Definition of Anticipation

The act of doing or taking a thing before its proper time. In conveyancing, anticipation is the act of assigning, charging, or otherwise dealing with income before it becomes dne. In patent law, a person Is said to have been anticipated when he patents a contrivance already known within the limits of the country granting the patent. Topliff v. Topliff, 145 U. S. 156, 12 Sup. Ct. 825, 36 In Ed. 658; Detroit, etc., Co. v. Renchard (C. Ct) 9 Fed. 298; National Hollow Brake Beam Co. v. Interchangeable Brake Beam Co. (C. C.) 99 Fed. 772.