Appeal No. 96-1058
Application 08/211,143
The claimed invention relates to an escape device for use in
exiting a building. Claim 8 is illustrative and defines the
claimed invention as follows with bracketed numerals added for
purposes of our discussion:
8. An escape device comprising
[1] a collapsible tubular stocking having a plurality of
longitudinally disposed sections, each said section having a
vertically extending back portion and an obliquely extending
front portion defining a funnel-shaped passage therebetween;
[2] a plurality of bracing rings secured to said stocking at
spaced apart intervals, each bracing ring being disposed between
a respective pair of said stocking sections and defining an
access opening into a funnel-shaped passage of a respective
stocking section therebelow; and
[3] a plurality of rigid connecting means, each said
connecting means being secured to a respective bracing ring to
project from said ring for mounting in an opening of a building
to provide an access path for an occupant of the building to a
respective access opening for entry into said stocking.
Claims 8 through 10 and 12 through 17 stand rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Nordtvedt (U.S. Pat. No.
4,595,074, granted June 17, 1986) in view of Schuett (U.S. Pat.
No. 275,083, granted April 3, 1883). The examiner states
(answer, pp. 2-3), and the appellant concedes, so far as claim 8
is concerned (brief, p. 5), that Nordtvedt discloses an escape
device like that claimed in the clauses [1] and [2] of claim 8.
The examiner recognizes that Nordtvedt fails to disclose the
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007