Appeal 2007-0504
Application 10/700,078
INTRODUCTION
Appellants claim an aqueous coating composition comprising an
aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer and a pigment (claims 1 and 2;
Specification 1). Appellants indicate that the aqueous coating composition
has improved scrub resistance and dirt pick-up resistance (Specification 2).
Claim 2 is illustrative:
2. An aqueous coating composition comprising a pigment and an
aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer comprising, as copolymerized
units, from 50 to 99.75% by weight, based on dry polymer weight,
monoethylenically unsaturated nonionic (meth)acrylic monomer and
from 0.25 to 10% by weight, based on dry polymer weight,
monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, said polymer having a
Tg of -10 °C to 35 °C wherein said emulsion polymer is formed by
emulsion polymerization at a temperature of from 70 °C to 99 °C in
the presence of a thermal initiator, wherein said initiator is used in the
amount of 0.05 to 0.3%, by weight, based on dry polymer weight, and
wherein less than half of said initiator is present during the first 10%,
by weight, based on dry polymer weight, of the conversion of
monomers to said emulsion polymer, and a neutralizer, wherein said
neutralizer is used in the amount of from 5% to 75%, on an
equivalents basis, based on said monoethylenically unsaturated acid
monomer, and wherein less than half of said neutralizer is present
during the first 25%, by weight, based on dry polymer weight, of the
conversion of monomers to said emulsion polymer.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art reference as evidence
of unpatentability:
Friel US 5,731,377 Mar. 24, 1998
The rejections as presented by the Examiner are as follows:
1. Claims 1-5, and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as anticipated
by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over
Friel.
2
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