Excelsior Coal Co. v. Oregon Imp. Co.
Opinion of the Court
After a rehearing of this cause, we have no doubt that the former decree of this court affirming the decree of the circuit court in dismissing the complainant’s bill, reported in 16 C. C. A. 219, 69 Fed. 246, was correct. Onr conclusion at that time was based upon tbe decision of tbe supreme court
“If there be any invention at all, then, in the combinations specified in the third and fourth claims, it is in the introduction of the reservoir, O, beneath the hopper, wliicli is really an enlargement of the chute, for tlie purpose of affording a lodgment for the coal until it is drawn off for use. Great stress was' laid by plaintiff’s counsel upon this feature of the invention, but, even conceding it 'to be patentable, there is nothing corresponding to it in the defendant's machine. On the contrary, the coal falls through a square opening in the bottom of tbe liopper directly upon the chute, where it is detained by a gate, which is kept closed until the coal is withdrawn. It is evident that the hopper itself is substantially'the only reservoir, although a small amount of coal is necessarily detained in the upper part of the chute until the gate is raised. The chute is nowhere enlarged to form a reservoir.”
The gates in the appellee’s screen are placed, the one at the top of the chute, and the other near its lower end. If there is no reservoir in the Black Diamond Company’s chute, it necessarily follows that there is none in that of the appellee. The presence of tw.o gates in the appellee's chute, as the same are used, cannot create a reservoir corresponding to that of the patent. Both gates must be opened in order to permit the outflow of coal. The appellee’s chute is not enlarged so as to furnish a reservoir. It is but a means of outlet from the hopper, which is the only reservoir, and it is not itself a storage place for coal. There is clearly no infringement. The decree of the circuit court will be affirmed, with costs to the appellee, as before ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- EXCELSIOR COAL CO. v. OREGON IMP. CO.
- Status
- Published