WHITCOMB V. SPlUKG VALLEY COAT, CO.
661
WHITCOMB V. SPRING
V AT,LEY
COAT, CO.
(Ci?'cuit Court, N. D. Illinois.
January 26, 1891.)
1.
PATENTS FOR INVENTloxs-NoVELTY-MINING-MACHINES.
Letters patent No. 267,047, to George D. Whitcomb, November 7,1882, for a coalmining machine, covering (claim 3) the combination of an inclined platform and mining-machine, the platform sloping towards the work of the machine, so as to hold it to its work, and &ssist in overcoming the recoil from the blow of the pick, is not void because it required no inventive genius, nor for want of novelty, either because of the use of an inclined platform in artillery to prevent the recoil of the gun, or otherwise.. Letters patent No. 335,328, to George D. Whitcomb, February 2,1886, for a miningmachine, covering (claim 6) a main air-inlet, and inlet and exhaust ports of the valve-motor, having their valves arranged at the rear face of the machine below the top thereof, is not infringed by the use of a machine which acts by the direct pressure of the air upon the cylinder.
2.
In Equity. Ooburn & Thacher, for complainant. Paul Bakewell and G. S. Eldredge, for defendant. BLOD(lRTT, J. This is a bill for an injunction and accounting by reason of the alleged infringement of patent No. 267 ,047, granted November 7, 1882, to George D. Whitcomb, for a "coal-mining machine," and patent Ko. 335,328, granted February 2, 1886, to George D. Whitcomb, for a "mining-machine." Patent No. 267,047 covers several improvements in coal-mining machines, but the only feature of the patent brought in question in this case is that covered by the third claim, which is described in the patent as-:"An inclined portable platform, upon which the mining.machine is placed when in operation. It is made to slope towards the work of the machine, so that the weight oE the machine holds it to its work, and assists to overcome the recoil from the the pick. The incline of the platform also enables the operator to give the machine a downward pitch. so that the weight of the piston and pi'ston-rod assists in gi ving force to the blow of the pick. This inclination of the platform operates in this way to savepowel', and assist the operator in operating the machine and holding it toits work. I ordinarily make my platform double, with loose sections, and in such manner that the machine is moved laterally from one platform to another, as it is moved from place to place in its work." This feature of the machine is covered by claim No.3. which is: "(3) ThlJ combination of the ,inclined platform, M, and mining-machine, for the purpose of. holding the machine to its work,. substantially as specified . and shown."
Patent No. 335,328 has nine claims covering features which are claimed as improvements upon the machine described in the first-mentioned patent, and also in. the machines covered by the patents involved in the preceding suit9f Whitcomb and others against the same defendant, but the only claim involved in this case is Ko .. 6, which is: "(6) In a mining-machine of (htl character described, the main air-inlets, and inlet and exhaust ports, Land N, of the valve-motor, having their valves
662
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 47. snbstantially
arranged at the rear face of the machine, below the top as and for the purposes specified., , '
The defenses interposed in this case are (1) want of novelty, (2) noninfringement. As to the alleged infringement of patent No. 267,047, the proof shows that the defendant uses an inclined platform in connection with its machines, the same as is described in and covered by the third claim of the patent, and I can see no escape, under the proof, from the charge of infringement in this case. As to the defense of want of novelty, the only defenses interposed are (1) that thedevice is so simple and common that it required no inventive genius to devise and put it in operation in connection with the undercutting machine; (2) that the same device had been used in connection with artillery to prevent the recoil of the guns. I think there can be no doubt from the proof that this inclined platform has added much to the effectiveness and managability of the machine. Its effect is very tersely described in the citation I have made from the specifications, as enabling the operator to give the machine a downward incline or pitch, so that the weight of the machine and pistonrod assists in giving force to the blow of the pick; and, in this brief aescription of its utility, the operation of the device and the device itself, in combination with the mining-machine, is differentiated from the incline used in connection with artillery. In the artillery device, the incline was placed at the rear of the gun, so that when discharged the gnn would ascend the incline, and thereby add its weight to mollify the recoil, and cause it to return to its place,while the inclined platform in this case is to be used tohold the machine in such position as to enable it to give its blows most effectively. It is not the quantum of invention that determines the validity of a new device,but the only question is, is it new and useful? The utility of this inclined platform, in combination with the mining-ll1achine, is clearly established; in fact, as the defendant uses it, I do not think it lies in its mouth to deny its utility; and, as far as its novelty is concerned, nothing in the previous art shows a platform of this character in combination with a mining-machine like this. I think; therefore, the patent is valid, and the defendant has infringed it. As to the sixth claim of patent No. 335,328, I do not think the defendant's device infringes this claim. The defendant's machine acts by the direct pressure of the air upon the cylinder, while, in the ant's machine, the special improvement covered by-this claim operates upon and is adapted only to what is called a "valve-motor," which operates in aneniirely- different manner from the defendant's machine. I am therefore of opinion that the defendant does not infringe the sixth claim of this patent. A decree may therefore be prepared.,linding that the defendant has infringed th ll third claim of patent No. 267,047, and fol:' an injunction and accounting.
CAMPBELL PRINTING-PRESS
&
MANUF'G CO. v. MA:SHATTAN
BY.
CO.
663
CAMPBELL PRINTING-PRESS & MANUF'G CO. v; MANHATTAN Ry. CO. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. PATElITS FOR
September 21,1891.) INJUNCTION.
Where the owner of a patent for an invention used in car-couplings is notrnerely a user of the patent, but licenses its use by others, a railroad company will not be temporarily enjoined, in a suit for infringement and damages, from using such infriogl'ilg couplings as it already hus in use, where the parties are wide apart in their views as to the proper amount of royalty, but may be enjoined from the use of any others which may infringe.
In F4uity. Suit by the Campbell Printing-Press & Manufacturing Company against the Manhattan Railway Company, to compel defendant to account for and pay over all profits derived by it from the use of an improvement in valves, used in its car-couplings, the patent on which was owned by complainant,and for a preliminary and permanent injunction to enjoin defendant from making, using, or selling any apparatus containingtiie'ipvention covered by the patent. Chas. De Hart BrO'wer, for complainant. Davies, Short & Townsend, for defendant. LACOMBE, Circuit Judge. The validity of the patent being practically conceded, and it being apparently easy for the defendants to substitute other couplings quite as efficie,nt as the infringing devices, I should be inclined to grant thisibjunction in such form as would allow the change to be m'ade without undue iiiconvenience to the traveling public. It appears, however, that complainantis not' a liser of the patented article l b l1 t seeks to benefit under the patent by licensing ,the use of the couplings' by others, and that the parties are wide apart iii their views as to the proper amount of royalty. I feel constrained, therefore, to refuse a preliminary injunction as against such infringing couplillgs as are now in use. Hoev. Knap, 27 Fed. Rep. 204; Hoe v. Daily Advertise'I' Corp., 14 Fed. Rep. 914; New York Gmpe Sugar Co . .v. American Grape Sugar Co., 10 Rep. 835; Pullman v. Railroad Co., 5 Fed. Rep. 72; Morris v. Lowell Mantif'g Co., 3 Fish. Pa.t. Cas. 67. Complainant may, however, t;1ke an injunction against the use of any others which may infringe his pate4t, and of course, if he can show any for distrusting defendant's ability to pay the damages and profits, may apply for security.