ROBBINS V. ILLINOIS WATCH CO.
957
as such in the specifications. The description of this hook (No.4), as given in the specifications, is quoted above. By comparing the language of this second claim with the description of hook No.4 as contained in the specifications, it will be noticed that substantially the same phraseology contained in the specifications as to this hook (No.4) is reproduced in the claim as constituting the hook "which plaintiff claims as his discovery," except that the figures used in the specifications as referring to parts of drawings exhibited are omitted from the claim. Here is the claim as to hook: "(2) In a boring apparatus, * * * the extt'usion stem or stems pro,vided with outwardly or offstanding hooks adapted to detachably engage eyes, said hooks comprising a right-angled portion at right angles to the stem and passing through said eyes, auJ a straight-end pOl'tion, projecting beyond the eyes, and In line with both stems, substantially as set forth."
By this claim plaintiff's rights are limited and determined. Why the claim was restricted to a description of hook "1'\0. 4" does not appear. The file wrappers are not in evidence. Whether any claim was attempted as to hook "No.5," and rejected at the patent office, and whether the omission of such claim was accidental or deliberate, does not appear. For this suit it suffices that no claim is made in plaintiff's letters patent for the form of hook which was used by defendant in his well-boring apparatus. The hooks used on defendant's apparatus do not fall within the description contained in the second claim of plaintiff's letters patent. Defendant, so far as shown by the proof, committed no infringement of plaintiff's letters patent. The equities herein are on this point found to be with defendant, and it becomes, therefore, immaterial whether the proof sustains the other points of defense. Let decree be entered herein dismissing the bill at plaintiff's costs, to all of which plaintiff duly excepts.
ROBBINS et at v. ILLINOIS WATCH CO.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. July 17, 1897.) No. L PATENTB-STEM·WINDING WATCHES.
a
The Church reissue, No. 10,631, for an Improvement In stem-winding watches, covers merely the stem-winding and hands-setting train, and does not Include the watch movement as a part of the combination. Where a watchmaker used Infringing and stem-winding devices, and sold the movement as an entirety, held, that there could be no recovery of profits in the absence of proof to S parate the profits made on these devices from those made on the rest of the movement. 78 Fed. 124, affirmed. In a suit against watchmakers for Infringement by the use of certain devices forming part of a watch movement, evidence of the cost to a different manufacturer of making similar movements Is Incompetent. 78 Fed. 124, af-
SAME-INFRINGEMENT-SEGREGATION 01<' PROFITS.
.. SAME-EVIDENCE OF PROFITS.
ftrmed.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois.
958
81 FEDERAL REPORTER.
This was a suit in equity by Royal E. Robbins and Thomas M. Avery against the Illinois Watch 'Company for alleged infringement of reissue patent No. 10,631, to Duane H. Church. The cause was heard below on exceptions to the master's rep<>rt in respect to prof. its. The exceptions were sustained by the circuit court, and a decree for nominal damages and profits entered. 78 Fed. 124. From this decree the complainants have appealed. Lysander Hill and George S. Prindle, for appellants. L. L. Bond, A. H. Adams, C. E. Pickard, and J. L. Jackson, for ape pellee. Before WOODS and JENKINS, Circuit Judges. WOODS, Circuit Judge. For the opinion of the circuit court see 78 Fed. 124. On the first appeal in this case the questions were of the validity and infringement of reissued letters patent No. 10,631, granted to Duane H. Church. Watch Co. v. Robbins, 9 U. S. App. 55, 136, 3 C. 