Appeal 2006-2165
Application 10/652,958
where it is “desirous to prevent the growth of microorganisms upon the
polymeric material itself or on and in products in close proximity to the
material” (Seabrook, col. 6, l. 41 to col. 7, l. 50).
Appellant discloses in his Specification that in the “food and beverage
industries” frequent washing of the process equipment, including bearings
and their housings, promotes undesirable corrosion of conventional metal
bearing housings (Specification 3). Because of the undesirable corrosion
with metal bearing housings, Appellant states that “the industry [i.e., the
“food and beverage industry”] has began [sic begun] to employ alternative
materials for bearing housings, including certain plastics” (Specification 3).
From these disclosures, Appellant indicates that the “food and beverage
industries” employ plastic bearing housings to prevent undesirable corrosion
common with metal bearing housings.
Moreover, the Examiner’s finding on page 4 of the Answer states that
“[a] plastic bearing assembly used in the food and beverage industries is a
venue where antimicrobial [sic microbial] growth is undesirable” (Answer
4). This finding has not been challenged by Appellant.
From the foregoing disclosures and the Examiner’s factual finding, we
make the following findings of fact: (1) Richardson discloses a plastic pillow
block bearing housing; (2) Plastic bearings are used in the food and beverage
industries where microbial growth is undesirable; and (3) Kernes, Blackburn
or Seabrook disclose using antimicrobial agents in plastics to prevent
microbial growth on plastics. Flowing logically from the above factual
findings, one of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to
combine Kernes’, Blackburn’s or Seabrook’s antimicrobial agent with
Richardson’s plastic pillow block bearing housing to prevent microbial
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