T 1734/06 22-01-2009

1. The appeal is admissible.

2. Main request (claims as granted)

2.1 Novelty (main request)

The respondent maintained its novelty objection already submitted in its notice of opposition, namely that the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted was not novel over the disclosure of D1, D3 and D4.

2.1.1 D1 relates to organopolysiloxane compositions curable at ambient temperature containing a mixture of two organopolysiloxanes. Such compositions have excellent processability, because they can be cured in a desired time and are therefore very useful as injection moulding or moulding materials as well as coating materials on substrates (page 2).

The compositions of D1 contain (Claim 1) 100 parts by weight of a component 1) which is a vinyl-end capped organopolysiloxane having a viscosity of from 10 to 300000 cs at 25ºC and is represented by the general formula:

FORMULA/TABLE/GRAPHIC

whereby n is an integer of from 8 to 1500. In case of a polydimethylsiloxane (R = CH3) which is explicitly disclosed on page 6, the polymerisation degree of n = 8 to 1500 for the above formula corresponds to a molecular weight of from 778 to 111186 and a vinyl content of from 0.0486 to 6.94% by weight. Thus, component 1) of D1 corresponds to component A(i) of the patent in suit whereby the definitions with respect to the molecular weight range and the vinyl content overlap with the respective ranges required in Claim 1 as granted.

The compositions of D1 also contain a component 2) in an amount of from 0.01 to 200 parts by weight which is an organopolysiloxane whose main chain is composed of either d) RR'SiO units alone or d) RR'SiO units and e) R'SiO1.5 units in a molar ratio with e/(d+e)<=0.5, and is terminated with organosiloxy units selected from R"(R2)SiO0.5 units, R"OSi(R2)O0.5 units and HOSi(R2)O0.5 units, where R is as previously defined, and at least 1 mole percent of the R' groups are vinyl radicals, the remainder of R' being similar or dissimilar monovalent hydrocarbon radicals which are free of aliphatic unsaturation, and R" is a saturated or unsaturated monovalent hydrocarbon radical. The component 2) of D1 corresponds in all aspects to component A(ii) of Claim 1 as granted.

Further, the compositions of D1 contain as component 3) an organohydrogen polysiloxane in which the total number of Si-H bonds is from 50 to 500% of that of vinyl radicals contained in components 1) and 2) and which contains at least three Si-H bonds in one molecule. Component 3) of D1 corresponds to component B in Claim 1 as granted. However, a concrete amount for component 3), eg a defined range, is not given in the general disclosure of D1. The respondent even admitted that such a range could not be derived from D1. Thus, there is no general disclosure in D1 equivalent to the weight ratio A/B in the patent in suit. The only specific disclosure in this context can be found in the examples of D1. Thus, the respondent pointed to Example 1 of D1 where an amount of organohydrogen polysiloxane was used which corresponds to an A/B ratio of 13.7 which falls within the range defined in Claim 1 as granted (20-0.1).

Finally, the compositions of D1 contain as component 5) a catalytic amount of a platinum compound whereby the amount of platinum compound required is generally from 0.5 to 20 ppm (in terms of elementary platinum), based on total weight of the organopolysiloxane components contained in the composition (page 11). Thus, component 5) of D1 meets the requirements for component C in Claim 1 as granted.

2.1.2 The above detailed analysis of D1 shows that D1 describes some of the components/features of the composition of Claim 1 as granted but some of the components/features merely overlap with those required in Claim 1 as granted, in particular, there is an overlap between D1 and Claim 1 as granted as regards the molecular weight and the vinyl content of component A(i). Further, there is merely the isolated disclosure of the A/B ratio in the examples of D1, eg Example 1.

Thus, in order to arrive at something falling within the scope of Claim 1 as granted one would have to select from the disclosure of D1 an appropriate molecular weight and vinyl content of component 1) and an appropriate amount of component 3) (ie in order to arrive at an appropriate A/B ratio). However, such an approach cannot succeed because the combination is the result of a multiple selection from the disclosure of D1 which does not emerge from D1 as being explicitly or implicitly disclosed for the skilled person. As set out in, for example, T 453/87 of 18 May 1989 (not published in the OJ EPO; point 7.2 of the reasons) and T 653/93 of 21 October 1996 (not published in the OJ EPO, point 3.2 of the reasons), in case of a "multiple selection", one would have to show that the "combined selection" emerges from the prior art. In the present case, a person skilled in the art had no reason, when applying the teaching of D1, to concentrate on the combination of features set out in Claim 1 as granted. Such a combined selection is neither explicitly disclosed in nor clearly and unambiguously derivable from D1.

