Lorimer v. Keith
Lorimer v. Keith
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:'
The earlier Lundquist application of March 1, 1899, clearly disclosed an automatic telephone system embodying the invention of the issue of the three-party interference, and count two of the two-party interference. This application was allowed April 5, 1901, forfeited for failure to pay the final fee and abandoned; but in the meantime his present application had been filed. While the features of the broad invention are shown in both applications, there is a specific difference between the forms of construction set out and claimed in each.
Based upon these specific differences of construction, counsel for the opposing parties contend with ability and earnestness that the second application cannot properly be regarded as a continuation of. the first. The several office tribunals, in turn, denied this contention. We think this conclusion is sound and supported by the following cases: Godfrey v. Eames, 1 Wall. 317, 324, 17 L. ed. 684, 685; Cain v. Park, 14 App. D. C. 42, 47; Lotterhand v. Hanson, 23 App. D. C. 372, 375; Lotz v.
The fact that in that case the several successive applications specially referred to those preceding does not affect the application of the principle. See also Victor Talking Mach. Co. v. American Graphophone Co. 140 Fed. 860, 76 C. C. A. 180, 145 Fed. 350. The reasoning of the tribunals of the office on the point is quite satisfactory.
Each decision, in turn, reviews the evidence relating to the claims of the opposing parties to conception, disclosure, and reduction to practice of the issues of both interferences prior to the date awarded Lundquist in each, at length and with fairness. It is the rule not to reverse such findings, unless plain error can be shown therein. No such error has been shown; and without further discussion the decision in each case will be af
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LORIMER v. KEITH KEITH v. LORIMER KEITH v. LUNDQUIST
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Patents; Interference; Substitute Application; Reduction to Practice; Priority; Appeal and Error. 1. An applicant may, by substituted application, relate back to the date of the filing of his first application for constructive reduction to practice as the basis of an award of priority in interference, where, although there is a specific difference between the forms of construction claimed in the applications, both show the generic features of the invention. (Citing Gain v. Park, 14 App. D. C. 42; Lotterhand v. Hanson, 23 App. D. C. 372; Lots v. Kennedy, 31 App. D. C. 205; Von RecklingkaMsen v. Dempster, 34 App. D. C. 474, and Vi old v. Colman, 40 App. D. C. 59S.) 2, The findings of the Tatent Office tribunals upon claims as to conception, disclosure, and reduction to practice will not be disturbed by this court unless plain error is shown.