FULLER & JOHNSON MANUF'G CO. V. STEVENS.
157
"He succeeded in getting a tank which was practically lined with glass, and in which the fluid glass could fine vertically (its natural movement produced by the combined effects of the melting temperature and gravity) being permitted to take place without limitation or restriction,"
And he claims to have accomplished this by adding an inch, more or less, to the depth of the old tank! As we have seen, his description of the functions of this tank apply with equal truth to those of the old ones of 18 inches. While it seems unimportant to go further, we do not hesitate to say that we think the patentee was anticipated even as respects the specified depth. He does not appear to have been first to manufacture similar tanks of "over eighteen inches" deep. C. W. Siemens' Belgian patent of 1877, and Granger's patent of 1868, seem to cover deeper tanks, and appear to be in no material respect distinguishable from his. The criticism on the measurement of the first, and the effort to distinguish the latter by the fact that it calls for pots instead of a tank, and shows some other apparently immaterial differences, present no serious difficulty. The measurement in the one case leaves reasonable doubt respecting the depth, and it is not we think, in conflict with the authorities cited; and in the other the pots are used in place of tanks. It is unnecessary to examine the question of infringement. For the reasons stated the decree dismissing the bill is affirmed.
FULLER & JOHNSON MANUF'G CO. et al. v. (Circuit Court, N. D. New York. December 22, 1893.) 1. PATENTS-EXTENT OF CLAur-PRIOR
et aL
The fifth claim of the Bemis patent, No. 423,723, for improvements in transplanters, must be narrowly construed, in view of the prior art, as shoWn in the Bowman & Selby patent, No. 115,688, and the Vivion patent, NQ. 194,745, both for improvements in planters. The third, fourth, and sixth claims of the Bemis patent. No. 423,724, and the fifth claim of the Starks & Felland patent, No. 486,200, both for transplanters, if valid at all, must be strictly limited, and are not infringed by defendants. Claims I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Starks & Felland patent were not anticipated, and are valid as to the precise combinations shown.
2.
SAME.
8.
In Equity. Suit by the Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Company and Frank A. Bemis against Abram W. Stevens and Leroy W. Stevens for infringement of patents. Decree for complainants. C. H. Duell, for complainants. J. H. Whitaker, for defendants. COXE, District Judge. This is an equity action for the infringement of three letters patent, Nos. 423,723 and 423,724, granted March 18,1890, to Frank.A. Bemis, and No. 486,200, granted Novem· bel' 15, 1892, to Starks & Felland, for improvements in transplanters. The claims involved are the fifth claim of No. 423,723, the third,
158
FBDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 59.
claims of 423;724, and the firsteighii Claims of 4;86,200. " relate fuim.provements in machines for transplanting tobacco and other plants, by means of which the operators, place the plants in the furrows made by the pIIU'Y'; then watered, tlJ,e furrows filled up and the earth pressed ',ab(>ut; the roots. The only manual labor required is placing the plants in the furrow. The rest is automatic. The machines are P9pular. About 2,000 machines embodying the Starks & Fellandlmprovements have been sold. The validity of the first four claims of the Starks & Felland patent is not disputed, and their inJringement is admitted. As to tlJ,e other claims the defenses are that they are void for lack of patentability and are not infringed. regarding the fifth claim of 423,723 is that broadly The construed i.tis anticipated,and narrowly construed it is not infringed. The, claim is for the following combination in a transplanting machine: A frame. :Rearwardly extending pivoted parallel supporting bars. A plow Secured between said bars. Angle irons and a .compressor plate se<;ured to said angle irons and extending horizontally from the plow. The advantages which the patentee points out for this combination are mainly due to the compressor " .This is secured to the land side of the plow, and perpendicUlar wall of earth, which stands firmly leaves a while the plants are being placed in position. Two patents are cited against this claim. They are No. IIp,688, granted to Bowman & Selby, and No. 194,745, granted to Vivion, for improvements in planters. TlJ,e, principal criticism urged against these patents is that they are for planters and not for transplanters.. It is thought that this difterence is not material. The law does not permit a party to obtain a patent for an old corn planter because he uses it for transplanting tobacco plants. And yet this could be done if complainants' contention is carried to its logical conclusion. The patents referl'ed to do not anticipate the claim in question, but they require a narrow construction. In view, therefore, of the prior art, and of the limitations found in the description and in the claim itself, it is thought that it is not infringed. I am unable to find that this question is discussed by the experts, but from such light as can be obtained from the record, and the obscure drawings of the patent, I fail to find in the infringing machine the precise elements of the claim. ')Jhedefendants' plow is not secured between two parallel support bars, and it is not. provided with a mold board and compressor plateopet'ating in the manner and performingthe functions attributed to these parts in the Bemis patent. In other words, if the defendantS' machine were found in the prior art, it would not anticipate this claim. As many reasons could be urged against it as an anticipation as are urged against the Bowman structure. The defendants urge substantially the same arguments against claims 3, 4 and 6 of No. 423,724, and present the same references. Concededly these claims relate to minor matters of construction. Although, to my mind, it is doubtful whether they disclose invention, they may be sustained if confined strictly to the mechanism de'scribed and shown, but so construed they are not infringed. I am
fOui'ili,
DALBEATTIESTEAMSHIP CO· .". CARD.
159
not at all sure that.the lifting mechanism shown in the fifth claim of No. 486,200, by means of which the beam and furrow opener are raised and lowered, discloses patentable novelty. But confining the claim strictly to the parts described, I am inclined to think that it can be upheld. The is most conveniently located with reference to the seats of the operators, and is admirably designed for prompt manipulation by them. As to the remaining claims, they are not anticipated, and the combinations covered thereby perform some functions which are not shown by any of the references introduced by the defendants. It is not necessary to broaden these claims as the defendants concededly use the precise combinations shown. When limited to these elements the claims are valid and are infringed. The complainants are entitled to a decree for an injunction and an accounting upon the first eight claims of the Starks & Felland \latent, but without costs. DALBEATTIE STEAMSHIP CO., LImIted, v. CARD. (District Court, E. D. South Carolina. December 27, 1893.) DAMAGES-BnEAcH OF CHARTER PARTy-OTHER EMPLOYMENT OF VESSEL.
In awarding damages agaInst a charterer for refusing a vessel, the net freight earned by obtaining another-less valuable-cargo Is to be deducted from the sum which would have been earned under the charter. Watts v. Camors, 6 Sup. Ct. 91, 115 U. S. 353, followed.
In Admiralty. Libel by the Dalbeattie Steamship Company, Limited, against H. St. Julian Card, doing business as Henry Card, for breach of charter party. Decree for libelant. Hearing on master's report as to damages. Report recommitted. Bryan & Bryan, for libelant J. N. Nathans, for respondent. SIMONTON, District Judge. In this case, after full hearing, it was held that the charterer was responsible for a breach of the charter party. A master, having been instructed to inquire as to the damages incurred by the vessel, has made his report, awarding the net sum which the vessel would have earned if the contract of the charter party had been carried out. There can be no doubt that the general rule is that a shipowner who is prevented from performing the yoyage by a wrongful act of the charterer is prima facie entitled to the freight that he would have eaTned, less what it would have cost him to earn it. The Gazelle and Cargo, 128 U. S. 487, 9 Sup. Ct. 139. In that case a charter party had been entered into for the carriage of a cargo to a port in Norway. After the cargo was aboard, the master and the charterer differed as to the particular port to which the vessel should go. After much negotiation and discussion, an agreement became impossible, the cargo was discharged at the port of loading, and the voyage was broken up. The time spent in the discussion and negotiation was about the same as the voyage would have con·