ll. 63-67).
Upon a correct reading of the references, it is clear that one of ordinary skill in the art
would have understood how to obtain a workable result when combining the teachings of the
references. Hendrix describes a particular extrusion die arrangement for obtaining a weather
stripping having a body portion and sealing portion. Hendrix suggests forming a foamed
weather stripping (Hendrix, col. 4, ll. 22-24 and ll. 41-43). Chen describes a particular extruder
screw and blowing agent introduction system that can be configured to produce microcellular
material. As Chen is directed to the upstream extruder screw system and Hendrix the
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