narrow reinforcement strip was indicated underneath the matting, and the strip on top was shown with one of its edges folded, to add strength in seaming, and with the cloth extended at the other edge of the seam sufficiently beyond the matting for use in securing the cover.
The evidence is conclusive, and plaintiff concedes, that, for many years prior to the Eddins' patent, slip covers identical in style, but made wholly of cloth, were in general commercial use. Eddins himself was engaged in manufacturing such slip covers at the time of his alleged invention. The wearing panels in the cloth covers did not require edge reinforcement, such as was necessary in any practical use of straw-matting, to keep it from fraying. It is also incontrovertibly established that removablepads of matting material reinforced with cloth strips around the edges, to be laid upon the seat pad and against the back cushion, were similarly in previous general use. Eddins testified that the idea of using matting material had occurred to him from observing it in street car seats. He further indicated on the witness stand that what he had in mind in making application for a patent was "to secure the idea of using a straw matting as the wearing portion of a seat cover."
It was the trial court's view that all Eddins had done was to substitute a section or panel of matting material for one of cloth in the slip cover structures then on the general market; that such substitution merely sought to utilize, for