M'MURRAY
v.
MILLER.
471
might, perhaps, have been obviated by an examination onhe defendant's books, which they refused to produce upon the ground that the books would throw no light upon the extent of the use. This refusal took place on August 12, 1881; the examination was not finished un.' til February 23, 1882. No effort was made by the plaintiff to compel the production of the books, probably because he thought that they would not furnish satisfactory evidence, and the hearing w.ent on with but little aid from other witnesses in regard to the extent of the defendant's infringement. This case should not be returned to the master, it being apparent that the facts in regard to the use can. not be found with accuracy, unless by the aid of the defendant's books, and the plaintiff having had an abundant opportunity to ask for an order for their production and inspection, if he had wanted to see them. The exceptions in this case are overruled, and the report is confirmed. -
·
McMURRAY 'V. MILLER
and another. May 16, 1883.) ' "
PATENTS ,
,
Fon
115,760 As the improvement claimed in patent No. 115,760, granted to :McMurray and Hollingsworth, June 6, 1871, for an improvement in soldering tools, is merely the result of mechanical skill and oat invention, and the improved device is substantially identical with that for which patent No. 104,412 was granted to J.-A. 'Bostwick, June 21, 1870, the patent granted to McMurray and Hollings. worth is void.
INVENTIONS -IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLDERING TOOL VOID,
PATENT
No.
In Equity. Benjamin Price and Archibald Stirling, Jr., for complainants. , Sebastian Brown, for defendant. .- . . WAITE, Chief Justice. 'This is a suit in equity to restrain an alleged infringement of a patent issued to Louis McMiuray and BO,bert' J. Hollingsworth, on the sixth of June, 1871, No. 115,760, for "certain' improvements in soldering toot" The invention cODsisted an improvement in the construction of the soldering tool for ters patent were granted to J.A. Bostwick o'n June 21, 1'870, by prothrough which viding the soldering iron with a vertical hollow the presser-rod plays, gllidedin the handle of the stem, as "'illba generally explained in the following description, and specifically
a
"in
n
_
472
FEDERAL REPORTER.
pointed ont in the claim." Annexed to the patent were drawings as follows: Figure 1, an elevation of the improved soldering tool, and figure 2, a vertical section of the same, showing the mode of operation. The description and claim are in these words: " The iron, A, is a short block, having a recess, a, formed in one end corresponding in outline with the caps which the tool is designed to 80lder to tin and the like. The rim, b, bounding the recess, is beveled to an edge, or nearly so. An aperture is formed throngh the block, A, longitUdinally, which is tapped at the end opposite to the recess, a, to receive the hollow stem, B, which is screwed into it.. The block and stem may be formed in one piece, if preferred, but both must always be made hollow. Tile outer end of the hollow stem is screwed into a wooden handle, C, in which a presser-rod, D, is snugly fitted. The presser-rod passes throngh the hollow stem into the iron to press upon the cap and hold it firmly to the top of the can while being soldered to the latter. It is made of sufficient length to extend a short distance above the handle, C, when it rests on the cap, and terminates in a wooden knob, d, on which to press with the palm of the hand or with one finger, while the iron may be turned at the same time with the other lingers of the same hand, taking hold of the handle, C. When the iron, A, is to be heated, the presser-rod, D, is drawn out of it a sufficient distance into the hollow stem s9 that it will not be affectE'd by the fire to any extent. In applying the tool as shown in figure 2, the presser-rod is projected throngh the iron, A, to llrst press the cap, C, down on the can-top, E. 'rhe handle, 0, iii then pushed down on the rod to bring the edge of the iron in contact with the solder, e, in the crease of the can-top, and fuse it. The iron is lifted off the can-top a moment before the presser-rod is, so as to allow the solder to set while the cap is still being pressed to the can. The greater utility of this tool over that patented by Bostwick consists in its compactness, and that it can be operated with one hand. "What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by letters patent, is the combination of the tubular soldering iro11, A, hollow stem, E, handle, C, and presser-rod, D, which is guided in the handle to play through the stem and soldering iron, substantially in the manner set forth."
