Aron v. Manhattan Ry Co’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

76 federal appellate · 14 district · 1 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 163 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““A brief reference to the prior state of the art will indicate that the combinations referred to in tile several claims are merely an application to a new situation of old devices which had been previously applied to analogous uses. * * ⅜ 1¾⅛ partial exhibit of the prior state of the art demonstrates that what the patentee did was to adapt well-known devices to the special purpose to which lie contemplated their application. * * * The patentee is entitled to the merit of being the first to conceive of the convenience and utility of a gate opening and closing mechanism whieli could be operated efficiently by an attendant in the new situation. His right to a patent, however, must rest upon the novelty of the means he contrives to carry his idea into practical application. It rarely happens that old instrumentalities are so perfectly adapted for a use for which they were not originally intended as not to require any alteration or modification. If these changes involve only the exercise of ordinary mechanical skill, they do not sanction the patent.””

   8 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Lettelier v. Mann · Newark Watch-Case Material Co. v. Wilmot & Hobbs Manuf'g Co.

2. ““The same devices employed by him [the patentee] existed in earlier patents. All he did was to adapt them to the special purpose to which he contemplated their application, by making modifications which did not require invention, hut only the exercise of ordinary mechanical skill; and his right to a patent must rest upon the novelty of the means he contrived to carry his idea into practical application.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Christy v. Hygeia Pneumatic Bicycle Saddle Co.

3. ““It seems impossible to.doubt that any competent mechanic familiar with devices well known in the state of the art could have done this readily and successfully upon the mere suggestion of the purpose which it was desirable to effect.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. New York Belting & Packing Co. v. Sierer