Newton v. Furst & Bradley Company, 119 U.S. 373 (1886)

U.S. Supreme Court

Newton v. Furst & Bradley Company, 119 U.S. 373 (1886) Newton v. Furst and Bradley Company

Argued December 3, 1886

Decided December 13, 1886

119 U.S. 373

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED

STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

Syllabus

The first claim of reissued letters patent No. 8986, granted to Robert Newton, December 2d 1879, for an improvement in gang ploughs (the original patent, No. 56,812, having been granted to F. S. Davenport, as inventor, October 9th, 1886), namely,

"1. In a wheel plough, the combination, with a swing axle and ground or carrying wheel, of friction clutch mechanism and means for engaging and disengaging the latter with the ground or carrying wheel, said parts being constructed and adapted to raise the plough by locking the swing axle to the carrying wheel by friction clutch engagement, and raise the plough beam by the draft or power of the team, substantially as set forth,"

is, in view of the state of the art at the time of the invention of Davenport, not infringed by an apparatus in which the axle and the friction clutch mechanism are different, as devices, from those of the patent.

The first claim of the reissue is invalid, the reissue having been applied for more than thirteen years after the original patent was granted and after the defendant had begun to make machines of the pattern complained of.

The defendant's machine did not infringe the original patent, and the reissue was taken to cover it.

Page 119 U. S. 374

This was a bill in equity to recover for the infringement of letters patent. The case is stated in the opinion of the Court.

MR. JUSTICE BLATCHFORD delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is a suit in equity brought in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois by Robert Newton against the Furst & Bradley Manufacturing Company and others to recover for the infringement of reissued letters patent No. 8,986, granted to the plaintiff, December 2, 1879, on an application filed October 15, 1879, for an improvement in gang plows (the original patent, No. 56,812, having been granted to F. S. Davenport as inventor, October 9, 1866).

The specification and claims of the original, and those of the reissue, and the drawings of the reissue, are as follows, the parts in each which are not found in the other being in italic:

"Original"

"Be it known that I, F. S. Davenport, of Jerseyville, Jersey County, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved gang plow, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which -- "

"Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same, partly in section, as indicated by the line x x, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1. Similar letters of reference indicate like parts."

"This machine consists of a frame A, made of two parallel beams or bars a a braced together near the front and back pieces b b. From each of these beams or bars depends a plow B. To the front crosspiece is bolted an iron standard C strengthened by an iron stay D running down to the back crosspiece. To the top of the standard C is attached a spring seat E, the whole supported upon two wheels F F, each turning upon an iron axle c, attached to a hinged board G."

"It will be observed that one of the axles c, is attached to the front or upper side of the hinged board G and the other to the back or underside in such a manner that when it is turned down in a horizontal position to lower the plows to the ground, the wheel that runs in the furrow will be as much lower than the other as the depth of the furrow may require. The axle that carries the wheel that runs in the furrow is so formed that it may be removed from the back of the hinged board and bolted to the front, so that the machine may run level when there is no furrow for the wheel to run in, as is the case when preparing the ground for cotton seed. "

"The hinged board G is attached to the plow frame by two iron hinges, H H', the one H on the side of the long beam, forming an arm or lever I, to which is attached a chain J, which passes over a wheel K, and is made fast to the plow frame. The wheel K turns upon a stud in the end of a lever L, this lever being bolted to the footboard M, which is hinged to the plow frame in the same manner and at the same place as the axle board G. To the opposite end of the footboard is bolted a bracket or stop d, against which rests an arm e, by which the hinged board G is operated; the arm e being held in the vertical position by a latch N, which is lifted by placing the foot on the back part of it."

"Now it will be seen that to lower the plows to the ground, it is only necessary to bring down the arm e till a block f, which is bolted to its side, rests upon a roller g of a lever O which is secured in the required position by a notched quadrant N. It will be observed that as the lever O is moved forward from notch to notch, the plows will cut deeper and deeper, and the reverse as it is drawn back. By these details. the driver has entire control of the depth of the furrow without moving from his seat or stopping the machine."

