Ex Parte Schneider et al - Page 2



              Appeal 2007-1223                                                                                                
              Application 10/007,149                                                                                          

              The present invention relates to coating compositions having improved mar                                       
              and scratch resistance.  The coating compositions generally comprise a film-                                    
              forming resin containing a plurality of dispersed organic or inorganic particles                                
              having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to 15 microns (Specification 2).                               
              Representative claim 1, as presented in Appellants’ Brief, is reproduced below:                                 
                      1.  A powder coating composition comprising:                                                            
                             a film-forming resin; and                                                                        
                             a plurality of particles having an average particle size between 1                               
                      and 15 microns dispersed in said resin, wherein the particles have a                                    
                      hardness sufficient to impart greater mar and/or scratch resistance as                                  
                      compared to no particle being present, and wherein the difference                                       
                      between the refractive index of the resin and the refractive index of                                   
                      the particles is less than one.                                                                         
                      The Examiner relies on the following references in rejecting the appealed                               
              claims:                                                                                                         
              Christie US 6,203,906 B1 Mar. 20, 2001                                                                          
              Harashima US 6,362,267 B1 Mar. 26, 2002                                                                         
                      Claims 1, 6, 10-12, 15-17, 19-24, 26-40, 42-45, and 50-58 stand rejected                                
              under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over Christie; and claims 41 and 59-63                                 
              stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over the combination of                                 
              Christie and Harashima  (Answer 3-4).  We affirm the rejections.                                                




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