Appeal 2006-2137
Application 10/375,748
38. The method of claim 24 wherein placing the slurry
composition in a die cavity includes the die cavity having a top-
facing opening with the sidewall being vertically-oriented, and
wherein pressing on the slurry is by pressing the die punch
downward on a top surface of the slurry composition to force
the solids toward a bottom of the die cavity while extracting the
water upward through the gap between the vertically-oriented
sidewall and the punch and out of the top-facing opening of the
die cavity.
II. PRIOR ART
As evidence of unpatentability of the claimed subject matter, the
Examiner relies upon the following references:
MacMurray US 2,697,979 Dec. 28, 1954
Tabe US 4,324,706 Apr. 13, 1982
Parker US 4,656,203 Apr. 7, 1987
III. REJECTION
Claims 24 through 47 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
unpatentable over the combined disclosures of Parker, Tabe and
MacMurray.
IV. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
We have carefully considered the claims, specification and prior art
references, including the arguments advanced by both the Appellant and the
Examiner in support of their respective positions. This review has led us to
conclude that the Examiner’s § 103 rejection is well founded. Accordingly,
we will sustain the Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 24 through 47
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