Appeal No. 2000-1732
Application No. 08/972,852
notches 36, 38 since lateral movement between the ladder cords
and the slats is clearly intended by the patentee to be
prevented. With this perspective, it is likewise our
understanding that rear lift cords are threaded through loops
31 attached to rear ladder cords, while front lift cords (as
seen in Fig. 1) are woven with front ladder cords at
approximately every tenth to fifteenth slat at points between
the slats. 5
Based upon our assessment of the Simon teaching, it is
clear to us that the lift cords thereof do not run through
respective first and second sets of slots, as now claimed.
Further, we do not discern that one versed in the art would
comprehend from the Simon teaching that the lift cords thereof
would engage a plurality of the ladder rungs such that the
rails of the ladders would fold substantially in a plane
parallel to the edges of the slats when the lift cords draw
the slats together, as now claimed. In our view, it is
5The Simon specification in obvious error sets forth that
a front lift cord is woven about a corresponding front lift
cord (column 3, lines 19 and 20).
8
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