United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Williams Mfg. Co. v. United Shoe Machinery Corp., 316 U.S. 364 (1942)

Williams Manufacturing Co. v. United Shoe Machinery Corp.

No. 332

Argued February 13, 1942

Decided May 25, 1942

316 U.S. 364

Syllabus

1. In a patent infringement suit, concurrent findings of the two lower federal courts to the effect that combinations claimed, though involving old mechanical construction, combine these in the machine in a new way, so as to produce a new result, are findings of fact which will not be disturbed by this Court where there is evidence to support them. P. 316 U. S. 367.

2. A claim in a patent for a new combination of specified means, applicable to a portion of an old machine, which describes or refers to the older mechanism in order to show the application and operation of the improvement, is not to be construed as embracing the old as well as the new. P. 316 U. S. 368.

3. Certain claims of a patent to McFeely for improvements in automatic heel lasting machines, sustained. Pp. 316 U. S. 364, 316 U. S. 370.

121 F.2d 273 affirmed.

Certiorari, 314 U.S. 600, to review the affirmance of a decree of the District Court, 29 F.Supp. 1015, sustaining certain claims of a patent, in a suit for infringement.