Appeal No. 2005-0381 Page 17
Application No. 09/841,380
uniform smooth coating onto a web (Hess, col.1, ll. 39-50). Hall describes a way to accomplish
smoothing of a coating. There is ample suggestion within the prior art references for
incorporating the smoothing rollers of Hall into the apparatus of Hess.
We conclude that the Examiner has established a prima facie case of obviousness with
respect to the subject matter of claims 44-50 which has not been sufficiently rebutted by
Appellants.
OTHER ISSUES
We bring to the Examiner’s and Appellants’ attention a patent that has issued from the
application (S.N. 09/757,955) discussed on page 9 of Appellants’ specification, namely, U.S.
Patent 6,737,113 issued to Leonard et al. on May 18, 2004 (Leonard).5 Figure 17 depicts a
coating needle 181 which applies a coating to a circulating conductive transfer belt surface 182
which then moves through pick and place rolls to a nip point between rolls 179 and 190 wherein
the coating is transferred to a target web 189 (see also col. 12, ll. 5-66). The apparatus appears
to operate to place a continuous coating on the belt before the drops land as recited in claim 33.
We also direct attention to column 15, lines 19-23 which suggests the use of electrostatic
spraying.
We also bring the Examiner’s and Appellants’ attention U.S. Patent 5,326,598 issued to
Seaver et al. on July 5, 1994 also discussed at page 9 of the specification. Seaver describes an
5Leonard appears to be prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e).
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