378
FEDERAL ..BEPORT&B.
BRIGHTON 'V. WILSON.
(Oircuit Oourt, D. Rhode Island. 1. .PATEN:TS FOR INVENTIONS-INFRINGEMENT.
October 20, 1883.)
A comparison of the defendant's device with that made by the plaintiff under his letters patent No. 216,256, dated June 10, 1879, for an improvement in box-loopsfor harn!;lsses, shows a substantial identity of construction; the change of Constr.uction in the article made by defendant being immaterial. The evidence discloses that the article Iilade by the defendant differs essentially from that described in his patent No. 260,074, dated June 27, 1882, for an improvement iJ;). bQx-loop and blind for harnllsses. Injunction granted. SAME-IMMATERIAL CHANGES.
2.
It is weIJscttIed that imm,atei-ial changes, or the substitution of mechanical equivalents,will not relieve a party from the charge of infringement.
In Equity. Warrett R. Perce, for complainant. ,Oscar Lapham, for defendant. COLT, J. This motion for a preliminary injunction is founded upon an allegedirifringement of letters patent No. 216,256, dated June 10, 18'79, fotan improvement in bpx-loops for harnesses, Difficulty bfl,s always been experienced in obtaining a box-loop in connection with a secure fastening of the blinder to the bridle. Stitching is here difficult and unsatisfactory. In this device there is a metallic fra,me or tube, covered with leather, which holds securely the cheek strap of the bridle, with a shank and flanges extending out upon one side. The box-loop having a narrow opening upon one side is slid over the flanges of this metallic frame. The blinder iron having two or more ears, each with a narrow slot upon the upper ,side, is inserted into openings made at or near the line where the metallic frame is bent up to form the shank and flanges. By means of a suitable pressure the flanges are bent down, and fasten the whole together. A keyshaped wedge of leather fills up the portion of the opening in the metallic frame left unoccupied when the blinder has been pushed up into place, as well as the narrow space between the box-loop and the frame below the blinder. The first claim in the patent is for the frame with its shank and flanges, in combination with the box-loop and strap. The defendant seeks to avoid an infringement by cutting away portions of the flanges of the metallic frame, leaving several projecting clinching pieces or ears. He substitutes for the cut-away portions of the flanges a metal plate with clasps inside the box-loop. In this plate are slots which receive the ears of the metallic frame after they have passed through openings in the blinder iron. A comparison of the defendant's device with that made by the plaintiff, shows, we think, a substantial identity of construction. Both consist of a box-loop, combined with a metallic frame or tube. In the plaintiff's device the flanges of the metallic frame serve to hold together the frame and the box-loop, and
BRIGHTON V.WILSON.
379
to keep the box-loop from opening. In the defendant's device the part of the flanges not cut away also hold together the frame and the box-loop, while the clasps of the metal plate inside the box-loop prevents it from opening; but this plate serves substantially the same purpose as the flanges would, had they remained entire, and it may fairly be said to be an equivalent for them. As a result of cutting a way part of the flanges, leaving clinching pieces or ears, the blinders are held in a somewhat different manner in the article made by the defendant; but we do not regard this as a material change of construction. The point is also urged by the defendant that the cheek strap mentioned in the first claim of the patent does not appear in exhibits of the article made by the defendant; such strap, printed price-list of the dehowever, is seen in the drawing in fendant, and in his newspaper advertisement, and its use is indispensable. It is clear, we think, that the defendant infringes the first claim of the patent. It is well settled that immaterial changes, or the substitution of mechanical equivalents, will not relieve a party from the charge of infringement. It is undoubtedly true that a metallic tube or frame, with a neck and flanges for fastening purposes, has been used for a considerable time upon harnesses, as well as upon articles of tin-ware, but this invention is for a combination of a metallic frame with a box-loop which is quite different. The use of two plates of metal which hold together the cheek strap, blinder iron, and loop, by means of screws, we find in the patent of Cahoone & Teas, dated February 4, 1879, No. 211,886; stitching, however, is not dispensed with, and it is manifest that the device is quite different from the metallic frame and flanges of the plaintiff's invention. The defendant has a patent, No. 260,074, dated June 27, 1882, for an improvement in box-Ioop and blind for harnesses, but the evidence discloses that the article he makes differs essentially from that described in his patent. Upon the whole, we are of opinion that an injunction should be granted, and it is so ordered.
---
380
FEDERAL REl'ORTE.8.
THE REGULUS.
(District Oourt, 8. D. New York. November 5, 1883.) 1. 2. SRIPPING-SEAWORTHINESS.
A ship must be fit Rnd competent for the kind of cargo and particular service for which she has engaged.
Where a vessel was chartered to take oranges from Valencia to New York, agreeing that" the hatches should be taken 011 whenever practicable, as usual1 for the ventilation of green fruits," held, that it was a violation of the terms 01 the charter for the vessel to load so deeply with previous cargo that she was unable to provide for the usual ventilation neoessary for such fruit, and that loading so as to leave from one to three feet less free-board than usual was evideuce of such overloading. 3. SAME-VEN'l'ILATION-PUOXI)IATE VAUSE OF Loss Where, in consequence of such overloading, the vessel was subjected to taking in more water on deck, so that the hatches had to be kept closed more than usual, and the fruit was thereby deteriorated from want of ventilation, held, that the overloading was the proximate cause of the loss, for which the ship was liable.
SAME-CHARTER-OVERLOADING FRUIT CARGO.
In Admiralty. Wm. A. Walker and Geo. A. Black, for libelant. w. W. Goodrich, for claimants. BROWN, J. This action was brought to recover damages for injury to 4,336 cases of oranges, shipped in good condition at Valencia, Spain, on board the Regulus, about the seventh of January, 1881, and delivered in a greatly damaged condition on arriving at New York, on the ninth of. February following. In November previous the libelant had chartered the Regulus, after loading with mineral at Elba at captain's option, for the owner's benefit, say from 1,250 to 1,800 tons, to proceed to Valencia, and to load for the libelant 4,400 cases of oranges, or other fruit, to be transported to New York The charter contained the usual provisions that the ship should be "everywayfittedforthe voyage, * * .. and that the hatches should be takenofl' whenever practicable, as usual for ventilation of green fruit." At Elba the ship took on board 1,200 tons of ore; arrived at Valencia on the fifth, there received cases of fruit, left Valencia on the evening of the seventh, arrived at Gibraltar on the evening of the ninth, where she took on board 300 tons of coal, left Gibraltar on the tenth, and arrived in New York on the ninth, of February. The voyage was about a week longer than is usual, even at that season. The weather became very heavy and tempestuous immediately after leaving Gibraltar. I find from the evidence that the cargo was properly stowed; that the ship was not overloaded, having reference to her ability to cross the Atlantic safely; and that suitable means for ventilation were adopted before leaving Valencia, with the usual arrangement of booby hatches and ventilators. These hatches and ventilators, however, were swept away during the first