Appeal 2006-2900
Application 10/683,531
the hydrophobicity and processability of polyolefin compositions, whereas
Mehta's blend of high molecular weight and low molecular weight poly
siloxanes reduces the coefficient of friction of polymeric films.
Appellants do not rebut the Examiner's legal conclusion that it would
have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to use the polysiloxane
blend of Mehta in the outer layer of Blinka to improve processability and
reduce the coefficient of friction. Rather, Appellants explain that
conventional packaging films containing antiblock/slip components "have
relied on various inorganic antiblock agents in combination with amide wax
slip agents,"1 and that they have "found that conventional amide wax usage
in oxygen scavenging films has been shown to degrade the oxygen
scavenging performance of the film, e.g., oxygen scavenging rate, and also
can negatively affect the organoleptic attributes of the film."2 Appellants
further explain that "although conventional combinations of inorganic
antiblock and fatty amide wax slip agents can be effective for producing an
oxygen scavenging film with low COF, properties such as oxygen
scavenging rate, heat seal, and organoleptics were significantly degraded by
the waxes."3 Hence, Appellants' solution to the stated problem is utilizing
the claimed siloxane material in lieu of the amide wax of the prior art.
Appellants' argument fails to address the thrust of the Examiner's
rejection, namely, the obviousness of using the claimed polysiloxane as the
lubricant in the outer layer of Blinka to improve processability and reduce
the coefficient of friction. Indeed, as pointed out by the Examiner, Blinka
1 Page 8 of Brief, second paragraph.
2 Page 8 of Brief, third paragraph.
3 Page 8 of Brief, fourth paragraph.
4
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Last modified: November 3, 2007