Barkis v. California Almond Growers' Exchange

KERRIGAN, District Judge.

This is a patent infringement case, brought by the plaintiff, as patentee and owner of United States letters patent No. 1,353,209, for what purports to be a new and useful device for bleaching almonds. Defendant denies infringement, and attacks the validity of the patent. The case might well be disposed of on questions which do not affect its merits; however, in the interest of the parties, both of whom have asked for a final ruling, I shall address my decision to matters of substance.

As late as 1918, the old-fashioned tray system was in general use in Northern…