Stockham Pipe & Fittings Co. v. Ohio Steel Foundry Co.

HICKS, Circuit Judge.

Suit for infringement of claim 61 of patent No. 1,752,331 issued April 1, 1930 to appellant, Fred C. Fantz, for a “Return Bend.” Appellant Stockham Pipe & Fittings Company is a licensee. The defenses were invalidity and noninfringement. The District Court held the claim invalid.

The patent relates to return bends designed to connect steel tubes, nested in a bank, and spaced apart and parallel to each other, to form a cracking still, wherein crude oil is heated to high temperature under heavy pressure.

In stills of this type, tubes, 30 or 40 feet in length, were supported at…