Appeal 2007-1482
Application 10/484,149
b) an intermediate ply arranged on the backing layer and comprising
a thermoplastic polymer material,
c) a heat-cured layer arranged on the intermediate ply, and
d) an outer layer arranged on the heat-cured layer and composed of
thermoplastic,
wherein the thermoplastic in the outer layer is selected from the group
consisting of polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers,
and mixtures of the abovementioned materials, and
wherein the thermoplastic polymer material of the intermediate ply is
selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polymers
of styrene, polyoxymethylene, and polybutylene terephthalate.
The Examiner relies upon the following references as evidence of
obviousness:
Taubitz US 4,774,286 Sep. 27, 1988
Otawa EP 0371743 Nov. 28, 1989
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a layered composite
material comprising a polyolefin backing layer, a thermoplastic intermediate
ply on the backing layer, a heat-cured layer on the intermediate ply and an
outer layer composed of polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
copolymers, or mixtures thereof. Appellants' Specification states that it was
known in the prior art to use such polycarbonate outer films, as well as
polycarbonate backing layers. We are told, however, that polycarbonate
backing layers have disadvantages, such as their weight in automotive
applications and their relatively high price. Appellants, therefore, utilize a
lighter, less expensive backing layer of polyolefin in combination with a
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