The court stated:

Much discussion has occurred over the word "substantially," used in the claims and specifications of the patents. I find no difficulty in understanding what the patentee means. He wishes to avoid any appearance of professing ability to maintain exactly atmospheric pressure in the combustion chamber. He wishes also to produce certain economies and superiorities of which a pressure near that of the atmosphere and nearly constant is the sign or symbol. Therefore the word "substantially" as used in the patents means so near to atmospheric pressure as to produce and maintain the economies and superiorities sought after, and merely illustrated by the phrase "substantially atmospheric pressure."

In Pittsburgh Iron & Steel Foundries Co. v. Seaman-Sleeth Co., 236 Fed. 756, the court held that the word "substantially" in a claim of a patent, cannot be given the same meaning as "essentially."

In Hazeltine Corp. et al. v. A. H. Grebe & Co., Inc., 21 F. (2d) 643, in an electrical patent, a claim recited the connection of an auxiliary coil and a coil “with a coefficient of coupling substantially equal to unity." The court observed that the defendant wound his coils interleaved, which was the closest possible coupling which could be obtained with coils of the defendant's type, "and is effective as unity coupling would be, and is substantially equal to unity." The defendant contended that "substantially equal to unity" meant as close to unity as it was physically possible to get. The court did not coincide with this view, stating that to give the language of the claim such an interpretation, would be to ignore the word "substantially” of the claim, and, at the same time, would destroy the whole significance of the claim.

We conclude, therefore, that it cannot successfully be contended here that "substantially coincident with" or "close to" means "coincident with" or "at." To so hold would be to destroy the claims of the patent. If the actuating shaft be close enough to the center of gravity of the frame so that the objects of the invention are accomplished and its proposed new and useful results attained, then the shaft may be held to be "substantially coincident" with the center of gravity.

Whether this be true, can only be ascertained in the actual operation of the device. In the case before us, we are convinced that the greater weight of the credible evidence shows that the Verplanck machine successfully operated to produce the new and useful results of the subject matter of the counts of the interference, and that it satisfied the same, and that the element which is the issue in this case contributed to that result. The party Robins, therefore, should be awarded priority.

The decision of the Board of Appeals is reversed.

468 O. G. 278; 23 C. C. P. A. 969; 81 F. (2d) 299 TETLEY & Co., INC. v. BAY STATE FISHING Co. (No. 3595)

1. TRADE MARKS-OPPOSITION-DISCLAIMER.

Appellee attempted to disclaim the words "in cans" in the description of goods appearing in his application. There is no practice or statutory provision by which such a disclaimer may now be made in this court. Therefore, the application for registration must be taken as it appears in the record before the court, and, as such, it includes fish in cans.

2. TRADE MARKS OPPOSITION GOODS OF SAME DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTER.

Fish in cans and tea in cans held to be goods of the same descriptive character.

3. TRADE MARKS-OPPOSITION-SIMILARITY OF MARKS.

“Budget Special" applied to fish in cans held not confusingly similar to Tetley's Budget Tea in cans and registration of "Budget Special" held not likely to cause confusion or mistake in the mind of the public.

United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, March 23,

[Affirmed.]

1936

APPEAL from Patent Office, Opposition No. 12817

Herbert J. Jacobi and William J. Jacobi for appellant.

Roberts, Cushman & Woodberry, Cushman, Darby & Cushman (Charles D. Woodberry and Robert L. Thompson of counsel) for appellee.

[Oral argument March 3, 1935, by Mr. Herbert J. Jacobi and Mr. Charles D. Woodberry] Before GRAHAM, Presiding Judge, and BLAND, HATFIELD, GARRETT, and LENROOT, Associate Judges

GRAHAM, Presiding Judge, delivered the opinion of the court: The appellee, Bay State Fishing Company, filed its application in the United States Patent Office on January 14, 1933, for registration of a trade-mark used in connection with the sale of "haddock, cod, cusk, hake, pollack, mackerel, butterfish, herring, whiting, flounders, sole, bluefish, and catfish, fresh, frozen, salted, smoked and in cans." The trade-mark sought to be registered consists of the two words "Budget Special," and is commonly used in a label together with a representation of a fisherman and a fish.

The appellant, Joseph Tetley & Co., Inc., filed notice of opposition to the registration of this mark on April 13, 1933. The grounds of opposition are, in brief, that the appellant has been engaged in the business of selling tea and coffee from a date long prior to January 9, 1933, and that in the sale of such products it has used a trade-mark comprising the words "Tetley Budget Tea," which mark has been used in interstate and foreign commerce; that the appellant caused

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to be registered on April 4, 1933, its said trade-mark "Tetley Budget Tea" for tea, having, at the same time, disclaimed the word "Tea” apart from its mark as shown in its application; that the appellant has expended large sums of money in advertising its merchandise and the aforesaid mark, and has created a very material good will for its business.

The opposer-appellant also alleged that the goods of the respective parties were of the same descriptive properties, and that the appellant will be damaged by the registration which is sought by the appellee. It is also alleged that confusion in trade will result. The applicant-appellee answered the notice of opposition, admitting the registration of the opposer's mark but denying the other allegations of the notice of opposition.

In connection with the application for registration of appellee, a disclaimer was filed in the Patent Office disclaiming the word "Special" apart from the mark shown in the drawing. Both the marks of applicant and opposer are printed in plain block type, without further ornamentation or special features. No evidence was taken by either party. The Examiner of Interferences held that "the difference between the goods when combined with the difference between the marks taken in their entireties, as used by the parties, are sufficient to make it seem that confusion in trade is not reasonably likely." The opposition was dismissed and registration granted. The Commissioner of Patents, on appeal, held that the goods of the parties were not of the same descriptive properties, and further stated, "it might again be stated that the marks also bear substantial differences. These differences in the goods, when coupled with the differences in the marks, are deemed fatal to the opposer's case."

