Strauss Bascule Bridge Co. v. City of Seattle

The Bascule Bridge Company sued the city of Seattle and alleged infringement of claims 9 and 19 of patent No. 995,813, issued June 30, 1911, and filed motion for temporary injunction to enjoin the city from using certain plans adopted for the construction of what is called the Montlake Bridge. After hearing upon affidavits, temporary injunction was denied, and the bridge company appealed from the order of denial.

The claims of the patent alleged to be infringed are: “(9) A bridge comprising a movable section, a stationary cross-support therefor, the rear ends of the movable section having truss members which completely surround the said cross-support. (10) A bridge comprising a movable section, two upright supports therefor, one on each side of the roadway, a stationary cross-support connected with said upright supports and upon which the movable section is mounted; the main trusses of the movable section ending at the said cross-support, the rear end of the movable section having truss members above and below said cross-support, and arranged so as to be at all times free from the cross-support when the movable section is lifted.” For the present purposes it is sufficient to say…