Consequently, the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted and, by the same token, the subject-matter of dependent Claims 2-6 is novel over D1.

2.1.3 D3 relates to platinum catalyzed silicone rubber compositions with an improved work life having as an inhibitor additive a compound with at least one hydroperoxy radical. In a preferred embodiment (Claim 3), the silicon rubber composition contains a blend of vinyl-containing polymer comprised of a first polysiloxane of the formula

FORMULA/TABLE/GRAPHIC

and having a viscosity that varies from 1,000 to 300,000,000 centipoise at 25ºC, where Vi is vinyl and R**(1) is selected from the class consisting of vinyl, phenyl, alkyl radicals of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, fluoroalkyl radicals of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof and where x varies from 330 to 11,000,

and of 1 to 50 parts by weight of a second vinyl-containing polysiloxane of the formula

FORMULA/TABLE/GRAPHIC

where Vi is vinyl and R**(2) is selected from the class consisting of alkyl radicals of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, fluoroalkyl radicals of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof, y varies from 1 to 4,000 and z varies from 1 to 4,000, which have a viscosity that varies from 1,000 to 1,000,000 centipoise at 25ºC.

If the first polysiloxane of the above mentioned blend is a polydimethylsiloxane (R = CH3), the polymerisation degree of n = 330-11,000 corresponds to a molecular weight of from 26,604 to 814,186 and a vinyl content of from 0.0066 to 0.2195% by weight. Such a vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane corresponds to component A(i) of the patent in suit whereby the definition with respect to the molecular weight range overlaps with the range required in Claim 1 as granted and the range for the vinyl content is broader than the range required in Claim 1 as granted.

The second polysiloxane of the blend disclosed in Claim 3 of D3 is a polysiloxane containing vinyl groups which are located only in pendant positions and therefore corresponds to component A(ii)a or A(ii)c of Claim 1 as granted. For R**(2) = CH3 in the above formula, the vinyl content of the polymer is from 0.009% by weight (y = 1 and z = 4000) to 31.37 (y = 4000 and z = 1) which overlaps to a great extent with the range required in Claim 1 as granted.

The amount of the second polysiloxane of the blend disclosed in D3 is 1 to 50 parts per 100 parts of the basic vinyl-containing polymer, ie the first polysiloxane of the blend (column 11, lines 30-42). Thus, the ratio of the first to the second polysiloxane overlaps with the ratio A(i)/A(ii) defined in Claim 1 as granted. For example, the ratio of 100:1 is covered by the disclosure of D3 whereas it is outside the definition of Claim 1 as granted. Further, as to whether or not a ratio of 100:2 would be covered by Claim 1 as granted depends on the molecular weight of the second polysiloxane of D3.

Further, the silicone rubber compositions of D3 contain 1 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (Claim 1 of D3) which corresponds to component B of Claim 1 as granted. The amount of a hydrogen-containing polysiloxane in D3 equates to a ratio of A/B as required in Claim 1 as granted of from 100:1 to 100:50 (100-2) which overlaps with the ratio required in Claim 1 as granted (ie 20-0.1). As admitted by the respondent, Example 1 of D3 uses an A/B ratio which is outside the scope of Claim 1 as granted, namely 31.25.

Finally, the composition of D3 contains at least 0.1 ppm of a platinum catalyst in terms of parts of platinum metal.

2.1.4 Thus, the above analysis of D3 shows that the circumstances of D3 resemble the circumstances of D1. In other words, in order to arrive at something falling within the scope of Claim 1 as granted one would have to make several selections from the disclosure of D3. Thus, one would have to select: a polydimethylsiloxane as the first component of the blend of D3, the appropriate molecular weight and vinyl content of that component, a polysiloxane with an appropriate vinyl content as the second polysiloxane and the appropriate amount thereof, an appropriate amount of a hydrogen-containing polysiloxane. Again, such a combined selection is neither explicitly disclosed in nor clearly and unambiguously derivable from D3.

