488
73 FEDERAL REPORTER.
obvious,6r merely suggested by structures of the same general clasB previously in use. I am not able to say that the prima facie validity of this patent is overcome by the showing of this record, nor is the evidence as to anticipation by Graves clear and satisfactory. What he did was seemingly experimental. The distinctive ideas of this patent were apparently not present in his mind, or suggested by whatever it was he made. By driving a pin, through the middle of the cord, into the lower or central pulley of complainant's exerciser, so as to stop the play over that pulley, we have, substantially, the exerciser of defendants. If two pulleys, widely separated, be substituted for the one lower central pulley in complainant's apparatus, and the cord be pinned to each of these, we would again have substantially the apparatus made by defendants. In either case, defendants' apparatus would be "a cord, elastic throughout its entire length, having pulleys the two upper pulleys,"over which the elastic cord travels." The function of complainant's apparatus, in large part, is not dependent on the play oyer the lower pulley, the cord at that point remaining stationary. In other words, the function, utility, or result of defendants' apparatus is contained in that of complainant. It makes no difference that defendants have chosen to cut the cord at the lower pulley and there secured the two ends. They might as well have pinned it to the pulley without cutting it. An infringement is not avoided because the infringing device is better, more useful, and more acceptable to the public than that of the patent infringed; nor, on the other hand, because the infringing device, by some colorable variation or expedient, merely im" pairs or narrows the function and usefulness of the device infringed. The injunction may issue, as prayed.
CALDWELL et al. v. POWEI.L. (Circuit Court of Appeals, 'rhird Circuit. No. 12. 1. DESIGN PA1'ENTS-INFRINGEMENT SUITS-DEMURRER FOR 'VAN'r OF INVENTION -COl,LEGE BADGE.
April 10, 1896.)
The conception of a design for a college badge, of gold or other metal and enamel, triangular in shape, like a guidon, having on its face a combination of red and blue colors, in two horizontal stripes, and bearing the letters "D. P." embossed thereon, is not so manifestly wanting in invention as to warrant the court in holding a patent therefor void, upon demurrer to the bill. 71 Fed. 970, reversed. The Van Roden patent, No. 20,748, for a design for a college badge, 71 l!'ed. 970, reversed. held not void, on its face, for want of patentable invention.
2. SAME.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This was a bill by James E. Caldwell and others, against Charles S. Powell, for infringement of letters patent No. 20,748, for a design for
CAl,DWELL V. POWELL.
489
a college badge or pin. The circuit court sustained a demurrer to the bill for want of patentable invention, appearing on the face of said patent, and dismissed the suit. 71 Fed. 970. Complainants appeal. J. P. Creasdale and Lewin W. Barringer, for appellants. George J. Harding (George Harding, on the brief), for appellee. Before ACHESON, Circuit Judge, and WALES and GREEN, District Judges. GREEN, District Judge. This bill was filed to restrain the defendant from infringing a patented design. The design itself is for !l. barl;2:e or pin, and is of gold (or other metal) and enamel, triangular in shape, like a guidon, having upon the face a combination of red and blue colors, in two horizontal stripes or bars, and bearing the letters "U. P." embossed thereon. This badge or pin was intended mainly for the students in attendance at the University of Pennsylvania, and the colors on the badge are the well-known colors of that university. There is no question made as to the infringement of the design by the defendant. It is admitted. The bill of complaint is in the usual form of such bills, and contains, inter alia, the allegation that one Van Roden "was the original and first inventor of the badge in question, which was not known or used by others in this country, and not patented or described in any printed publication, in this or in any foreign country, prior to the invention thereof by said Van Roden, and not in public use or sale in the United States for more than two years prior to the application for said patent, which application was filed in the United States patent office on the 11th day of April, 1891; the said Van Hoden fully and in all respects complying with all the requisitions of the law in that behalf." The bill further stated that the said Van Roden, on the 7th day of April, 1891, by a certain instrument in writing, "did sell and assign to the firm of James E. Caldwell & Co. the entire right, title, and interer"i in and to the said invention and design for badge, and did thereby authorize and request the commissioner of patents to issue the said letters patent to the firm of James E. Caldwell & Co., which said instrument was recorded in the patent office on the 11th day of April, 1891; and the said James E. Caldwell & Co., the complainants, did, in accordance therewith, obtain letters patent for said design for badge, issued in due form of law to them, bearing date the 19th day of May, 1891, and numbered 20,748, whereby was granted and secured, according to law, to your orators, their heirs and assigns, for a term of 14 years from the said date, the full and exclusive right to make, use, and vend, throughout the United States and the territories thereof, the invention therein specified and claimed, as in and by said letters patent, or certified copy thereof, here in court to be produced, will more fully appear." The bill contained the further allegation that "the invention or design for badge described and claimed in said letters patent is of great value and importance; that badges or pins constructed in accordance therewith !:lave been made in large numbers since the grant
73 FEDERLL REP6RTEIt
