Sargent v. Hall Safe & Lock Co.

Citations

• 114 U.S. 63
• 5 S. Ct. 1021
• 29 L. Ed. 67
• 1885 U.S. LEXIS 1737

Syllabus

<p>In letters patent No. 186,369, granted to James Sargent, January 16, 1877, for improvements in time-locks, the combination-lock forming a member of the combinations claimed by the two claims of the patent, is one which has a bolt or bearing that turns on an axis or revolves, as distinguished from a sliding-bolt, and those claims are not infringed by a structure in. which the combination-lock has not a turning or revolving-bolt.</p> <p>Claim 2 of the patent requires that the tumblers of the combination lock and its spindle shall be free to rotate while the bolt-work is held in its locked position, by the bolt or bearing of the combination-lock.</p> <p>In patents for combinations' of mechanism, limitations and provisos imposed by the inventor, especially such as were introduced into an application after it had been persistently rejected, must be strictly construed against the inventor, and in favor of the public, and looked upon as in the nature of disclaimers.</p>