Court Opinion

ID: 8636302
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:45:48.81308+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:55.744139
License: Public Domain

LOWELL, District Judge.
The claim of the plaintiff’s patent, as reissued, is “so forming the connection between the bulb and its flexible tube that the bulb can be used separately with a jet-pipe, as well as with its flexible tube, thus adapting the syringe to all the various operations for which it may be required, as described.”
This appears to be a very useful feature in a syringe, and it has been used by the defendant. The only question is, whether it is new. The patent is evidence of novelty, and there is little else in the case to prove it On the other hand, it is testified by two witnesses for the defense that it has long been the habit of mechanics to connect tubes to bulbs by a screw, which is the mode adopted by the patentee. One of these witnesses, Mr. Shurtlef, testifies that syringes were made with a screw connection, by which different sorts of tubes could be attached to the bulb, and that they were in common use some years before the date of the complainant’s invention. As, however, this witness was not inferred to in the defendant’s answer, some doubt may be entertained whether he can be relied on to support it. It may be said in favor of admitting the evidence, that it merely shows the state of the art; but we think it safe to leave this piece of testimony out of consideration.
Our impression .at the hearing was, that the Davidson syringe itself, as made and as described in the caveat, was an answer to the plaintiff’s claim, and we are still of that opinion. But, in order not to decide too *721hastily against the patent, and considering that if our ultimate opinion should remain the same, the delay would not be injurious to either party, we have taken time, and have carefully examined again the evidence. We are satisfied that the opinion given upon the matter of fact in former suits between these parties, one of which was affirmed by the supreme court in 8 Wall. [75 U. S.] 230, was sound, and that Davidson did make the precise form of syringe which he has always testified to, or rather that the two Da-vidsons made it; and that form includes a connection, by means of a screw, between the bulb and the tubes.
[See Case No. 11,786.]
It may be that the Davidsons did not per-' ceive all the advantages which this mode of connection would give to a syringe. In their caveat, they- seem to consider that the chief value of making the syringe in parts is that it may be easily cleaned and dried. But, if they made the syringe, for whatever purpose, in this way, it seems to us they can allege that no one else is entitled to a patent ■ for making one in that way. If, therefore, the proof is not clear and distinct that this feature was a matter of common knowledge, still it seems to have been known to the Davidsons. The identical piece of metal which they made is. sworn to, and we do not think the evidence has ever been discredited. Bill dismissed, with costs.