FEDERAL REJ:>ORTCER,
vol. 63.
of the Swift patent. This conclusion appli to the s now by the defendants, but'· not to the so-called "basket dryer," one .of which the defendants now use, and which, in my opinion, is clearly an infringement of the Swift patent. A decree maybe.drawnin conformity with this opinion.
DIAMOND MATCH CO. v. OSHKOSH MATCH WORKS et al. (Circuit Court, E. D. Wisconsin. October 1, 1894.) PATENTS-AcTION FOR INFRINGEMENT-PRODUCTION OF DRAWINGS AND MODELS -DRAWINOS IN PENDING ApPLICATIONS AT THE PATENT OFFICE.
The defendants concealed their machines. so that the complainant could not make satisfactory proof of infringement. Complainant thereupon called one of the directors of the defendant corporation, and proved by him that the defendants' machines" contained the elements mentioned in certain claims of complainant's patents. and then moved the court for an order requiring the defendants to produce drawings or a model of said machines, or to permit complainant's experts to visit their shops, and make such drawings from the machines. Held.: 1. That although such order should not be granted upon mere suspicion or allegation of infringement. yet here. as the complainant bad shown probable cause for believing that infringement was going on, the order should be granted. 2. That the fact that an application for a patent on one of the defendants' machines was pending was no ground for denying the order, the rule of secrecy in the patent office having no application to investigations of causes by the courts. 3. Rule entered for the defendants to produce drawings of the alleged infringing machines upon payment of the cost thereof by the complainant.
Two actions in equity by the Diamond Match Company against the Oshkosh Match Works and others for infringement of a certain patent. H(ilard on complainant's motion for an order requiring the production of .certain drawings by the defendants. Prindle &:Russell, L. Hill, and H. G. Underwood, for complainant. A. E. Thomplilon, C. T. Benedict, and Harshaw & Davidson, for defendants. SEAMAN,District Judge. The complainant is prosecuting two 41.ctions in equity against the defendants, alleging infringement in each case of certain letters patent, and the defendants answer in each, under oath, denying infringement. The complainant was pro.ceeding with the taking of testimony before a notary acting as examiner pursuant to stipulation, and produced as a witness in its behalf William H. Wyman, who was superintendent and director of the OshkOSh Match Works, and inventor of the alleged infringing machinery used by the defendants. It is sufficient to state that this witness testifies that applications are pending in the patent office for patents upon. one of these machines; that full and com. plete drawings have been made of each of the machines, but were .delivered to their solicitor for use with applications for patents, . . and are not in possession of the witnesses; .that he is not sufficiently
DIAMOND MATCH CO. V. OSHKOSH MATCH WORKS.
985
skilled to make drawings or sketches which would accurately represent the machines, and has no model of them. His answers to certain of the direct interrogatories, which are framed in the precise language of claims set out in complainant's patents, tend to show that there is present in the defendants' machines, in each case, at least a similar combination of elements for a similar purpose. 1.'here is sufficient in some of these answers to show ground for suspicion of infringement, and to demand accurate information of the means or elements employed in order to determine the question of conflict. In this state of the inquiry, it is not "a mere fishing excursion" for evidence against the defendants, or a move upon bare suspicion. The case differs materially from that presented in Dobson v. Graham, 49 Fed. 17, and comes clearly within the rule announced in Edison Electric Light Co. v. United States Electric Lighting Co., 44 Fed. 294, 45 Fed. 55; Coop v. Development Inst., 47 Fed. 899; Johnson S. S. R. Co. v. North Branch Steel Co., 48 Fed. 195. The complainant is not entitled to the aid of the court, upon a suspicion or an allegation of infringement, to pry into the business, operations, or appliances of the defendants, either to the end of makingout a case against them, or for any other object. The defendants are entitled to protection in their rights and property, and will not be required to make premature disclosure of their matters of defense. But the answers above referred to so far establish ground for a prima facie case of infringement that it is fairly opened for inquiry, and the complainant is entitled to accurate information of the constituents and mode of operation of the alleged infringing machineS. That information can be readily furnished. It is a part of the complainant's case, but cannot at this stage be withheld upon the ground simply that it is under the control of defendants. .I doubt whether the question of identity could be determined satisfactorily without the aid of drawings, models, or inspection; and I am unable to find any reason for the fear expressed by the defendants that some harm, aside from the issues in this action, might result from disclosure while the application in the one case is pending in the patent office. Any invention it may show be forestalled at this time. The rule or practice of the patent office, which withholds the drawings and papers from the public eye until the case is disposed of, is salutary there, but is not applicable to the investigation of causes by the courts. The application in the other case is stated to be in readiness for filing, and disclosure obtained in this public manner cannot be presumed to imperil any invention it may contain. The drawings must be produced, if in existence and within control of the defendants or their counsel, for use before the examiner, upon pa.yment by the complainant of such sum for their use as shall be reasonable. A rule will be entered accordingly, with leave to complainant to apply for further relief upon default, or insufficiency of the information.
