7,48
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol.-60.
Nelson, 121 U.S. 484, 7 Sup. Ct. 1000. In Coop v. Institute, it wa.s held that the omission of theavermentin regard 1:0; invention having been patented or discovered in a printed was a defect in form which could be taken advantage of by .special demurrer, and should be remedied by amendment. To the same effect see Oonsolidated Brake-Shoe Co. v. Detroit Steel & Spring Co., Id. 894; o-ierman Wheel 00. v. Elliott Hickory Cycle 00.,49 Fed. 859; and Hanlon v.Primrose,56 Fed. 600. The demurrer will. be sU,stained at the cost of complainant, with leave to jUl. amendment within 20 days with an application for leave to :file. HOL'l'ZER' v. CONSOLIDATED ELECTRIO MANUF'G .cO, et al. (CJrcuit '. "
D. Massachusetts. : "
' ,
',.'
March 13, 1894.)
No. 2,923. PA'l'IllNn-CONsTRUCTlON
011' CLAIMS-GALVANIO BATTERIES· . ,J1rstdaim of the Holtzer patent for an improvement in galvanic .batteri!lS(No. 327,878) includes' a "negative electrode, consisting of a carCUp with a cover integral with it," etc. The specifications stltte ttiat the "negative element an,d top or cover of the jar ,are formed of a single integral piece of molded material." 'Held., that the word "integral," as used in theclalm, involves the idea of a cup and cover molded in 'one piece, and cannot be construed as relating to a whole composed of' parts spaciaIly distinct. The Holtzer patent No. '327,878, for a galvanic battery in which the negative electrode consists of a cup and cover molded in one piece, and having a central opening for the reception of the positive electrode, shows pat· entable invention in securing utility and durability through simplified methods.
2. SAME-INVENTION.
This is a bill filed by Charles W. Holtzer against the Consolidated Electric Manufacturing Company and others for infringement of a patent for an improved construction of galvanic batteries. Fish, Richardson & Storrow, for complainant. Philip Mauro, for defendants. ALDRIOH, District Judge. The complainant seeks protection for an alleged invention covered by letters patent No. 327,878. The device or invention is supposed to produce an improved construction of galvanic batteries, sometimes called "agglomerate batteries" and sometimes called "open-circuit batteries." The complainant's battery, manufactured under the claims of such letters patent, is known in the United States and in foreign countries as the "Holt· zer Oylinder Battery," and it is alleged that the defendants' battery adopts the substantial improvement resulting from the invention covered by such letters patent. It ' is not understood that the complainant rests his case upon discovery of agencies employed to generate electricity, but upon improved methods calculated to make known agencies more practical and useful; that the invention is in the direction of simplicity
HOLTZER V. CONSOLIDATED )J:LECTRIC MANUF'G CO.
749
.and durability, and that, by discarding many details of former batteries, a greater utility is produced. And, to state the complain..ant's claim in the words of the expert: "The improvement forming the subject of the invention of the Holtzer patent consists mainly in making the negative element in the form of an inverted cup composed of a single integral piece of molded carbon, the bottom of the cup constituting the top or cover of the battery jar or reservoir containing the battery elements and liquid. The cover portion of the cupshaped element is also formed with an external flange, which rests upon the mouth of the jar, and thus supports the carbon element in the jar while closing the mouth of the jar so as to prevent evaporation of the liquid. The portion of the negative electrode forming the cover of the jar is provided with a central opening which contains a perforated bushing or stopper of inSUlating material, through the perforation of which the zinc or positive element of the battery passes. so that the said zinc is properly supported in the battery liquid, and at the same time insulated from the negative element except as the said elements are connected through the external and internal cirCilit of the battery. The cover of the cup-shaped negative element has secured to it, and in intimate electrical contact with it, a binding post ,or wire clamp constituting the positive pole of the battery to which the external circuit wire is connected."
It is also claimed among other things that: "The advantages of the improved construction, in which the negative element and top or cover of the jar are formed of a single integral piece of molded material, Instead of being made up of a number of parts, some of conducting and some of insulating material, mechanically fastened together, are simplicity. of construction, and strength and durability, as there are no parts to become detached from one another, and greater electrical efficiency and durability, as there are no joints or contacts to become electrically separated or insulated from one another by the destructive action of the battery liquid."
The device on which the complainant principally relies is described as follows: "I claim: (1) In an electric battery, the negative electrode, consisting of a carbon cup provIded with a cover integral with it, the said cover having an opening for the reception of the positive electrode, and being extended over the edge of the jar to support the cup, substantially as'described. (2) An electric battery consisting of a glass jar, a cup and cover attached thereto, formIng the negative electrode, and an insulating bushing or sleeve placed in the cover, and a positive electrode supported by the said Insulating bushing or sleeve, substantially as described."
The defendants' theory is that, under reasonable construction of the claims, the idea of a cup and cover molded in one piece was not intended, and that the complainant's contention in evidence that the leading and substantial feature of his invention is simplicity resulting from the cup and cover molded in one piece of the same material is not warranted by the claims filed in the patent of· fice; and it is urged in this direction that the word "integral," used in this connection, does not mean necessarily one piece, and may, with equal consistency, relate to a whole, composed of parts spacially distinct. I cannot accept the defendants' view in this respect. Reading the claims in connection with the specification, it is apparent that the patentee's aim was in the direction of simplicity, and that he intended one piece molded of the same material, and that ;the word "integral" was used in that sense. It will be observed
750 byl'Elference to the.
