320
FEDERAL REPORTER.
pose set forth." Read with the description, however, the claim must be limited to one for the cigar when made by the machine described in detail by the patentee as employed by him for the purpose, or a substantially similar machine. No mode of making such a cigar is disclosed in the specification except by means of the machine described.. The machine is described with particularity, and the mode of operating it; and among the advantages enumerated as the result of the invention are those which could only result from the employment of the particular machine. There is no evidence that the defendants' cigars were made by a machine; on the contrary, the proof is that the hole in the tip was punched by a pencil. The bill is dismissed.
MUNSON
and another York.
t7. HALL.
(C'Wcuit Oourt,
s. D. New
February 6, 1884.)
PATENTS-IMPROVED PAPER Box.
The distinctive characteristic of letters patent No. 124,319, for an Improved paper box, consists in the closed corners; and a box of which the end can be turned down is not an infringement.
In Equity. Munson et Philipp, for complainants. James A. Hudson and Frederic H. Betts, for defendant. WALLACE, J. The complainants letters patent (No. 124,319, granted to Beecher and Swift, assignors, March 5, 1872) describe an improved paper box of the class which are provided with tubular sliding covers, and commonly used for containing matches, etc. The box is made from a blank sheet of paper cut and creased so as to form a bottom, two side flaps, two end flaps provided with projecting end pieces, and two corner pieces which may be used or discarded at pleasure. The side flaps are turned up to form the sides, and the end flaps are turned up to form the ends, after which the corner pieces are folded around the side flaps, and the projecting end pieces are turned down into the top of the box. The specification states that "after thus folding the several parts together they are united by pasting the overlapping corner pieces to the side flaps, the whole forming a strong and durable box." The inventors point out two objections to the boxes previously in use, and which are obviated by their improvement. One of these is insufficient strength and rigidity owing to the absence of the corner pieces. The other is the liability of the contents to escape if one end of the box should accidentally project slightly from the tubular cover. 'l'hele are two claims: (1) The combination with a paper box
IlATTHEWS 'D. IRON OLAD lrIANOF'G 00.
821
adapted to a tubular cover of the projecting end pieces arranged sub. stantially as and for the purposes described; (2) a paper box con· structed substantially as described, with overlapping corner pieces, a.nd with overlapping end pieces partially covering the end of the box. Infringement is alleged of the first claim only. The defendants use a blank cut and creased like complainants' blank, except without any corner pieces, which they fold into box form with sides and ends and end pieces, and thus make a receptacle to hold cigarettes which is not pasted at the corners, but in which the whole end can be opened without removing the receptacle from the tubular cover. It is a loose receptacle adapted to expose the whole end while the body remains within the tubular cover. The complainants' patent is for a different thing. It is for a box in which the parts are united at the ends and sides. If made without the corner pieces it is "joined together at the corners to form the sides and ends of the box," as the pre-existing boxes are described in the specification to have been made, but has the projecting end pieces to prevent escape of the contents by accidental exposure. If made with the corner pieces it has the additional strength and rigidity which they confer upon it. No wider scope can be given to the claims in view of their terms, the descriptive position of the specifications, and the specific improvements over the existing boxes which were contemplated by the inventors. The bill is dismissed.
MATTHEWS 'D. IRON CLAD MANOP'G Co.
(Oirtnlie CtnJrt,8. D. NetI1J York.
February Il, 1884.)
PATENTS FOlt INVENTIONS-EvmENOE-JUUGMENT-BTRANGEltS TO THE BUIT.
A decree obtained by the plaintiff in an action to recover for the infringement of his patent cannot be introduced in an action against a stranger to the former suit for the purpose of prOVing acquiescnce in the plaintiff's use of the patent.
In Equity. Briesen et Steele, for complainant. Betts, Atterbury et Betts, for defendant. WALLACE, J. The defendant moves to expunge from the proofs certain decrees introduced by the complainant, obtained in aotions in which he was complainant, adjudicating the vaiidity of the patent upon whioh the present suit is brought. These decrees were obtained in suits against infringers to which the present defendant was not a party, or privy. The evidence was introduced against the defendant's objection, and is now insisted on as tending to show acquiescence in the rights of the plaintiff under his patent. If it were necessary for the oomplainant to show that he had asserted his rights v.19,no.5-21