In Patent Law

An addition of some useful thing to a machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. The patent law of July 4, 1836, authorizes the granting of a patent for any new and useful improvement on any art, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. Section 6, It is often very difficult to say what is a new and useful improvement, the cases often approaching very near to each other. In the present improved state of machinery it is almost impracticable not to employ the same elements of motion, and, in some particulars, the same manner of operation, to pr6duce any new effect. 1 Gall. (U. S.) 478; 2 Gall. (U. S.) 51. See 4 Barn. & Aid. 540; 2 Kent, Comm. 370. IMPRUIARE (Law Lat.) In old rfecords. To improve land. Impruiamentum, the improvement so made of it. Chart. Abbat. MS. fol. 50a; Cowell. IMPUBER (Lat.)

In civil law. One who is more than seven years old, or out of infancy, and who has not attained the age of puberty; that is, if a boy, till he has attained his full age of fourteen years, and, if a girl, her full age of twelve years. Domat, Liv. Prel. tit. 2, § 2, note 8. 1MPUNITAS CONTINUUM AFFECTUM tribuit delmquenti. Impunity offers a continual bait to a delinquent. 4 Coke, 45. IMPUNITAS SEMPER AD DETERIORA invitat. Impunity always invites to greater crimes. 5 Coke, 109. IMPUTATIO (Lat.)

In civU law. Legal liability. Defined under Improvement in The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary.