Appeal No. 2000-0068
Application 08/858,116
portions of the glass sheet extending beyond the flat portion of
the vacuum platen as the glass sheet is held on the flat platen
by vacuum to shape the portions of the glass sheet extending
beyond the flat surface of the vacuum platen corresponding to the
shape of the auxiliary shaping means (see column 2, lines 49
through 60). We refer to elements 40, 120 and 121 in Figure 16
and their definition at column 11, lines 57 through 62 for a
description of the vacuum platen and the "auxiliary shaping
means."
In one embodiment described in Figures 16 through 20,
Seymour discloses forming glass sheets using auxiliary shaping
means. In this embodiment, on which the examiner has relied as
the basis for rejecting the claims, the flat vacuum platen 40 is
flanked by a pair of curved shaping blocks 120. The curved
shaping blocks are stationary and are provided with vacuum means
via conduits 121. A hearth block 1252 which extends beyond the
ends of the platen and underlies the shaping blocks supports the
heated sheet of glass. The flat vacuum platen 40 may be lowered
vertically to engage and lift the heated sheet of glass by
vacuum. As the sheet is raised by the vacuum platen a lifting
frame 126 is raised to follow the heated glass sheet as it is
2 Seymour discloses the alternative use of lifting rings to
raise the heated glass sheet towards the flat vacuum platen in
another embodiment of his invention. See column 10, lines 16
through 39.
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