Appeal 2007-1323
Application 10/032,701
side edges of said front and rear body panels, and wherein said absorbent
composite is connected to said front and rear body panels.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Igaue UK 2 267 024 Nov. 24, 1993
Van Gompel PCT WO 00/47152 Aug. 17, 2000
The rejections as presented by the Examiner are as follows:
1. Claims 11-20, 31-40, 45, and 46 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
as anticipated by Igaue
2. Claims 11-20, 31-40, 45, and 46 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
as obvious over Igaue.
3. Claims 42, 44, 47, and 48 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C § 103(a) as
unpatentable over the combination of Igaue and Van Gompel.
We affirm the rejections under 35 U.S.C § 103(a) and reverse the
rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
DISCUSSION
Igaue:
Claims 11-20, 31-40, 45, and 46 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as anticipated by Igaue.
The claims are drawn to an absorbent garment (claims 11-20 and 45)
and a method of using an absorbent garment (claims 31-40 and 46).
According to Appellants’ Specification, “[a]bsorbent garments can be
configured as . . . a diaper-type product . . .” (Specification 1). The claims
require the garment to comprise a body panel having a line of weakness
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