Consequently, the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted and, by the same token, the subject-matter of dependent Claims 2-6 is novel over D3.

2.1.5 D4 relates to curable organosiloxane compositions that can be transported by pumping and cured by a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation reaction to form elastomers exhibiting superior physical properties, particularly tensile strength and tear strength, without sacrificing other desirable properties, such as hardness of the cured elastomer or processability of the curable composition (column 1, lines 6-14). The compositions comprise according to Claim 1 the product obtained by mixing to homogeneity

(a) from 70 to 95 weight percent, based on the total weight of (a) and (b), of a first diorganovinylsiloxy terminated polydiorganosiloxane exhibiting a viscosity of from 20 to 200 Pa.s at 25ºC and containing essentially no ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals bonded to non-terminal silicon atoms,

(b) from 5 to 30 weight percent, based on the total weight of (a) and (b), of a second diorganovinylsiloxy terminated polydiorganosiloxane that is miscible with said first polydiorganosiloxane and exhibits a viscosity of from 0.1 to 200 Pa.s at 25ºC, where from 1 to 5 percent of the non-terminal repeating units of said second diorganovinylsiloxy-terminated polydiorganosiloxane contain a vinyl radical,

(c) an amount sufficient to cure said composition of an organohydrogensiloxane that is miscible with (a) and (b), and contains an average of more than two silicon bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule,

(d) a platinum hydrosilation catalyst in an amount sufficient to promote curing of said composition at a temperature of from ambient to 250ºC, and

(e) from 10 to 60 weight percent, based on the weight of said composition, of a treated reinforcing silica filler.

It is evident from the above, that components (a), (b), (c) and (d) of D4 corresponds to components A(i), A(ii), B and C of the patent in suit. Even if one admits that components (a) to (d) as such meet the definitions set out in Claim 1 as granted or at least overlap with those definitions, the claimed subject-matter is novel over D4. As pointed out in the decision under appeal (point 3), D4 does not disclose the weight ratio corresponding to the required A/B ratio of Claim 1 as granted. There is no general disclosure in this respect and all the examples of D4 use a A/B ratio which is from 66:1 to 29:1 (cf Table 1, Samples 2 and 4), ie well above the upper limit of 20:1 required in Claim 1 as granted.

Consequently, the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted and, by the same token, the subject-matter of dependent Claims 2-6 is novel over D4.

2.1.6 For its novelty objections the appellant basically relied upon T 12/90 of 23 August 1990 (not published in the OJ EPO). In that decision, the board decided that the disclosure in a document likely to affect the novelty of a claim was not necessarily limited to the specific working examples but also comprised any reproducible teaching described in the document. In particular, the information provided in the interfering document disclosed a group of compounds encompassing the two representative novelty-destroying examples (point 2.5 of the reasons of the decision). Thus, a simple disclaimer of these two examples was insufficient to restore novelty. However, the situation in the present case differs from T 12/90 (supra) in that neither D1 nor D3 or D4 clearly and unambiguously disclose the group of compositions having the requirements set out in Claim 1 as granted. In contrast to 12/90 (supra), none of the examples of these documents points to the now claimed group of compositions. Furthermore, the respondent has not shown that D1 and D4 disclose a generality with respect to the A/B ratio that would overlap with the ratio defined in Claim 1 as granted. With respect to D3, the A/B ratio overlaps to a some extent with the ratio required in Claim 1 as granted (100-0.2 versus 20-0.1), but there is no hint in D3 for a group of compositions having a A/B ratio in the area of overlap.

Hence, in the board's view the decisive question with regard to novelty is rather as to whether or not the claimed subject-matter is clearly and unambiguously derivable from the prior art. However, as shown above, this question cannot be answered in the affirmative for the present case.

2.1.7 In summary, the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted and, by the same token, the subject-matter of dependent Claims 2-6 is novel over D1, D3 and D4.

2.2 Inventive step (main request)

2.2.1 An integral part of the appeal was the appellant's criticism that the opposition division had not applied the problem-solution-approach correctly. According to the appellant the opposition division had erroneously found that D3 or D4 could be regarded as closest prior art whereas in fact, D5 was the closest prior art because it was the only cited document which was concerned with the same purpose of providing a silicone foam and foam compositions.

