Document: 329 U.S. 1 67 S.Ct. 6 91 L.Ed. 3 HALLIBURTON OIL WELL CEMENTING CO.v.WALKER, et al. No. 24. Argued Oct. 23, 24, 1946. Decided Nov. 18, Mr.Earl Babcock, of Duncan, Okl. (Harry C. Robb, Washington, D.C., on the brief), for petitioner. Mr. Harold W. Mattingly, Los Angeles, Cal., respondents. Justice BLACK delivered opinion Court. Cranford P. Walker, owner Patent 2,156,519, and other respondents, licensees under patent, brought this suit in a federal district court alleging that petitioner, Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company, had infringed certain claims Walker patent. The held issue valid by Halliburton. circuit appeals affirmed, 9 Cir., 146 F.2d 817, denied Halliburton's petition rehearing. 149 896. Petitioner's application to Court certiorari urged, among grounds, failed make 'full, clear, concise, exact' description alleged invention required Rev.Stat. § 4888, 35 U.S.C. 33, U.S.C.A. 33,1 as statute was interpreted us General Electric Co. v. Wabash Appliance Corporation, 304 364, 58 899, 82 1402.2 This statutory requirement distinctness certainty is important patent law. We granted consider whether it correctly applied case. 326 705, 66 90.3 2 sustained embodying an improvement over past Lehr Wyatt (No. 2,047,974) upon apparatus designed facilitate pumping oil out wells which do not have sufficient natural pressures force gush. An outline background setting these patents helpful understanding problem presented. In order operate pump well most efficiently, cheaply, with least waste, must be placed appropriate relationship fluid surface oil. Properly place requires knowledge distance from top surface. At latter 1920's problems waste expense connection non-gusher pressed industry. See Railroad Commission Texas Rowan & Nichols Co., 310 573, 60 1021, 84 1368; Burford Sun 319 315, 63 1098, 87 1424. It became apparent inefficient pumping, one cause some measure attributable lack accurate Ability each separate obvious next step solution minor aspect waste. 4 internal machinery corkscrew conformation impractical depth familiar method lowering rope or cable. casting about alternative quite hit possibility utilizing sound-echo-time method. Unknown distances frequently been ascertained Given time elapsing between injection sound into return its echo surface, assuming velocity 1,100 feet per second, open air, would easy find distance. Not only long known generally used unknown distances, but 1898 Batcheller, 602,422, described tubular space. Obviously such He device whereby noise gun might injected tube; returning echoes obstructions agitated diaphragm, turn moved stylus. stylus recorded piece paper graph diagram showing variant movements diaphragm caused response all different waves. 5 late industry began experiment use same measuring deep wells. A product experimentation present improvement. proposed travel 'an impulse wave' generated 'sudden change pressure.' included gas cylinder quick operating valve means short blast could well. stated release waves produced observed any desired manner. But patentee's drawings noted wave impulses microphone include amplifier record picture impulses. therefore apparent, simply provided composed old well-known devices pressure move back assumption at open-air second proved erroneous. For reason timevelocity computation inaccurate results. 7 After conferences Lehr, undertook search more accurately indicate structure flow pipe well, tubing string, jointed where joints occur there are collars shoulders. There also relatively prominent projections catchers. catcher known, measured simple time-distance proportion formula.4 those unknown, suggested another idea. sections given equal length. Therefore shoulders ordinarily intervals other. section length interval may vary concluded he if observe shoulder Thus multiplication number produce catcher. With distance, solve formula when matter record. instrument potential usefulness their machine occurred consequently they made no effort better them. Walker's contribution effect add Wyatt's regularly appearing easier count. 8 added mechanical acoustical resonator. receive mouth testimony was, his specifications state, making tubal resonator one-third joints, serve tuner, adjusted frequency simultaneously amplify eliminate unwanted thus producing clearer His show, attached resonator, coupler, manipulation adjust tube particular show physical complete apparatus, inject receive, note, District here finding 'apparatus differs prior art incorporation tuned performs functions filter * *.' affirmed holding, stating trial found 'that part constituting 'tuned filter." 10 our purpose passing sufficiency against prohibited indefiniteness we can accept without ratifying findings lower addition '(a) means' performing 'functions filter' new patentable combination, even though advanced narrow beyond combination.5 must, however, determine whether, petitioner charges, run afoul 4888 because describe 'conveniently functional language exact point novelty.' Corporation supra, page 371, 903, 1402. 11 claims, e.g., 3, does integral invention, structure, working arrangement manner parts. judgment rests has resonator.6 No describes relation machine. will together so 'new' unitary perform function. adequately depict mode, operation parts combination. 