Case Name: AJAX FORGE CO. v. MORDEN FROG & CROSSING WORKS
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1907-10-24
Citations: 156 F. 591
Docket Number: No. 27,751
Parties: AJAX FORGE CO. v. MORDEN FROG & CROSSING WORKS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 156
Pages: 591–593

Head Matter:
AJAX FORGE CO. v. MORDEN FROG & CROSSING WORKS.
(Circuit Court, N. D. Illinois, E. D.
October 24, 1907.)
No. 27,751.
1. Patents — Tnfrtogkmk'mt—Combination Patent.
A patent for a combination is not infringed by using one element of such combination as an element of a different combination.
• [Ed. Note. — For cases in point, see Cent. Dig. vol. 38, Patents, § 387.1
2. Same — Switcii-Rod.
The Elfborg patent, No. 640,456, for an adjustable switch-rod in which an eccentric is used as means for adjusting the length of the rod in a split switch, is not a pioneer patent, but the device shown differs from prior devices only in the specific locking means employed, and, in view' of the narrow construction required by the prior art, the patent is not infringed by the device of the Lee & Moore patent, No. 679,153.
3. Same — Change oj? Combination. »
A patent for a four-part structure operating in a certain way cannot bo construed to cover a three-part structure in which one of said three parts is a combination of two of the parts of the patented structure, where an entirely different mode of operation is required, and where, when it is attempted to operate the patented device in the same way, it is wholly inoperative.
In Equity. On final hearing.
Thomas F. Sheridan (Walter A. Scott and George E. Wilkinson, of counsel), for complainant.
Cheever & Cox, for defendant.

Opinion:
KOHI.SAAT, Circuit Judge.
This is a suit to restrain alleged infringement of claims 1, 3, and 6, of letters patent No. 640,456, for adjustable switch-rod, granted January 2, 1900, to Henry G. Elfborg. The claims in suit are as follows:
"1. The combination, with two parts to be joined, of an eccentric pivoted to one of them and fitting rotatively in an eye or socket in the other, a locking-block seated upon the part to which the eccentric is pivoted, means for non rotatively connecting the eccentric and locking-block, and means for preventing the locking-block from moving about the pivotal axis of the eccentric, substantially as set forth."
"3. The combination, with two parts to be joined, of an eccentric fitting rotatively in an eye or socket in one of the parts, a shaft carrying the eccentric and having pivotal bearing in the other of the parts, a locking-block having nonrotative engagement with the shaft, and means carried by the part in which the shaft has its pivotal bearing for preventing the locking-block from moving about ihe axis of the shaft, substantially as set forth."
"6. The combination, with two parts to be joined, of an eccentric fitting rotatively in an eye or socket so formed in one of them, a shaft carrying the eccentric and having pivotal bearing in the other of said parts, a locking-block having nonrotative engagement with the shaft, means carried by the part in which the shaft has its pivotal bearing for preventing the locking-block from moving about the axis of the shaft, and a handle carried by the locking-block for manipulating it, substantially as set forth."
A switch-rod is a member connecting and holding in alignment the movable opposite rails of a railroad switch, and the patent in suit relates to what is known, by reason of the pointed ends of its movable rails, as a "point rail," or "split switch." Obviously, the simplest form of a switch-rod would be a plain rod or bar-having holes for bolts or other means at each of its ends for fastening to the rails. This simple means of holding the rails in proper position is not, however, practicable, for the reason that, where the pointed rails contact with the continuous rails they gradually become worn and loose, thus necessitating frequent readjustment of the length of the switch-rod. Means for adjusting the rod to take up this wear has been the subject of many patents. Some have used the screw as a means of adjustment; others have used plates bolted to each end of the rod with a number of holes, each giving a new adjustment when used with the connecting bolt; while the later devices, of which the patent in suit is an example, used the eccentric as an adjusting means.
The class of devices using the eccentric have these features in common: (1) Two principal parts of the rod to be joined; (2) a bolt, shaft, or pin passing through holes in each of the parts; (3) a disk fitted rotatively into one of the principal parts, through which passes, at some point other than its'center, the axis of the coupling pin or bolt; (4) some means for locking this eccentric against rotation.
