Crompton v. Belknap Mills

6 F. Cas. 841, 3 Fish. Pat. Cas. 536

This text of 6 F. Cas. 841 (Crompton v. Belknap Mills) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crompton v. Belknap Mills, 6 F. Cas. 841, 3 Fish. Pat. Cas. 536 (circtdnh 1869).

Opinion

CLARK, District Judge.

December 11, 1849, a patent was granted to Moses Marshall for “an improvement in looms for weaving figured fabrics.” He described his improvement to consist in this, to-wit: “providing the movable spring rests for supporting the jacks of the harness when they are not in use, and which are sprung back by the bevel face on the shoulders of the jacks when they are kept in play by the cams on the pattern chain,” “substantially as set forth;” and, second, “the evener,” as described. “Meaning to claim the exclusive use of the rests and evener in a loom, the invention of which is entirely original with me.” He also claimed a combination of rotating, lifting, and depressing bars, which are not material in this case. The complainant alleges, that before May o, 1859, the patentee, Marshall, assigned to him, the complainant, all right, title, and interest in, to, and under said letters patent. And that, on said 5th day of May, 1859, he covenanted and agreed with the complainant to convey to him all right, title, and interest whatever in, to, and under any extension of said patent which might be obtained.

That afterward, and before the 24th day of April, 1S00, said letters patent were surrendered for a defect in the specification, and new letters were issued on said 24th day of April, 1S00, to the complainant for the remainder of the term of fourteen years, from the date of the original patent, to wit: the 11th day of December, 1849.

On the 8th day of December, 1S03, this reissued patent was extended for .the further term of seven years from the 11th day of December, 1SG3, and on the 19th day of December, 1SG3, said Marshall sold and assigned all his right and interest under said extension to the complainant. Under the reissued patent, the patentee, or assignee, stated his claim as follows: “What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent is, combining with the jacks that operate the series of leaves of heddles, and with the lifter and depressor, and pattern chain, or any equivalent apparatus for determining the pattern, a mechanism for holding the jacks either in their elevated or depressed position, when not required to be operated, substantially as and for the purpose specified.” He also claims imparting an irregular motion to the jacks, which is not here material. This reissued patent the complainant alleges the respondents have infringed.

' His bill of complaint is dated the 1st day of-October, 1S04. and prays that the Belknap Mills may be decreed to account for and pay over to the complainant all such gains and profits as have accrued to them in that behalf, and may be restrained from making, [843]*843■using, or vending any looms embracing in their construction the invention of said Marshall, and for general relief.

The respondents in their answer deny the validity of the original patent to Moses Marshall, December 11, 1S49. They also deny the validity of the reissue, April 24, 1800, and of the extension, December S, 1803.

And they also deny any infringement of the complainant's patent, if he has any, and say that they have never manufactured or used any looms involving the invention of Marshall, but that their looms have been manufactured under letters patent issued, two of them, to Samuel T. Thomas, and one of them to Samuel T. Thomas and Edward Everett, and that they were essentially different in principle, construction, and mode of operation.

These letters patent they produce in evidence. The first are dated July 3, 1855, and are for an “improvement in looms.” Among other things, the patentee claimed the combining with each rocker, lever, and lifter, an arm, cam, and sector, or equivalents, the whole being applied together, and made to operate substantially as described. Also the combining with the series of lifters and pattern prism, a series of bent levers, or their equivalents, and imparting to the pattern prism vertical, or up and down, movements as described.

This patent, and that to Moses Marshall and the reissue, had in view the accomplishment of the same object, to wit: the production of an “open-shed loom.” And the question of infringement arises between this patent mainly, and the Moses Marshall patent, as reissued and extended.

The next patent to Thomas is dated February 11, 18G2, and that to Thomas and Everett, July 25, 186G. The respondent objects to the Marshall patent of December 11, 1849. That the invention was neither new nor useful, and that the patentee did not, before the granting and issuing of the letters to him, take the oath prescribed by section G, of the act of July 4, 1S3G, that he verily believed he was the original inventor or discoverer of the art, machine, etc., for which he solicited a patent. 5 Stat. 119.

A patent is deemed prima facie evidence that the patentee has made the invention. Philadelphia R. Co. v. Stimpson, 14 Pet. [39 U. S.] 448. There is, in this case, no sufficient evidence to overcome that presumption, or prima facie case.

There is evidence that “open-shed” fancy looms were used prior to Marshall’s invention, but not involving the combination of Marshall. His invention must, therefore, be taken to be new.

Precisely how useful it may be, the court have not undertaken to decide; but that it is sufficiently so to support a patent, we have no doubt. Other looms may have been preferred by different persons, or may have found a readier sale; but that good cloth can be woven by Marshall’s loom and invention there is sufficient evidence.

To warrant a patent, the invention must be useful, that is, capable of some beneficial use, in contradistinction to what is pernicious, or frivolous, or worthless. Dickinson v. Hall, 14 Pick. 217; Whitney v. Emmett [Case No. 17,585]; Many v. Jagger [Id. 9,055].

These objections to the patent can not, therefore, avail. Nor can the other, that the oath required by section 6 of the act of 1830 was not taken, for two reasons: 1st. We are not satisfied the oath was not taken. The letters patent recite that it was.

The respondent finds among the papers on file in the case in the patent office a blank form of the oath, with the jurat not signed by any magistrate, and hence he argues the oath was not taken.

But the oath may have been taken for all that; and this negative testimony can not overcome the direct recital of the letters patent that the oath was taken; or the presumption that the requirements of the law were complied with in issuing the patent.

But suppose it were so. Suppose the oath was not taken; would the patent be void on that account? It was held otherwise by Justice Story, in the case of Whittemore v. Cutter [Case No. 17,600].

The taking of the oath, though to be done prior to the granting of the patent, is not a condition precedent, failing which, the patent must fail. It is the evidence required to be furnished to the patent office, that the applicant verily believes he is the original and first inventor of the art, etc.

If he takes this oath, and it turns out that he was not the first inventor or discoverer, his patent must fail and is void. So, if he do not take it, and still he is the first invent- or or discoverer, the patent will be supported. It is prima facie evidence of the novelty and originality of the invention until the contrary appear. Parker v. Stiles [Id. 10,749],

So the act says, on payment of the duty, that is, fees, the commissioner shall make an examination, and, if the invention shall be found useful and important, shall issue a patent.

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6 F. Cas. 841, 3 Fish. Pat. Cas. 536, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crompton-v-belknap-mills-circtdnh-1869.