Davis v. Hammond

June 16, 1868, William Davis obtained letters patent of the United States for improvements in apparatus for preserving meats, fruits, etc., and on June 22, same year, caused the same to be assigned to himself, Samuel H. and *2David W. Davis, to whom the patent was reissued September 15, 1868. Subsequently the interest of William Davis became vested in Thomas B. Rayl, a brother-in-law of Samuel H. and David W. Davis.

On July 1, 1869, Samuel H. and David W. Davis and Rayl licensed George H. Hammond and Caleb Ives to use the invention covered by the patent for transporting fruits and other…