Appeal No. 1999-0636 Page 11
Application No. 08/828,375
steel tape (33) as a reinforcing member at the top of the gate
to assure rigidity and ease of operation of the gate and
eliminate side-sway (page 1, lines 1-9), one of ordinary skill
in the art reading the disclosure of Martinek would have
understood that no gate is completely impenetrable or tamper-
proof and would have recognized the merits of an alarm system
to indicate unauthorized tampering or movement of the gate.
The appellant's second argument is directed to the fact
that the La Mell alarm system is specifically adapted for use
on Venetian blinds or similar window barriers which are
subject to harmless movement as the result of wind
disturbances. The La Mell system comprises a magnet (42) on
the window sill (18) and a reed switch (40) mounted on a lower
rail (26) of the Venetian blind (10) which senses the
proximity of the magnet (42) thereto. When the blind is moved
relative to the window frame, the reed switch (40) is moved
out of proximity to the magnet (42), thereby causing the reed
switch to change states. The disclosed improvement in the La
Mell system is an alarm circuit (44), discussed in detail in
column 6, line 39, to column 7, line 9, which permits
actuation of the alarm generating device (54) only after the
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