Appeal No. 2005-1207
Application No. 10/126,342 Page 4
Concerning this matter, Brooker teaches that the meltblown
fibers employed are tacky subsequent to extrusion through a die
and prior to consolidation. While the fibers are in a tacky
state, Brooker teaches that the particles are incorporated in the
meltblown fiber stream in a manner such that the particles adhere
to the surfaces of the tacky fibers thereby avoiding subsequent
dusting problems with the product during use. See the abstract,
column 2, lines 20-44 and column 3, lines 4-19 of Brooker.
Dusting is the same or similar problem allegedly addressed by
appellants’ claimed invention. See page 2, lines 15-17 of
appellants’ specification. Moreover, Brooker teaches that the
particles employed can be fed via a feed hopper using an air
stream to convey the particles or powder into the stream of
meltblown fibers so as to hold the particles to the fibers within
the formed web by more than physical entrapment of particles
among the fibers. See column 6, lines 3 through 53 of Brooker.
Given that disclosure of Brooker, we agree with the examiner
that it is reasonable to conclude that the particles of Brooker
would at least slightly penetrate (pass into or through, or
reach) the tacky surface (outer face or boundary) of the
required by representative claim 13. Thus, we need not address
McFarland with regard to representative claim 10.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007