Case Name: GIBSON v. BETTS et al.
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1846-06
Citations: 10 F. Cas. 309
Docket Number: 
Parties: GIBSON v. BETTS et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 10
Pages: 309–309

Head Matter:
Case No. 5,390.
GIBSON v. BETTS et al.
[1 Blatchf. 163; 1 Fish. Pat. Rep. 91.]
Circuit Court, N. D. New York.
June Term, 1846.
Patents — Provisional Injunction — Validity op Patent — Infringement.
1. On a motion for a provisional injunction under Woodworth’s patent for improvements in the method of planing boards, as re-issued July 8th, 1S45, no ouestion as to the originality of the invention, or as to the validity of the re-issued patent, will be entertained by the court.
2. A machine which had only a planing cylinder, and no tonguing or grooving wheels; in which the planks were moved forward by a carriage, instead of by friction rollers, the carriage being moved by an endiess chain; and in which the planks were kept down on the carriage by springs, adjusted on frame-work near the planing cylinder — was decided, on a motion for a provisional injunction, to be an infringement of AVoodworth's re-issued patent.
In equity. This was an application for a provisional injunction. The plaintiff [John Gibson] was assignee, for the city and county of Albany, for the extended term of seven years from December 27th. 1S42, to December 27th, 1849, of letters patent to AVilliam Woodworth for an improvement in the method of planing, tonguing and grooving boards and plank, as re-issued July Sth, 1S45. See the letters patent, specification, &c., set forth at length in the case of AA’ilson v. Rousseau, 4 How. [45 U. S.] G3S-6GS. The defendants [Richard D. Betts and Rufus K. Viele] were using a machine for planing, called “Andrews’ Planing Machine.’’ It differed from AVoodworth’s, as ordinarily arranged, in these respects: (1) It had a planing cylinder, but no tonguing or grooving wheels; (2) it had a carriage, instead of friction rollers, to move the planks forward, and the carriage was moved by an endless chain; (3) the planks were kept down on the carriage by springs adjusted on framework near the planing cylinder. Models of the two machines were produced and the defendants introduced affidavits denying the originality of Woodworth’s invention. They also denied the validity of the re-issued patent.
William H. Seward, for plaintiff.
Daniel Cady, for defendants.

Opinion:
NELSON, Circuit Justice,
decided, that after the adjudications on Woodworth's patent, he would not, on a motion for an injunction, entertain any question as to the originality of Woodworth's invention, or as to the validity of the re-issued patent. He also decided that the defendant's machine was an infringement of Woodworth's. Injunction granted.
[For other cases involving this patent, see note to Bicknell v. Todd, Case No. 1,3S9.]