Appeal 2006-2614
Application 10/610,605
Appellants’ invention is directed to a radiation curable, elastomeric
composition, a wearable article including such a material composition, an
elastomeric film including a layer made from such a composition, and a
process for producing a stretchable laminate including such a layer. The
material composition includes: (1) a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)
comprising a block copolymer; (2) a processing oil; and (3) a macro
photoinitiator. According to Appellants, the macro photoinitiator
component works to enhance the elastic and mechanical properties of the
TPE. (Specification 8). Appellants Claim 1 is illustrative and reproduced
below:
1. A radiation-curable material comprising:
a) from about 20 to about 80 wt% of a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) which is a block copolymer having at least one hard
block comprising vinylarenes and at least one soft block comprising
dienes;
b) from about 5 to about 60 wt% of a processing oil; and
c) from about 1 to about 60 wt% of a macro photoinitiator
wherein, after curing, the material has a stress relaxation of less than
about 20 percent after 200% elongation at room temperature and a
stress relaxation of less than about 45 percent after about 10 hours at
100ºF and 50% elongation.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references as evidence
in rejecting the appealed claims:
Everaerts US 5,407,971 Apr. 18, 1995
Zhao US 2003/0105232 A1 Jun. 5, 2003
(filed Nov. 13, 2001)
Topolkaraev US 6,586,354 B1 Jul. 1, 2003
(filed Dec. 28, 1998)
2
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