In Re Dennison Mfg. Co.

39 F.2d 720, 17 C.C.P.A. 987, 1930 CCPA LEXIS 242

• Court: Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
• Decided: April 10, 1930
• Docket: Patent Appeal 2301
• Status: Published

Opinion

LENROOT, Associate Judge.

This is an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents affirming the action- of the examiner of trade-marks rejecting appellant’s application to register as a trade-mark an um-shaped figure forming a patch for a tag.

The mark is described in appellant’s brief as follows: “Said mark is the outline or silhouette of an um-shape or vase-like figure applied to the packages containing the goods by printing it upon the labels in the usual way and to the tags themselves by forming it integral with the string reinforcement (the ‘patch’ technically so called) of the tag.”

The application was filed on December 8, 1926. On August 24, 1928, appellant amended its petition "by inserting the following disclaimer: “The trade-mark consists in the substantially um-shaped outline shown, regardless of how applied to the goods, and no claim is made to a perforated patch apart from substantially such outline.”

However, the entire argument of appellant both in its brief and upon oral hearing was-to the point of whether the conformation or outline of the patch could constitute a valid trade-mark. It is unnecessary for us to determine whether an application for the registration of the mark, not as an integral part of the patch, would be allowable.

It is a matter of common knowledge that in the manufacture of tags it is customary to reinforce the tag around the opening through which the fastening cord is looped. This reinforcement is called a patch. Appellant has selected a particularly shaped patch, as appears from the samples submitted with the application for registration, and claims a trade-mark upon the outline or conformation thereof.

The Commissioner held that the tag and its reinforcing patch are parts of the completed article and that the mere shape of the patch is not a feature which can be recognized as constituting a trade-mark.

We agree with this holding of the Commissioner.

It is well settled that the configuration of an article having utility is not the subject of trade-mark protection. Adams v. Heisel (C. C.) 31 F. 279; Davis v. Davis (C. C.) 27 P. 490; Nims on Unfair Competition and Trade-marks, § 195.

Appellant concedes the correctness of this doctrine as applied to articles, but apparently contends that it does not apply to a part of an article, even though such part performs a useful function. We see no distinction in principle. If one may secure a valid trade-mark upon the shape or configuration of an essential part of an article, it would permit monopolies never intended to be protected by the common law relating to trade-marks, or by statutes governing their registration.

In the ease at bar, appellant affixes nothing to the patch, and if the patch, which is conceded to have utility, be removed, there would be nothing left of. the trade-mark.

We do not pass upon the registrability of the um-shaped outline or vase-like figure as a trade-mark if applied to packages or to the tags apart from the patch. Were there an- application for the registration of such a mark, involving nothing more, a different question would he before us.

It is clear to us that the effect of granting appellant’s application would not be the recognition of a mark to indicate the origin of goods, but recognition of a monopoly of a particular shape of a useful part of a finished article. We are satisfied that this the law of trade-marks does not permit.

The decision of the Commissioner is affirmed.

Affirmed.