Appeal No. 2000-1712
Application No. 08/624,091
BACKGROUND
The appellant's invention relates to an extendible and
retractable blind in combination with a multiple-glazed
window. Claim 17, the only claim involved in this appeal,
reads as follows:
17. An extendible and retractable blind in
combination with a multiple-glazed window comprising
a multiple-glazed window having at least two
parallel spaced apart panes of glass hermetically
sealed to each other to define an interior space
between said panes of glass, a blind comprised of a
film having a plurality of spaced apart parallel
creases extending from one side edge of the film to
an opposite side edge of the film, a multi-sided
mandrel upon which said film is wound, support means
for rotatably supporting said mandrel within said
space between said panes of glass, electric motor
means mounted within said space and operatively
connected to said mandrel for rotating said mandrel,
wherein said film has a thickness between 0.01 and
0.05 mm and said creases are provided at interval[s]
of 7-20 mm.
According to appellant, a blind comprised of a film
having a thickness between 0.01 and 0.05 mm would not perform
satisfactorily without the creases. The creases lead to the
formation of a wave profile, which in turn forms a roll with a
cross-section similar in shape to a sprocket wheel and with
its own torque when the blind is wound up. Further, the wave
profile helps increase transverse stiffness and promotes the
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