Opinion ID: 1475436
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of the Disclosures.

Text: The patent in suit discloses a method of applying the Croquignole style of hair waving to human hair on the scalp. Croquignole waving was not new at the time of the Mayer invention, but old in the art of artificial hair waving. In the older or spindle type of permanent hair waving on a human head the hair was bunched together to form a substantially round strand, tied near the scalp and then, starting at a point near the scalp, helically wound around a rod or spindle. In the Croquignole style of hair waving the strands of hair are spread out and then wound upon a curler rod spirally, that is, turn upon turn, from their free ends toward the scalp. The patented method is substantially as follows: The hair growing on a square inch area of the scalp is spread out flat to form a substantially single plane and two clamps are applied near the scalp to the hair as thus arranged. The clamp furthest from the scalp is constructed with a spring at one end and has a locking arrangement at the other end composed of a notched or stepped end fashioned to receive a link. With this clamp, a resilient gripping action is obtained and the hair kept flat and under pressure throughout its full width. After the clamps are placed, the outer end of the strand of hair is placed under a tongue of a curling rod which clamps it to the rod. The rod is rotated so that the hair is wound on the curler. Then the hair on the curler is wrapped in flannel pads moistened with a hair waving solution. It is then covered with waxed paper and parchment and a clamping member is clamped over the rod and outside the parchment which incloses the hair. The clamp is perforated and resilient so that it can be readily sprung into position and will somewhat grip the roll of hair. Heat is applied with an electric heater which is placed around the clamp. The claimed novelty in the patented method is in the use of the two clamps next to the scalp in the first step of the process. By the use of the second clamp the hair may be wound on the curling rod under tension. The pull is distributed evenly to the scalp without discomfort to the subject. Thus, a practical method of applying a Croquignole permanent wave to the hair on the human head is disclosed by the patent. The appellant's attack on the sufficiency of the disclosures is directed to the fact that it is not stated in the patent that the hair is to be wound under tension on the curling rod. There is no merit in this contention. The patent was directed to those skilled in the art where the Croquignole wave was not new and where it was well known that strong tension must be applied to the hair while winding in order to produce a permanent wave. The disclosure was sufficient. The appellant further contends that claims 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the patent fail to show utility in that they do not provide for holding the hair under tension while being heated. This contention is likewise without merit. That the tension of the hair obtained by winding must be retained during the heating of the hair was well known in the art and necessarily implied. It was not the essence of the patented process. The omission would readily be supplied by any one skilled in the art and was disclosed in the specifications by a perforated flexible container which, as stated in the patent, will somewhat grip the roll of hair. It follows that such omission does not invalidate the claims. Deering v. Winona Harvester Works, 155 U.S. 286, 302, 15 S.Ct. 118, 39 L.Ed. 153; Webster Loom Co. v. Higgins, 105 U.S. 580, 26 L.Ed. 1177; Brammer v. Schroeder, 8 Cir., 106 F. 918, 930. We conclude that the patent and claims sufficiently disclosed the invention.