Appeal No. 2000-1338
Application 09/107,241
horizontal and facing the sun. Water is introduced
into the liquid compartment 18 via one of the pipes
34 to fill it. The gas compartment 20 is then
filled with air. After a period of time, water in
the liquid compartment will be heated and can be
drawn off via one of the pipes 34. The water can be
replenished in the liquid compartment 18 from time
to time as required and the heater may be moved from
time to time to keep the translucent sheet 16 facing
towards the sun. When no longer required, the water
can be released from the liquid compartment 18 and
air from the gas compartment 20 and the heater is
rolled up for storage [page 2, lines 68 through 90].
Du Plooy teaches, or would have suggested, a device and
method meeting all of the limitations in independent claims 1
and 13 except for those relating to the shower head. In this
regard, Du Plooy does not indicate that the free end of the
liquid compartment’s outlet pipe or hose 34 has a shower head
or any other element attached thereto.
The appellants’ contention (see pages 2 through 5 in the
main brief and pages 2 and 3 in the reply brief) that Du Plooy
also lacks response to the limitations in claims 1 and 13
relating to the pressurized air in the second chamber for
pressurizing/expelling the water in the first chamber is not
persuasive. In considering the disclosure of a reference, it
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007