Appeal 2007-1902
Application 09/398,006
stone cutting and provides a stiffening function, and thus does not requires
the fourth cord layer used in conventional heavy duty tires to provide
protection for the low inclination angle cord layers. We determine this
person would have further found in Farnsworth the illustrated teachings that
in this triangulated belt arrangement, the cord direction of the low
inclination angle middle cord layer can be the same or different than the cord
direction of the high inclination angle outermost cord layer with the low
inclination angle innermost cord layer having a cord direction opposite to the
middle cord layer. We determine Gaudin reinforces Farnsworth’s teachings
in this respect by illustrating that the cord direction of the outermost and the
middle cord layers relative to the equatorial plane can be the same or
different in triangulated belt assemblies for heavy duty pneumatic tires. In
this respect, Gaudin further evinces that one of ordinary skill in this art is
armed with the knowledge that cord direction affects the rigidity in the
longitudinal and axial directions of the triangulated belt.
As the Examiner points out, in this context, Farnsworth illustrates
several alternative embodiments wherein in three of the four embodiments,
the high inclination angle cord layer is the outermost cord layer and has
different widths relative to the different widths of each of the low inclination
angle innermost and middle cord layers. In these illustrative embodiments,
the outermost cord layer can be wider and narrower than either of the
innermost and middle cord layers. The Examiner correctly finds that
Farnsworth does not limit the disclosed teachings to the illustrative
embodiments, and that the illustrative embodiments do not include the
claimed relative widths of the three cord layers of the belt.
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