"Through a mortise in the top of the arm e passes a small iron lever P, to which is attached a rod Q, connecting it with a brake R, which acts upon one of the wheels F; the brake R working upon a pin fixed in a block of wood or an iron plate fastened to the front side of the hinged board G. The object of this brake is to facilitate the operation of lifting the plows out of the ground when the machine is moving forward, for by applying but a little force to the lever P, the brake is pressed sufficiently hard to the wheel to turn the hinged board to the vertical position."

"The draft pole or tongue C is fastened to the underside of the footboard M by two bolts a' a number of holes being made, so that the tongue may be moved to the right or left to give the required land to the plows. The back holes b' are made oblong so that it can be slanted when needed. The tongue may, if necessary, be used on either side of the draft line, and the double tree attached to the footboard independent of the tongue. This arrangement is chiefly for the convenience of using three horses abreast."

"When the hinged board G is turned down in the horizontal position, the lever or arm I gives the chain J, which is attached to it, considerable slack, allowing the tongue to move up and down without influencing the plows, constituting what is commonly called 'a limber tongue.'"

"In regard to raising the plows out of the ground, it will be observed that the front part of the machine is lifted nearly two-thirds of its course before the lever I tightens the chain and commences to lift the back part. This contrivance produces an easy motion without causing either jerk or strain upon the horses or the machine."

"The hind plow can be raised or lowered independent of the other; the standard B', sliding in an iron block O' and operated by a lever, A', extending forward to the front of the seat and secured in the required position by notches in the side of the seat standard, as shown in Fig. 3."

"I claim as new, and desire to secure by letters patent --"

"@1. The lever P, rod Q, and brake R, arranged and operated as and for the purpose described."

"2. The hinged board G in connection with the reversible axles, substantially as and for the purpose described."

"3. The lever O and quadrant N for regulating the depth of the furrow, substantially as and for the purpose specified."

"4. Lifting the hind part of the machine by means of the lever or arm I in connection with the chain J, wheel, K, and lever, L, these parts operating together, substantially as and for the purpose described."

"5. Hinging the footboard M to the plow frame as described."

"6. Securing the tongue or draft pole to the footboard M in the manner and for the purpose described."

"7. The sliding plow standard, B', guide block O', lever, A, and notched seat standard C when used together and in connection with the other parts."

"8. Connecting the lever L with the tongue or draft pole by fastening it to the footboard, the whole operating together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.@"

"Reissue"

"Be it known that I, F. S. Davenport, of Jerseyville, Jersey County, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved wheel plow, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification."

"The object of my invention is to provide improved means for utilizing the draft of the team in raising a plow from the ground, and to this end my invention consists first in the combination, with a swing axle and ground or carrying wheel, of friction clutch mechanism and means for engaging and disengaging the latter with the ground or carrying wheel, said parts being constructed and adapted to raise the plow by locking the swing axle to the carrying wheel by friction clutch engagement, and raise the plow beam by the draft or power of the team; second, in the combination, with a ground wheel, a swing axle, and a plow beam connected to the latter, of clutch mechanism connected to the axle, and adapted by engagement with the wheel to utilize the draft of the team in turning the swing axle into upright position, and thereby raise the plow beam; third, in the combination, with a ground wheel, a swing axle, and a plow beam connected to the latter, of a friction clutch connected to the axle, and adapted, by contact with the wheel, to turn the axle into upright position, and thereby raise the plow beam by the aid of the draft of the team."

"Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, partly in section, as indicated by the line x x, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1. Similar letters of reference indicate like parts."

"This machine consists of a frame, A, made of two parallel beams or bars a a braced together near the front and back pieces b b. From each of these beams or bars depends a plow B. To the front crosspiece is bolted an iron standard C strengthened by an iron stay D running down to the back crosspiece. To the top of the standard C is attached a spring seat E, the whole supported upon two wheels F F, each turning upon a journal c of a swing axle G."

"It will be observed that one of the journals c is attached to the front or upper side of the swing axle G and the other to the back or underside in such a manner that when it is turned down in a horizontal position to lower the plows to the ground, the wheel that runs in the furrow will be as much lower than the other as the depth of the furrow may require. The journal that carries the wheel that runs in the furrow is so formed that it may be removed from the back of the swing axle and be secured to the front, so that the machine may run level when there is no furrow for the wheel to run in as is the case when preparing the ground for cotton seed."