9'86'
FEDERAL lUC}\ORTER,
:ADAMS ELECTRIC ltY. CO. v. LlNDELLRY. CO. J'.,;;
(CircUltCoW't, E'-D. MisSOuri, E. D. September 17, 1894.) CU)IOTORS.
a B.
In the ot COIllIllu:Q.icating power trom the i1.l'rlulrttll'e.ot an eleetrlc motor to' a streef:car axle, as between wellkUO\\rti.gevlces, such as trlctionbearings, cog gearing, and pulleys, in. :volves'no Invention. C4ang!ng the .torm, proportion, and sizE! ot. an electric motor, .SO as. to adrplt putting it under all oi'dinm'YS1;feet car, in conjunction with the .1U1ethereot, lJivolves no invention. . SAMlt.'
.
There is' no Invention in SO mounting an electric motor upon a. streetcar truck tllat it has a PQsiti'Ve conneetion with the driven !Ule only, and .merely a spring connection, through the truck frame, with the other axle, thus permitting a.torque movement of the motor in starting and stopping the car, and, allowing the wheels to pass over curves and Inequalities with greater facUlty,
4.' SAl.aIl. 'l'be AdamS patent. No. 8OQ,828. relatiJlg. to lmprovements in electric stree.t car motors and trucks, .Is void for anticipation and want of invention. ' . " .
This was a suit in equity by the Adams Electric Railway Company against the Liiidell Railway Oompany fol' in(ringement of a.patent relating to improvements in electric street car motors and trucks. Given Oampbell and Upton M. Young (Robert H. Parkinson and O. Fowler, of counsel),. for Eaton, Lewis, Bo:rle & Adams (Frederic H. Betts and Samuel R. B'etts, of counsel), for defendant. HALLETT, District Judge. Complainant's patent, No. 300,828, was issued June 24, 1884, upon an application filed December 15, 1883. The claims of the patent, three in number, are as follows: The combination, with the axle which carries the driven wheels, the axle boxes or bearings, and a frame seemed to, or formed in one With, said b<tx:ea or bearings, of llJn electric motor, whose armatUre is mounted to revolve 9D' said axle, and whose field is, attached to and carried by said frame, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth. (2) The combinatiQn, with the driven wheels,' their axle and axle boxes or bearings, and a field-supporting frame secw'ed to, or formed in one with, said boxes or bearings, of an electric motor, .whose armature and fleldare carried by said axle and frame, respectivelY,'and intermediate motion-transmitting gearing, also carried by said fraxne,and meshing' on .the one hand with a gear On the driven wheels, and on the other with a gear on the armature hub. (3) The driven wheels, their axle and axle boxes or bearings, and the supporting frame secured to, or 'formed in one with, said boxes or bearings, in combination with the armature Illounted to revolve on said axle, and the field lJ,nd in gearmagnets, irig motmted in and carried by' said supporting frame, under the arrangement and for operation as hereinbefore set forth."
None of the elements of the combination described in the claims was new at the date of the application. motor and its several parts, the car axle, the axle boxes, the field-supporting frame, and all