Appeal No. 2006-2087
Application No. 10/960,252
modified food starches or dextrines. Spanier also evidences that
it was known to use dextrines as an adhesive or binding agent to
control the viscosity of a food product. In addition, Wang
teaches the inclusion of calcium carbonate in chewable pet toys
comprising animal and vegetable protein, gelatin, glycerol and
casein.
Accordingly, based on the collective teachings of the
applied prior art, we are in full agreement with the examiner
that it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the
art to formulate a rawhide-based product containing the recited
components for their art-recognized properties. As stated by the
examiner, “[e]ach of the ingredients of the instant claims is
shown by prior art to be useful in pet foods, and the majority is
shown by more than one reference, to the extent that these
ingredients are routinely added to pet food products of the type
claimed” (page 7 of answer, second paragraph).
Appellant argues that the examiner has cited seven
references in the rejection and that there is no motivation or
suggestion to combine the teachings of the references. However,
the examiner properly points out that “all the references are to
pet foods/chew/toy/snacks/treats and all use similar ingredients
found useful for the same purpose” (page eight of answer, second
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