Document: 336 U.S. 271 69 S.Ct. 535 93 L.Ed. 672 GRAVER TANK & MFG. CO., Inc., et al.v.LINDE AIR PRODUCTS CO. (two cases). Nos. 184 and 185. Argued Jan. 5, 6, 1949. Decided Feb. 28, Rehearing Granted May 16, See 337 910, 1046. Mr. Thomas V. Koykka, of Cleveland, Ohio, for petitioners. Messrs. John T. Cahill, New York City, Richard R. Wolfe, Chicago, Ill., respondent. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion Court. 1 Writs certiorari have been granted, 335 810, 50, to review two judgments Court Appeals Seventh Circuit, 167 F.2d 531, involving same patent. What we shall call Jones patent was No. 2,043,960, issued Lloyd Theodore others an electric welding process fluxes, or compositions, be used therewith. The is now owned by Linde Air Products Company, which brought action infringement against Lincoln Graver companies. 2 District held four flux claims valid infringed concluded that owner had not misused so as forfeit its relief therefor. It certain other all invalid. 86 F.Supp. 191. 3 affirmed findings were abused, but reversed trial court remaining contested claims. 7 Cir., 531. 4 petitioners contend only Appeals' judgment should reversed, also reverse Co rt's finding partial validity declare entirely invalid infringed. 5 At prior art nature invention explored at length, opinions courts below, already in books, adequately discuss technology scientific features involved. We confine this a statement legal principles lead our decision. I. Flux Claims 18, 20, 22 23, Held Valid, Infringed, Two Courts Below. 6 Electric established before one with serious limitations industry sought overcome. known method slow laborious permitted relatively thin plates. different types, each such deficiencies dazzling open arc, smoke splatter, made operation unpleasant somewhat hazardous. Three scientifically trained individuals, Jones, Kennedy Rotermund, set out purposely discover cure inadequacies welding, then most successful known. They collaborated some six months conducting series about 500 experiments course they compounded 75 compositions. finally produced sought. 8 noted results their contrasted those possible under methods 'there no glare, very little, if any, al. method.' 9 'The truly remarkable difference, however, between what Rotermund invented gone on perhaps best manifested performance achievement invention. For instance, through use can plates thick one-half inches welded single pass. Furthermore, speeds it dwarf any method, welds are highest quality contrast great amount porosity contained so-called clay process.' 10 continued: 'Since patentees did invent something patentable over collateral questions constitutes boundaries become pertinent.' He really claimed bounded composition 23. His conclusion Appeals. asked hold there has 11 Rule 52(a) Federal Rules Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., provides part: 'Findings fact aside unless clearly erroneous, due regard given opportunity judge credibility witnesses.' To type case last clause more appropriately applicable than us, where evidence largely testimony experts may enlightened demonstrations. This occupied three weeks, during which, record shows, visited laboratories counsel observe actual demonstrations taught accused infringing it, various stages art. viewed motion pictures operations tests heard many witnesses. wrote careful succinct covering factual issues. 12 rule requires appellate make allowance advantages possessed appraising significance conflicting 'clearly erroneous' findings. These manifestly supported substantial found them weight evidence—indeed warrant support even matters court. A law, is, rather correction errors finding, cannot undertake concurrent below absence obvious exceptional showing error. Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. v. Ray-O-Vac Co., 321 275, 64 593, 88 721; Columbia Pace, 320 698, 406, 408; Williams Mfg. United Shoe Machinery Corp., 316 364, 62 1179, 1537; Baker Schofield, 243 114, 118, 37 333, 334, 61 626. 13 No made. While ultimate question patentability meeting requirements statute, R.S. § 4886, amended, 35 U.S.C. 31, U.S.C.A. facts respect these here matter law statutory met. Accordingly, affirm insofar holds numbered 23 define validly issued. 14 Turning infringement, made, sold, substantially identical forth suit could person skilled merely following teachings. introduced show derived either from art, independent experiment source teachings suit. respondent entitled permanent injunction future accounting profits damages. conclusions find cause reversal. II. Invalid Valid 15 process, 24, 26 27. valid. Remaining claims, 19, 21, 25, 29, issue, claim 27 consider along 16 difference comes this: looked 24 alone declined interpret terms 'silicates' 'metallic silicates' therein being limited qualified specifications mean nine metallic silicates proved operative. considered therefore too broad comprehended because nothing applicants intended assert monopoly broader named specifications, construed thus narrowed specifications. 17 statute makes provision specification separately latter 'shall particularly point distinctly part, improvement, conbination he his discovery.' 4888, 33, 33. would accomplish little require written read. vain repetition encouraged patents documents, like statements incorporate reference, text must sufficient 'particularly claim' identifiable discovery. frequently measures grant patentee. See, example, Milcor Steel George A. Fuller 143, 969, 970, 1332; General Wabash Appliance 304 369, 58 899, 901, 82 1402; Altoona Publix Theatres American Tri-Ergon 294 477, 487, 55 455, 459, 79 1005. cases often dealt efforts resort expand clear fail equally perform function measure when overclaim When do invalidity free ambiguity might justify agree saved less inclusive. Cf. 373, 374, 903, 904, see McClain Ortmayer, 141 419, 424, 425, 76, 77, 78, 800; Cimiotti Unhairing Fur Refining 198 399, 410, 25 697, 702, 49 1100. 18 think correctly applied principle 26. 19 III. Process Claims. 20 All Court; 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, specific reference essential chemical constituents agree. reason 26, Others, namely 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, erroneously imported sole conductive medium current passes electrode base metal composition, molten state, arc phenomenon present. 21 procedural steps respects followed automatic processes discovery resides composition. sustained shown, denied old procedure. gave extensive consideration agreed radically new discovered said passed liquid state previous arc. But full appreciation critical inquiry after long litigation departure persuasive basic phenomena present method. reinforced pointing inventors themselves initially conceive embody radical first application replete references presence assigned rights suggestion basically phenomenon, Just happens admits controversy, visual commences actually occurs hidden view flux. impossible say complete certainty plaintiff's expert witnesses idea still present, although shielded deference overturn sustain them. Technicians probably will continue debate plausible arguments side obscure is. case, while establishing right, fall far short convincing us erroneous. rules govern entitle court's prevail statute. IV. Abuse Patent. Contentions abused broaden requiring purchase unpatentable material connection it. found, plaintiff does impose licensees, condition license otherwise, requirement, condition, agreement understanding commodities licensees buy materials equipment source. recognized appearance freedom conclusive conceals subterfuge real, informal, restraint. examining conduct plaintiff, obstacle maintenance part affirmed, accept branch case. Our Appeals, reverses Court, things reinstated. extent reversed. Reversed part. 29 ordered. 30 BLACK, whom DOUGLAS joins, concurring. 31 I concur Court's parts II, III IV opinion. my concurrence holding rest accepting fact, determination properly classified fact. adhere earlier pronouncement 'whether thing patented amounts invention' decided such. Mahn Harwood, 112 354, 358, 174, 176, 451, 665; dissenting 280, 595, 721, note Manufacturing 383, 1189, 1537. 32 agree, 22, measured standards announced Cuno Engineering Corp. Automatic Devices 314 84, 37, 58. affirming

Category: 7