The patents of this class differ from each other somewhat in the assembling of these parts, and this seems to be principally on account of their different means of locking the eccentric. The patent therefore cannot be called a' pioneer patent. It follows closely the methods of the prior art in principle, differing only in the specific locking means employed.
Defendant admits the manufacture and sale of two kinds of switch-rods which are charged to infringe the claims in suit. The first of these devices is substantially identical with that illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of patent No. 679,153, granted to W. C. Lee and W. F. Moore on July 23, 1901, which patent is owned by defendant companv; the second is a slight modification of the Lee & Moore patent, No. 679,153. The difference between the two devices of defendants is admitted by both parties to be immaterial. The device of the patent in suit undoubtedly discloses peculiarities of construction not found in the prior art. Flfborg seems to have been the first, who, by making the eccentric integral with the shaft, gave to that member the new functions of forming part of the means for adjusting the eccentric and for locking the eccentric, when adjusted.
Defendant's structure embodies these features of novelty, but goes a step further. While the shaft-head of complainant forms but a part of the means for locking the eccentric against rotation (the other part being a detachable locking-block), defendant's shaft-head is so made as to dispense entirely with the separate locking-block. Defendant has made in one part what complainant made in two, but in doing so has also changed the mode of operation. In adjusting complainant's device, the nut on the shaft-head is removed, the locking-block lifted out, the shaft with its eccentric turned to the desired position, and the lock ing-block then replaced. In defendant's device, the lower nut is removed (the upper one being integral with the shaft), the shaft must then be raised to admit of turning, and then lowered to lock the eccentric. While it may be, as seems to be the case, that Elfborg was the first to use the eccentric integral with tlie shaft, yet, considered separately, this was no part of his invention. What he did invent was a combination, and there is no rule of law prohibiting defendant's use of any element of Elfborg's combination, provided it is used in a different combination.
To find infringement, the court must find that the enlarged octagonal shaft-head of defendant's device is the equivalent of the "locking-block" of complainant's claims, and that the integral connection between the shaft and its head is the equivalent of the "means for nonrotatively connecting the eccentric and locking-block" of claim 1 and the "nonrota-tive engagement with the shaft" of claims 3 and 6. Under the language of claim 6, this bolt-head must also be construed as "a handle carried by the locking-block for manipulating it."
The defendant's bolt-head corresponds to the upper octagonal part of the shaft of complainant's patents. It is simply an enlargement of this part, and the "locking-block" shown and described by complainant, and plainly meant hy him when he uses the term, is a separate locking-block. There is no such part in defendant's device. While the integral connection between the bolt-head and its shaft of defendant's structure might be construed to be equivalent to "means for nonrota-tively connecting the eccentric and locking-block," this could not be done without manifest abuse of the language used in claims '3 and 6, where "nonrotative engagement with the shaft" is called for. Engagement with the shaft implies clearly the want of integrality. It would seem a forced construction to hold that the bolt-head of defendant's device is the "handle" described and claimed 'by complainant. There is no such handle in defendant's device.
Complainant contends that it does not involve invention to simply make the locking-block of its patent integral with the shaft, and complainant's expert has gone into this question fully in his testimony, and has offered in evidence an exhibit model showing the integral connection of a bolt-head made circular and locked by a narrow lateral projection which is adapted to fit into any one of a series of notches formed around the hole in which the holt-head rests. Leaving out of consideration the handle, which is integrally connected with the bolt-head, this construction is substantially that of defendant. The mode of operation is that of defendant. The lower nut must be loosened, and the whole shaft raised, before it can be adjusted. This exhibit model seems to beg the question. If integral connection is made between complainant's removable locking-block and its octagonal shaft-head, without other change, the device becomes inoperative and incapable. of adjustment.
Keeping in view tlie state of the prior art, and giving to the claims as broad a construction as the terms used will reasonably warrant, it does not appear that defendant has infringed, and the bill will therefore be dismissed for want of equity.