Appeal 2007-1018
Application 10/376,782
said safety device comprises a strip, including phosphorescent
material, engaged with said webbing along at least a portion of its length,
said phosphorescent material producing a glow when exposed to ultraviolet
light, said glow diminishing at a known rate when exposed to a known
amount of ultraviolet light;
said phosphorescent material being selected to have said rate of
diminishing glow correlated with said rate of strength loss; whereby,
said safety indicator denotes reduced safety of said webbing with
reduced glow which signals reduced strength of said synthetic material.
The Examiner relies upon the following reference in the rejection of
the appealed claims:
Geisel US 5,674,437 Oct. 7, 1997
Appellants’ claimed invention is directed to a webbing comprising
synthetic yarns that are known to lose their strength upon exposure to
ultraviolet light. The webbing includes a safety indicator engaged with the
webbing comprising a strip of phosphorescent material that loses its
phosphorescence upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The phosphorescent
material is selected to have its rate of diminishing glow correlated with the
rate of strength loss of the synthetic yarns. When the safety strip loses its
phosphorescence, it is an indication that the synthetic yarns of the webbing
have lost their strength.
Appealed claims 1-9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being
anticipated by Geisel.
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