Appeal 2007-0005
Application 10/198,489
conveyer belts, etc., comprising polyamide fibers adhered to a
polychloroprene rubber composition with an adhesive comprising the
presently claimed resorcinol-formaldehyde resin and a copolymer of
dichlorobutadiene and chloroprene. Fujiwara, however, does not expressly
disclose that the rubber/fiber composite is in the form of an airspring, or that
the polyamide textile fibers are nylon. It is Appellants’ contention that
“[n]owhere does Fujiwara mention airsprings, nor disclose or imply the use
of the composite material in airsprings” (Br. 7, ¶ 3), and that “Fujiwara
teaches only that aromatic polyamide fibers are suitable for use with the
adhesive disclosed therein . . . and says nothing about the suitability of nylon
fibers with such an adhesive” (Br. 6, last ¶, emphasis added).
We are not persuaded by Appellants’ arguments. Appellants’
specification discloses that “[m]any adhesives known to produce very strong
bonds between rubber and fabric are entirely unsuitable for many rubber
fabric structures because the bonds deteriorate or the fabric ruptures when
the structures are subjected to repeated flexing and elevated temperatures . . .
flex-life cannot be foretold from measurements of bond strengths alone”
(Spec. 1, ¶ 3). Also, the Specification relates that the adhesion of nylon cord
to polychloroprene is essential for field performance of air sleeves,
particularly with respect to high stress tolerance (Spec. 2, ¶ 2). Therefore,
since Fujiwara teaches that the disclosed polychloroprene/polyamide fiber
matrix is suitable for making automobile tires, rubber hoses, power
transmission belts, and conveyor belts, which articles are subjected to high
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Last modified: November 3, 2007