Hatch v. Moffitt

The plaintiffs own two reissued patents granted to Jesse W. Hatch. The first, No. 6,319, is dated in 1875; the original being No. 117,627, dated in 1871. This is for an improvement in apparatus for crimping the stiffenings of boots and shoes. This reissue contains a broad claim (5) for a process, which is admitted to be void, unless it shall be construed to mean the machinery. In several cases cited for the plaintiffs, the words “mode” and “process” have been thus construed, at res magis valeat. In a reissued patent, as compared with the original, there is not the same reason for indulgence…