Court Opinion

ID: 8786358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 13:35:54.380281+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:03:05.860486
License: Public Domain

MARTIN, District Judge.
This is an action for infringement of letters patent No. 572,778, issued under date of December 8, 1896. Prayer for an injunction and an accounting, but at the hearing plaintiff’s attorney stated that no accounting was claimed). The complaint fully describes the patent, and the answer denies infringement and alleges prior art. No question, is made but what the letters patent were issued and transferred to the plaintiff according to law.
An examination of the proceedings in the Patent Office and of the letters patent impresses me that the only novelty in the complainant’s patént is the adjustment of the “lugs” or “ears.” They stand out from the main socket just enough to protect the woodwork from injury by the use of the pole in the springing of the segment of the circle, or in adjusting or removing the pole. Everything else about this device is in my opinion covered by the prior art, and is not the product of genius or anything beyond mechanical skill. The pátent thus limited was not seriously questioned by the defendant at the hearing, if questioned at all. It appears there has been no manufacture or use of the complainant’s patent, hence the patent should be strictly construed. To hold a party guilty of infringement, it should appear that the particular adjustment of the “lugs” or “ears” of the complainant’s patent has been infringed. The most that is claimed as to the defendant’s infringement is that the formation of the cup that the defendant attaches to a plate of brass in the articles he manufactures, when flattened) out, is substantially of the same shape as the complainant’s design;- but the cup that is used by the defendant has but one “lug” or “ear,” which is riveted to said plate, and is so small that it cannot be used for any of the purposes designated in the complainant’s patent. It is not attached to the window casing at all by the use of “lugs” or “ears.” It has no “lugs” standing out from the rear of the socket and does no: protect the paint from injury or the wood from wear by the use of “lugs,” nor is it at all adapted to a warping pole or any of the uses set forth in the complainant’s patent.
In my opinion, the articles manufactured! by the defendant do not infringe.
Eet the petition be dismissed.