RICHARDSON V. BRESNAHAN.
897
ever, that this divergence is not sufficiently marked to arrest the attention of the average observer.. Bearing in mind that the patent deals with shape alone, the same conclusion must be reached with reference to the other differences suggested by the defendant's witnesses. There should be a decI'ee for the complainant.
RICHARDSON
v.
BRESNAHAN
and others. May 15, 1885.)
(Circuit Court, D. Massachusetts,
PATENTS FOR INvEN'rIONs-INFRINGEMENT-l!'OURTH CLAIM OF PATENT No.
101,931. The fourth claim of patent No. 101,931, dated April 12, 1870, granted to N, J. for a leather-cutting press for shoe stocks, construed, and held not infringed by defendants in the use of a revolving block and cutting-die, without the cutting,-pl'ess described in .he and drawings of the Simonds patent. .
In Equity. W. A, 2lJacleod, for complainant. G. A. Taber, for defendants. (JOLT, J. This suit is brought upon letters patent, No. 101,931, dated April 12, 1870, granted to N. J. Simonds, for a leather-cut· ting press. The complainant derives title to the patent by assignment. The invention relates to certain improvements in cuttingpresses, used for cutting shoe stock, and consists, among other things, in so constructing the press that the cutting-block, as it recedes from the die" will vibrate or swing, and thus expose the cutting-die; also, in imparting to the cutting-block a rotary motion relative to the cut. ting-die, whereby, in cutting, a change of contact of the surface of the block is constantly produced, and a smoothness of face preserved under the continued cuts of the die. The defendants are charged with infringing the fourth claim of the patent, which is as follows: "The revolving cutting-block, P, in combination with the cutting-press, substantially as and for the purpose specified." The defendants use a revolving block and cutting-die, but they do not use the cutting-press described in the specification and drawings of the patent. At the outset, therefore, the question arises as to the proper construction of claim 4. Does it cover the combination of a revolving block and cutting-die, or is it limited to the combination of a revolving block and the cutting-press set out in the patent? The claim says a revolving block in combination with the cntting-press. The cutting. press refers to the mechanism set out and described in the patent. It not only includes the cutting.die, but the other mechanism involved in the machine, and elaborately set forth in the specification. There is nothing to be found in the patent which shows that the word!! cutv.23F,no.16-57
898
FEDERAL REPORTER.
ting-pressare synonymous with cutting-die; on the contrary, when the term is used elsewhere in the patent, it plainly refers to tIle entire mechanism of the maohine. 'fhe natural meaning of the words, as well as the sense in which they are used in the patent, forbid the construction contended for by the complainant. It would be a forced to say that cutting-press means cutting. and unwarranted die, and by this means make the claim cover all leather-cutting mao chines in which we find a die and a revolving cutting-block. And, in view of the prior state of the art, we think the broad claim of are· volving cutting-block, in combination with a die, would be void for want of novelty. Simonds was not the first inventor of a revolving cutting-block; and we find a revolving cutting-block in combination with a die in the leather cutting-machine made by S. D. Tripp as el1rly as 1868 and 1869, and a revolving cutting-block operated upon with knives in prior machines for cutting meat. It was necessary, therefore, for Simonds to limit his claim, in order that it might be valid, to the specific mechanism described in his patent. The defendantsnot using such mechanism, there can be no infringement, and the bill must be dismissed. Bill dismissed.
JENKINS
and others
t1. GURNEY.
(C2'rcuit Court, D. Ma88achwetts.
May 11,1885.)
PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS-HYSLOP !IACHINE FOR MAKING SHOm-SHANKB-INFRINGEMENT.
Patent No. 159,577, dated February 9,1875, granted to John Hyslop, for an improvement in machines for making shoe-shanks, held ,alid, and infringed by defCmdant's machine, baving a forming die, flanged table, and vibrating arms.
inEquity. C. H. Drew and C. F. Perkins, for complainants. P. E. Tucker and C. H. Swan, for defendant. COLT, J. This suit is brought upon letters patent, numbered 159,577, dated February 9, 1875, granted to John Hyslop, Jr., assignor to the complainants, for an improvement in machines for making shoeShanks. The invention relates to a device for packing shoe-shanks upon a table after leaving the cutting and forming dies, by which means the labor is saved of packing by hand. The same patentee is the inventor of a machine for cutting, punching, and bending metal shoe-shanks, for which a patent, No. 129,347, was issued July 16,1872. The patent in suit was intended as an attachment to this machine. This appears from the drawings, specification, and evidence. The claim'of the patent is as follows: