Heaton-Peninsular Button-Fastener Co. Button fastening pliers

 

Heaton-Peninsular devised a mechanical way to staple buttons onto shoes in production, this pair of pliers was part of the system. The machine was supplied to the shoe companies with the stipulation that the shoe company must use only the staples that Button-Fastener made and sold. Another company- Eureka Specialty Co.- started supplying staples at a lower price, predictably, Heaton Peninsular sued. Their argument was that since they supplied the machines, they could dictate how the customers used the machine, Eureka argued that since the staples themselves weren't patented, they could not be subject to Heaton Peninsular's rules.

 I'll let you read how it all turned out here.