Pfaff vs. Wells Electronics (1998) (Robins)

Pfaff invented a casing for a microchip. He went to Texas Instruments with a detailed drawing and they ordered a shipment of the casings on April 8, 1981. He actually filled the order on July 7, 1981, this was the first production of the invention. He then applied for a patent on April 19, 1982. The Supreme Court ruled that since he had detailed enough drawings on April 8, 1981 that someone skilled in the art could produce it, he had invented it on that date and therefore the patent was invalid.