Case ID: f_204/html/0464-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SANBORN, District Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

VAUGHN v. GILMORE.
    (District Court, N. D. Illinois, E. D.
    April 28, 1913.)
    No. 30,951.
    Patents (§ 328) — Validity and Infringement — Bottle Opener.
    The Vaughn patent, No. 1,029,(545, for a bottle opener, for opening bottles having crown caps, held not anticipated, valid, and infringed.
    In Equity. Suit by Harry L- Vaughn against Leslie A. Gilmore. On final hearing.
    Decree for complainant.
    Knapp & Campbell and Offield, Towle, Graves & Offield, all of Chicago, 111., for complainant.
    Samuel Friedlander, of Chicago, Ill., for defendant.
    
      
      For other cases see same topic & § number in Deo. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes
    
   SANBORN, District Judge.

Infringement suit on patent No. 1,029,645, issued to plaintiff June 18, 1912, for a crown cap bottle opener. Both parties make the same devices, so the only question is whether the patent is valid.

Claim 3:

“A bottle opener consisting (1) of a fixed base, (2) having a right angular extension; (.3) said extension having a semicylindrical end, adopted to engage the cap of a bottle, (4) and a resilient brace therefor.”

Three of these elements are present in the patent issued to this same plaintiff December 21, 1909, No. 943,759, except that the right-angle extension is in the first patent an “inclined portion connecting the semi-cylindrical portion with the base.” The second patent adds the resilient brace, and generally improves the utility and appearance of the device as a whole. There is a new mode of operation and an improved result. Within Murray v. Orr & Lockett Hardware Co., 138 Fed. 564, 71 C. C. A. 68, the patent should most clearly be sustained. The device is exceedingly useful, and has been sold in large numbers. It can be fastened to a bar, wall, window casing, or any fixed support, and is simple, handy, and exceedingly rapid in operation.

The patent being valid within narrow limits, and infringed, there should be a decree for complainant.