12 claim typical rest 'means associated said responsive tuning receiving clearly distinguish couplings other.'7 crucial element combination terms what rather than own characteristics apparatus. invalid violation 4888. Holland Furniture Perkins Glue 277 245, 256, 257, 48 474, 478, 479, 72 868; supra. understand rigid standards elements only. view. 13 pointedly provides 'in case machine, (the patentee) shall explain principle thereof, best mode contemplated applying principle, inventions; particularly distinctively part, improvement, discovery.' word 'machine' includes Corning Burden, 15 How. 252, 267, 14 683. persuaded public affected should lose protection merely patented elements. Patents machines join declared object achieving results, improve preexisting easily lend themselves abuse. And prevent extension patent's scope actually invented, courts viewed combinations improvements additions them very close scrutiny. Cf. Lincoln Engineering Illinois Stewart Warner 303 545, 549—551, 662, 1008. reason, qualified meant equivalent ingredient Gill Wells, 22 Wall. 1, 28, 29, 699. Fuller Yentzer, 94 288, 297, 298, 24 103. consistent strict interpretation combine require clear claims. view, expressed 'Where ingredients consists entirely Act fully exactly applies much class, fulfilled three great ends intended accomplished defeated. (1.) That Government know become property term monopoly expires. (2.) licensed persons desiring practice know, during term, how make, construct, invention. (3.) inventors field unoccupied. 16 'Purposes importance every case, fulfillment never necessary inquiries arise respect ingredients. kind numerous other, greatest full, exact.' pages 25, 26, 17 These principles were again emphasized Merrill Yeomans, 568, 570, 235, '* cases devices, bound particularity then combining them, desires patent.' view recently reiterated 368, 369, 901, 902, Cogent reasons presented persuade depart established doctrine. facts before us, far undermining confidence earlier pronouncements, reinforce conclusion devices. 18 infringement proceedings illustrate hazards carving exception sweeping demand Congress Neither specification, drawing, nor consideration, indication patentee specific structural resonator's Petitioner crowded almost, completely, exhaustion. 1920, Tucker, 1,451,356, shown detecting distances. amplification Sufficient exaggeration regular others. For, amplification, proper magnification counted, recognized computing velocity. Jewel Incandescent Lamp 242, 81. 19 Under circumstances broadness, ambiguity, overhanging threat apparent. What claimed below bars anyone using heretofore hereafter invented combined function distinctly catching recording regularity. Just many various kinds characters emphasize echoes, know. device, infringe, employs electric purpose. age technological development information indeed imagination yet fit unless frightened course broad like these, inventive genius evolve accomplish United Carbon Binney Smith 317 228, 236, 165, 170, 232; Burr Duryee, 531, 650; O'Reilly Morse al., 62, 112, 113, 601. Yet blanket valid, clarify waves, now actual not, this, life 20 Had rights bar accent sued infringement, charging something else infringer prevailed substituted (1) performed substantially function; (2) date substitute resonator; (3) after 296, 1003; Certainly, cannot obtain greater coverage failing describing commands. 21 urged conflict decision Continental Paper Bag Eastern 210 405, 28 748, 52 1122. structurally novel combination.8 decided authority sustaining fail Reversed. 23 FRANKFURTER concurs Court's finds lacking definiteness reserves considerations peculiar satisfying requirement. BURTON dissents. '33. Application Patent; Description; Specification Claim. Before inventor discoverer discovery therefor, writing, Commissioner Patents, file Office written same, process making, constructing, compounding, it, enable person skilled science appertains, nearly connected, compound, same; discovery. *' Other errors argued here, since question decisive controversy, further advert contentions. previously divided court, 696, 482, rehearing restored docket reargument. 327 812, 677. emphasizes solves did uniform speed. Mathematically, course, determination proportions determines directly necessarily considering factor. Hailes Van Wormer, 353, 241; Knapp Morss, 150 221, 227, 81, 83, 84, 37 1059; Textile Machine Works Louis Hirsch Machines, Inc., 302 490, 291, 382; Stewart-Warner Corp., 549, 550, 664, 665, challenge adequacy features 'new combination.' identical speak 'Lehr machine.' Both parties Claim example purposes argument throughout litigation. need set out. follows: 'In determining location obstruction having therein string assembling inter-connected coupling collars, communicating creating including exposed lapse creation arrival obstruction, other.' '2. bag rotating pairs sidefolding fingers adapted toward forming plate side-forming definite times formative action tube, oscillate rear edge rotary movement opening bottom finger moving upper sheet lifting action, power original position cylinder.' 417, n. 750,

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