THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. V. OHIO BRASS CO.
139
It is also in proof that the method or art of stamping various kinds of articles from sheet steel was well known and in use before MotTi!" made his box lids from that material, and it is well settled that the mere substitution of one material for another is not a patentable inYention. Roofing Co. v. Smeeton, 9 U. S. App. 489, 4 C. C. A.. 379, and 54 Fed. 385; Kilbourne v. W. Bingham Co., 6 U. S. App. 65, 1 C. C. A. 617, and 50 Fed. 697. In the last-cited case the court says: "The use of wrought steel or iron in lieu of cast metal is a mere substitutiun of materials, which, whatever the degree of superiority given to the manufacture thereby, is not pll;tentable."
It only remains to point out those claimR which, in the opinion of the court, are infringed by the defendants. Claim 1 of the first }forris patent clearly comes within this category, since it specifically rrames the new devices for securely fastening the spring to the lid without the use of rivets. "The gist of the second MotTis patent," as expressed in the opinion of the complaimmt's expert, "is the box lid having the bulge or swell to inclose the spring, and also having a mutual conformation of the lid and the spring, substantially as stated, whereby the spring once in place is securely held against any possible displacement, solely by said conformation of parts, and witha.ut rivets or similar fastenings." Claims 4 and 5 of this patent include the old housing or bulge, combined with the spring-securing devices of the first Morris patent, and are clearly infringed by the defendants, who use a lid of the same form, with equivalent devices for attaching the spring. Without passing on the validity of claims 1, 2, 7, and 8, which are for a car axle box lid as an article of manufacture, independent of the manner of attaching the spring thereto, it is enough to say that there is not sufficient evidence to sustain a charge of infringement of these claims, because the defendants' lid does not have the transverse slot and the anchoring recess below, which are the only novelties in the Morris lid per se. The mode of forming the hinge eyes, if it can be ranked as an invention. is anticipated by Morris' patent No. 192,254, of June 26,1877. I...et a decree be prepared in accordance with the foregoing opinion.
THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. v. OHIO BRASS CO. et al. (two cases). (Circuit Court, N. D. Ohio, E. D. July 18, 1896.) Nos. 5,510 and 5,511. 1. PATENTS-CONTRIBUTORY INFRINGEMEXT.
Parties who make, and advertise for sale in their catalogue, as an Independent device, one part of a patented combination, which part is valuable only in connection with the other elements of the combination are guilty of contributory infringement. ' S.BIE-PRELIMINARY INJU1WTlON.
2.
Preliminary injun;tion granted of the Van Depoele patents, Nos. 424,69a and 495,443, covermg electriC trolley switching devices.
140
78 FEDERAL REPORTER.
These were two suits in equity by the Thomson·HoustonElectric Company against the Ohio Brass Company and others for alleged infringement of patents relating to electric trolley switching devices. Frederic H. Betts, for complainant. Frank T. Brown, for defendants. RICKS, District Judge. These two cases are before the court upon a motion for a preliminary injunction. Case No. 5,511 involves a motion for preliminary injunction to restrain the infringement of the Van Depoele patent No. 495,443, dated April 11, 1893, application for which was filed in the patent office on March 12, 1887. Case No. 5,510 involves a similar motion for preliminary injunction on patent No. 424,695, dated April '1, 1890, application for whicb was originally filed on March 12, 1887, being a part of application for patent No. 495,443, but was divided in the application upon which tbe patent finally issued, which was filed October 27, 1888. Both of these patents have been previously adjudicated to be valid. Patent No. 495,443 has been adjudicated valid in the case of Thomson-Houston Electric Co. v. Winchester Ave. Ry. Go., 71 Fed. 192; and patent No. 424,695 has been adjudicated valid in the case of Thomson-Houston Electric 00. v. Elmira & H. Ry. Co., 69 Fed. 257, and, on appeal, in Id., 18 O. C. A. 145, 71 Fed. 396. The claims of patent No. 495,443 which are alleged to be infringed by the defendants herein were claims Nos. 6, 7, 8, 12, and 16, all of which are sustained by Judge Townsend, in the case above referred to, in 71 Fed. 192. The defendants were duly served with notice of these decisions, and with requests to desist from further advertising the infringing devices, and furtber offering them for sale. Complainant bas filed an affidavit of Mr. Goffin showing that tbey are fully equipped and ready to supply all demands from the electric railways for all necessary parts. Tbe defenses to these motions are based upon two propositions: First, that the defendants have not infringed, because they have only sold certain parts of the patented combinations claimed; second, that the patents are void, because the inventions claimed in the claims in suit have been previously described in prior patents to the same inventor. Tbe complainant contends that it is no defense for a party sued for infringement of patented combinations that the infringer has only made and sold a part of said combination, if the proof shows that he made and sold those parts for the purpose and with the intention that the purchaser should utilize it by supplying the other parts. This proposition is well sustained by Judge Townsend in the case of Thomson-Honston Electric Co. v. Kelsey Electric Railway Specialty Co., 72 Fed. 1016, a copy of which opinion is filed and annexed to the affidavit of one of the witnesses in this case. The patent No. 424,695, in its third, eleventh, and nineteenth claims, covers a combination of overhead suspended wire conductor, the switch plate having depending flanges in an upwardly
THOMSON-HOl:STON ELECTRIC CO. V. OHIO BRASS CO.
