Legal Document

335 U.S. 560 69 Supreme Court Reporter 269 93 L.Ed. 235 JUNGERSENv.OSTBY & BARTON CO. et al. OSTBY versus JUNGERSEN. JUNGERSEN BADEN Nos. 7, 8 and 48. Argued Nov. 10, 1948. Decided Jan. 3, 1949. Motion for Leave to File Petition Rehearing Denied Feb. 14, See 336 915, 599. Mr. William or Haw. Hawai‘i Reports KFH45 A2 Davis, of Orange, N.J., Jungerson. John Vaughan Groner, New York City, Ostby Barton Co., Justice REED delivered the opinion Court. 1 The issue here is validity United States Patent Number 2,118,468 which covers a 'method casting articles intricate design product thereof.' 2 patent was granted Jungersen on May 24, 1938. In 1941, Company instituted in District Jersey, an action declaratory judgment that invalid not infringed. Jungersen, by counterclaim, alleged infringement sought injunction. held Claims 1—4 valid but infringed 5—6 because too broad. 65 F.Supp. 652. Appeals Third Circuit affirmed reasoning 163 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 312. We denied petitions both parties certiorari. 332 851, 852, 68 356. 3 1944, filed suit against Baden Southern York, he damages, profits, injunctive relief. That court all claims invalid. 922. Second affirmed. 166 807. 4 Vacating prior orders it proceeding, we certiorari cases order settle conflict. 334 835, 1496.1 Since do assert error those portions lower courts' decisions concern infringement, sole before us patent. 5 method described patent, 1—4, consists following steps: (1) production model article be cast, (2) formation around this 'primary mould' plastic material 'such as rubber' 'capable assuming intimate contact with designs model' will 'retain lasting shape through subsequent treatment,' (3) mould pattern consisting molten wax other mate ial low melting point made assume minute configurations means centrifugal force, (4) removal (which has become solid upon cooling) from primary mould, 'secondary refractory material, such plaster Paris, 'will contours its design,' (5) similar secondary 'investment' called, application heat, thus out, finally (6) desired metal into cavity investment force (3), above. 6 This capable producing 'small articles, particularly detail jewelry frequently are designed hollows, undercut perforations, so they have smooth clean surface faithful original free imperfections holes, enable result being accomplished minimum expense.' patentee possible accurate reproduction far less time than had previously been required. 7 Claim describes more general terms pattern, introduction 'by sufficient deposit depression depressions employment manufacture mould. 'an jewelry' process disclosed 5. It only reference manufactured. Obviously if first four invalid, last two must likewise fall. An examination art existed at invention reveals every step anticipated. think his combination these steps was, essential features, also well known art. 9 Jungersen's nothing refinement 'cire perdue' 'lost wax' process, use early sixteenth century.2 Treatises Benvenuto Cellini Goldsmithing Sculpture, Pages 87—89, filling wax, building obtained, pouring 1904 748,996, issued Spencer, substantially identical made, involved vulcanizing rubber pattern. England Spencer's basis Haseltine 1875.3 10 above-described developments suggested no limitation their applicability any particular type casting. Spencer stated purpose produce replicas could 'intricate form' 'have number sides surfaces projecting parts.' object 'a given perfect copy without requiring much, any, after finishing chiselling work.' 11 lies use, conjunction force. Long issuance however, skilled recognized nesessity make materials fit snugly details applied pressure about twenty pounds per square inch cause 'to lie dense sharp well-defined casting.' He introducing pipe six feet height.4 1,238,789 Kralund 1917 teaches ordinary die apparatus. 12 Whether types equivalent need decide since evident patents publications latter 1923 McManus patented machine adapted jewelry, gold rings, small trinkets, etc., where dies moulds may * filled methods.' 1,457,040. claimed transferring fused furnace (in melted) under force.' paper current methods presented Institute Metals 1926, one George Mortimer, difficulty gravity, stated: 13 'It natural, therefore, engineers should turn attention some form artificial pressure, whereby soundness definition seemingly assured. 14 'The simplest *'5 Centrifugal commonly used dental 1938.6 15 Thus clear flexible were old forcing never combined features process. fact legal significance. Where common intermediate exemplification inventive genius necessary render valid. Cf. Lincoln Engineering company Illinois Stewart-Warner Corp., 303 545, 58 662, 82 1008; Cuno Corporation Automatic Devices 314 84, 62 37, 86 58. himself admitted same principle employed steps.7 skills practices manner long familiar field His improvement therefore patentable. 16 contends, separate distinct art; consequently advancements mentioned above cannot viewed answer twofold. place, restricted jewelry. Its 'facilitate *' Secondly improvements discussed obviously applicable effected bound knowledge them. Mandel Bros. Wallace, 291, 295, 296, 73, 75, 76. 17 Numerous licenses countries. enjoyed considerable commercial success, does true question patentable close one, success weight tipping scales toward patentability. Goodyear Tire Rubber Ray-O-Vac. 321 275, 279, 64 593, 594, 595, 88 721, cited footnote thereof. Where, here, plainly lacking, fill void. Dow Chemical Halliburton Oil Well Cementing 324 320, 330, 647, 651, 89 973; Toledo Pressed Steel Standard Parts, Inc., 307 350, 356, 357, 59 897, 899, 900, 83 1334; Textile Machine Works Louis Hirsch Machines, 302 490, 498, 499, 294, 382; Walker, Patents (Deller, 1937) § 44. Little profit would come detailed indicated reference. Commercial really makeweight patentability close. 18 Increased popular demand alertness exploitation played important part wide attribute solely even largely novelty 19 hold want invention. 20 48 21 reversed. 22 FRANKFURTER, whom BURTON joins, dissenting. 23 controversies carry serious consequences industry thereby public. case does, raise basic issues regarding judiciary's role our existing system. These Judge Learned Hand when litigation Circuit. Court's not, my mind, met questions raised, N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions improve what wrote, adopt mine. 24 'In British brothers truly say, based completely crevice centrifuge means. Moreover, already moulders fine patterns might spaces reproduction. For example, 1873 device set up inch; True, did disclose using centrifuge; fusible crevices appears assumed, how model. showed die-casting method; co nection final casting: steel describe manufacture. 25 'Nevertheless, spite approaches, elements disclosure found art, remains entirety assembled before; ever thought combining single sequence. new objective sense, merely turning use; so, although taken much originality see put takes outstanding Congress seen extend constitutional power 'discoveries' such, limited 'art, machine, manufacture, composition matter,'1 often said—the Old Town Ribbon Carbon Columbia Manufacturing Co.2 My that, there combination, however trifling physical change be, required take steps, added 'invention,' needed; whatever else within category mental activities alone. bar depend shall appraise departure gone creative imagination; indeed, understand test relevant. 26 'If test, submit meets it. From immemorial manufactured earlier processes; need, years. processes 'cuttlefish sand-casting'—have now 'of little significance'; 'die-stamping' 'are substantial commercially used'; hundred rings expensive. Had technological advance change, short obstacle removed, agree inference greatly weakened; fact. Indeed, very defence years lay open available, needed paltry modification proved fruitful. To courts past ring changes wearisome iteration. If information hand, why delayed? What better can ask detection others along strong incentive discover, failed see, though while beneath eyes? whole approach subject suffered shift decade recognize accept authoritative. am aware slightest bias favor present system; equanimity system However, confess myself baffled know proceed, once profess apply is, yet concrete instance exist is. cast bar, say able comprehend factors determine invention, least lip service continues paid, hall-mark patent.' 27 Hand's reported page 811. 28 JACKSON, 29 statute's requirement. And confronted record heretofore galled futility frust ation amazed dismissal ingenious successful efforts. 30 Of course, void But understanding meant whose livelihood, unlike own, depends Concededly, high-pressure age sales volume reflect powerful promotion marketing magic, significance index utility rightly suspected. grounded gullibility public hard-headed highly competitive critical hostile industry. Knowing failure achieve available processes, discarded them, adopted outsider's success. 31 singular self-assurance who knows do, learn few hours consideration case, ignore competitors grew something useful saw Cellini's age-old writings revealing laymen appellate Bench, hard practical-minded says get message. 32 difficult cite many instances granted, improperly think, adequate tests Office. doubt remedy Office passion granting equally striking them down hands on. 33 below. asked consider decision 6; 8, 4; 48, Encyclopaedia Britannica (1948), Page 229. 2467. A French publication Verleye entitled 'La Gravure, etc.' (1924) except etc.,' supra, note advocates steam pressure. 35 Journal Metals, 371, 377. 'Dental-casting employ principles; namely, centrifugal, vacuum, advantage great simplicity, fills mold exerted throwing off tangent revolved center.' Stern, Diecasting Practice (1st ed., 1930), 10. excerpt testimony follows: 'Q. revolved, centrifuged, makes difference whether metal, it, throws out gate? Atlantic throw anything leave. applies not? greater amount wax. operate way influence machine? used, yes. ntroduced mold? Yes.' 31, Title Code Annotated KF65 U5 Cir., 159 379, 382.

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