Appeal 2007-1022 Application 10/778,414 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 Appellant’s 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. 2Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013