Melville Fuller

“ What the patentee declared his invention to consist in was in providing 'the proper support, or support and guide, for the upper and of the lifting rod;' and we do not regard ourselves as justified in importing into the claim elements that would operate to so enlarge its scope as to cover an invention not indicated upon its face. ”

“ In that patent an invention was described for the opening and closing of a series of passenger-car ventilators or transoms, which consisted of a long rod sliding horizontally in a series of guides, past a series of windows, and connected with each window by a separate arm, so that by sliding the rod backward or forward the windows would be opened or shut. If this device were turned into a vertical position, it would present the combination of the third claim under consideration. ”

“ The patent itself declared that 'transom lifters have heretofore been constructed with a long upright rod or handle, jointed at its upper end to a lifting arm which extends to, and is connected with, the side or edge of the transom sash, the sash being opened or closed by a vertical movement of the long rod;' and there can be no doubt that they were common contrivances for opening and closing apertures at a distance from the hand of the operator. ”