The opposer, now the appellant, has appealed from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents.

[1] It must first be considered whether the goods of the parties are of the same descriptive properties. The argument is made that fish in packages, or fresh, are so different in their method of handling and sale and appearance that no purchaser would likely be deceived and confused by their similarity to tea, bearing a similar mark. However, it will be observed that in the appellee's application for registration, the registration is not confined alone to fresh fish or fish in packages, but extends to fish in cans. It is true that counsel for appellee in this court, in their brief, have attempted to disclaim the registration as to the words "in cans" and have attempted to waive any advantage which might be had from those words in appellee's application. We are aware of no practice or statutory provision by which such a disclaimer may be now made in this court. While such a disclaimer might be operative as an estoppel in equity

under some circumstances, there is but one method of disclaimer which is effectual as to the proceedings in the Patent Office of which we are aware, and that is by the filing of a disclaimer in that office. No showing is made that this has been done, either by the record or otherwise. We must, therefore, take the application for registration as it appears in the record before us, and, as such, it includes fish

in cans.

[2] Fish, generally, are food products, and are commonly sold in stores and delicatessens where tea is also sold. This is especially true of fish in cans, and it is believed that confusion might reasonably result in the mind of the purchaser where canned tea and fish, especially canned fish, were exhibited for sale side by side.

In Revere Sugar Refinery v. Joseph G. Salvato, 18 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 1121, 48 F. (2d) 400, we considered a trade-mark consisting of the word "Revere" for use on certain meat products, canned vegetables, canned fish, and other grocery products, registration for which was opposed by the owner of a trade-mark "Revere" used on sugar. We held that the goods of the parties were of the same. descriptive properties, and sustained the opposition.

In California Packing Corporation v. Tillman & Bendel, Inc., 17 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 1048, 40 F. (2d) 108, coffee was held to be goods of the same descriptive properties as fruits and vegetables, canned, dried, and preserved; pork and beans, pickles, mustard, and sardines. In this connection, see also California Packing Corporation v. Halferty, 295 Fed. 229.

We are of opinion, therefore, that the commissioner is in error in his finding "that fish and tea are not goods of the same descriptive properties."

[3] We come next to a consideration of the respective marks of the parties. These marks are "Budget Special" and "Tetley Budget Tea." While the words "Special" in the one mark, and "Tea" in the other, are disclaimed, these words, of course, will appear in the mark as used, and the mark must be considered as a whole. Estate of P. D. Beckwith, Inc. v. Commissioner of Patents, 252 U. S. 538, 545; In re Parfumerie Roger & Gallet, 24 F. (2d) 698, 57 App. D. C. 267; Armour & Co. v. Louisville Provision Co., 283 Fed. 42, 46.

In considering the mark of the opposer, the name "Tetley" is to be given as much force and effect as any other part of the mark. Columbia Mill Co. v. Alcorn, 150 U. S. 460, 466.

A case of particular interest in this connection is John Morrell & Co. v. Hauser Packing Co., reported in 20 F. (2d) 713. The two marks in question in that case were "Hauser's Pride," as a brand for a high grade of hams and bacon, and the word "Pride" used in combination, such as "Morrell's Pride," "Morrell's Iowa Pride" and "Morrell's Dakota Pride." The owner of the Morrell mark

contended that its actual trade-mark was the word "Pride." The court was of opinion that as the mark was used in a combination of both words, the court would so consider it, giving equal prominance to both words and not ignoring either.

In the consideration of the question whether confusion would be likely to result from the registration of the appellee's trade-mark, it is proper to consider the circumstances under which the goods are and will be sold, together with the mark, in determining that question. Although we are of opinion that fish and tea, generally speaking, are goods of the same descriptive properties, especially if the fish are of the canned variety, there is a considerable difference in the character of fish and tea, so that it is likely that less confusion might arise in the sale of these products than if the goods were more closely related, such, for instance, as coffee and tea, or cocoa and tea. The marks applied to these products are such as would lessen the liability of confusion. In the one case, the mark is "Budget Special" upon fish. In the other, it is "Tetley Budget Tea" on a package of tea. The only similarity between these marks is the use of the word "Budget." There is nothing to indicate that any more importance. is to be attached to the use of the word "Budget" than to any other part of the mark. In the mark on tea, the certificate of registration shows the name "Tetley" to be composed of larger type than the words "Budget" and "Tea." If more importance is to be given to one word of a mark than another, it would seem, on this account, to be attachable to the word "Tetley."

Taking into consideration the differences in the marks and the dissimilarity of the goods on which the respective marks are used, we are of opinion that the registration of the mark "Budget Special" will not be likely to cause confusion or mistake in the mind of the public, and that the appellee is entitled to have its mark registered. The Duro Pump & Mfg. Co. v. Thomas Maddock's Sons Co., 17 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 785, 36 F. (2d) 1005; E. Daltroff & Cie v. V. Vivaudou, Inc., 19 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 715, 53 F. (2d) 536; Vick Chemical Co. v. Central City Chemical Co., 22 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 996, 75 F. (2d) 517, and cases therein cited; Gerstendorfer Bros. v. United Supply Co., 58 App. D. C. 192, 26 F. (2d) 564.

The appellee contends that the mark of the appellant, "Tetley Budget Tea," was not entitled to registration, because the word "Budget" was misdescriptive. This is but another way of asserting that the said registration of the appellant is invalid. It has been the unvarying rule in this court that we will not inquire into this matter in an opposition proceeding. Daltroff & Cie v. V. Vivaudou, supra; Sharp & Dohme v. Parke, Davis & Co., 17 C. C. P. A. (Patents) 842, 37 F. (2d) 960.