Haines v. McLaughlin, 135 U.S. 584 (1890)
U.S. Supreme Court
Haines v. McLaughlin, 135 U.S. 584 (1890)
Haines v. McLaughlin
No. 315
Argued May 1, 1890
Decided May 19, 1890
135 U.S. 584
ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED
STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Syllabus
The invention covered by the claim in letters patent No. 107,611, granted to James W. Haines on the 20th September, 1870, for an improvement in chutes for delivering timber, covers chutes, whether constructed with lapped joints or abutted joints, and was anticipated by several constructions for similar purposes described in the opinion, and the letters patent therefor are void.
A claim in letters patent cannot be enlarged by construction beyond a fair interpretation of its terms.