Court Opinion

ID: 7276917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 20:01:09.406173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:18:53.993259
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Duell
delivered the opinion of the Court:
This appeal is taken from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents awarding priority to Charles L. Boyce.
The issue is set forth in the following counts:
“1. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a telephone line extending from a substation to an exchange, of a .line relay at the exchange, a source of current adapted to be closed through said line relay through the agency of substation apparatus, cord connecting apparatus for connecting said line with another for conversation, a cut-off relay included in a high-resistance circuit controlled by the cord-connecting apparatus, a line signal jointly controlled by said line and cut-off relays, a supervisory signal included in said high resistance circuit, and means whereby the de-energization of said line relay causes a decrease in the resistance of the circuit through said supervisory signal.
“2. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a telephone line extending from a substation to an exchange, of a line relay at the exchange, a source of current adapted to be closed through said line relay through the agency of substation apparatus, cord connecting apparatus for connecting said line with another for conversation, a cut-off relay included in a circuit controlled by the cord connecting apparatus, a resistance in said circuit, a line signal jointly controlled by said line and cutoff relays, a supervisory signal included in the circuit controlled *50by the cord connecting apparatus, and means whereby the de-energization of said line relay closes a low-resistance shunt circuit about said resistance.”
There was no appearance for appellant, Samuel B. Fowler, when the case was called for argument, and no brief was filed on his behalf. In accordance with the provisions of the rules of the court, counsel for the appellee opened the record and prayed for an affirmance.
An examination of the record and the brief filed on behalf of the appellee discloses that the interference was originally declared with three parties. The third party, Temple and Good-rum, did not appeal from the adverse decision of the Examiners-in-Ohief, so that under Rule 132 of the Patent Office their claims which were involved in the interference stand finally rejected, and consequently they have no standing in this court. The Examiner of Interferences awarded priority to Temple and Good-rum. His decision was reversed by the Examiners-in-Ghief, who awarded priority to Boyce, and their decision was affirmed by the Commissioner. On this appeal Boyce stands on his record date which is March 7,1902, which mate it unnecessary for us to examine the proofs adduced on his behalf. Fowler’s application was filed July 18, 1902, and it is therefore necessary, in order for him to prevail, to show an earlier conception, disclosure, and actual reduction to practice, or an earlier conception and disclosure, followed by diligence in an actual reduction of his invention to practice prior to March 7,1902.
The Examiner of Interferences has clearly defined the invention in controversy and pointed out its novel features: “In the invention at issue, as well as in certain telephone systems of well-known construction, the apparatus at the substation is so arranged that current is produced in the line during the use of the telephone. A relay is provided in connection with the line, and is responsive to current in it. "When a subscriber initiates a call this line relay attracts an armature and closes a circuit at the exchange containing a small incandescent lamp. The lighting of this lamp calls the attention of the operator. Upon the desired connection being made, a circuit containing a super*51visory lamp and a second relay is closed. Tbe second relay, becoming energized, attracts its armature, thereby opening the circuit containing the line-signal lamp, causing it to be extinguished. In the invention, as disclosed, the novel feature consists in providing said second relay with high resistance winding, which prevents the illumination of the supervisory lamp until, by the subscriber returning his receiver to its hook, the line, relay becomes de-energized and allows its armature to fall back, thereby closing a low-resistance shunt circuit about said high-resistance relay. The supervisory lamp then becomes illuminated, indicating to the operator a signal for disconnection.”
As between Boyce andEowler the three tribunals of the Patent Office are agreed in finding priority in favor of Boyce. In the consideration of Temple and Goodrum’s case the Examiner of Interferences and the Examiners-in-Ohief have passed upon, and differed in their conclusions, as to whether the execution of the oath accompanying an application is, in the absence of any proof ether than the paper itself, sufficient evidence to prove the fact of conception by an inventor at that date. Any views we might express on the subject would be mere dictum, and, not being necessary, or, under the circumstances of the ease, warranted, we refrain from expressing any opinion.
We have examined the record, but see no reason why we should express an opinion as to whether Eowler has overcome Boyce’s record date.
In his preliminary statement Eowler claimed no earlier dato of disclosure or reduction to practice than May 1, 1902, nearly two months after Boyce’s constructive reduction to practice. After the preliminary statements were opened and his adversary’s dates known to him, he moved to amend his preliminary slatement by setting up dates of disclosure and actual reduction to practice earlier than claimed by either of his adversaries. His motion was denied. Notwithstanding the denial of the motion, testimony was given relative to alleged earlier dates than those set up in his preliminary statement. Some of this testimony was received without objection, and by the tribunals of *52the Patent Office has been considered and held not sufficient to overcome Boyce’s record date. Such practice is very irregular, and, as the Commissioner well says: “If proofs can be submitted wholly inconsistent with the dates alleged in preliminary statements, the rules might as well be abrogated which require the filing of statements'before the records are opened to the inspection of the parties interested.”
Interferences are burdensome enough upon the parties involved therein, and upon the tribunals called upon to decide them, where the testimony offered conforms to the preliminary statements. Although we have examined the record, we see no good reason for extending our conclusion beyond the only pertinent question, which is whether Fowler has, by any admissible and relevant testimony, shown that Boyce is not entitled to the award of priority. Fowler is limited by his preliminary statement to a disclosure and reduction to practice to a date subsequent to Boyce’s record date. He has not shown that Boyce is not entitled to that date. Hammond v. Basch, 24 App. D. C. 469, and cases there cited.
It follows that the Commissioner of Patents rightfully awarded priority to Boyce, and his decision is therefore affirmed.
The clerk of the court will certify this opinion, and the proceedings in this court in the premises, to the Commissioner of Patents according to law. Affirmed.