UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

The doctrine that the use of one of the elements of a combination does not infringe a patent for a combination reasserted.

Patent No. 89,646, granted May 4, 1869, to C.J. Fisher for an improved neckpad for horses, was not infringed by the device used by the appellant for the same purpose.

This was a suit in equity brought by Charles J. Fisher, the appellee, against Willibald Voss, the appellant, to restrain the infringement by the latter of letters patent granted to Fisher, dated May 4, 1869, "for an improved neck pad for horses."

The answer denied infringement and denied that Fisher was the first inventor of the patented improvement.

Upon final hearing on the pleadings and evidence, the circuit court rendered a decree in favor of the complainant, and the defendant appealed.