United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Maytag Co. v. Hurley Machine Co., 307 U.S. 243 (1939)

Maytag Company v. Hurley Machine Co.

No. 76

Argued April 19, 20, 1939

Decided May 22, 1939*

307 U.S. 243

Syllabus

Unreasonable neglect and delay of a patentee in suing upon or disclaiming a claim not definitely distinguishable from another adjudged invalid for anticipation and disclaimed avoids the entire patent. R.S. §§ 4917 and 4922. P. 307 U. S. 245.

Snyder patent No. 1,866,779, issued to Maytag Company, assignee, embracing claims for a washing machine and a method of washing fabrics, held invalidated.

96 F.2d 87 affirmed.

100 F.2d 218 reversed.

Certiorari, 306 U.S. 666, to review decrees in the Second Circuit denying relief in two infringement suits upon the ground that the claims sued upon had been anticipated, and (306 U.S. 626) to review a decree in the Eighth Circuit upholding the same claims as valid. The claims sued upon were three of thirty-six apparatus claims, for a washing machine, embraced in the patent. The same patent included also three claims for a method of washing fabrics, two of which had been disclaimed; the third furnished the basis for the present decision.

Page 307 U. S. 244