Appeal No. 2006-0778
Application No. 10/266,917
While Goulait does not specifically provide an example of
use of a spunlaced fabric in making the nonwoven web 30, as
discussed, supra, Goulait teaches that the nonwoven web 30 can be
any suitable nonwoven material. Goulait teaches that the term
“nonwoven” refers to fabrics made of fibers held together by
interlocking [emphasis added] or bonding. Interlocking suggests
mechanical entanglement.2 Goulait teaches that the nonwoven web
30 can be formed by carding.3 See column 10, lines 61-67 and
column 13, lines 46-50 of Goulait. Carding is a form of
mechanical entanglement.4 Goulait does teach that the nonwoven
2 in·ter·lock
v., -locked, -lock·ing, -locks.
v.tr.
1. To unite or join closely as by hooking or dovetailing.
2. To connect together (parts of a mechanism, for example) so that
the individual parts affect each other in motion or operation.
v.intr.
To become united or joined closely, as by hooking or dovetailing.
See http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=501&dekey
=interlock&curtab=501_1&linktext=interlock.
3 Appellants’ claim 18 recites that the fibrous web is formed by
carding.
4 Card·ing
a.
1. The act or process of preparing staple for spinning, etc., by
carding it. See the Note under CARD, v. t.
2. A roll of wool or other fiber as it comes from the carding machine.
Carding engine, Carding machine, a machine for carding cotton, wool,
or other fiber, by subjecting it to the action of cylinders, or drums
covered with wire-toothed cards, revolving nearly in contact with each
other, at different rates of speed, or in opposite directions. The
staple issues in soft sheets, or in slender rolls called slivers.
See http://www.answers.com/topic/carding?method=22.
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