UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

The claim of letters patent No. 48,128, granted to John Searle, July 11, 1865, for an "improved process of imparting age to wines," namely,

"The introducing the heat by steam, or otherwise, to the wine itself, by means of metallic pipes or chambers passing through the casks or vessel, substantially as set forth."

is not valid for a process, because no different effect on the wine is produced from that resulting from the old method of applying heat to the wine, and is not valid for the apparatus, because that had before been used in the same way for heating a liquid.

Bill in equity to restrain infringement of letters patent. Decree for complainant. Respondent appealed. The case is stated in the opinion of the Court.