Appeal No. 2005-1438
Application No. 10/027,433
We find that Deith further teaches that its sol-gel process is
superior to the conventional high temperature glazing method in
glazing ceramic substrates, such as ceramic tiles or pottery
ware. See pages 1, 3 and 4. We recognize that Deith is silent
as to using the claimed antimicrobial agent in its sol-gel
glazing process.
However, we find that Oku teaches an antibacterial and anti-
fungal glaze composition for ceramic products, such as ceramic
tiles and porcelain. See column 1, lines 8-43 and the abstract.
According to column 4, lines 7-32, of Oku, this antibacterial and
anti-fungal glaze composition can be mixed with a conventional
glaze, inclusive of that described in Deith, and then affixed to
the substrates of the ceramic products via “any conventional
process.” As one of the conventional glazing processes, Oku, for
example, discloses mixing, coating and baking the antibacterial
and anti-fungal glaze composition and the conventional glaze to
form an antibacterial and anti-fungal glaze layer on the ceramic
products (corresponding to the conventional high temperature
glazing method not preferred by Deith). See column 2, lines
8-15, column 4, lines 26-31 and column 5, lines 15-35. The
antibacterial and anti-fungal glaze composition contains, inter
alia, an ion-exchange compound (e.g., aluminum silicate compounds
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