ADBICAN mON co. V. ANGLO-AMElUCAN BOOFING 00.
.'
,/'
:.
915-
AMEBICAN IRON CO.
v.
ANGLO-AMERICAN ROOFING CO.
(Oi·rcuit Oourt, S. D. New York. PATEKTS FOR INVENTIONS-WANT OF NOVELTY.
May 25,1883.)
There is no patentable novelty in the subject-matter of a patent for a metallic roofing or covering made of a series of corrugated shingles, to be secured to the roof by nails, as are ordinary wooden shingles, one shmgle overlapping another, so as to cover the nail holes in the lower shingle.
WALlJAClll, J. The claim of complainant's patent, to be infringed by defendant, is for "a metallic roofing or covering, made of a series of corrugated shingles." The metal shingles are secured to one shingle overthe roof by nails, as are ordinary wooden another, so as to cover the nail holes in the lower shingles. There is no patentable novelty in the subject-matter of the claim. Metallic roofing laid in small sheets, the edges of which were lapped over each other by various devices, was old. Corrugated metal roofing was old. Corrugated metallic roofing laid in sheets, a section of one sheet overlapping part of another sheet, is described in the patent granted to Charles C. Scarf, June 10, 1869; and the gist of . his invention was in employing a felt lining for the corrugated metal plates, in order to make the joints or seams·tight. This being the prior state of the art, it was open to the patentee to improve the mode of fastening tbe sheets or plates of corrugated metal. If he had employed new devices, or old ones that were not obviously applicable, but were useful, bis improvement might bave been invention. What he did, however, was merely to adopt for the fastening and laying of his metallic shingles the means which bad always been employed for laying and fastening wooden sbingles. Such an application of old instrumentalities to a new but cognate use, did not involve original thought or inventive skill. The bill is dismissed.
'I;
·
910
IBDBBAL
THB ORIENT.-
BAKER
and others v.
MERCHANTS'
MUT. INs. Co.-
(Circuit OO'lJlft, E. D. Louisiana. June, 1883.)
1.
SEAWORTHY.
oeaworthy, in the sense used,. means in such a condition of and soundness as to resist the ordinary action of the sea, wind, and waves during the contemplated voyage. A ship is seaworthy, in this sense, when her hull, tiLckle, apparel, and furniture are in such a condition of soundness and strength as to withstand the ordinary action of the sea and weather.
I.
SAME-BuRDEN OF PROOF.
Where it was established that the vessel was sound and seaworthy for 'wo years previous to her loss, and that she was wrecked in a cyclone, the burden of proof is upon the insurers to establish, satisfactorily, the alleged unseaworthiness. ·· ATLANTIC OCEAN.
The loss of a vessel'wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico Is covered by a policy of insurance containing a special clause by which the ship is limited" to navigate the Atlantic ocean between Europe and America i" the UuIf of Mexico being a part of the Atlantic ocean.
Admiralty A.ppeal. Richard De Gray, J. R. Beckwith, Oharles B. Singleton, and Richard H. Browne, for libelants. ' Thomas H. Kennedy, Joseph P. Hornor, and Francis W. Baker, for defendants. PARDEE, J. There are two questions of fact in this case upon which the parties differ: (1) Was the Orient seaworthy when she left the port of Liverpool on the voyage during which she was insured? (2) Was she seaworthy when she sailed from Ship is1'tnd on the voyage during which she was wreoked and lost? Seaworthy, in the sense used, means in such a condition of strength and soundness as toresist the ordinary action of the sea, wind, and waves during the contemplated voyage. A ship is seaworthy in this sense when her hull, tackle, apparel, and furniture are in st:ch a oondition of soundness and strength as to withstand the ordinary action of the sea and weather. See 19 How. 167; 1 Curt. 148. "It is sufficient, on a question of seaworthiness, if the vessel was fit to perform the voyage insured, as to ordinary perils-the unllerwritel's are bound as to t1le extraordinary perils." 2 Wash. C. C. 4l)().