838
FEDERAL REPORTER·.
invention from that described in the original; and tha.t,to this extent,atleast, the reissue is void. Let llo decree be entered, dismissing the bill of complaint, with costs.
GOLD
&
STOCK TELEGRAPH' Co.
v.
COMMERCIAL TELEGBAPH
Co.
(Oircuit Oourt. S. D. New York. PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS DOUBTFUL-ExpIHA'£ION OF PATEN'r.
January 13,1888.) V ALlDITY '
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION -
OJ' CLAIMS
A motion fOl' a temporary injunction is not designed for the adjudication of doubtful questions which have not previously been discussed, and in this case the construction of the second claim of reissued patent No. 3,810, dated January 25,1870, granted to the Gold & Stock Telegraph Company, all assignee of Edward H. Calahan, for an improvement in telegraphic printing instruments for registering gold, stocks, etc.; and its infringement by the Steven D. ]!'ield pat. ent cannot be passed upon, notwithstanding the fact that the life of the patent is rapidly approaching its close.
In Equity. O. L. Buckingham and Dickerson & Dickerson, for plaintiff. Samuel A. Duncan and B08coe Oonkling, for defendants. SHIPMAN, J. This is a motion for a preliminary injunction against the alleged infringement of reissued letters patent No. 3,810, dated January 25, 1870, granted to the Gold & Stock Telegraph Company, as assignees of Edward A. Calahan, for an improvement in telegraphic printing instruments for registering gold, stocks, etc. The original patent was granted April 21, 1868. The reissued patent contains five claims, the second of which is said to be infringed by the defendants by the use of a patented machine invented by Stephen D. Field. No adjudication has been had upon the Calahan patent, except in the case, in this court, of the present plaintiff against Charles J. Wiley, 17 FJJJD. REP. 234, wherein the validity of the third claim only was involved. The principal question in this case, viz., as to the construction of the words "jointly or separately" in the second claim, did not arise in the Wiley Oase. The present bill was filed on May instru29, 1883, at which time the defendants had 20 Field ments in process of construction. Before that time they had used the instrument for the purpose of experiment. The plaintiff's prima facie case was closed on July 23, 1884. The difficulty of ascertaining and proving the construction of the Field machine was a cause of delay; therefore no testimony has been taken by the defendants, although the time designated by the court in which to take and close their proofs has expired. They have presented before me divers affidavits in which their defense is set forth. , The principal question in the case is the construction of the word "jointly" in the second claim, and when I add that it is substantially
GOLD & S'fOCK TELEGRAPH CO.V. COM}IEUCIAL TELEGRAPH 00.
839
agreed that the state the art.in printing, at the date of the original Calahan patent, isrepreaebted 'in the Johnson or Theiler mechanism, the question may seem to be 11. very simple one, but the plaintiff's proofs, and the defendant's affidavits, show that it is really one upon which much learning, skill, and time may be pI Jfitably employed, and which is not of ready solution. The reason why the motion is pressed, underthis state of faots; is obvious, and is not concealed. The Calahan patent will certainly expire on April 21,1885. It is saia by the defendants that it will expire on March 16,1885, by reason of the expiration at that date of the English patent for the invention. Necessary delays have occurred in the taking of the plain. tiff's prima facie proofs. The defendants have not been in haste in taking their testimony, and the life of the patent is rapidly approaching its close. There is a strong and very urgent motive to ha.ve a decision upon the question in the case before the invention is open to the public. Assuming that the whole testimony is before the court, and that it has been completely presented and can be thoroughly studied on this motion, the fact still remains that a temporary injunction is being sought upon a question which now arises for the first time, and which must be examined with the care and patience necessarily incident to a case wherein men's minds must differ. In other words, the attempt is made to make a motion for a temporary injunction applicable to a state of facts to which such a motion is not adapted. It is no answer to the argument that upon a motion for an injunction, pendente lite, the question must be susceptible of ready answer, and the case must be free from reasonable doubt, to say that this whole case is now before the court, and that the questions, after the state of the art is ascertained, are those of law which can be settled as well now as at final, hearing; because a motion for a temporary injunction is not designed for the adjudication of doubtful questions which have not previously been discussed. While I understand the pecuniary damage to the plaintiff arising from delay, if its rights.are being infringed, the history of the case shows and my examination of it satisfies me that the question is one which is open, and which needs the attention usually given to cases upon final hearing. The motion is denied.
84:0
FEDERAL REPORTER.
GIBSON,
Adm'r, and others v.
SCRIBNER.
(Oircuit Oourt, D. Maine.
Febrnary 2,1886.)
PATENTS FOR INVEN'fIONS-ANTICIPATION-SHINGLE-MAOHINlll-OLAm ENT No. 216,344.
1 OP
PAT-
The first claim in patent No. 216,344, dated June 10,1879, i88uOO to Benjamin F. Penney, and his assignee of one-half interest, was anticipated by the machines invented by Porter and Webber and in public use before the iBBue of the patent to Penney; and such claim is void. .
In Equity. William Franklin Sea,1Iey, for complainants. Laughton <t Glergue, for respondent. WEBB, J. This is a bill to restrain the infringement of patent No. 216,344, dated June 10, 1879, for which application was filed December 13, 1878, issued to Benjamin F. Penney, deceased, and his assignee of one-half interest. The alleged infringement is li.mited to the matter embraced in the first claim.' It is admitted by the defendant that, since the date of this patent, he has made a shinglemachine embracing in its construction the features described in the patent and claimed in said first claim, which would have infringed said patent and claim if the same had been valid. He sets up as his defense: (1) That.one Elbridge Webber, as early as 1856, invented and manufactured a machine embodying the invention in said first claim, and publicly used at Gardiner, Maine, the machine so constructed; (2) that, as early as and prior to 1875, machines, containing said alleged invention and discovery, were publicly manufactured and sold and kept on sale, at Gardiner, Maine, by this defendant and by Elbridge Webber; (3) that one Willis Porter, as early as 1875, constructed a machine known as the "Gardiner Improved" shingle-machine, and set the same in operation in public, which contained the features described in the first claim of these letters patent. The complainants deny the invention of Webber, and the construction of machines of the description alleged by Webber and this defendant, at the early time asserted. They admit that the "Gardiner Improved" does embody and contain the features claimed in the first claim of their letters patent, but do not admit that that machine was made or invented before the year 1875 or 1876, or that the improvements embraced tnerein were conceived before that date. To defeat the effect of any construction of the "Gardiner Improved" more than two years prior to their application, they seek to show that Penney conceived the improvements subsequently patented as early as 1870, and was prevented perfecting his invention by his pov3rty. It is not clear from the evidence that at the early date named he had formed any distinct conception of the invention, or anything more than an idea that some means might be devised to accomplish certain practical results. Neither is there proof that his poverty made