2.2.2 However, the board cannot accept the appellant's criticism in this respect for the following reasons. Firstly, Claim 1 as granted is neither directed to a silicone foam nor a foam composition. Secondly, the patent specification itself emphasises in various passages that the invention relates also to elastomers. For example, the first two sentences of the patent specification state: "This invention relates to curable silicon compositions which provide high strength elastomers. These elastomers have high strength properties which are provided by a combination of organopolysiloxanes as the base polymer." Similar statements can be found in paragraph [0006] ("The elastomer forming compositions claimed herein provide high strength elastomers as shown by increased tensile strength, durometer and modulus, while also holding the tear strength relatively constant.") and in paragraph [0010] ("This invention introduces curable silicone compositions which provide high strength foams and elastomers."). Only upon addition of a blowing agent, which is not a requirement of Claim 1 as granted, are the compositions also useful in the preparation of high strength foams (last sentence of paragraph [0001] of the patent specification).

Hence, D1, D3 and D4 qualify as closest prior art because they are all in the technical field envisaged by Claim 1 and the patent specification, and the appellant's assessment of inventive step starting from D5 is flawed from the beginning.

2.2.3 It appears, however, that D3 is particularly suitable as the starting point for the assessment of inventive step. D3 discloses in column 11, lines 29 ff and in Claim 3 the guiding principle of adding to the vinyl-terminated basic polysiloxane another polysiloxane containing vinyl groups in pendant positions in order to give the final composition good physical strength. Further, it is stated in column 11, line 67 to column 12, line 1 that the polysiloxanes containing vinyl groups in pendant positions are basically for the purpose of reinforcing the strength of the basic composition in the absence of a filler. Thus, D3 already discloses the guiding principle which also the patent in suit claims to be "the essence of the invention". Paragraph [0012] of the patent specification states: "The essence of this invention is the combination of polymers to form the base polymer system, selected from (a)(i) and any of the polymers from (a)(ii)a-d to provide enhanced physical properties." It may be appropriate to recall at this juncture that the patent in suit wants to provide "high strength" (see the above cited passages in paragraphs [0001], [0006] and [0010] of the patent specification). Hence, D3 not only has the greatest number of technical features in common with the claimed subject-matter, but also discloses technical effects and intended use most similar to the claimed subject-matter. Consequently, the board agrees with the respondent that D3 is indeed the closest prior art.

2.2.4 The next step in the "problem and solution approach" is an objective assessment of the technical results achieved by the claimed subject-matter compared with the results according to the closest state of the art in order to define the objective technical problem.

The board notes that a direct comparison between a composition according to Claim 1 as granted and a composition according to the closest prior art, eg Example 1 of D3, is not available, in particular because it turned out that all the elastomer samples presented in Example 2 of the patent specification do not meet the requirements of Claim 1 (ie the A/B ratio is too high). Thus, the objective technical problem vis-à-vis the closest prior art can only be seen in the provision of alternative high strength curable silicon compositions.

2.2.5 It remains to be decided whether the proposed solution, ie a curable composition as defined in Claim 1 as granted, is obvious from the prior art.

Starting from D3, the person skilled in the art would be aware of the guiding principle disclosed in D3, namely the combined use of a vinyl-terminated basic polysiloxane and a polysiloxane containing vinyl groups in pendant positions in order to give the final composition good physical strength. Faced with the problem of providing alternative high strength curable silicone compositions, the person skilled in the art would of course not only consider the exemplified combinations of a vinyl-terminated basic polysiloxane and a polysiloxane containing vinyl groups in pendant positions but also other combinations falling within the general teaching of D3. Since, as demonstrated above, the general teaching of D3 overlaps with the claimed subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted, the person skilled in the art would inevitably arrive at something falling within the scope of Claim 1 as granted. Thus, the subject-matter of Claim 1 as granted is obvious from D3 alone.

The appellant's argument that in particular the ratio of A/B (20:1 to 1:10 being equal to 20-0.1) would not be derivable from the prior art is not convincing. As pointed out in point 2.1.3, above, D3 envisages a ratio of 100-2 which overlaps to a certain extent with the ratio required in Claim 1 as granted. Thus, the person skilled in the art would learn from D3 that it was possible to work with ratios lower than the ratio of 31.25 exemplified in Example 1 and would therefore inevitably arrive at a ratio falling within the range defined in Claim 1 as granted.

2.3 Since Claim 1 as granted is not based on an inventive step with respect to D3, the main request (ie claims as granted) has to be refused.

3. Auxiliary request

3.1 At the oral proceedings, the appellant filed a new auxiliary request which replaced the auxiliary request filed on 26 May 2006 headed "1st Auxiliary Request". Since the new auxiliary request differed from the previous auxiliary request merely by the deletion of a dependent claim and the correction of a dependency, the board was satisfied that the other party could properly deal with the late filed auxiliary request. Nor did the respondent raise an objection in this connection. Consequently, the new auxiliary request was admitted into the proceedings for consideration.

3.2 Amendments (auxiliary request)

Claim 1 of the new auxiliary request is a combination of Claims 1 and 4 as granted, ie Claim 1 requires now the presence of "D) at least one blowing agent to generate a foam". Dependent Claims 2-4 corresponded to Claims 2, 3 and 5 as granted. Thus, no objections under Articles 123 and/or 84 EPC arise out of the amendment. Nor was any objection raised by the respondent in this respect.

3.3 Novelty (auxiliary request)

The subject-matter of Claim 1 of the main request has been found to be novel over the cited prior art. Since the subject-matter of Claim 1 of the auxiliary request has been further restricted it goes without saying that the subject-matter of Claim 1 of the auxiliary request (and of dependent Claims 2-4) is also novel. Nor was novelty questioned by the respondent.

3.4 Inventive step (auxiliary request)

3.4.1 The board agrees with the parties that in view of the amendment of Claim 1 of the auxiliary request to curable silicone compositions comprising at least one blowing agent, ie to foamable compositions, D5 becomes the closest prior art. D5 is the only cited prior art dealing with foams. In particular, D5 discloses a foamable composition comprising a vinyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane, a hydride polysiloxane in the form of a mixture of a linear hydride polysiloxane and a cyclic hydride polysiloxane, a hydroxylated material (preferably aqueous methanol) and an effective amount of a platinum catalyst.

3.4.2 It is evident from the patent in suit that the foamable compositions are useful in the preparation of high strength foams (page 2, lines 6-7 of the patent specification). However, as pointed out by the respondent, there is no evidence on file that the claimed foamable compositions provide an improvement over the foamable compositions of the closest prior art, ie D5. Thus, the objective technical problem vis-à-vis D5 can only be seen in the provision of alternative foamable silicon compositions yielding high strength foams.

3.4.3 Starting from D5 and faced with the problem of providing curable silicone compositions that yield high strength foams, the person skilled in the art would of course consult all documents dealing with high strength silicone elastomers in general and not only with foamed silicone elastomers. As pointed out by the respondent, the person skilled in the art would be fully aware of the fact that it is the polysiloxane material that mainly determines the properties of the final foam. This is common general knowledge and also apparent from two passages of D5 itself, namely column 1, lines 46-50 and column 4, lines 24-27. When looking for curable silicone compositions that provide high strength, the person skilled in the art would find in D3 the disclosure that the combination of a vinyl-terminated polysiloxane and a polysiloxane containing vinyl groups in pendant positions provides good physical strength to the final composition (see point 2.2.3 above). It may be worth repeating at this juncture that D3 explicitly states that the polysiloxanes containing vinyl groups in pendant positions "are basically for the purpose of reinforcing the strength of the basic composition in the absence of a filler" (column 11, line 67 to column 12, line 1). Thus, the person skilled in the art had a motivation to modify the closest prior art by using the silicone compositions of D3. Since, furthermore, as set out above, the general definitions of the components disclosed in D3 overlap with the silicone components as defined in Claim 1 as granted (and Claim 1 of the auxiliary request, respectively), the person skilled in the art would inevitably arrive at something falling within the scope of Claim 1 of the auxiliary request. Thus, the subject-matter of Claim 1 of the auxiliary request is obvious from D5 in combination with D3.

3.5 Since Claim 1 of the auxiliary request is not based on an inventive step with respect to a combination of D5 with D3, the auxiliary request has to be refused.