"The swing axle G is attached to the plow frame by two iron hinges H H', the one H on the side of the long beam forming an arm or lever I, to which is attached a chain J, which passes over a wheel K and is made fast to the plow frame. The wheel K turns upon a stud in the end of a lever L, this lever being bolted to the footboard M, which is hinged to the plow frame in the same manner and at the same place as the axle G. To the opposite end of the footboard is bolted a bracket or stop d, against which rests an arm e, by which the swing axle G is operated, the arm e being held in the vertical position by a latch N, which is lifted by placing the foot on the back part of it."

"Now, it will be seen that to lower the plow to the ground, it is only necessary to bring down the arm e till a block f, which is bolted to its side, rests upon a stop g of a lever O which is secured in the required position by a notched quadrant N. It will be observed that as the lever O is moved forward from notch to notch, the plows will cut deeper and deeper, and the reverse as it is drawn back. By these details the driver has entire control of the depth of the furrow without moving from his seat or stopping the machine."

"Through a mortise in the top of arm e passes a small iron lever P to which is attached a rod Q, connecting it with a brake R, which acts upon one of the wheels F, the brake R working upon a pin fixed in a block of wood or an iron plate fastened to the front side of the swing axle G. The object of this brake is to facilitate the operation of lifting the plows out of the ground when the machine is moving forward, for by applying but a little force to the lever P, the brake is pressed sufficiently hard to the wheel to turn the swing axle to the vertical position."

"The draft pole or tongue Cx is fastened the under side of the footboard M, by two bolts ax, a number of holes being made, so that the tongue may be moved to the right or left to give the required land to the plows. The back holes bx are made as oblong slots, so that the tongue can be slanted when needed. The tongue may, if necessary, be used on either side of the draft line, and the double tree, attached to the footboard independent of the tongue. This arrangement is chiefly for the convenience of using three horses abreast."

"When the swing axle G is turned down in the horizontal position, the lever or arm I gives the chain J, which is attached to it, considerable slack, allowing the tongue to move up and down without influencing the plows, constituting what is commonly called a 'limber tongue.'"

"In regard to raising the plows out of the ground, it will be observed that the front part of the machine is lifted nearly two-thirds of its course before the lever I tightens the chain and commences to lift the back part. This contrivance produces an easy motion, without causing either jerk or strain upon the horse or the machine."

"The hind plow can be raised or lowered independent of the other, the standard, B', sliding in an iron block, O', and operated by a lever, A', extending forward to the front of the seat, and secured in the required position by notches in the side of the seat standard, as shown in Fig. 3."

"Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by letters patent, is --"

"1. @In a wheel plow, the combination, with a swing axle and ground or carrying wheel, of friction clutch mechanism, and means for engaging and disengaging the latter with the ground or carrying wheel, said parts being constructed and adapted to raise the plow by locking the swing axle to the carrying wheel by friction clutch engagement, and raise the plow beam by the draft or power of the team, substantially as set forth."

"2. In a wheel plow, the combination, with a ground wheel, a swing axle, and a plow beam connected to the latter, of clutch mechanism connected to the axle, and adapted, by engagement with the wheel, to utilize the draft of the team in turning the swing axle into upright position, and thereby raise the plow beam, substantially as set forth."

"3. In a wheel plow, the combination, with a ground wheel, a swing axle, and a plow beam connected to the latter, of a friction clutch connected to the axle, and adapted, by contact with the wheel, to turn the axle into upright position, and thereby raise the plow beam by aid of the draft of the team, substantially as set forth.@"

The answer sets up, among other defenses, noninfringement and that the reissued patent is invalid because not for the same invention as the original. On a hearing on proofs, the circuit court entered a decree which finds that the equities are with the defendants, and that they do not infringe on the rights of the plaintiff, and dismisses the bill. The plaintiff has appealed to this Court.

By the opinion of the circuit court in the case, 14 F. 465, it appears that the defenses of noninfringement and of the invalidity of the reissue were sustained. Infringement is not asserted in this Court as to any claim of the reissue but the first.

In regard to the subject matter of that claim the specification of the reissue states that the invention consists

"in the combination, with a swing axle and ground or carrying wheel, of friction clutch mechanism, and means for engaging and disengaging the latter with the ground or carrying wheel, said parts being constructed and adapted to raise the plow by locking the swing axle to the carrying wheel by friction clutch engagement, and raise the plow beam by the draft or power

Page 119 U. S. 383

of the team."

