U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 1922

In re Power

In re Power
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · Decided June 5, 1922 · Orsdee
281 F. 431; 52 App. D.C. 71; 1922 U.S. App. LEXIS 2097

Counsel

W. B. Morton, of New York City, for appellant., T. A. Hostetler, of Washington, D. C., for Commissioner of Patents.

In re Power

Opinion of the Court

VAN ORSDEE, Associate Justice.

This appeal is from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents, denying a patent for an invention on the ground that a machine embodying the claim of the issue was sold by applicant more than two years prior to the date of filing his application for patent.

It conclusively appears that such a sale was made. This bars applicant’s right to a patent, since the sale amounts to a dedication of the invention to public use. R. S. § 4886 (Comp. St. § 9430). Commenting on this provision of the statute, the court, in Smith & Griggs Manufacturing Co. v. Sprague, 123 U. S. 249, 237, 8 Sup. Ct. 122, 126 (31 L. Ed. 141), said:

“A single sale to another of such a machine as that shown to have been in use by the complainant more than two years prior to the date of his application would certainly have defeated his right to a patent.”

See, also, National Cash Register Co. v. American Cash Register Co. 178 Fed. 79, 101 C. C. A. 569; Mayer v. A. & H. G. Mutschler et al., 248 Fed. 911, 161 C. C. A. 29; Wendell et al. v. American Laundry Machinery Co. et al., 248 Fed. 698, 160 C. C. A. 598.

The decision of the Commissioner is affirmed.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.