Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1883 — An Interesting Patent Suit. [ARTICLE]

An Interesting Patent Suit.

Nelson Lyon, of Albany, N. Y., has recovered judgment of $8,477.10, against G. T. Fisher & Co., in the U. 8. Circuit court, at Detroit, Mich., for an infringement of Lyon’s Patent Metallic Heel Stiffener. This contrivance is one of the most useful of modern inventions, and has achieved a remarkable sale —over $750,000 worth, the testimony showed, having been sold since the patent was granted, being a grand total of 3,888,000 pairs. The Invention consists of a neat metal plate fastening to the outside of a boot or shoe heel, arranged to pre.vent the counters from breaking over and the heel from wearing down unevenly. The Attorney General of the United States declared the Lyon patent invalid on account of an informality in the application. This was afterward corrected by the Commissioner of Patents in accordance with a special act of Congress authorizing it. Action was commenced in May, 1880, a perpetual injunction was obtained in December, and the case was referred to a master, who reported the damages as $3,831, but on motion the court doubled the same, and directed judgment to be entered against defendants for such double damages, with interest and costs.