Anderson v. Monroe

55 F. 407 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Western Pennsylvania | 1893

BUFFINGTON, District Judge

This bill is filed by Wffil&m Axulemm against W. T. Monroe and Edward T. Germain, alleging infringement of design patent for mantels, No. 19,877, applied for by Anderson, 17th March, 1890, and granted June 3 following. The design in controversy is known as the “Anderson CO Mantel.” On application the bill was dismissed as to Germain, it being shown this court had no jurisdiction as to him. Several defenses were set up. The one material one, however, to be here considered, is that of public sale, use, and exposure to sale, of the designed device, more than two years prior to the application. The proofs show that, early in the spring of 1888, Anderson had been perfecting several mantel designs at Ms planing mill at Hub ton. Pa. Price was a traveling salesman, selling grate fronts; and it was arranged between them that Price should take orders for Anderson’s mantels, on commission, in connection with his regular business. Price visited the mill, consulted about designs, and, when they were determined upon, began taking orders. On March 17, 1888, he went to Washington, Pa., and took an order from McElroy & Moninger, contractors, for four Anderson mantels. This order he noted in Ms memorandum book as follows: “Shipped McElroy & Moninger, Washington, 1 A, 1 B, 1 O, and 1 D mantel, at $2.25, $2.75, $3.25, and $3.75; total, $12.00.” Price testifies these mantels were ordered as samples, oh approval, and McElroy & Moninger were under no obligations to keep them. McElroy says they were ordered as samples, “as what we might expect to get in the future from Anderson.”

Price says he sent the order to Anderson. He shipped the mantels within a few days, — just when is not shown; bnt under date of March 15th, more than two years prior to the date of the application, Anderson rendered a hill for them to the purchasers, charging them, inter alia, with one CO mantel, the design patent in this case. ’Whether he was informed by Price of the alleged conditional nature of the sale does not appear. Price does not testify to that effect. It would seem that some communication must have passed between them, from the fact that Anderson paid the freight, or allowed credit for it in the bill, as far as Pittsburgh; but, in the absence of proof of the terms of such communication, we are justified in regarding it as not containing such information. It is true Anderson testifies, in explanation of the hill, “Price ordered these mantels to he sent there for approval, and directed me to send an invoice along, so as he would know what to do about the price of them;” hut in view of the fact that Price had visited the mill, and they had already agreed on the prices, coupled with the fact that Price had specified in his order the prices and styles, we do not think this attempted explanation sufficient to change the character of a positive sale, as évidenced by the papers. The mantis were duly received by the purchasers, and on March 29th, which was within the two years prior to the application, Price called on the purchasers, made a slight reduction in the bill, was paid for (he mantels, receipted the bill, and was afterwards allowed by Anderson 10 per cent, commission for the sale. The written evidence, made at the time, clearly shows a sale of the mantels, executed and completed as early as March 15th. After the lapse of four years this evidence is more satisfactory and conclusive than uncertain verbal testimony, which would turn it into a mere display of samples. In Price’s order book no mention is made of any such arrangement. The order is positive. The prices and styles are designated. That Anderson accepted it as such is evidenced by his bill. Indeed, in a letter written the day before, March 14th, to Heckert Sc McCain, another customer, he says:

“Will ship mantels t'o-morrow. I am hurrying all I can to get a stock of mantels up, but they are called for as fast as I can get them made. I have orders from Allegheny, G-lenfleld, Hazenwood, Washington, Pa., .Tohnstown, Wilkinsburgh, East Liberty, and Pittsburgh. Expect to load, a car with mantels and moldings to-morrow.”

Under all the facts, we are of opinion a sale was intended by the parties, and was consummated as early as March 15th, which was more than two years prior to the application. Such being the case, the mere fact the price was not paid until March 29th makes it none the less what the parties intended, — a sale. Anderson, therefore, was not entitled to apply for a patent more than two years after March 15th. Having done so, his patent was invalid, and the bill must be dismissed at bis cost.