Patent commissioner ruled in favor of Fred Locke in Boch patent

IN FAVOR OF MR. LOCKE

IMPORTANT PATENT CASES DECIDED.

Patent Commissioner Declares the

Victor Man is the Inventor of the

Improved Porcelain Insulator

Used by Telegraph and

Telephone Companies.

Smith & Denison have received an important decision from the United States Patent office in two actions which have been in litigation for the last two years and which involve thousands of dollars. Testimony was taken in the cases in many States. The appliance regarding which the suits were brought is a porcelain insulator used on telegraph poles. A trouble that has been experienced in conducting electric currents arises from a waste caused by the grounding of the current. This was due, it is said, to the imperfect manner in which the insulators were made. The current would work its way through the porcelain to the pin on which the insulator was placed and then go to the ground.

Two or three years ago Fred Locke of Victor, a telegraph operator on the New York Central railroad, conceived an idea that this could be overcome. He made an outer shell of the insulator of very thin porcelain, and so with the two inner shells. Between each of the shells, melted glaze was poured, making it practically impossible for the electricity to escape. The old insulators would withstand a voltage, it is said, of 15,000 to 20,000, while Mr. Locke's invention will withstand 75,000 to 100,000 volts.

The two cases of interference with the invention were brought against John W. Boch, superintendent and general manager of the R. Thomas & Sons company of East Liverpool, O. Mr. Locke and Mr. Boch had filed applications for patents on the device and the case was to determine who was the inventor. After considering the evidence the Patent Commissioner has decided that Mr. Locke is entitled to the claim of priority of invention.

Howard P. Denison personally conducted the case for Mr. Locke.