o(the patent; that the rights of the complainants have been generc ally acquiesced in and acknowledged by the public; and that, but for the doings Of this defendant, and others acting in collusion with him, they would be in the exclusive enjoyment of the rights and privileges granted by and under the said letters patent." The bill then avers that the complainants have placed upon every badge or pin by them made, of this design, the word "Patented," and the date of the granting of the letters patent, and charges the defendant with "the making, using, and vending of pins and badges embracing the invention or design for badge, or a material part thereof, parented as aforesaid, and thereby the said defendant has infringed, and still does infringe, upon the exclusive rights and privileges intended to be secured to the said complainants by their said letters patent." The bill concludes with the usual prayer for injnnction and other relief. To this bill the defendant has interposed a general demurrer; and, for causes of demurrer, the want of invention and of novelty in the conception and production of the design were assigned. On the argument of the cause in the court below, the demurrer was sustailled, and the bill dismissed. From that decree this appeal is taken. It is a general principle of equity pleading that, as a demurrer proceeds upon the ground that, admitting the facts stated in the bill to be true, the complainant is not entitled to the relief he seeks, all matters of fact which are stated in the bill are admitted by the demurrer, and cannot be disputed in arguing the question whether the defense thereby made, be good or not, and such admission extends to the whole manner and form in which it is here stated; or, to state the principle more concisely, every charge in the bill, well pleaded, is absoli.ltely admitted by the demurrer. Treating the issue raised by the bill and demurrer simply as one of pleading, it would be difficult indeed to find the slightest ground for the justification of the demurrer. The bill is full, complete, and orderly in its statements of facts upon which the prayer for relief is based. It is not necessary to repeat again the averments and allegations, which have been already quoted at some length. The effect of the demurrer is to admit their truth. If so, stronger reasons for equitable relief could hardly be advanced. But the defendant claims that the design itself, as described in the patent, shows absolutely no invention whatever. His insist· ment is that the badge or pin in question is in shape, or form, or general appearance, a mere copy of a well-known style of flag, commonly called a "guidon," and that the, court will take judicial notice of this fact; and, having such knowledge, it cannot grant to the complainants any relief, for they ,utterly fail to show any cause for the interference of a court of equity. But can it be said by this conrt, upon demurrer. if it should find that a flag of the shape of a guidon is common and well known, that a badge or a pin, molded into a similar shape, bearing upon it, in combination, certain colors and letters, is not novel, and does not show invention? The statute which protects inventors requires. tHe production of a new and pleas· ing design. The invention demanded consists in the conception and
NATIONAL CONDUIT MANUF'G CO. 'fl. CONNECTICUT PIPE MANUF'G CO.
491
production of a design which can be so characterized. The design in this case is not to be found alone in the triangular shape, but ,rather in a conception which combines shape, colors, and letters; As was pertinently said by Mr. Justice Bradley in New York Beltmg & Packing Co. v. New Jersey Car Spring & !tubber Co., 137 U. S. 446450, 11 Sup. Ct. 193: "Whether or not the design is new, is a question of fact, which, whateyer our impressions may be, we do not think it proper to determine. by takmg judicial notice of the various designs which may have come under our observation. It is a question which may and should be raised by answer, and settled by proper proofs."
We think, under the circumstances, the defendant should have been put to his answer in this case, and hence the decree below is reversed. NATIONAL CONDUI'L' MANUF'G CO. v. CONNEcnCOT PIPE MANUF'G CO.
(Circuit Comt, D. Connecticut. April 1, 1896.) No. 814. 1. PATENTS-AsSIGNMENT BY PATENTEE-EsTOPPEI,.
The foundation of the estoppel against a vendor patentee is the fact that he has received and retaiIwd a valuable thing in consideration of the statements contained in the avplication for. 01' specification of, the patent. Therefore, when an assignment is made pending the application for a patent, it is immaterial whether or not the vendor may have made representations to the purchasers concerning the probability of obtaining a patent. Nor is it material that the purchasers knew that the thing sought to be patented was old, when they understood that the patent was sought for a new application and use of it. The fact that the claim of a pending application is void when an assignment is made, and has been so held by the patent office. does not affect the estoppel of the vendor, in respect to an amended elaim Rubsequent1y allowed. where the purchaserI' were ignorant of the rejection of the claim, and the fact was concealed from them by fa IRe statements of the applicant. Payment, by the assignees of a pending application, of their note for one of the deferred inRtallmentR of purchaRe money, after the knOWledge of the rejection of the claim, and the vend0L"s concealment thereof from them, does not affect the estoppel against him. They have a right to elect between the remedy by repudiation":of the fraud, or by ratification and estoppel. An applicant for a patent assigned "all rights under said letters patent that may hereafter be granted upon and by virtue of Raid application and any extension or reisRue of the same." At the time of the assignment the claim had been rejeeted. Bdd, that the aSRignees had a right to amend to the same extent as from a surrender and reiSRue of a patent, and that the assignor was estopped in respect to a patent afterwards iRsued, and embracing such amended claims. The estoppel against the ,assignor of a patent operates against a corporation subsequently by ,I}im, and which is elltirely,owned and controlled by him. The corporation will be estopped, I even if another party has a substantial interest therein, where It appears that at the time of acquiring his Interest he: hid known of the patent and its assignme'nt,
2. SAME-VOID CLAIMS-CONCEAL}1ENT.
8.
SAME,
4.
SAME-RIGHT OF ASSIGNEES TO AMEND ApPLICATION.
5,
SAME-ESTOPPEL AGAINST CORPORATION.