Appeal 2007-0254
Application 10/732,614
Figs. 10-10A). This sheet-form material is defined by independent
claim 1 as follows:
1. A sheet-form material having first and second sides that carry
respective fastener elements, fastener elements on the first side comprising a
non-woven web of entangled fibers of substantial tenacity having a basis
weight of between 1.8 to 2.5 ounces per square yard, fastener elements on
the second side having molded stems extending from a base layer of resin in
which the fibers of the non-woven web are embedded, wherein fibers of the
web are exposed on the first side for engagement with the fastener elements
of the second side.
The prior art set forth below is relied upon by the Examiner as
evidence of obviousness:
Kennedy US 5,260,015 Nov. 9, 1993
Hamilton WO 94/02091 Feb. 3, 1994
Lawless US 5,891,547 Apr. 6, 1999
Claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Lawless in view of Kennedy, and claims 8-10 and 12-19
stand correspondingly rejected over these references and further in view of
Hamilton.1
The Examiner finds that claim 1 distinguishes from the nonwoven
fabric with base layer embodiment of Lawless’ hook and loop fastener
by requiring molded stems (i.e., hooks) extending from the opposite side of
the base layer in which the nonwoven web fibers are embedded (Answer 3-
4). The Examiner concludes that it would have been obvious for one with
1 The Appellants have advanced the same argument against each of these
rejections. Therefore, all appealed claims will stand or fall in accordance
with the success or failure of this argument.
2
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