UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE
NEW YORK SCAFFOLDING CO. V. CHAIN BELT CO., 254 U. S. 32 (1920)
254 U. S. 32U.S. Supreme Court
New York Scaffolding Co. v. Chain Belt Co., 254 U.S. 32 (1920)
New York Scaffolding Company v. Chain Belt Company
No. 23
Argued October 7, 8, 1920
Decided November 8, 1920
254 U.S. 32
Syllabus
Patent No. 959,008, Claims 1 and 3, to Elias H. Henderson, for improvements in scaffold supporting means, exhibits no invention over the prior art. Pp. 254 U. S. 34 et seq. New York Scaffolding Co. v. Liebel-Binney Construction Co., ante, 254 U. S. 24.
The fact that a change in a composite instrumentality was readily made may be evidence that the change was the result of mere mechanical facility, as opposed to invention. P. 254 U. S. 36.
Advantages found in a patented device may count in favor of the patentee though he did not discern them when he secured his patent; but if the device is only an alteration of an earlier patented device, clubjuris
involving no invention, they redound to the benefit of the earlier patentee though he also was unaware of them and did not attribute them to his invention. P. 254 U. S. 37.
245 F.7d 7 reversed.
The case is stated in the opinion.