Sakraida v. Ag Pro, Inc., 425 U.S. 273 (1976)

Sakraida v. Ag Pro, Inc.


No. 75-110


Argued March 3, 1976
Decided April 20, 1976
425 U.S. 273

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Respondent’s patent covering a water flush system to remove cow manure from the floor of a dairy barn held invalid for obviousness, it being a combination patent all the elements of which are old in the dairy business and were well known before the filing of the patent application. The system’s exploitation of the principle of gravity to effect the abrupt release of water "did not produce a `new or different function’ . . . within the test of validity of combination patents." Anderson’s Black Rock v. Pavement Co., 396 U.S. 57, 60. Pp. 274-283.

512 F.2d 141, reversed.

BRENNAN, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.