Swift v. Portland Brush & Broom Co.

(after stating- the facts). The machine described in the patent (No. 622,403) is a complicated and useful combination of means to make egg: cases • or -fillers of straw board to *217be used in crating eggs. The face of the patent, with the array of claims allowed, gives the impression of invention of great merit; and the story of its capability in manufacturing the'cases out-of webs of straw board, is even more impressive. This view of the invention,however, is completely dispelled upon the introduction of numerous patent devices, which not only anticipate the mechanism and function of the patent means in all save minor details, but the want of novelty in respect of all claims upon which infringement was charged, except 1 and 19, is not disputed upon this appeal. So, it is neither necessary nor desirable to discuss the general mechanism, claims, or prior art, beyond such reference as may bear upon the narrow issues thus remaining. Nor is it needful to discuss the contention on behalf of the appellant that the appellees cannot be heard in denial of the validity of any of the claims, by reason of prior contract relations between the former and predecessors of the latter, as it is plain that the proof raises no such question, were it otherwise material.

1. The essential element of claim 1 is the means for perforating the paper web when fed into the machine, described in the claim as “means to produce a transverse series of unalined or divergent slots in said web, the corresponding slots of each series being -longitudinally disposed in said web.” The object of the perforations was for interlocking or engagement of the strips to form the cell, and it is conceded that means and function were old, except in the special feature of alinement. It is contended by the appellant, that “claim 1 by providing for the slots out of alinement and converging the longitudinal strips, so that the cell would be greater in height than in width, did not interfere with the proper interengagement of the cells.” The divergence, as indicated in the drawing, is hardly appreciable to the observer — upon measurement is shown not to exceed two-sixteenths of an inch divergence from a straight line in the total length of the series, t5y~, inches —and neither meaning nor function is apparent in claim or specification without careful study. Upon the argument, the utility of this provision is pointed out in reference to the particular form of slot made by the patent means, but the divergence is without value or function in the appellees’ different form of slot; and it is obvious that the seeming fact of like divergence in the latter was an inadvertence. We are satisfied, however, that the provision upon which this claim, rests is without novelty, under the disclosure of like divergence in the drawings of Bates’ pátent, No. 570,621; and that, in any view,' invention is not involved in the obvious expedient to ..adapt the means to the slots of the patent device."" " - ......... -'

2. The elements of claim 19 are feeding and perforating means, the fixed conduit for the strips, and the so-called “oscillatory former,” further described as “adapted to bend the edges of the notches in said strips against the wall” of the conduit; and the only feature for which novelty is contended is this “former.”

The question of infringement hinges, as stated in the appellant’s brief, on the construction of.this claim — in fact, upon interpretation of the last mentioned element as referred to in the claim and specifications. If this element is limited to the terms of the claim, as “an oscillatory *218former .adapted to bend the edges” etc., it is conceded that .the appellee does not infringe. While the forming or bending means thus provided in the patent structure is needful to bend the special form of notch and slot adopted for the strips of strawboard, so that the .mouth of the slot in the upper strip is widened to receive and interlock with the slot of the other (longitudinal) strip, the appellees’ machine cuts off and removes these edges in both strips, making V-shaped openings— bending is not required, and the patent means referred to is not present in the machine. The contention is, however, that another function is provided in this means of the patent, namely, in means referred to in the argument as a “flipper bar,” to “insure the proper feeding of the strip by bending the web against the wall of the fixed conduit;” and that the appellee employs like means for like function. Assuming, however, that such identity appears, the interpretation which is thus sought' for this claim is strained and unauthorized. It ignores both name and description of the means and the function attributed to it; and as well, the only feature which is pointed out for this element in the specifications. .Thus various references in the specifications are unmistakable in their meaning':

(1) “The web from which the transverse strips are to be formed is passed-between feed rollers to suitable mechanism and perforated with a series of slots arranged transversely with respect to said web. in a straight line. The edges of said slots are then bent to facilitate engagement thereof with the notches in the longitudinal strips, with the notches of which said transverse web is in registry. A strip of width equal to the longitudinal strips with which said web is engaged is then cut transversely from- said web and passes^ thence as a portion of the cell-case fabric.

(2) “Owing to the peculiar interlocking form of my improved filler-strips, it is necessary for’ their proper engagement that they should be prepared by opening the respective notches which are to be engaged before said engage^ ment is effected. This preparatory bending of the notched edges is best shown in Fig. 23 and is effected as follows:'

(3) “The edges, y2, of the notches, y3, in respective strips, X', of the latter are bent, as shown in said Fig. 23, by means of the frame, P, which is mounted for oscillation upon its upper shaft member, P', in-the bearings, p, upon-the frame member, A». The lower bar, Px, of said frame is provided with forming plates, px, adapted to bend the edges, y2 of said notches, ys, over the corners, p2, of the rear wall, g' of the conduit, G, and thus open said notches, ys, for engagement with the notched strips, X': See Fig. 23.”

We are of opinion that the evidence fails to establish infringement of claim 19, under any reasonable construction of its import; and the issue upon its validity in view of the prior disclosures does not require consideration.

The decree of the Circuit Court accordingly is affirmed..