294
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 56.
ventions by defendant for its engine houses, but also that defendant has made a large number of said inventions, and that complainant has reason to fear that, unless defendant is enjoined, it will continue to make the same. Upon these facts the court has the power to grant an injunction. It cannot be assumed, without further evidence, that such power will not be exercised, upon a proper case being made out. The third ground of demurrer is overruled. The fifth ground of demurrer alleged is laches. It appears that both the patents in suit were adjudged valid in test cases, some eight years ago. It is unnecessary to consider, on this demurrer, what would have been the effect of such delay, in view of other litigation, upon the right to a preliminary injunction, or an account of past profits. 'l'he court may still entertain jurisdiction of the cause, where any equitable relief is sought, provided the plaintiff has not been guilty of laches. Root v. Railway Co., 105 U. S. 189; Burdell v. Comstock, 15 Fed. Rep. 395; Dick v. Struthers, 25 Fed. Rep. 103; 3 Rob. Pat. 1,093, 1,094. It does not necessarily appear on the face of the bill that the complainant's delay was such as to constitute laches. 'rhe disposition of this question may be properly deferred for a consideration of all the facts upon final hearing. The fifth ground of demurrer is overruled. The first and second grounds of demurrer. alleging want of equity in the bill, and that complainant has an adequate remedy at law, are also overruled. ROEMER v. et al.
(Circuit Court, D. New Jerlsey. March 28, 1893.) PATENTS FOR INVEN'rIONs-IKVEN1'ION-SATCIIEL FRAMES.
Claims 6 and 7 of lett.'rs patent No. 378,263, issued February 21, 1888, to \Villiam Roemer, for an improvement in bag or satchel frames, are void, as covering the results of mere mechanical skill.
In Equity. Suit by William Roemer against George S. Jenkinson and John D. Peddie, for infringement of certain patents. Bill dismissed. George J. Harding and George Harding, for complainant. Louis C. Raegener, for defendants. GREEN, District Judge. The bill of complaint in this cause was filed to restrain an alleged infringement by the defendants of letters patent No. 378,263, granted to the complainant on February 21, 1888, for a new and useful improvement in bag or satchel frames, and also an alleged infringement by the same defendants of letters patent No. 378,620, granted to the complainant on February 28, 1888, for certain new and useful improvements in frames for traveling bags. So far as the latter patent is concerned it mav be dismissed from further consideration. It contained six claims, set forth specifically. Of these, the fifth only was supposed to be tresp:ulsed upon by the defendants, and upon the argument this contention was formally abandoned. These letters patent, therefore, are out of the present case. The invention covered
ROEMER fl. JENKINSON.
295
by the other letters patent, No. 378,263, is said to relate to that class of bag frames in which the "jaws of the bag are pivoted upon the opposite ends of certain bars or rods disposed at the ends of the bags, at the tops thereof, so that there is formed, when the jaws are open, a very wide passage to the pocket or chamber in the bag, equal to, or approximating, in length and breadth, the length and breadth of the bag body." The object of the invention was declared to be "to reduce the cost of manufacture, to facilitate the construction, and to secure certain effects of finish not common to other bags now on the market." There are seven claims in the letters patent. Of these, originally, the complainant sisted that three were involved in this suit,-the second, sixth, and seventh; but at the argument he abandoned the second, resting his contention upon the sixth and seventh. These claims are as follows: with end s"c!ions, f, f, rigidly "ecured to and connected by longitudinal parts or section", d, and l)ivotally secured upon the extremities of the said sections, b, b, and adapted to lie, whe'n in their closed positions, parallel with said end sections, b, b,-the said longitudinal section, d, having a seat, d', raised above the said sections, f, f, whe'n in s:lid closed positions,-substantially as alld for the purposes sct forth. (7) In a bag frame, the combination of end bars or sections, b, b, longitudinal sections, d, d, and end sections, f, f, connecting said longitudinal secHons with said end sections, b, b, being pivotally secured upon said end sections b, b, as at i, and the longitudinal sections being raised above the sections, f, f, to form a raised seat at the center of the closed bag, substantially as set forth." C, C,
"(G) In a bag fmme, substantially as described, end sections, b, b, jaws,
The defendants, by their answer, deny infringement, and insist that the alleged combination of the invention discloses no patent· able novelty. These claims, 6 and 7, which are relied upon by the complainant, and which are quoted at length above, are substantially for the same combination; the only difference being that claim 7 requires the longitudinal sections, d, d, to be raised above the end sections, f, f, so as to form "a raised seat at the center of the closed bag." Stating the claims in other words, they cover-First, two end bars or sections, called "distending bars;" secondly, two pivoted jaws, consisting each of two end sections, pivotally secured to the ends of the distending bars, and adapted to lie, when the jaws are in their closed position, parallel with the distending bars; third, a longitudinal bar or section, rigidly secured to, and connecting, said end sections, and having a raised seat above them. Add to these the additional condition stated in the seventh claim, that the "raised seat" must be at the center of the closed bag, and the catalogue of elements embraced by these claims is complete. Now, the evidence in the cause, as presented on the part of the defendants, clearly shows, I think, that everyone of these elements is old, and the combination of them has resulted in no new means. The defendants, upon this point of lack of patentability, rely upon various foreign letters patent, and upon various bags and satchels made or in use in this or other countries, all of which antedate the alleged invention by years. I do not think it necessary to incumber this opinion with a long or searching analysis of the pat·
296
ents referred to by the defendants, nor of the testimony of the witnesses, expert and nonexpert, who have been examined on either side of this controversy. It is sufficient to say that in my judgment the German Laueza bag, the French Keller bag, and the English Victoria bag, with its variations, as shown in the King and Allen bags, are clear anticipations of all that the complainant contends is covered by the claims now in issue. There may be found, by an examination approaching the microscopic, that the complainant has made some alterations or modifications. It would be almost unprecedented if he had not. But the changes made plainly involve the exercise of ordinary mechanical skill only, and hence cannot lift the action of the complainant to the dignity of invention. A very careful consideration of the evidence given by the single witness produced by the complainant to support his contention has failed to shake or weaken this conclusion; and upon this ground, then,-the lack of patentable novelty,-I must hold that complainant's letters patent, so far, at least, as these claims are concerned, are void, and that his bill of complaint must be dismissed. NARAMORE v. CAROONE BARKE'r :MANUF'O CO. et at., (two cases.) (Circuit Court, D. New Jersey. April 21, 1893.) PA.TENTS FOR INVENTIONS-INFRINGEMENT-HARNESS PADS.
Claim 1 of letters patent No. 302,548, issued Juiy 29, 1884, to Dorr & 'l1amplin, is for a harne,ss pad in which the wool of the sheep or other animal is incorporated willi a fabric backing in of the skin. Claim 2 of letters pa.tent No. 423,797, issued Ma.rch 19, 18BO, to Henry L. Naramore, is for practically the same thing, except that claim is limited to a backing having secured thereto "tufts of unspun wool or hair · · · in the form of doubled uncut loops." Helr! that, in view of the prior state of the art, these claims, if valid at all, must be strictly construed, and are not infringed by a pad made under the Cahoone patent, No. 402,719, and consisting of a broad skein or web of material made fiat, and joined to a woven fabric or backing by rows of stitching, the material used being "spun" wool.
In Equity. Suits by Henry L. Naramore against the Cahoone Barnet Manufucturing Company and others for infringement of a patent. Bills dismissed. Church & Church, for complainant. E. H. Brown, for defendants.
GREEN, District Judge. These two suits in equity were brought against the defendants, the one to restrain them from infringing letters patent No. 302,548, granted July 29, 1884, to Oscar L. Don and Thomas J. Tamplin for certain new and useful improvements in harness pads; and the other to restrain the same defendants from infringing letters patent No. 423,797, dated March 19, 1890, granted to Henry L. Naramore, also for an improvement in harness pads. The Dorr & Tamplin patent was duly assigned to the complainant, Naramore, on or about .June 7, 1886: The invention claimed to have been made jointly by them is said to "consist in an