272
75 FEDERAL REPORTER.
the of the patent is void, as not involving patented invention. The evidence abundantly shows that all the parts of the patented box are old both in material and in structure, and that they here perform no other function than that which they performed in structures previously existing. There is therefore no patentable combination, but only a pure aggregation of old devices. The bill will be dismissed. BOSTON LASTING MACH. CO. v. WOODWARD et a1. (Circuit Court, D. Massachusetts. June 18, 1896.) No. 638. PATENTS-INFRINGEMENT-LASTING AND FASTENING MACHINES.
actuated, not by the of the work, but by the depression of a rod connected wJth the treadle, so that the desired result of driving the tack at the proper time, without using the operator's hand, is obtained by a different method from that claimed by the patent. Machine Co. v. Woodward, 53 Fed. 481, and Woodward v. Machine Co., 8 C. C. A. 622, 60 Fed. 2l'i3, and 11 C. C. A. 353, 63 Fed. OOg, distinguished.
held not infringed by a machine in which the tack-driving mechanism is
The Woodward patent, No. 248,544, for a lasting and fastening machine,
This was a bill in equity by the Boston Lasting Machine Company against Erastus Woodward and others for alleged infringement of a patent for a lasting and fastening machine for boots and shoes. Frederick P. Fish and Wm. K. Richardson, for complainant. James E. Maynadier and Geo. O. G. Coale, for defendants. CARPENTER, District Judge. This is a bill in equity to enjoin an alleged infringement of the second, third, and fourth claims of letters patent No. 248,544, issued October 18, 1881, to Erastus Woodward, for a lasting and fastening machine. These claims have heretofore been found to be valid, and the respondents have been held to infringe by the making and using of two certain machines which were described in the former suit. Machine Co. v. Wood· ward, 53 Fed. 481 ; Woodward v. Machine Co., 60 Fed. 283, 8 C. C. A. 622, and 63 Fed. 609, 11 C. C. A. 253. On the 16th of February,_ 1893, the complainant filed in the office of the commissioner of patents a disclaimer of the first and fifth claims of the patent. Thepresent suit alleges infringement by the making of a third mao chine, which was not brought in question in the former suit. The differences between the patented machine and the two machines which in the former suit were found to be infringements are well stated by the counsel for the complainant in the follow· ingwords: "In Woodward's former machines, one difference related to the work-presenting' mechanism; instead of having the foot treadle connected directly with the jack-supporting lever, as in the Woodward patent, the defendants' machine had a power-operated jack-lifting mechanism, comprising a clutch whicb is closed by the depression of the treadle, and thus instantly applies power to the jack lifter. The second difference related to the tack-driving mechanism, namely, that instead of the entire mechanism of the tacker-
BOSTON LASTING MACH. CO.
v.
WOODWARD.
273
being stopped and started at each tack-driving operation, the tack-driver bar remained continuously running, but when the treadle was depressed, the tack-feeding mechanism was then moved so as to supply a tack in the nozzle, to be driven at the next passing of the driver. * * * A construction similar to this [i. e. to the machine here in suit] was found in defendants' machine No.2 described and shown in the Woodward patent No. 473,]36, in which there was a stationary nozzle In no way affected by the pressure of the work, und a tack-feeding mechanism started by means of a rod connected with an arm that was power-actuated, under control of the treadle, in the following manner: The depression of the treadle closed the clutch, and through a beveled gea:.- on the shaft actuated a segmental gear upon a lever, which by a spring connection actuated another lever to lift the jack. When the jack was held from further motion, either by pressure against the nozzle or against anything else, the lever carrying the segment continued its upward moHon, and through intermediate levers operated the bell-crank lever connected with the tack-feeding mechanism by the rod before referred to."
