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Egbert v. Lippmann, 104 U.S. 333 (1881)

Egbert v. Lippmann

104 U.S. 333

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED

STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

1. Reissued letters patent No. 5216, granted Jan. 7, 1873, to Frances Lee Barnes, executrix of Samuel H. Barnes, deceased, for an "improvement in corset springs," are void, the invention for which the original letters, bearing date July 17, 1866, were granted, having with his consent been in public use for more than two years prior to his application for them.

2. There may be a public use of the invention although but a single machine or device for which the letters were subsequently granted was used only by one person.