United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Consolidated Fruit Jar Company v. Wright, 94 U.S. 92 (1876)

Consolidated Fruit Jar Company v. Wright

94 U.S. 92

Syllabus

Letters patent No. 102,913, issued to John L. Mason, May 70, 1870, for an "improvement in fruit jars," are void first because there was a purchase, sale, and prior use of the invention more than two years prior to the application for a patent; second, because at the time of such application the invention had been abandoned to the public.

This is a bill in equity filled by the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company to restrain the alleged infringement by the defendant of letters patent No. 102,913, issued May 10, 1870, to John L. Mason, for an 'improvement in fruit jars,' and of which the complainant, by mesne assignments, is the owner. The court below, upon hearing, dismissed the bill, whereupon the complainant appealed here.

The facts are set forth in the opinion of the Court.