'C. A. 42, and 52 Fed. 215. The questions now presented! arise upon the report of the master, who found that the respondent, the minGis Watch Company, upon a manufacture and sale of 12,886 infringing watch movements, had realized profits to the amount of $25,337.58. This conclusion was reached upon the erroneous theory that this court had decided that the claim of the Church patent is substantially for a combination of the material parts of the entire machine (meaning the entire watch movement), and, by necessary consequence, that the complainants were entitled to the entire profits realized. In the first paragraph of its opinion this court quoted from the opinion of the supreme court in the case of the Corn Planter Patent, 23 Wall. 181, 218, a passage which, in respect to the claim of that patent, contains the expression, "It is substantially for a combination of the material parts of the entire machine." But for the present contention of the appellants we should have deemed it beyond dispute that as applied to the Church patent the quotation is to be interpreted as if it read in this wise: "It is substantially for a combination of the material parts of the entire winding and hands-setting train." Nothing could be plainer than that Church's claims are for such a train as an improvement in stem winding and setting watches, and for nothing more. The different parts which make up the train are described in the specification, and it was with reference thereto that we said: "It is right, we think, to construe the claims of the patent in question as embracing the devices shown in the specification, each claim being regarded as including such devices and combination as are necessary to meet the requirements of the general terms in which it is expressed." The claims not only do not require, no one of them is so expressed as to permit, the inclusion of the watch movement as a part of the combination. The error of the master in this respect was fundamental, and, in the absence of affirmative proof that the profits reported were attributable solely to the use of Church's invention, would alone have been fatal to his conclusion. There was no such proof, and, besides, the evidence on which it was found that profits had been made from any source was incompetent
· ROGERS V. FITCH.
959
It collsisted of proof of the cost of making similar movements by the Elgin 'Watch Company. That cost the master deducted from the prices at which the Illinois Watch Company sold its manufactures of the same character, and the remainder he treated as profit. This was in violation of the familiar rule of declared in l\fanufac· turing Co. v. Adams, 151 U. S. 139, 14 Sup. Ot. 295, referred to in the report. Moreover, the evidence was not made competent by the proof offered on behalf of the defense to show the actual difference in certain particulars of the cost of manufacture by the two companies. Notwithstanding that proof there remained essential un· certainties in other respects. "Nothing is more common," said the supreme court in the case cited. "than for one manufacturing concern to make profits where another, with equal advantages, operates at a loss." See, also, Coupe v. Royer, 155 U. S. 565, 15 Sup. Ct. 199; Belknap v. Schild, 161 U. S. 10, 16 Sup. Ct. 443. If, therefore, it were true, as contended, that under the circumstances the appellants were entitled to recover all profits made by the appellee, as in Elizabeth v. Pavement Co., 97 U. S. 126, and other cases cited, the proposition is unavailing to the appellants because of the want of competent evidence that profits were realized. It cannot be denied that by the decree of the circuit court the wrongdoer was permitted to go free, and the appellant was left without remedy for an established wrong; but. the burden of proof of the profits sought to be recovered was upon the appellant, and, competent evidence not having been adduced, a different decree wall impossible. The adjudication of the costs was largely discretionary, and being unable to give the appellant relief upon the main issue we cannot review the action of the court in that particular. The decree below is affirmed.
ROGERS et 81. v. FITCH et aI. (CIrcuIt Court of Appeals, Second CIrcuit. July 21, 1897.) PATENTS--'-ANTICIPATION-BED MATTRESSES.
The Fulton patent, No. 322,366, for a spring mattress, having a rabbeted circumference, so that the flange thus formed may rest upon the rails or sides and ends of the bed frame, while the lower part Is suspended between and below the ralls, Is void In view of the Elston patent, No. 271,062. 77 Fed. 885, reversed.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the South· ern District of New York. This is an appeal from an interlocutory decree of the circuit court, Southern district of. New York, which held that defendants had infringed complainants' patent, and ordered an injunction and accounting. The patent in question is No. 322,366, issued to Samuel Fulton, Jnly 14, 1886 (upon application filed May 12, 1884), for an im· provement in mattresses. The first claim only was alleged to be infringed. Fredk. Betts and Robt. G. Monroe, for appellants. Jas. .A.. Whitney, for appelleei.