Appeal 2007-0283
Application 09/849,594
overlapping first and second layers 16,18 along proximal edge 12 which
does not contain an elastic member, and is illustrated as including four offset
parallel rows of circles in which at least one of the bond points in each row
is equally spaced apart from at least three other bond points (id., col. 5, ll.
45-47, and Fig. 4). The pattern of thermal bonds 25 can be formed by, inter
alia, ultrasonic bonding and can be formed in a wide variety of shapes such
as, inter alia, circles and dots (id., e.g., col. 10, ll. 4-11 and 34-37, col. 12,
l. 56 to col. 15, l. 4). “When it is desirable to minimize the use of thermal
bonds in the containment flap, it is possible to form the flap generally
illustrated in Fig. 4” (id., col. 10, ll. 1-3). The bond patterns of Fig. 4 are
used instead of adhesives to bond layers 16,18 to provide flexibility and
must be strong enough to maintain integrity of containment flap 10 during
use in absorbent garments, including diapers and training pants, to which it
is attached along proximal edge 12 (id., e.g., col. 1, ll. 54-57, col. 2, ll.
5-7, col. 5, ll. 48-55, col. 10, ll. 1-3 and 39-46, col. 11, ll. 17-30, and
Figs. 5 and 6; see also above p. 13). Containment flap 10 can be made from
polyolefin nonwoven webs and films which can be liquid impervious
materials (id., e.g., col. 6, ll. 9-19, 28-33 and 51-55).
We find one of ordinary skill in this art would consider the disclose at
column 10, lines 18-30, of Kielpikowski directed to second pattern of
thermal bonds 26 of the containment flap 10 embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3
and not to all of the bond patterns of the containment flap 10 embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 4 which differ from the bond patterns of the embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 3 (Kielpikowski col. 5, ll. 16-32, and col. 15, ll. 11-16).
16
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