Case Name: Egbert v. Lippmann
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1881-10
Citations: 104 U.S. 333
Docket Number: 
Parties: Egbert v. Lippmann.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 104
Pages: 333–339

Head Matter:
Egbert v. Lippmann.
1.- Reissued letters-patent No. 5216, granted Jan. 7,1873, to Frances Lee Barnes, executrix of Samuel H. Barnes, deceased; for an “ improvement in corset-springs,” are void, the invention for which the original letters, bearing date July 17, 1866, were granted, having with his consent been in public use for more than two years prior to his application for them.
2. There -may be a public use of the-invention although but a single machine or device for which the letters were subsequently, granted was used only by one person.
• ‘ Appeal from the Circuit Court' of the United States for the Southern District of-New York..'
The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.
Mr. J, Q. Clayton and Mr. Anthony Q. Keasl>ey for the appellant.
Mr. John 3. Staples, contra.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Woods
delivered the opinion of the court.
This suit was brought for an alleged infringement Of the complainant's reissued letters-patent, No. 5216, dated Jan. 7,1878, for an improvement in corset-springs.
The original letters bear date July 17,1866, and were issued to Samuel H. Barnes. - The reissue was made to the complainant, under her then name, Frances Lee Barnes, executrix of the original patentee.
The specification for the reissue declares-: —
This invention consists in forming the springs of corsets of two or more metallic plates, placed one upon another, and so connected as to prevent them from- sliding off each other laterally or edgewise, and at the same time admit of their playing or sliding upon.each other, in the direction of their length or longitudinally, whereby their flexibility and elasticity are greatly increased, while at the same time much strength is obtained."
The second claini is as follows: —
" A pair of corset-springs, each member of the pair being composed of two or more metallic plates, placed one on another, and fastened together at their centres, and so connected at or near each end that they can move or play on each other in the direction of their length."
The bill alleges that Barnes was the original and first inventor of the improvement covered by the reissued letters-patent, and that it had not, at the time of his application for the original letters, been for more than two years in public use or on sale, with his consent or allowance.
. The answer takes issue on this averment and also denies infringement. On a final hearing the court dismissed the bill, and the complainant appealed.
As to the second defence above mentioned, it is sufficient to say that the evidence establishes beyond controversy the infringement by the defendants of the second claim of the reissue.
We have, therefore, to consider whether the defence that the patented invention had, with the consent of the inventor, been publicly used for more than two years prior to his application for the original letters, is sustained by the testimony in the record.
The sixth, seventh, and fifteenth sections of the act of July 4, 1836, c. 357 (5 Stat. 117), as qualified by the seventh section of the act of March 3, 1839, c. 88 (id. 353), were in force at the date of his application. Their effect is to render letters-patent invalid if the invention which they cover was in public use, with the consent and allowance.of the inventor, for more than two years prior to his application. Since the passage of the act of 1839 it has been strenuously contended that the public use of an invention for more than two years' before such application, even without his consent and allowance, renders the letters-patent therefor void.
It is unnecessary in this case to decide this question, for the alleged use of the invention covered by the letters-patent to Bai'nes is conceded to have been with his express consent.
The evidence on which the defendants rely to establish a prior public use of the invention consists mainly of the testimony of the complainant.
She testifies that Barnes invented the improvement covered by his patent between January and May, 1855; that between the dates named the witness and her friend Miss Cugier were .complaining of the breaking of their corset-steels. Barnes, who was present, and was an intimate friend of the witness, said he thought he could make her a pair that would not break. At their next interview he presented her with a pair of corset-steels which he himself had made. The witness wore these steels a long time. In 1858 Bai'nes made and presented to her another pair, which she also wore a long time. When the corsets in which these steels were used wore out, the witnes's ripped them open and took out the steels and put them in new corsets. This was done several times.
It is admitted, and, in fact, is asserted, by complainant, that these steels embodied the invention afterwards patented by Barnes and covered by the reissued letters-patent on which this suit is brought.