If this patent is valid, there is no doubt about the infringement by
the defendants. The cl1se turns, therefore, on the validity of the patent. The description and claim in the patent of Bostwick which is referred to are as follows: co My invent.ion relates to the construction and use of a hollow soldel'ing iron for soldering metallic caps, or other projecting pieces, upon metallic oilcans or other vessels; said iron, when made with an inclosing edge of the dimensions and forI? of the rim or edge of the cap or piece to be soldered, so as to conform thereto when placed thereon, and so extended and formed interiorly as to receive and embrace loosely a gUiding-rod to be placed upon the cap to be soldered, to hold the latter down firmly until it has been secured by the
473
solder, and at the same time guide the iron to its proper place upon or against the rim or edge of the cap." After reierring to drawings, the description proceeds: "A is my improved soldering iron, made of a cylindrical form, to solder circular caps, etc. It consists of a cylinder of metal made thick to retain heat, and hollow to fit over and inclose the projection of the m'etallic cap to be soldered thereby, its inner diameter at its lower end being somewhat greater than the external diameter of said cap. It is provided with a handle, B, secured thereto near its upper end, guarded, as usual, with wood Or other nonconductor of heat. Its lower rim, a. a, is beveled, so as to present a narrow edge to hold the solder in applying the same to the joint. 'rhe inner diameter of its upper end is made smaller than that of its lower end, so as to form a a.shoulder, e, therein about midway of its length. C is a rod w'hose lower . end is of a diameter about equal to that of the cap or projection to be soldered, but which is reduced in diameter above the same, so as to form a projecting offset or shoulder, d, a counterpaLt of that (e) within the soldering iron. After the iron has been properly heated, it is slipped over this rod, and the rod, being then placed upon the cap, is held thereon firmly while the lower rim of the heated iron, duly supplied with solder, bearing upon the joint of the cap with the vessel, will instantly solder and secure the same about its entire circumference. By-lifting the rod, its shoulder, engaging with the offset within the iron, will take up the latter with it !n readiness to be placed upon another cap, and thus a number of caps may be quickly and thoroughly soldered at one heat of the iron. I contemplate making the soldering iron, A, and its guiding-rod, C, of any form in transverse section which may be required to cause it to fit any form of cap or other projection,whether round, square, oval, or of any other curved or polygonal shape. Its lower rim or edge need not 1.>e made continuons, but may be broken or slotted. ·, I claim as my invention the hollow soldering iron, A, having a handle, B, and beveled rim, a, a, in combinatIon with the rod, C. substantially as herein described and set forth." In my opinion the improvements made by McMurray and Hollingsworth on the device of Bostwick fall within the domain of mechanical skill, rather than invention. Bostwick combined a hollow soldering iron, having a beveled edge and a handle a·ttached near the top, with a guiding or presser-rod. His soldering tool produced sub· stantially the same result as that of McMurray and Hollingsworth, and was operated substantially in the same way. The soldering iron melted and distributed the solder by being moved to a greater or less extent around or upon the guiding-rod. and the guiding-rod assisted in conducting the soldering iron to its proper place for soldering, and in holding the cap in position until the soldering was done. The handle, in connection with the space between the shoulder on the guiding-rbd and the offset on the soldering iron, enabled the
474
FEDERAL
operator to move the iron on the can for the purpose of distributing the solder, and to raise it without taking the pressnre from the cap until the solder was sufficiently set for the tool to be safely removed. The shoulder on the rod and the offset in the h'on provided a way of moving the tool when the work was done, and placing it on another can for another operation. The patent of Bostwick did not specify the length or particular shape of the soldering iron further than that it should be beveled at the lower edge, and. hollow. It was enough if it was so made that it could be slipped over the rod and guided to its proper place on the can. It might be of any length, any size, or any extern:;tl shape, Neither was there any special requirement as to the kind of or the way of attaching it. All these matters were left to the judgment of the maker of the tool,and they might be varied to meet the varying requirements of use. While the patent of McMurray and Hollingsworth IS nominally for a combination of fOl,lr. elements, there are in reality but three, even according to the description that is made. The "hollow stem" is in legal effect only apa·rt of the "soldering iron," for it is expressly stated that the "iron and stem"--4hat is to say, the "soldering iron" and "hollow stem"":-may be made in. one piece, if preferable. Construed in this way,the provision in the patent for the soldering irop. and hollow stem amounts to nothipg more than that the soldering iron should be of sufficient length to allow the attachment of a wooden handle encircling the iron at its upper end, and that in accomplishingthis the iron may be reduced in circumference as it recedes from the point where the heat is to be applied. The device of McMurray and Hollingsworth is, then, a combination of a hollow soldering iron, bevelled at its lower edge, and having a handle at the top, with a guiding or presser-rod. Unless, therefore, there is some substantial difference in the manner of the combination, this device is the same as that of Bostwick. The soldering iron and handle are clearly within the Bostwick patent. The iron is hollow, is beveled at the . bottom, and the handle is attached at the upper end. The iron may be longer and somewhat different in shape from that which Bostwick had in his mind when he got his patent; but there cannot be a doubt that if it had been used with Bostwick's other devices it would have been an infringement on his rights. Next, as to the guiding or presser-rod. The device of Bostwick for guiding the soldering iron to its place is at the bottom of his guiding-rod where it comes in contact with the top of the cap to be
l\l'MURRAY
475
