268
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 69.
Rodden cannot dispute the validity of the patent owned by the com· plainants, the West Virginia Company and the defendants, who purchased from that company, are also estopped. No authority is cited which carries the doctrine of estoppel quite to this extent. It is enough, however, to say that the estoppel relied on is not so absolutely clear as to justify the court in making it the sole support of a preliminary injunction. Motion denied.
WHITFIELD v. HIGBIE.
(Circuit Court, N. D. Illinois. July 24, 1895.) 1; PATENTS
Fon INVENTIONS-INFRINGEMENT-GRAIN SEPARATORS. The first claim of letters patent No. 343,324, issued June 8, 1886, to Christian Kaspar, for an improvement in grain separators, consisting of a case formed with enlargement near its top, and deflector, in combination with inclosed screens, forming a zigzag grain channel fixed rigidly in the sides of the case, with an adjustable grate located in the enlargement to regulate the speed of the grain, and a gate operating between the grate and the defiector, is not infringed by a device having a fixed grate instead of an adjustable one.
2.
SAME.
The third claim of said patent for an inclined grate comprising longitudinal bars angular in cross section, and set at an angle in the plane of the grate surface, is not infringed by a device having round bars, not set at an angle.
In Equity. Suit by Thomas Whitfield against Nathan B. Higbie to enjoin the alleged infringement of a patent. Banning & Banning, for complainant Dyrenforth & Dyrenforth, for defendant. SHOWALTER, Circuit Judge. This is a bill to stop an alleged infringement of certain letters patent of the United States, und for an accounting. Said letters patent, issued to one Christian Kaspar on the 8th of June, 1886, and numbered 343,324, and being for an improvement in grain separators, came to be the property of complainant by assignment. The machine iu question consists of an elongated upright box:, containing at the top a hopper, formed by a plane inclined towards one side, leaving along the lower edge an opening, the size of which is regulated by a gate. Next below this is a grate, inclined in the opposite direction, and having its bars towards its lower end or edge curved downward, and connected at their extremities by a crossbar. Below said grate is a series of inclined screens and covers, connected, the lower edge of one with the upper edge of the next, in alternating angles, and forming a zigzag channel terminating in an opening on one side, and near the bottom of the box. Grains poured into the hopper fall through the gate, then through the grate, then dGwn the zigzag channel from side to side, and out at the opening in the bottom of the box. Foreign substances,-straws, pieces of dirt, nails, chips, etc., larger than the grains,-being separated therefrom by the grate, fall over the lower edge of the grate, and down through a passageway next the side of
WHITFIELD '/,'. HIGBIE.
269
the box to the of the box. Dust and particles of foreign matter smaller than the grains are separated therefrom as the grains fall on the successive inclined screens. Such smaller foreign substances also lodge in the b(}ttom of the box, after passing through the screens, and being deflected and kept from re-entering the zigzag grain channel by the covers. The foregoing description will answer in general as well for defendant's machine as for complainant's. It is said that the first and third claims are infringed. The first claim is in words following: "(1) In a grain separator, the case, A., formed with enlargement, a, near its top, and deflector, a 2 , in combination with inclosed screens forming zigzag grain channel, :8, fixed rigidly in the sides of the case; the grate, C, located ,in the enlargement, a, and adjustable at its lower end to regulate the speed of the grain flowing over it; and the gate, D, operating between the grate and the deflector, a 2 , SUbstantially as set forth."
The specification contains the following: "When in position, the grate forms the cover of the upper section or step of the grain channel. Its upper end rests freely against the wall of the outside box or case, and its lower end adjustable at the angle of the channel, where a slotted strap, c 4 , and set screw or other suitable device, is employed to aa· just that end more or less vertically, as may be required. It has been found that different elevations are required, according to the quantity of oats flowing through the cleaner. If the flow is heavy, the grate should be raised, which operates to scatter the stream to the sides, and so spread it that it will run through the grate before it reaches the end. A slight difference in adjustment makes a great difference in the action of the grate. There is a constant tendency in the grain, when it strikes the grate, to get 'wild,' and fly down its smooth surface and over its curved eI!d into the waste channel below, in· stead of gravitating, as it naturally should, thrl)ugh the openings into the channel designed for it. This tendency has to be overcome and controlled by the adjustment of the screen to the pitch required to do perfect work."
A part of the combination claimed is "the grate, C, * * * ad· justable at its lower end to regulate the speed of the grain flowing over it, * * * substantially as set forth." The mechanism-or some equivalent mechanism-described in the specification and shown in the drawing accompanying the specification for raising and l(}w· ering the end of the grate is part of the combination. In the mao chine as made by defendant the grate is fixed in position; it is not adjustable. There is not only no equivalent for the mechanism shown in complainant's specification, but no mechanism of any kind for changing the position of the lower end of the grate. Where a patent goes for a combination, every special matter named in the claim as entering into the combination is held es,sentiaI. The patent, being on the combination, cannot be infringed by any combination which does not contain each element or an equivalent Hence there is here no infringement of said first claim. Of the eight claims made in the original application, the seventh only was allowed. Abandoning this, with the others, Kaspar presentedthree new claims. Of these, the third was in words following: "(3) In a grain separator, the grate, C, forffied of bars of uniform size throughout their length, and running longitudinally of the grate, and curved <iownward at their lower ends as shown, and a crosspiece connecting said bars
at their curved ends, whereby straw and similar refuse carried over said grate is readily discharged, and the clogging of the grate is prevented, substantially all set forth;"
".rhis claim also was disallowed, but it was signified to Kaspar, from patent office, that said claim might be allowed if amended " to the following: "(3), In a grain separator, the inclined grate comprising longitudinal bars angular in cross section, of uniform size throughout their length, set with an angle in the plane of the grate surface, and curved downwards at their lower ends as shown, and a crosspiece connecting said bars at their curved ends, substantially as set forth."
