Appeal No. 1997-1970
Application 08/268,732
a spring.” Consistent with the underlying disclosure, we
understand this language of the claim to require a holder
configured substantially circular, i.e., within the normally
expected tolerances for the form of a circle or ring, so as to
be able to encompass or form a circle about the curtain
fabric. It is additionally clear to us, when reading the
language of claim 21 in light of the specification, that the
holder provides structure to define the (spring loaded)
opening, which structure is under the action of a spring.
The examiner refers to the hook or fastening device 5 of
Geraldine as a holder (page 4 of final rejection; Paper No.
10).
Geraldine teaches us (page 1, line 97 through page 2,
line 2) that the hook 5 co-acts with a complementary fastening
member attached to the other end of a tie strap 3. As can
readily be discerned from Figures 1 and 3 of Geraldine, a
portion of the drapery 1, arranged in folds 2, is inboard of
the hook 5 and tie strap 3, such that the strap, formed in a
loop, holds the gathered folds of the drapery (page 1, lines
5
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