Appeal No. 2000-1338
Application 09/107,241
[t]he solar heater has a first base sheet 12, a
second intermediate sheet 14 and a third translucent
sheet 16. The sheets 12, 14 and 16 are all joined
together along their peripheries to define a liquid
compartment 18 and an air compartment 20.
The air compartment 20 has a closable opening in
the form of a nipple 22 which contains a non-return
valve (not shown) and has a closure plug 24.
The air compartment is thus inflatable by
blowing into the nipple 22 or, if desired, by the
use of a foot operated pump 26 as shown in Fig. 5.
The pump 26 has a flexible pipe 28 terminating in a
nozzle 30 which is a neat fit into the nipple 22.
The liquid compartment 18 has two closable
openings fitted with valves 32. One form of valve
is shown in Fig. 4 while another is shown in Fig. 6.
Each valve 32 has a pipe 34 leading to it and can
serve as an inlet or an outlet dependent upon the
orientation of the solar heater.
. . .
One of the pipes 34 which is intended to serve
as an inlet for the liquid compartment 18
conveniently has an attachment (not shown) at its
free end to permit ready attachment to a tap [page
1, line 114, through page 2, line 22].
As for the use to which this water heater may be put, Du
Plooy teaches that
[t]he solar heater is particularly suited for
occasional or temporary use, e.g. as an item of
camping equipment. While not in use, the solar
heater can comprise a tightly rolled bundle for
transport and storage. In use, the heater will be
unrolled and either placed with its blanket 46 on
a surface or be suspended by one or more of the
handles 52, preferably at an inclination to the
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Last modified: November 3, 2007