For a description of the present alleged infringing machine I cannot do better than to adopt the words of Joseph P. Livermore, the expert called by the complainant, as follows: "The rod in defendants' machine, depression of which starts the tack feed of the tacker, is connected at its lower end with one arm of an elbow lever, the other arm of which is engaged by a projection from the treadle, so that depression of the treadle depresses the rod and starts the tack feed. In the machine which I examined, the connections between the treadle and tack· feed starting rod, and between the treadle and clutch for applying the jack. raising power, were so arranged or adjusted that in the first part of the descent of the treadle from its normal position, the tack feed was started, and in the remainder of the descent of the treadle the clutch for lifting the jack was engaged; and, conversely, in the ascent of the treadle, the clutch was first disengaged, and then In the remainder of the movement the tack-feed starting rod was brougbt to position to again act upon the tack feed at the next descent of the treadle."
From a comparison of these descriptions it seems to me that in the two machines which were formerly held to infringe, the tack· driving device was actuated by the "pressure of the work," to reo peat the phrase used in the former opinion, and that in the machine here in suit the tack-driving device is not so actuated, and therefore is not within the invention and claim of the patent. In the present machine the tack-driving mechanism starts before the work touches the machine, and would continue to operate if by any means the work should never touch the machine. The desired result, therefore, that is, the driving of the nail at the proper time without requiring the use of the hand of the operator, is obtained by a method other than that invented by Woodward and claimed In the patent here in suit. I conclude, therefore, that the respondents do not infringe, and that the bill must be dismissed. v.75F.no.4-18
2'14
75 FEDERAL REPORTER. THE HERCULES. THE MA.RY LOUISE. THE IMPERA.TOR. (District Court, E. D. Pennsylvania. No. 41 of 1894. June 30, 1896.)
!'lEGLtGENT TOWAGE-INJURY TO THIRD VESSEL-LIABILITY OF TUGS.
Tugs towing a steamship to a wharf at which another ship was lying, and forcing her in between the latter and the dock, while the latter was attempting to comply with the dock owner's order to move out of the way, held liable for damages to her from grounding, in consequence of being forced past the end of the pier before she could be made fast.
'fhis was a libel by the owners of the ship Cashier against the tugs Imperator, Mary Louise, and Hercules to recover damages incurred in being forcibly pushed away from a pier, so that she went aground. John F. Lewis and Horace L. Cheyney, for libelant. Henry R. Edmunds, for respondents. BUTLER, District Judge. On May 24, 1894, while the libelant was lying attached to a dock at Marcus Hook, awaiting a promised cargo, the respondents, having the steamship Bremerhaven in tow, brought her there to load. The libelant was ordered away by the wharf owners, to allow the steamship to occupy her place. She below, by endeavored to move down to an ice pier a short slackening her lines and drifting with the tide. While she was engaged in this endeavor and before it 'could be executed, the respondents, against her earnest protest, ran the steamship in between her and the wharf, striking her rear line, attached astern, and forcing her forward. This line was then detached from the wharf by the respondents' order as is charged, the stem being allowed to swing rapidly downwards, while the forward line remained fast. The respondents continued their course with the tow, forcing it against the libelant's upper side, as is charged, thus increasing the momentum of her stern, and swinging her past the pier with such rapidity that those on board were unable to avoid the grounding which ensued, by attaching a line to the pier, although they endeavored to do so. While it is denied that the libelant sustained injury, as she charges, there is evidence to support the charge, and the question will not be considered at present. Were the respondents in fault? They had nothing to do with ordering. the libelant away from her berth; and it was her duty to go when ordered. She was, however, entitled to sufficient time to do so with safety; and even if she had been tardy in this respect, it would not have justified the respondents in forcing the steamship in as they did. The Iibelant'R only substantial ground of complaint is stated in her brief as follows: "While the stern line of the Cashier was being properly slacked on board the ship, and she was drifting down with the ebb tide, the tugS docking the Bremerhaven without waiting until the ship was safely moored to the ice pier, or until the stern line was cast off, and in utter disregard of the