Appeal No. 2006-0357
Application No. 10/743,501
not preblended or pretreated prior to the addition to the
single continuous mixing apparatus;
providing at least two mixing zones in the mixing
apparatus;
producing gum base from the mixing apparatus; and
mixing the gum base with other ingredients to produce
chewing gum.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Reggio et al. (Reggio) 4,379,169 Apr. 5, 1983
Naumann EP 0 273 809 A2 Jul. 6, 1988
(Published European Patent Office Patent Application)
Boudy FR 2 635 441 A1 Feb. 23, 1990
(Published French Patent Office Patent Application)
Appellants’ claimed invention is directed to a process for
making chewing gum comprising using a single continuous mixing
apparatus to perform all the addition and compounding steps
needed to produce the gum base. The elastomer of the base is
added to the apparatus separate and apart from the plasticizer,
and the elastomer is not preblended or pretreated prior to its
addition. The mixing apparatus comprises at least two mixing
zones.
Appealed claims 1-6, 9-17, 19 and 20 stand rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Naumann in view of
Reggio. Claims 7, 8 and 18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
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