soldered. That of McMurray and Hollingsworth is in the handle at the top of the soldering iron. In both devices tl;J.e rod is pressed on the cap to holl\. it in place, and while in this position it furnishes the means of conducting the iron where the work of that part of the tool is to be done. In both, the hand of the operator is required for the nice adjustment of the iron, and the rod serves only to give the general direction.. Clearly, therefore, the one is the mechanical equiv. alent of the other, so 1ar as the guidance of the iron is concerned. The presser-rod of McMurray and Hollingsworth can undoubtedly be made smaller than Bostwick supposed it would be necessary for his to be, but he nowhere gives any special direction as to size. His object was to put the cap in place and guide the iron to the point where the soldering is to be done. It is nowhere intima1"ed,even, that the rod is to be heavy enough to keep the oap in place while the iron is doing its work. It is evident, on the contrary, that this was not expected, because it is in express terms provided that after the rod is placed on the cap, it is to be held thereon firmly while the heated rim bears on the joint to be soldered. Almost necessarily, in working the iron, the hand or something else must be used to steady the rod. All this could properly be considered by the maker when he was constructing the tool, and he would be at liberty to vary the length or size of the rod to suit the Lightening the rod and supplying the loss of weight by the pressure of the hand would not be invention. It is simply using mechanical skill to reduce in some degree the weight and cost the tool. Another difference in the structure of the tools is found in the contrivances for separating the rod from the soldering iron, and moving the tool from one place to the other. Bostwick raised his soldering iron from off the rod; McMurray and Hollingsworth drew the rod out through the top of the iron. Bostwick moved the tool by taking hold of the upper end of the guiding-rod; McMurray and Hollingsworth by the handle on the top of the soldering iron. This was because in the Bostwick tool the shoulder on the rod came in contact with the offset in the iron, on the inside of the iron, and the aperture at the top of the soldering iron was smaller than the bottom of the rod. In the McMurray and Hollingsworth tool, however, the shoulder and offset were transferred to the outside of the iron; the top of the handle on the iron performing the part of the shoulder on the rod, and the bottom of the knob on the top of the rod that of the offset in the iron. Clearly these devices are mechanical equivalents, the one of the other, and not in this connection the subject of patentable invention.
476
Looking, then, at the two tools I am clearly of opinion that McMurray and Hollingsworth were wholly anticipated by Bostwicli. Their tool may be, and undoubtedly is, more compact, and of greater practical utility, than any which had been made by Bostwick before their patent; but it is because of their greater mechanical skill in adapting his combination of elements to practical use. Both tools do the same work in substantially the same way. The changes of McMurray and Hollingsworth were in form only, not in substance. The elements in both were the same, and so was the combination. This- makes it unnecessary to consider any of the patents relied on as anticipations. The tool of McMurray and Hollingsworth is in realty that of Bostwick, improved by mechanical skill in its cunstruction, not by invention. I find nothing in McMurry v. Mallor.l/, 5 FED. REP. 593, in conflict with this. All that case decides is that the Bostwick patent was not infringed by what was known as the" Tillery soldering tool." The question in this case is whether the discovery that by making the soldering iron of Bostwick sufficiently long the other parts of his iool might be more conveniently arranged for practical use, was invention. I think it was not. To use the language of Mr. Justice SWAYNE, in Smith v. Nichols, 21 Wall, 112, it is the "mere carrying forward of the original thought,-a change only in form, proportions, or degree,the substitution of equivalents, doing substantially the same thing ill the same way, by substantially the same means, with better results," and therefore "not such an invention as will sustain a patent." A decree may be prepared dismissing the bill.
OITY OF OONCORD V. NORTON.
4:77
CITY OF CONCORD V. NORTON,
Trustee, etc., and others.
CITY OF DOVER V. SAME. CITY OF PORTSMOUTH V. SAME. CITY OF MANCHESTER V. SAME. CITY OF NASHUA V. SAME.
((]freuit Oourt, D. Massachusetts.
March 30, 1883.)
1.
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONs-EQUITABLE l'RACTIOEB AS TO ENJOINING AOTIONS AT LAw ON PATENTS.
After a patent has expired a court of equity will not enjoin an action at law for infringement unless there is somc purely equitable defense to the action not available at law. 2. SAME-PRELIMINARY INJUliOCTION.
Nor will a court of eqnity grant a preliminary injunction when an equitable defense and a legal defense are both relied on by the supposed infringer. It will await the determination of the legal point before taking action. 3. SAME-EsTOPPEL BY CONDUCT.
Estoppel by conduct, often called eqnitable estoppel, IS available as a defense at common law.
4.
SAME-LACHES.
It seem8 that mere laches In enfqrcing 8 right of action for infringement, when the supposed infringer is notified of the patent and acts in known defiance of it, will not work an estoppel.
In Equity. Five bills were filed in this court by five cities of New Hampshire, to restrain <1S many actions at law pending against them in the circnit court for the district of New Hampshire, in which the defendants here, Norton and others, owners of the patent No. 42,920, granted in 1864 to Knibbs & Norton, for an improvement in 'steam fire-engines, were plaintiffs. The cases were heard together, upon motions for a. preliminary injunction, and the facts in one case will serve for all. The bill brought by the city of Dover alleges that the action Bought to be enjoined was brought in 1882, after the patent had expIred; that it lays the damages at $50,000 for the nse of the patented improvement in certan engines owned and used by the city during sub-, Rtantially the whole term of the patent; that in 1859, long before the supposed invention of Knibbs, the Amoskeag Company of Manchester, New Hampshire, made steam fire-engines embodying the same invention, and sold them for public use; that in June, 1864, the patentees notified the Amoskeag Company of their patent, :tnd offered to sell it,