Appeal 2007-1168
Application 10/211,407
Prior Art
Lutzow
13. Lutzow describes a three-layer laminated sheet designed to absorb
liquids, especially hydrocarbon liquids (Lutzow at 3:39–42), which Lutzow
refers to as an "NMN laminate" (id. at 5:37).
14. Lutzow's NMN laminate is depicted in Figure 1, shown below:
15. According to Lutzow, the NMN laminate comprises a layer M of
meltblown fibers sandwiched between two layers N of "needle punched
fibers" (sometimes called "needle felt"; id. at 4:20–21). (Id. at 3:39-42.)
16. Lutzow describes the needle felt as generally comprising a
thermoplastic resin (Lutzow at 4:7), preferably a composite of about
30% nylon and 70% polyester (id. at 18–20).
17. According to Lutzow, the diameter of the needle punched fibers is
ordinarily larger than the diameter of the meltblown fibers, and preferably
ranges from about 1 to 25 microns. (Lutzow at 4:13–17.)
18. Lutzow does not disclose the thickness or density of the needle felt
layer.
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