US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
ADAMS V. BELLAIRE STAMPING CO., 141 U. S. 539 (1891)
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Adams v. Bellaire Stamping Co., 141 U.S. 539 (1891)
Adams v. Bellaire Stamping Company
No. 50
Argued October 26, 1891
Decided November 16, 1891.
141 U.S. 539
Syllabus
The alleged invention protected by letters patent No. 50,591, granted October 24, 1865, to John H. Irwin, was a combination of old devices, each performing its old function and working out its own effect, without producing anything novel as the result of the combination, and was not patentable.
When the sole issue in an action for the infringement of a patent is as to the patentable character of the alleged invention, it is not error to decline to instruct the jury that the fact that the machine had practically superseded all others was strong evidence of its novelty.
The case is stated in the opinion.
