LOWELL MANUF'G CO.
v.
WffiTTALL.
515
LOWELL MANUF'G CO. v. WHITrALL, (Olrcult Court, D. Massachusetts. 1. DESIGN PATENTS-INFRINGEMENT-PENALTY.
December 21, 1800.)
A manufacturer who, after notice sufficient to charge him with knowledge of a patented design, completes the manufacture of one lot of infringing goods, and delivers them to the purchaser, though he promptly gives orders to stop further production, is liable to one penalty of $250, under Act Feb. 4, 1887 (24 Stat. 387). Qurere: Whether a federal court sitting in equity has constitutional power to enforce this penalty In the absence of a statutory provision for a. trial of the Issues of fact by a jury, subject to the fundamental rules of the common law. Untermeyer v. Freund, 7 C. C. A. 183, 58 Il'ed. 205, questioned. The court cannot In this case determine by mere personal inspection and comparison. in the absence of any explanatory proofs, that the paper drawings of an earlier design patent antlc1pated the design of the patent sued on. Costs will not be awarded to complainant though he obtain an Injunction and a decree for one penalty of $250, where the infringement was not willful and defendant, before the suit was brought, oftered to pay that sum and submitted to the patent.
S.
SAME-ENFOROEMENT OF PENALTy-EQUITY JURISDICTION.
8. SAME-PROOF OF INFRINGEMENT-COMPARISON BY COURT.
4.
SAME-COSTS.
This was a bill in equity by the Lowell Manufacturing Company against Matthew J. Whittall for alleged infringement of a desigD patent. Witter & Kenyon, for complainant. Louis W. Southgate, for defendant. PUTNAM, Circuit Judge. This is a bill brought by the owner of a patent for a design for carpets, for an injunction, an accounting of profits, and penalties under the act of February 4, 1887, Co 105 (24 Stat. 387). It may well be questioned whether the proofs establish the notice required by sections 4900 and 4933 of the Revised Statutes. Certainly they do not show that complainant's manufactures were marked as required by these sections; and there are no proper allegations in the bill of either such marking or notice. However, the penalty which we think complainant is entitled to recover under the act of 1887 exceeds any possible profits which there is any proof or suggestion can be recovered; so the court would not, in any event, be justified in putting the parties to the expense or delay of proceedings before a master. According to his own testimony, the respondent received on June 3, 1894, sufficient information to charge him with knowledge of complainant's design under the act of 1887. After that date he made a delivery to one purchaser of a lot of infringing carpet, the manufacture of which was not completed until June 5th, although the respondent promptly gave orders to stop further production. We think he is liable for one penalty for this lot. It is claimed that
016
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 71.
he shipped another lot to John V. Farwell & Co.; but the complainant has J:!.ot referred us ,to any proofs which enable us to find that this shipment was after June 3d. The evidence of novelty and patentable invention in complainant's design is, of course, prima facie established by the patent. The respondent's acquiescence affords confirmation thereof; and, moreover, it practically admits the alleged infringement. As soon as the respondent was advised of complainant's patent, he substituted a new pattern in lieu of that which we have found to have been an infringement. The complainant now claims that this new pattern was also an infringement. The proofs, however, were evidently not framed to maintain this proposition. No testimony was taken to support it, and it is now sought to be established by mere personal inspection and comparison by the court. Under the circumstances, we find ourselves unable to determine the question in tb;at way. In like manner, the respondent, without offering any explanatory.proofs, has asked us to determine, by like inspection of only the paper drawing forming part of an earlier patent for a design for wall paper, that it anticipates complainant's patent. This also we decline to do, especially in view of the fact that the respondent's conduct, to which we have referred, amounts to an admission of. the validity of the,patent. Notwithstanding the conclusions of the court of appeals for the Second circuit in Untermeyer v. Freund, 7 C. O. A. 183,58 Fed. 205, we must not be understood as committed to the proposition that, in theabsenceofa provision by statute for a trial of the issues of fact by a jury subject to the fundamental rules of the common law, the penalties given by the act of 1887 can be recovered by a bill in equity. This case has not presented to us in such manner as requires us to consider that proposition, or enables us to do so properly. Before this suit was brought, the respondent, who is not shown to have proceeded willfully, and who immediately, on being advised of complainant's patent, submitted to it, as we have already stated, offered to pay complainant one penalty of $250. As we think this is all which can be recovered, and, as the defendant, before suit was brought, made a direct offer to pay that sum and submitted to the patent, the complainant is not equitably entitled to costs. That the resPQndent had the knowledge required by the act of 1887 cannot be gathered from the bill except inferentially. The bill, however, follows the language of the act, so the question is only one of the better form of pleading, and, therefore, though a claim of a penal nature is made, the bill may be amended in that particular. The complainant may have an injunction, though none seems necessary; but the manufacture or sale of the respondent's design, represented by the exhibit known as "Defendant's Exhibit No.2, Whittall Redrawn Oarpet," will not be regarded as affording ground for an attachment. It is ordered that, upon the bill being amended M required in the opinion filed this day, the complainant may take a decree for an injunction, and for $250, without costs.
BROWNSON V. DODSON-FISHER-BROCKMANN CO.
517
BROWNSON v. DODSON-FISHER-BROCKMANN CO. (Circuit Court, D. Minnesota, Fourth Division. December 24, 1895.)
PATENTs-INvENTION-HoRsE COLJ,ARS. The Brownson patent, No. 507,209, for an Improvement In seams for horse collars, consisting of a welt bridging the joint, and a line of staples straddling the joint and passing through both welts, held valid, in view of the fact that it has gone into such extensive use as to practically rel'1llutionize the trade.
This was a bill in equity by Ralph Brownson against the DodsonFisher-Brockmann Company for infringement of a patent relating to horse collars. T. D. Merwin, for complainant. Paul & Hawley (A. C. Paul, of counsel), for defendant. NELSON, District Judge. This suit is brought for infringement of complainant's patent for an improvement in seams for 507,209, dated October 24, 1893, the claim whereof horse collars, is as follows: "The herein-described leather article, provided with a seam, consisting of the two abutting edges to be united, a welt bridging the joint between the abutting edges on each side, and a line of staples straddling the joint, passing through both welts and clinched, substantially as described."
Defendant admits it is manufacturing horse collars identical with those made by complainant under his patent. Hence, the only question involved is the validity of the patent itself, which is very doubtful, if the joints or seams used in the manufacture of boots and shoes and paper barrels are considered. The purpose in all those patents is to strengthen and reinforce, so as to resist strain and prevent wear; but by the complainant's method he secures, not only a strong and durable, but a smooth and flexible seam, which he claims is very desirable in a horse collar. The elements of his patent are very close to a mere aggregation, and I should hedtate about finding invention involved, if the fact did not appear that these metal-seamed collars are demanded by the trade, and by it recognized as a substantial improvement over those made with the old-style seams; so much so that some makers of the latter, unable to compete, have abandoned their m.lllufacture, obtained machinery, and are making collars with metal seams, under itself has adopted license from complainant; in fact, the the very method of manufacture employed by complainant. In fact, the testimony of complainant and his witnesses shows that his collars have revolutionized the trade. This success, and acceptance by the public, with the extent of the revolution made in that department of art, induce me to hold that complainant has invented a new and useful improvement, and is entitled to protection against defendant as an infringer. A decree w1ll be entered for complainant.