FEDERAL R:E(PORTER,
vol. 60.
.,.
()f patentee's specification that
"In accordance with my invention, 'instead of the usual glass cover, the p()sitive carbon rod, and the .usual agglomerate plates or blocks fastened to it by rubber bands, and the lead cap a.ttached to the positive carbon outside of the coyer and serving to SUj!pend the sald carbon within the jar, I employ a negative_.electfode, compolile4 of the usual so-called 'agglomerate' material, molde4.under pressure to form a CUll, and a flange to support the cup when placed position in the usUal gla.ss jar."
'!'he construction for which the defendants (loritend doubtless ltlightl'esult from technical and astute reasoning, ];lut such is not the rUle for construing claims. of. this character. . Manufacturing 00. v. Adams, 151 U. S. 189, 144, 14 Sup. Ot. 295. The word "in· tegral" ltlight be employed under circumstances and in a sense to denote What the defendants claim for it, but we do not think it was used in this connection to describe.a cup and cover of several parts of the same or different material, bUt, on the contrary, to describe one piece molded in sueh shape as to perform the function previ· ously involved in a complicated mechanical construction comprising a considerable number of ;parts of, different materials and attachments. The complainant's invention must be accepted asa valuable improvemep:t upon the meansprl;!viously employed in this class of bat· teries. The device provides for a mechanical construction comprising practicl;l1 utility and durability through simplified methods, and by meaus more satisfactory than any previously employed or known. That this invention is a useful improvement seems apparent from an examination of the complainant's Claims and exhibits, in comparison with the claims.setforth in prior patents, and the batteries, formerly used, as described in the evidence nresented by the record. If there were doubt on 1;his question, we, might well consider the fact thatthewmplainant's idea of construction was readily adopted by the public generally, as well as by these defendants. Krementz v. S. Oottle Co., 148 U. S. 556, 560, 13 Sup: Ct. 719; Topliff v. Tonliff, 145 U. So 156, 164, 12 Sup. Ct. 825. It must, therefore, be found that the complainant's improvement involves patentable novelty, and that it was not anticipated by any form of construction previously known. Although the improvement is simple in its character, it is entitled to protection. Krementz v. S. Cottle Co., 148 U. S. 556, 560, 13 Sup. Ct. 719;'The Barbed Wire Patent, 143 U. S. 275, 282, 12 Sup. Ct. 443, 450; toom Co. v. Higgins, 105 U. S. 580, 591. Indeed, simplicity of constl'Uction is the leading characteristic of the Holtzer battery, and it is.for the device which works this result that the cOIhplainant seek$ protection. The defendants' battery' appropriates the essentiill idea of construction contemplated by the first and, second claims of complainant's patent, and is an infl'it)gement thereof, Let a decree be entered for an injunction and an accountinQ' in accordance with the prayer.
MACK
v.
LEVY.
751
MACK v. LEVY et aL (Circuit Court. S. D. New York. February 20, 1894.)
1.
PA'1'El'I''1's-DECHEE-RES JUDICATA.
A decree which shows only that certain claims of a patent were sustained does not include an adjudication that the other claims were In· valid.
2.
RES JUDICATA-WAIVER.
and it Is binding upon both parties or neither. Hence, when defendant
The estoppel of a decree need not be relied upon, but may be waived;
sets up new matter as a defense to a prior decree pleaded by complainant, the latter may treat the estoppel as waived.
This is a bill by William Mack against Levy, Dreyfus & Co. for infringement of letters patent No. 268,112, issued November 28, 1882, to complainant. On motion for rehearing. The prior opin. ion is reported in 59 Fed. 468. Albertus H. West, for plaintiff. James A. Hudson,for defendants. WHEELER, District Judge. The defendants have moved for a rehearing upon the conclusiveness of the decree in the former suit between these parties. The bill in this suit alleges the issuing and infringement of the letters patent, and that they had been in controversy in a certain suit in equity in this court wherein the orator was complainant and these defendants were defendants, which came on for hearing before Judge Shipman, whereupon "the said court decreed that said letters patent were good and valid in law, and that the defendants had infringed upon the fourth and sixth claims thereof," and directed an injunction and an accounting. 59 Fed. 468. It also alleges a suit by the orator against the Spencer Optical ManufactUring Company, in which this court, held by Judge Coxe, "decreed that said letters patent were valid in law as to claims four and seven thereof." 52 Fed. 819. The answer admits the issuing of the patent, and the former suit and decree against the defendants, and alleges that the invention had been previously known to, and used by, among otherS, August Stendike, of and at New York; and, "of and concerning the said suit, these respondents allege, and will show to the court, that, upon the evidence therein presented at the hearing thereof, the said court made and filed a decision in writing, wherein certain facts were found and conclusions of law reached, upon and pursuant to which, and after the filing thereof, and the making of the interlocutory decree aforesaid, such proceedings were had that the respondents duly accounted as therein directed; and thereafter, on the 1st day of December, 1890, a final decree was therein made, in conformity to said decision and modification of said interlocutory decree, and filed by the court, wherein and whereby the respondents were adjudged to pay to the complainant the sum of $800, in full for profits, damages, and costs of the said suit to the time of said decree, and the said patent was adjudged to be good and valid, but only as to the fourth and sixth claims thereof,all of which, by said decision and interlocutory decree and final