658
. FEDERAL . REPORTEiR,
yol. 5.5.
the die ,of the patent. i Such ribs were old when the field, and he has taken pains to: point out in his testimony the advalltagesofbending the bar by his process over the prior methods oil holding the bar straight upon a longitudinal rib. The bill is dismissed. KERR
v. HOYLE et a1. No. 74.
(CIrcuit Court, lj]. D. Pennsylvania. April 24, 1893.) 1. PATENrs FOR INVENTIONS-ANTICIPATION.
Letters patent No. 353,790, issued December 7, 1886, to David R Kerr, were :('01' a "woven fa.bric," the object of which is the 'production "in a woven fabric of a variety of shades of color in the pattern or figure, by a new way of interweaving the warp and weft threads, avoiding the expense of extra colors in the warp and weft threads," by "the combination of two warps of the same color with two or more colored weft threads; the warp threads being so 'lu'ranged in loom harness as to work in pairs, ","ith a binder warp thl'eadbetween the two figuring warp threads of each pair." Held not to have been' anticipated by certain fabrics made some years before the date of the patent.
2.
SAME-VALIDITy-RESULT OF ACCIDEN1'.
'l'hepatent is not invalid as covering merely the result of an accident, but is sustainable as showing patentable invention.
In Equity. Bill by David B. Kerr, as administrator, etc., against Hoyle, Harrison & Kaye, for the infringement of letters patent. Decree for complainant. John Dolman, for complainant. George J. Harding, for respondents. BUTLER, District Judge. The plaintiff charges infringement of patent No. 353,790, issued to David B. Kerr, Decel)lbeI' 7, 1886, for a "woven fabric." The specifications state the object of the invention tote the production "in a woven fabric of a variety of shades of color in the pattern or figure, by a new way of interweaving the warp and weft threads, avoiding the expense of extra colors in the warp -and weft threads." The invention is stated to "consist in the combination. pf, two warps of the same color, with two or more colored weft threads; the warp threads being so arranged in loom harness as to work in pairs, with a binder warp thread in the center of each pall'." The claim is stated as follows: "The combination of two or more wefts each of a different color, with figuriJ).g warp t!lreap.s, and a binder warp thread betweeJ;!. the two figuring warp threads of;C/lch 'pair, as , : anll described, and fo,r the purpose specified." ".', ,-; '
\-'
'.
,IThe of this arrangement of threads in, the loom, and the described m.ethod of working them, is to produce a peculiar fabric, which is acknowledged to be new in the art, if not anticipated by either of the three specimens -of old fabric produced by the defendants. The defenses set up are, first, anticipation; second, an implied license; third, "that the matter claimed was not the invention of I:\err, but the result of an accident." The second was not
JOHNSON
v.
HERO FRUIT-JAR CO.
659
urged on the argument, and I understand is abandoned. Infringement is not denied-if the patent is valid. In support of the first ground of defense three specimens of fabric made several years before the date of the patent-two of them designated as Brooks Fabric Nos. 1 and 2, and the third as Stead & Miller's Fabric No.1. A careful examination of these exhibits and cQmparison of them with the plaintiff's fabric, in the light of the expert testimony, has not satisfied me that they show the invention described and claimed in the patent. It may be admitted that the question is not entirely free of difficulty; but my judgment, after patient examination, is as stated. A discussion of the subject here, which must consist in a written comparison of the elements of the several fabrics, and an analysis of the conflicting testimony of the witnesses called, would be useless. The conduct of the defendants respecting the patent is entitled to weight in considering the question of its validity. The patentee was in their employment, and they encouraged him in securing the invention, apparently that they might enjoy the monopoly thus afforded. After the patent issued they manufactured the fallrie extensively for some years, paying a small royalty for the privilege. They were intelligent in the art, and of large experience; and yet they did not seem to doubt the validity of the patent until the pat· entee had left their employment, and the license had expired. 'rhe third ground of defense-"that the fabtic was not the result of invention, but of accident"-presents less difficulty. The clear weight of the evidence, as well as the admissions arhdng from the defendants' conduct, just adverted to, is in my judgment against it. I do not find, therefore, anything in the proofs sufficient to repel the presumption of novelty and invention which attaches to the action of the patent office in granting the letters. The bill is sustained, and a decree may be prepared accordingly. JOHNSON v. HErtO I!'RUIT-JAR CO. (Circuit Court, K D. Pennsylvania. May 9, 1893.)
'No. 30. PATENTS FOR
r.rhe claims of letters patent No. 408,177, issued July 30, 1889, to Daniel W. Johnson, for sealing disks for jars, covered "a sealing gasket for jars, lUlving a base of waterproof material backed with and secured to a felted material," and also "a sealing gasket consisting of a body of felted material having waterproof material secured to its opposite faces." Long prior to the application for this patent there were in use sealing gaskets composed of a disk of parchment and a disk of felt, arranged the one on the other, but not secured together. Heidi, that pasting together the faces of the old disks, which is all that is contemplated by the patent, does not involve invention, and the patent is void.
GASKETS.
In Equity. Suit by Daniel W. Johnson against the Hero Fruit· Jar Company for infringement of complainant's patent. Bill dismissed.