This amendment was thereupon so made, the claim so amended was allowed, and it is Said that defendant has infringed the same. The specificiltion contains the following words: "At the upper end of the channel, B. I place a grate, C, arranged to cover the upper section of the said channel in its entire length and breadth. This grate may be struck up from. a slotted plate of sheet metal, but I prefer the c\lnstruction here, shown. This, construction Involves a c;:orrugated casting, c, a plain, bottom c:;w.mping plate, c 1 , and a leather or other flexible packing, c 2 , at, each end, with ,8 serIes of bars or (lngle iron, c 3 , or other suitable forms, bent as and Secured by means ot bolts between the plates above described. It will be observe,cl that by constructing the grate of parallel bars angular in cross section, and arranging them as shown. they present a sharp angle to the pll:me of tile grate, whereby their inclined sides are utilized to carry the grain laterally, and direct it, dpwnward through the spaces between the bar;;. These bars. are arranged longitudinally, and as near together as may be found pl'Ucticable witj:! different kinds of grain. If the grain is smali; tlle grate s!J.ould be finer than when it is course. To clean oats, the proper sPace between the pars, is five thirty-seconds of an inch. The bars should be highly polished, so as to facilitate the distribution and discharge of thegl'ain as it is, delivered upon the grate. They are curved at their lower ends, so as to clean themselves of stiCkS" Dalls. and the like, which. in sliding down the open spaces between the bars. will strike against the inner clamping bar, and be titled and thrown out. thus avoiding clogging at this point, and the obstructiolLPf the grate, which might occur if the bars were straight."
In the grate as made by defendant the bars are round. They are not "angular in cross section," nor are they "set with an angle in grate surface." If said third claim as proposed by the plane of Kaspar had been allowed, defendant's grate would prima facie, and apart from the prior art, have been an infringement. But Kaspar yielded to the demands in the patent office, so that said third claim as allowed ,wust be distinguished in construction from the third claim as so abandoned and relinquished. A grate having bars "angular in cross section," and "set with an angle in the plane of the grate surface," cannot, in view of the proceedings in the patent office, treated as an equivalent for a grate like that used by defendant, namely, a grate with round bars. Even apart from said patentoffice proceedings,-since the claim in a patent is the patentee's own definition of bis rights,-it would seem to involve a disregard of words which a court coul.d bardly justify to say that a claim for a grate hl\vin,g,bars "angular in cross section," and "set with an angle in the plane of the grate surface," means a grate with round bars. I think, in view of the suggestions made,. there was no infringement of, the. claim. The bill is therefore dismissed for want of equity.
,
THE SEVEN SONS.:"
271
BASS, RATCLIFF & GRETTON, Limited, v. GUGGENHEIMER et al. (Circuit Court, D. Maryland. August 2, 1895.) CoS'rs I:" EQ,urry-INFRINGEMENT OF TRADE-MARKS.' 'Where a party 'unwittingly violating a trade-mark by printing labels ordered by a third person, on being notified of the Infringement, promised to desist from further printing, and offered to surrender the lithographic stone, but an injunction suit was nevertheless brought, hdd, that complainant should pay his own costs.
This was a suit in equity by Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton, Limited, .against Isaac Guggenheimer and Albert Weil, trading as Guggenheimer, Weil & Co., for infringement of a trade-mark. Price & Steuart, for plaintiff. M. R. Walter, for defendants. MORRIS, District Judge. The defendants admit printing the infringing trade-mark labels, but claim that they did so upon the order of the Avon Bottling Company in good faith, without suspicion of any want of authority on the part of that company to have them printed, and supposing that 'the labels would be used in an honest and legitimate way. About four years after the labels were printed, the defendants were notified by the complainant of the infringement. They at once offered to surrender the lithographic stone from which the labels had been printed, and stated that they would print no more of them, and they have not printed any since the first order. By this prompt acquiescence in the complainant's demands, and the offer at once to surrender the lithographic stone, and the promise to respect the complainant's rights, the complainant obtained all itwas entitled to obtain by an injunction. The complainant, for reasons of its own, has preferred, notwithstanding, to file a bill and obtain an injunction, and to have the lithographic stone given up under order of the codrt. It is a sound rule-for the prevention of unnecessary litigation, and to encourage parties who have ignorantly, and without bad faith, infringed a trade-mark, to promptly desist, without suit, upon being notified-that where a complainant had already obtained, before entering suit, by the prompt acquiescence of the defendant, all that an injunction can give him, he should not recOver costs. I think the present is a case proper for the application of this rule. The decree will provide that each party shall pay their ·own costs. THE SEVEN SONS. ANCHUTZ et al. v. THE SEVEN SONS et at (District Court, W. D. Pennsylvania. April 23, 1895.) AD:mRALTY JURISDICTION-MARINERS' WAGES-VOYAGE NOT PERFORMED.
Where river pilots were employed, at a specified rate, to go on a particular voyage on the next rise in the river, and, though the rise came. the voyage was not performed, held, that they could not maintain a libel In rem for wages, it appearing that they never performed any labor under the contract and never went on board, but only reported to the captain'S Qffice on shore, where they were told that the trip would not be made.