Court Opinion

ID: 7278505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 20:03:08.985362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:18:57.875013
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Van Orsdel
delivered the opinion of the Court:
Appellant company, the New Departure Manufacturing Company, assignee of one James S. Copeland, appeals from a decision of the Commissioner of Patents refusing a patent for a braking mechanism for bicycles on the following claims:
“12. In a braking mechanism for bicycles, the combination *431with the wheel hub having an annular braking surface, a radically expansible and contractible brake co-operating therewith, and a fixed support for one end of the brake, of a crank shaft, driving connections between the crank shaft and wheel hub, a brake operating member journaled concentric with the crank shaft and being connected with the free end of the brake, and angularly movable in the direction of the forward rotation of the wheel hub to apply the brake, and means whereby back pedaling moves the brake operating member angularly in the direction of forward rotation of the wheel.
“13. In a bicycle, the combination with the drive wheel hub and drive shaft journaled remote from each other, with driving connections between said shaft and hub, of a brake applied to the hub, a brake operating member journaled on the drive shaft, connections between the operating member and brake, and means for imparting angular movement to the operating member in the direction of forward rotation of the hub when back pedaling pressure is applied to the shaft to thereby apply the brake.
“14. In a bicycle, a wheel hub having a braking surface at one side of its center, a driver at the opposite side of its center, a brake co-operating with said braking surface, a pivoted brake. operating member angularly movable about its center in the direction of forward rotation of the wheel to apply the brake, a drive shgft, connections whereby pressure on the drive shaft in one direction rotates the wheel forwardly, and means whereby back pedaling applies the brake.
“15. In a bicycle, the combination with the drive shaft and wheel hub, of a flexible brake applied to the hub, a fixed support for one end of the brake, a drawrod connected with the opposite end of the brake and located above the hub and shaft, a brake operating member journaled concentrically of the drive shaft, and means whereby the brake operating member is rotated in the direction of rotation of the wheel to apply the brake in back pedaling.”
It appears that in a tri-party interference between Copeland and one Eobinson and one Townsend, Eobinson was awarded *432claims in substance the same as tbe four in issue. That interference reached this court, where it was affirmed. Townsend v. Copeland, 87 App. D. C. 325.
The Commissioner in his opinion held that “the appealed claims, other than 14, necessarily follow the patentability of that claim, as is admitted in the brief here presented.” Tie then calls attention to the fact that in a former interference in which claim 14 was the issue, appellant company, as the assignee of Copeland, was denied this claim. New Departure Mfg. Co. v. Robinson, 39 App. D. C. 504. In that case this court affirmed the Commissioner in dissolving’ the interference on the ground that the decision in the earlier interference was res judicata in favor of Robinson. The Commissioner was right, therefore, in holding the decision in Townseiid v. Copeland res judicata and a bar to the right of appellant to a patent based upon the appealed claims.
The decision of the Commissioner of Patents is affirmed, and the clerk is directed to certify these proceedings as by law required. Affirmed.