Useful, Useful Article

USEFUL - That which may be put into beneficial practice.

The patent act of Congress of July 4, 1836, in describing the subjects of patents, mentions "new and useful art," and "new and useful improvement." To entitle the inventor to a patent, his invention must, to a certain extent, be beneficial to the community, and not be for an unlawful object, or frivolous, or insignificant.

USEFUL ARTICLE - An article having an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information. An article that is normally a part of a useful article. 17 USC
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.