Roger B. Taney

“ These three things he represents as constituting his improvement, and they are all combined together in his specification and claim, making together one invention to be used in connection with the other and old machinery of the cotton-gin. And the drawing which accompanies his patent shows the manner in which the rib is sloped and arranged with the saw, and annexed to the frame-work, in order to attain the object of the invention.
Now, the end to be accomplished is not the subject of a patent. The invention consits in the new and useful means of obtaining it. ”

“ The plaintiff considers the invention secured by the patent to consist of the rib only-and of that part of the rib which, by its form, increases the depth between its upper or outer surface and the lower or inner one, at the place where the cotton is drawn through the grate. He insists, that the sloping up of the rib, so as to meet the upper or outer surface of the saw, as well as the manner of fastening it against the framework of the gin, as mentioned in his specification, are not substantial or essential parts of his invention. ”

“ At the trial in the circuit court, the plaintiff in error, after having produced his patent, with the schedule annexed to it, offered in evidence, by the testimony of witness skilled in the art, that the rib described in the plaintiff's specification was a new and useful improvement; that the fastening of the rib to the framework in the manner therein stated, had nothing to do with the ginning, but was only necessary to keep the rib firm; that the rib of the defendants was, substantially in principle, like that of the plaintiff, and operated in the same manner, and produced the same effect ”