In re Williams

D.C. Circuit

In re Williams

30 App. D.C. 117, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 5501

CourtCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

DecidedJune 4, 1907

DocketNo. 428

StatusPublished

This text of 30 App. D.C. 117 (In re Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

In re Williams, 30 App. D.C. 117, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 5501 (D.C. Cir. 1907).

Pincite

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Shepard

delivered the opinion of the Court:

This is an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents rejecting an application [by Thomas H. Williams] for a patent having the following claim:

“An outside burial case consisting of a cement body of suitable form and size to receive a casket having an open top, with a shoulder and an upwardly standing flange outside of the shoulder around the upper edge of the wall, the flange having an inwardly facing groove, a cement cover adapted to close the top of the case and rest on the shoulder, and having around its edge an outwardly facing groove, the groove of the cover and the groove of the flange together forming an upright elliptical space, and the cover and flange arranged to provide an open joint to receive, in connection with said elliptical space, a liquid cement, substantially as set forth.”

Patent was denied on reference to a patent to Zarling, No. 712, 030, issued October 28, 1902. The only difference between the two is in the shape of the space made to receive the liquid cement. In appellant’s casket this space has around its edge an outwardly facing groove, which makes it elliptical. In Zaring’s patent this space is rectangular. The difference is one of design merely, and is clearly not patentable.

The decision is affirmed. This decision will be certified to the Commissioner of Patents as the law requires. Affirmed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Mr. Chief Justice Shepard

delivered the opinion of the Court:

This is an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents rejecting an application [by Thomas H. Williams] for a patent having the following claim:

“An outside burial case consisting of a cement body of suitable form and size to receive a casket having an open top, with a shoulder and an upwardly standing flange outside of the shoulder around the upper edge of the wall, the flange having an inwardly facing groove, a cement cover adapted to close the top of the case and rest on the shoulder, and having around its edge an outwardly facing groove, the groove of the cover and the groove of the flange together forming an upright elliptical space, and the cover and flange arranged to provide an open joint to receive, in connection with said elliptical space, a liquid cement, substantially as set forth.”

Patent was denied on reference to a patent to Zarling, No. 712, 030, issued October 28, 1902. The only difference between the two is in the shape of the space made to receive the liquid cement. In appellant’s casket this space has around its edge an outwardly facing groove, which makes it elliptical. In Zaring’s patent this space is rectangular. The difference is one of design merely, and is clearly not patentable.

The decision is affirmed. This decision will be certified to the Commissioner of Patents as the law requires. Affirmed.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

30 App. D.C. 117, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 5501, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-williams-cadc-1907.