Appeal 2007-1563
Application 10/462,067
50-55; col. 11, ll. 59-66). Therefore, Chen discloses that the materials used
to make the basesheets (i.e., a first three-dimensionally patterned stabilized
absorbent layer) are the same as used by Appellants.
We add that Chen discloses that the basesheets (i.e., a first three-
dimensionally patterned stabilized absorbent layer) are characterized by a
“wet:dry ratio” that is a measure of the geometric wet tensile strength to the
geometric mean dry tensile strength (Chen, col. 14, ll. 9-16). Chen further
discloses that the wet:dry ratio of the basesheets (i.e., a first three-
dimensionally patterned stabilized absorbent layer) is preferably 0.2 to 0.6
(Chen, col. 14, ll. 16-21). Chen further discloses that the process used to
manufacture the basesheet (i.e., a first three-dimensionally patterned
stabilized absorbent layer) includes a reel 24 to roll-up the dried basesheet
23 (i.e., a first three-dimensionally patterned stabilized absorbent layer)
(Chen, col. 31, ll. 50-55).
From these disclosures it is evident that, like Appellants’ disclosed
definition of “stabilized absorbent layer,” Chen’s basesheets (i.e., a first
three-dimensionally patterned stabilized absorbent layer) must have a wet
tensile strength that is less than the dry tensile strength because Chen’s ratio
of wet tensile strength to dry tensile strength is less than 1 (i.e., 0.2 to 0.6)
(Chen, col. 14, ll. 16-21). Moreover, like Appellants’ stabilized absorbent
layer that is disclosed as having particular tensile strengths to permit the
stabilized absorbent layer to be wound on rolls and later unwound
(Specification ¶ [0092]), Chen discloses winding the dried basesheets 23
(i.e., a first three-dimensionally patterned stabilized absorbent layer) on a
reel for later use.
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