United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Saranac Machine Corp. v. Wirebounds Patents Co., 282 U.S. 704 (1931)

Saranac Automatic Machine Corporation v. Wirebounds Patents Company

No. 51

Argued January 13, 1931

Decided February 24, 1931

282 U.S. 704

Syllabus

1. Patent No. 1, 128, 145 (Claim 25), granted to Inwood and Lavenberg, for mechanical means of holding in proper relative positions side pieces and step-mitered end cleats, preformed and separate, while joining them by stapling and wiring into a foldable box-blank, held invalid for want of invention. P. 282 U. S. 711.

2. The method of making the box-blanks out of separate, preformed pieces, suitably held for stapling and wiring, was involved in and disclosed by an earlier, and now expired, product patent to the same persons. P. 282 U. S. 709.

3. The present patent (Claim 25) covers only a mechanical means, useful in pursuing that method but which did not, in itself, involve invention. It cannot be construed as embracing the method, nor be given the effect of extending the monopoly, of the expired patent. P. 282 U. S. 714.

37 F.2d 830 reversed.

Certiorari, 281 U.S. 711, to review a decree holding a patent valid and infringed and reversing a decree of the district court, which adjudged otherwise, 24 F.2d 872.

Page 282 U. S. 705