141
pressing contact device, which is claimed as an invention. This contact device is named in the eleventh and nineteenth claims as a grooved wheel carried on the end of an upwardly pressed arm. The trolley arm and groove passes under the frog where the elec· trical contact is with the tips of the roller, instead of by wire to the bottom of the groove. The defendants make this switch device, advertise it for sale in their catalogue, and offer it as an independent device; but, as constructed and sold, it is, in and of itself, of no use, and can only become valuable and useful when attached to the other combinations of the trolley system. This is case of contributory infringement. If the device could be a used for any other purpose, independent of the combination referred to, the defendants would not be interfered with in the manufacture and sale of the same. But, inasmuch as it is valuable only in connection with the other combinations of the patent, it would defeat the spirit and purpose of the patent laws if the defendants were allowed to manufacture and sell it unrestrained and unconditionally. But it is claimed that there is no proof of infringement, that a single sale of this device was made to one of complainant's agents, and that the defendants did not know for what purpose it was to be used. But this is a mere evasion. The defendants advertise this device in their catalogue by a cut, and offer it for sale; and it is idle for them now to say that they only made this single sale, and are, therefore, not infringers. They would not advertise it at a great expense. They would not manufacture it at an expense, and offer it for sale through agents at an expense, without intending to reap some profit from it, or promote their business interests in some way by it. Both these patents have been fully considered by the circuit courts of the United States in the Eastern districts, and, after full and fair hearing, have been adjudged to be valid. So far as I can discover from the defendants' briefs, every point now urged against these patents was considered in the other cases. It is urged, however, that, under the decisions of the circuit courts referred to, it became necessary for the complainant to make disclaimer as to certain claims, and that these disclaimers have been so broad as to give the public the right to use the inventions therein referred to. But even this contention has been before heard and disposed of. It will not, therefore, be profitable or useful for this court to review these decisions, and consider these objections at length. I think the universal practice and custom is, when cases have thus been once fully heard and considered, to accept the decisions of the lower courts until passed upon by the highest courts. In one of these cases, at least, the circuit court of appeals for the New York circuit has affirmed the decision of the court below, and this decision may, therefore, be accepted as final. I think the proof of infringement is sufficient. Judge Lacombe, npon similar proof, allowed an injunction Oll the same patents in New York, and I think the complainant is entitled to the relief prayed for in these cases. An injunction will be allowed restrain-
142
ing the defendants from manufacturing the switch plate covered by the patent No. 424,695, as described in claims 3, 11, and 19, and defendants will be further restrained from manufacturing the device covered by patent No. 495,443, in claims 6, 7, 8, 12, and 16. If, as contended by defendants' counsel, the defendants are not manufacturing or selling these devices, no harm can result from the allowance of an injunction and restraining order. If, on the contrary, they are making any characteristic parts of the combination covered by the several claims hereinbefore stated, and seIling them or disposing of them in such manner as to make it difficult for the complainant to prove infringement, they ought not to be encouraged in any such trick or device. If, as contended, the infringements are so few and so trifling that they cannot be proven, no harm can result to the defendants. If, on the other hand, the infri.ngements are cunningly hidden from observation, and difficult to prove, the complainant ought not to suffer by it. This patent having been established at great expense, and after long litigation, the complainant is entitled to the full benefit conferred upon it as the owner of a valid patent under the patent laws, and should have the full protection of the court. A decree may be prepared
THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO. v. OHIO BRASS CO. et al. (two cases). (Circuit Court, N. D. Ohio, E. D. October 26, 1896.) Nos. 5,510 and 5,511. PATENT SUITS-PRELIMINARY INJUKC'l'IONS-PRIOR ADJUDICATIONS-ApPEAL AND PERSEDEAS.
Su-
A court, in granting a preliminary Injunction in a patent suit, followed prior decisions of other courts on the merits. Held, that it would also follow those courts in refusing a supersedeas on allowing an appeal.
These were two suits in equity by the Thomson-Houston Electric Company against the Ohio Brass Company and others to restrain the alleged infringement of the Van Depoele patents, Nos. 495,443 and 424,695, for electric trolley switching devices. Preliminary in· junctions were heretofore granted. 78 Fed. 139. The present hearing is in relation to the granting of an appeal and supersedeas. Betts, Hyde & Betts and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, for com· plainant. Frank T. Brown, for defendants. RICKS, District Judge. In these two cases, the complainant's solicitors were served with notice by Aolicitors for the defendants that on the 1st day of October, 1896, at 10 o'clock a. m., they would apply to the court for an order superseding the injunction allowed in the opinion rendered in these cases, and for the allowance of an appeal. Solicitors for the defendants appeared at the timE stated. Oounsel for the complainant, through a clerk in their office, had before that time appeared and asked for information with reference to