Appeal No. 2005-2175
Application 10/104,383
adopted to provide a solid surface (col. 2, ll. 39-44, col. 9, ll. 50-51, col. 10, ll. 3-6 and col. 12,
ll. 17-50).
We find that Pitman would have disclosed to one of ordinary skill in this art a lighting
system that includes a support 5 having a cover 8 that hides base 4, wherein these parts can be
extruded from, for example, PVC compositions containing “color pigments” (e.g., col. 4,
ll. 55-63, col. 5, ll. 51-53, col. 6, ll. 61-65, col. 7, ll. 30-48, and FIG. 1).
We find that Nelson would have disclosed to one of ordinary skill in this art a laminated
article which is a central core with interlocking male and female edges, a planar decorative
surface and a lower planar surface, that can be used as flooring, wall coverings and ceilings, and
wherein two sections of the flooring can be joined to form “a gapless seam” (e.g., col. 2,
ll. 13-28, col. 4, ll. 29-34, col. 5, ll. 20-23). Nelson would have taught that the decorative layer
can be formed from any material that can be attached to the central core, such as conventional
polymeric solid surfacing laminates, wherein the decorative layer can be attached to the core by
coextrusion of the core and decorative layer, wherein the extrusions can include an optional tie
layer (col. 2, l. 52, to col. 3, l. 7, and col. 3, ll. 42-44). Nelson further would have taught that “it
is possible to bevel the planar decorative surfaces of each of the male and female edges to
provide an angled surface down to the point where the planar decorative surface meets the
central core” which “would provide a grooved or notched seam upon joining adjacent sections”
(col. 5, ll. 26-31).
We find that Haid would have disclosed to one of ordinary skill in this art a panel
structure comprising boards which can be used for, among other uses, a floor, in which a
particular “T” shaped molding is used to join pairs of boards having grooves in opposing edges,
wherein the “boards” can be made of “plastics” (e.g., col. 1, l. 41, to col. 2, l. 2, col. 3, ll. 19-55,
col. 4, ll. 58-63, and Fig. 1).
The examiner determines, with respect to appealed claims 67 and 68, that it would have
been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in this art “to color the cover layer of Pollock[,
disclosed at col. 12, ll. 17-50,] with pigments as [Pitman] teaches the use of pigments to produce
color in PVC layers” with respect to both claims (answer, page 6); to form the cover layer and
the core of Pollock by coextrusion as taught by Nelson with respect to claim 68 (id., page 8); to
join the planks of Pollock with the T-shaped molding of Haid for ease of installation with respect
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