Appeal 2007-1902
Application 09/398,006
ll. 31-44). In these arrangements, 3 L′ is the widest cord layer and 1 L is the
narrowest in Fig. 7; 1 L is the widest cord layer and 3 L′ is the narrowest in
Fig. 8; 2 H is the widest cord layer and 3 L′ is the narrowest in Fig. 9;
2H is the widest cord layer and 1 L is the narrowest in Fig. 10; 3 L′ is the
widest cord layer and 2 H is the narrowest in Fig. 11. In Figs. 1 and 6,
outermost cord layer 3 L′ is narrower than innermost cord layer 1 L and
wider than middle cord layer 2 H.
We find Kohno would have disclosed to one of ordinary skill in this
art a general purpose passenger car pneumatic radial tires developed for
weight reduction which have a slant cord belt layer 6 in which the steel
cords have an inclination angle of 15-45° with respect to the equatorial
plane, and at least two circumferential cord belt layers 7 (7-1,7-2) disposed
in the side end region in the widthwise direction of the tire, in which the
steel cords have a cord angle of approximately 0° with respect to the
equatorial plane arranged on slant cord belt layer 6 (Kohno, e.g., col. 1,
ll. 8-12; col. 1, l. 58, to col. 2, l. 65; col. 3, l. 41, to col. 4, l. 65; col. 5, l. 38,
to col. 6, l. 49; col. 12, ll. 12-25; Example 9 in Tables 1 and 2; and Figs.
1 and 2). Kohno discloses in a preferred embodiment that the coating rubber
for circumferential cord belt layers 7 have a modulus of elasticity of not less
than 200 kgf/mm2, and teaches that if the modulus of elasticity “is too low,
the cords are easily moved in the [circumferential cord] belt layer to cause
local buckling of the cord and hence there is a fear of creating cord break-
up” (id., col. 2, ll. 46-48, and col. 4, ll. 47-55). We find one of ordinary skill
in this art would have observed from Kohno Fig. 2 that inner circumferential
cord belt 7-1 extends past the outermost circumferential groove in the
widthwise direction of the tread portion, and narrower outer circumferential
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