Appeal No. 2006-2539 Page 3
Application No. 10/421,661
Discussion
1. Claims
Claims 1-8 are on appeal. Claim 17 has been indicated to be allowable.
Claim 1 is representative and reads as follows:
1. A method of forming a multilayer polymer structure comprising:
applying an intermediate layer (B) of a polymer composition comprising a
thermoplastic polyurethane in a molten or plastic state to a dimensionally
stable structural layer (A) formed of a rigid polymer composition
comprising one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of
vinyl halide polymers, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
polymers, acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile polymers, polyesters and blends of
the foregoing; and
applying a topcoat layer (C) of a polymer composition comprising a
thermoplastic elastomer to layer (B) while layer (B) is still in the molten or
plastic state.
Claim 1 is directed to a method of making a multilayer polymer structure. The
first step comprises applying a “thermoplastic polyurethane in a molten or plastic state”
to a structural layer formed of a “rigid polymer composition.”
The specification states that “[t]hroughout the instant specification and in the
appended claims, the term ‘rigid polymer’ refers to any polymer that exhibits a Shore ‘D’
hardness of 40 or higher according to ASTM Standard D2240 and/or exhibits a flex
modulus above 15,000 psi according to ASTM Standard D790.” Page 5. We interpret
claim 1 to require applying a molten or plastic polyurethane composition to a structural
layer comprising a “rigid polymer” as that term is defined in the specification.
In the second step of the claimed method, a composition comprising a
thermoplastic elastomer is applied to the polyurethane layer while the polyurethane is
still in a molten or plastic state.
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