Appeal 2007-2206
Application 10/181,977
enhance the “visual attractiveness” of the sheet (id.). The Examiner also
concludes that the artisan of ordinary skill “would have been motivated to
change the angle and baseplate shape of the truncated pyramid in order to
changes the visual attractiveness of the projections/protuberances” (id.).
We agree with the Examiner that Roussel and Laurent render the
rejected claims obvious. Laurent discloses a sheet of creped paper having
“first and second protrusions respectively arrayed in a first and second
pattern. The first pattern is composed of pattern elements comparatively
well spaced apart . . . being constituted of . . . the first protrusions. The
second pattern, called the background pattern, compris[es] the second
protrusions arrayed more tightly between the pattern elements . . .” (Laurent,
col. 3, ll. 27-33).
Laurent discloses that the “second protrusions evince . . . the shapes of
frusta of cone or pyramid of a height less than 0.5 mm, and preferably less
than 0.1 mm. . . . [T]he height difference between the [second] protrusions
. . . and the first protrusions shall be 0.3 mm” (id. at col. 6, ll. 19-26).
Laurent discloses that “the embossing structure of the invention imparts an
eye-pleasing textile look because of the high density of the protrusions in the
background pattern” (id. at col. 3, ll. 54-56).
Thus, Laurent discloses that protuberances having a truncated
pyramid shape (claim 3) and a height between 0.05 and 0.5 mm (claim 7)
were suitable for imparting a visually pleasing look to embossed tissue
paper. Laurent also discloses that an arrangement of two series of
protuberances, with the background series being shorter (claim 9) gives an
attractive look to the tissue paper. We therefore agree with the Examiner
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