Appeal No. 2006-0948
Application No. 10/354,756
Mossbeck discloses a method of applying web
material to a spring assembly by feeding spring
assembly between guide rollers 24 and 26. Feeding
material around guide rollers and adhesively
securing the material to spring assembly; see
figure 1. It is inherent that the material is cut
between assemblies to get the product shown in
figure 2.
Mossbeck does not directly disclose folding
the material around end turns of springs however
Withoff teach spring assembly construction with
spring insulator material 24 folded around end
turn of spring 14; see figure 4.
It would have been obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art to combine the folding
step of the mattress construction of Withoff in
the invention to Mossbeck as it is well known in
the art to hide the outermost end turn of springs
in spring mattresses. (Answer, page 3).
Appellant’s principal argument regarding this
combination is that
there is no teaching, suggestion or inference in
the Mossbeck '997 patent of wrapping the upper
and lower webs 14, 20 around the end turns of the
coil springs. In fact, this is not even possible
in the Mossbeck '997 patent because the
individual coil springs are pocketed, i.e.
wrapped in a fabric pocket so the end turns are
not exposed. Therefore, the combination suggested
by the Examiner is not possible. (Brief, page 7).
In response to this argument, the examiner contends
that
Mossbeck relates well-known structures of
spring mattress cores including many variations
of construction; see column 1, lines 13-67.
Furthermore, Withoff is concerned with covering
the exposed end turns of coils for protection and
to prevent dimpling of the spring insulator sheet
and wraps cushioning sheet over end wire 11; see
figure 6, column 2, lines 10-1 6. It would seem
obvious to one of ordinary skill that, if left
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