Joseph H. Sturgis, another witness for complainant, testifies that in 1863 Barnes spoke to him about two inventions made by himself, one of which was a corset-steel, and that he went to the house of Barnes to see them. Before this time, and after the transactions testified to by the complainant, Barnes and she had intermarried. Barnes said his wife had a pair of steels made according to his invention in the corsets which she was then wearing, and if she would take them off he would show them to witness. Mrs. Barnes went out, and returned with a pair of corsets and a pair of scissors, and ripped the corsets open and took out the steels. Barnes then explained to witness how they were made and used.
This is the evidence presented by the record, on which the defendants rely to establish the public use of the invention by the patentee's consent and allowance.
The question for our-decision is, whether this testimony shows a public.use within the meaning of the statute.
We observe, in the first place, that to constitute the public use of an invention it' is not necessary that more than one of the patented articles should be publicly used-. The use of a. great number may tend to strengthen the proof, but one well-defined case of such use is just as effectual to annul the patent as-many; McClurg v. Kingsland, 1 How. 202; Consolidated Fruit-Jar Co. v. Wright, 94 U. S. 92; Pitts v. Hall, 2 Blatchf. 229. For instance, if the inventor of a mower, a printing-press, or a- railway-car 'makes and sells only one of the articles invented by him, and allows the vendee to use it for two years, without restriction or limitation, the' use is just as--public as if he had sold and allowed the use of a. great number.
We remark, secondly, that, whether the use of an invention is public-or private does not necessarily depend'upon the number of persons to whom its use is known. If an inventor, having-made his device; gives or sells it to another, to'be used by t-he donee or vendee, without limitation or restriction, or injunction of secrecy, and it is so used, such irse is public, even though -the' use and knowledge of the use may be confined to one person.
We say', thirdly, that some inventions are by their vei'y character only capable of being used where they cannot be seen or observed by the public eye. An invention may consist of a lever or spring, hidden in the running gear of a watch, or of a rachet, shaft, or cog-wheel covered from view in the recesses of a machine for spinning or weaving. Nevertheless, if its inventor, sells a machine of which Ins invention forms a part, and allows it to be used without restriction of any kind, the use is a public one. So, on the other hand, a use necessarily open to public view, if made in good faith solely to test the qualities of the invention, and for the purpose of experiment, is not a public use within the meaning of the statute; Elizabeth v. Pavement Company, 97 U. S. 126; Shaw v. Cooper, 7 Pet. 292.
. Tested .by these principles, we- think the evidence ¡of. the complainant herself sliows that for mpre.than two years.before the application for the original letters there was, Jby the ,consent and allowance of- Barnes, a public use of the invention, covered by them. He made and gave to her two pairs of corset-steels, constructed according to his device, one in 1855 and one in 1858. They were presented to her for use. He imposed no obligation of secrecy, nor any condition or restriction whatever. They -were not presented for the purpose of experiment, ,-norto test their qualities. No such claim is set up in her testimony. The invention was at the time complete, and there is no evidence that it was afterwards changed or improved. The donee of the steels used:-them for years for the purpose and in the manner designed by the inventor. They were not capable of any other use. She .might have exhibited them to any person, or made other steels of the same kind, and used or-sold them without violating any condition or restriction imposed on her by the inventor.
According to the testimony of the complainant, thp invention was completed and put to use in 1855. The inventor slept on. .his rights for eleven years. Letters-patent were not applied for till' March, 1866. In the mean time, the invention had found its way into general, and almost universal, use. A great part of the record is taken up with the testimony of the manufacturers and venders of corset-steels, showing that before he applied for letters the principle of his .device'was almost universally used in the manufacture of corset-steels. It is fair to. presume that having learned from this general use that there was some value in his invention, he -attempted to resume, by his application, -what by his acts he had clearly dedicated to the' public.
" An abandonment of an invention to the public may be evinced bj" the conduct of the inventor at any time, even -within the two years named in the law. The effect of the law is that no such consequence will necessarily follow from the invention being in public use or on sale, with the inventor's consent and allowance, at any time within two years before his application; but that, if the invention is in public use or on sale prior to that time, it will be conclusive evidence of abandonment, and the patent will be void." Elizabeth v. Pavement Company, supra.
Wé are of opinion that the defence of two years' public use, . by the consent and allowance of the inventor, before-he made application for letters-patent, is satisfactorily established by the evidence.
'Decree affirmed.