Case ID: f_265/html/1014-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "ROBB, Associate Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re SMITHEY.
    (Court of Appeals of District of Columbia.
    Submitted March 9, 1920.
    Decided May 3, 1920.)
    No. 1295.
    Patents <@=26 (1) — Combination of device for manually registering consumption of fuel with speedometer held not patentable.
    Placing within the casing of an ordinary speedometer and odometer a manually operated register as an independent unit to record the quantity of gas and oil supplied to the automobile is not a valid combination for which a patent can be granted.
    other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes
    Appeal from the Commissioner of Patents.
    Application by Marvin Smithey for a patent. From a decision of the Commissioner, rejecting three claims, applicant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Chas. J. Williamson, of Washington, D. C., for appellant.
    T. A. Hostetler, of Washington, D. C., for Commissioner of Patents.
   ROBB, Associate Justice.

Appeal from a decision of the Commissioner of Patents rejecting three claims, of which the third will serve as an example:

“3. An apparatus substantially as described, comprising a casing, odometers for indicating the results accomplished, said odometers being automatically operated in securing such results, and a manually operated and controlled register or registers for indicating the material or materials consumed for effecting such results.”

Applicant has placed within the casing of an ordinary speedometer and odometer two manually operated registers, the object of which is to keep a record of the quantity of gas and oil supplied to the automobile. While these two registers are within the casing of the speedometer, they are independent units, and their function is no different than that of two pads and pencils. We agree with the Commissioner that “any combination in such a case is entirely through the intelligence of the user, which is not sufficient of itself to constitute a valid combination.” In re Davenport, 23 App. D. C. 370; Gas Machinery Co. v. United Gas Improvement Co., 228 Fed. 684, 143 C. C. A. 206.

Decision affirmed.