Application of Harvey E. Hortman, Jr’s Empirical Analysis
1959
Citation profile
22
cited by 22 later decisions
December 1989
most recently cited
3 federal appellate · 3 district ·
Relationships
Relies on In re Shaffer · In re Patton · In re Hofmann · In re Edwards
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 22 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.
“* * * [I]n determining the unobviousness of a device, it is proper to consider `the conception of a new and useful improvement * * * along with the actual means of achieving the improvement.' In re Shaffer, 229 F.2d 476 , 480, 43 CCPA 758, 763, and cases there cited. * * * For, though the structure may be but a simple expedient when the novel concept is realized, that structure may not be obvious to the skilled worker in the art where the prior art has failed to suggest the problem or conceive of the idea for its elimination.”
4 later decisions quote this exact passagee.g. In re Morris · In re Dillon“there is no suggestion in either of the references that they can be combined * * *”
1 later decision quote this exact passage
How this case has been treated — in progress
Whether each later court followed, distinguished, criticized, or overruled this decision. The treatment classification (task #35) runs highest-cited cases first and lights up here as it reaches this one.