The first claim of the reissue uses the same language, with the prefix of the words "In a wheel plow," and the addition at the end, of the words "substantially as set forth."

The other alterations made in the specification are that "gang plow" is changed into "wheel plow;" "iron axle" into "journal;" and "hinged board" into "swing axle."

The first claim of the original patent is for a combination of the lever P with the rod Q and the brake R. When force is applied to the lever P, motion is communicated through the rod Q to the brake R, which brake acts on the periphery of one of the two supporting or carrying wheels F, the axle of which c is attached to a hinged board G and by the action of the brake the hinged board is changed from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and the effect is to facilitate the operation of lifting the plows out of the ground. The first claim of the original patent covers only the combination of the three specific devices -- the lever P, the rod Q, and the brake R. The first claim of the reissue calls the brake R "friction clutch mechanism," and calls the lever P and the rod Q "means for engaging and disengaging the latter with the ground or carrying wheel," and then claims the combination of four things: (1) friction-clutch mechanism (2) means for engaging and disengaging it with the ground or carrying wheel (3) a swing axle (4) a ground or carrying wheel.

The hinged board G of the plaintiff's original patent is ten or twelve inches wide, and at each end of it is a spindle for one of the two ground or carrying wheels to run on, the spindles being in line with one edge of the hinged board. The forward ends of the plow beams are attached by joints to what is the back edge of the hinged board while that board is horizontal, so that, when it comes to be vertical by the action of the brake and the forward movement of the team, the forward ends of the plow beams are raised in height a distance equal to the width of the hinged board, lifting the plows.

The defendants' machine is thus described in the opinion of the circuit court, and the description is conceded by the counsel for the plaintiff to be a fair one:

"The defendants' machine

Page 119 U. S. 384

is a wheel or sulky plow, with a bent or cranked iron axle upon which the plow beams are pivoted at about two-thirds of the distance from the forward end to the coulter, so that the plow is nearly balanced upon the axle or crank, and the arrangement of the mechanism is such that when the plow is running or operating in the ground, the crank part is in a horizontal position, and when it is desired to raise the plows out of the ground, the crank is turned upward toward a vertical position, whereby the forward ends of the beam are raised until the point of the plow runs out of the ground. After the forward end of the beam has risen to a certain point, it strikes a stop, so that when the crank has resumed a vertical position, the plow is balanced across the crank part of the axle, thus sustaining the plow at the height above the ground of the crank when in a vertical position. This turning of the crank axle so as to lift the plow is accomplished by a friction band or brake, which is made to engage with an inner extension of the hub of one of the carrying wheels so that as the wheel moves forward it causes the crank axle to turn upward from a horizontal to a vertical position."

The circuit court was of opinion that if the state of the art was such as to entitle Davenport to a broad claim for any device by which the plow is lifted by the power of the team through a brake or friction clutch, the defendants' machine would infringe. But the court found that prior to Davenport, devices had been used in agricultural implements for utilizing, by means of a brake, the motion of the carrying wheel through a crank axle in raising operative parts of the machine from the ground, which devices were so alike in structure and so analogous in use to those of Davenport as to require his claims to be limited to his specific devices. In view of those prior devices, the court held that the defendants' friction band could not be regarded as the same means for engaging and disengaging the carrying wheel and the axle as the brake of Davenport, and that the defendants' crank axle was not the plaintiff's hinged board. In these views we concur.

The reissue was applied for more than thirteen years after the original was granted, and after the defendants had begun

Page 119 U. S. 385

to make machines of the pattern now complained of. The original patent did not make a swing axle and a carrying wheel elements in the combination of the first claim of that patent. The reissue was evidently taken to cover the defendants' machine, which did not infringe the first claim of the original patent because it did not have the Davenport brake R. No mistake or inadvertence is shown. The plaintiff, in his testimony as a witness, assigns as a reason for the reissue that he thought there "was a mistake and a deficiency in the patent," that he did not consider that other manufacturers respected it, that he considered it deficient because it applied the friction brake to the periphery of the wheel, and that he believed the patent was entitled to cover different friction clutch devices, so as to be a better protection against infringers.

Without pursuing the subject further, we are of opinion that, within numerous decisions of this Court, the reissued patent is invalid as respects its first claim.

Decree affirmed.