Appeal No. 2004-1950
Application 09/352,612
in the prior art, “welded strap joints having a conventional configuration are difficult to employ
satisfactorily with thin film wide strap,” and discloses that “[a]n attempt to produce a
conventional weld in . . . [an oriented] film strap across the full width of the strap may result in
reduced weld strength and can reduce strap strength at the weld since the strap orientation is
destroyed in the fused region of the weld” (col. 2, ll. 6-20 and 21-32).
Kobiella teaches that “[t]he joint comprises a plurality of fused regions at the interface of
the overlapping portions . . . [which] are spaced-apart across the width of the strap . . . [and in]
the form of an interface layer of merged resolidified strap surface portions” (col. 2, ll. 49-56).
Kobiella discloses that
spaced-apart fused regions 30 results in acceptable strength welds of the oriented thin
film strap without sacrificing an unacceptable amount of strap strength at the weld.
Since the overlapping strap portions 21 and 22 are not welded or fused in the spaces
between the fused regions 30, the overlapping strap portions retain substantially all of
their original strength in the unfused regions 40. Further, since the fused regions 30
run parallel to the length of the strap S, the tension stress in the strap S can be taken
without interruption along the entire length of the joint J in the adjacent non-welded
(unfused) regions 40 of the strap S. [Col. 4, ll. 1-12, and FIGs. 2 and 3; see also col. 3,
ll. 5-66.]
Kobiella teaches that the width of each fused regions 30 can be 2.5 mm; that narrow thin film
straps can have less than eight fused regions 30, and wider film straps can have more; and under
certain conditions, the joint J can be formed in a manner to have “a strength of at least about
75% of the strap strength” (col. 4, ll. 16-17 and 28-36; col. 6, ll. 8-11). Kobiella does not teach
that the sole method to prepare such welded joints is “friction-fusion,” although this method is
preferred (e.g., col. 2, ll. 62-63, and col. 4, l. 46-47).
We compare the claimed invention encompassed by appealed claims 1, 4 and 16, as we
have interpreted these claims above, with the combined teachings of Van Vliet and Kobiella that
we found above, in light of the arguments submitted by appellants and by the examiner, and find
that contrary to appellants’ position, the combined teachings of the reference would have
reasonably suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art that the bonding or welding of the entire
zone of overlap in thin film, oriented polymeric strips that can be used in mesh mats or grids as
1992); In re Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA 1968), presuming skill on
the part of this person. In re Sovish, 769 F.2d 738, 743, 226 USPQ 771, 774 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
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