Court Opinion

ID: 8837256
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 16:28:37.737392+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:05:06.378461
License: Public Domain

ON APPLICATION FOB BEHEAEING.
(March 13, 1889.)
Jackson, J.
I concur fully in the conclusion reaehed by the district judge, that the Rodebaugh-patent of October 16,1877,—letters patent No. 19,6,102, was anticipated by the patent issued to Thomas Craney,—No. 150,534,—dated May 5, 1874; that in so far as the Rodebaugh improvement, differs from that of the Craney patent -nothing more than mechan*887ieal skill was involved and exercised. I am further of the opinion that said Rodebaugh patent was anticipated by the patent of Ely,—No. 168,-309,—dated May 18, 1875.
2. If the Rodebaugh patent could bo held valid, it would, in view of the action of the department, as shown by the file-wrapper and contents, have to he limited to the precise mechanism and construction therein described, and, as thus limited, it is not infringed by the machine used'by the defendants. Rodebaugh’s original claim was broad enough to have covered the machine as used by defendants. It was “(1) the eccentric lever, E, E1, and connecting strap, P, combined with the vertical shaft or bar, D, carrying the dog-head, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.” This claim was rejected by the patent-office on reference to said Ely patent, No. 163,309, in which is found an eccentric lever operating on the vertically reciprocating bar, which carries the dog, and capable of locking the bar in any position it may be set. Upon the rejection of this broad claim Rodebaugh was compelled to present the new claim now shown in claim 1 of the letters patent issued to him, which cannot by any construction, or under any rule of doctrine of equivalents, be enlarged so as to cover or embrace what was previously rejected. It must manifestly be limited to the specific device therein described, in which the dog-head is locked when the eeeentric lever has been moved through the half (árele, or 180 degrees of the circle, of its action, and brought into a perpendicular position with the standard or shaft. The defendant’s lever is differently constructed, having its greatest locking capacity when in a horizontal position, and losing this locking capacity entirely when carried to the position of the perpendicular at which the Rodebangh lever makes its most effective lock. I am clearly of the opinion that the application for rehearing should be denied, and that complainants’ bill should be dismissed, with costs.