Case Name: IN RE UNITED STATES TIRE COMPANY
Court: Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
Decision Date: 1916-02-07
Citations: 44 App. D.C. 469
Docket Number: No. 1020
Parties: IN RE UNITED STATES TIRE COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
Volume: 44
Pages: 469–470

Head Matter:
IN RE UNITED STATES TIRE COMPANY.
Trademarks; Descriptive Words.
1. A trademark which identifies the class, grade, style, or quality of the goods to which it is applied is not registerable.
2. The word “chain” is not registerable as a trademark for rubber vehicle tires by an applicant manufacturing, under a design patent, rubber tires having molded on their treads the simulation of a chain, and commonly advertised and known as “chain” or “chain tread” tires, as the mark sought to be registered is descriptive of the character and style of the goods on which it is used.
No. 1020.
Patent Appeals.
Submitted January 18, 1916.
Decided February 7, 1916.
Hearing on an appeal from a decision of the Commissioner of Patents rejecting an application for the registration of a trademark.
Affirmed.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. Edward W. Vaill for the appellant.
Mr. William R. Ballard for the Commissioner of Patents.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Van Grsdel
delivered the opinion of the Court:
Applicant company, of the United States Tire Company, appeals from the decision of the Commissioner of Patents refusing it registration of the word "chain" as a trademark for rubber vehicle tires.
It appears that a design patent, No. 43,454, was granted applicant for a rubber tire having molded on its tread the simulation of a chain. This tire is in wide use, and the chain links embossed on the rubber tread perform a valuable function in preventing skidding or slipping. These tires are advertised and known as the "chain type tires." They may, with equal propriety,'be referred to as "chain" or "chain tread" tires.
It was therefore held by the tribunals below that the mark sought to be registered relates to the style or character of the goods to which it is applied. It is settled law that a trademark which identifies the class, grade, style, or quality of the goods to which it is applied is not register able, Columbia Mill Co. v. Alcorn, 150 U. S. 460, 37 L. ed. 1144, 14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 151. The mark sought to be registered is descriptive of the character and style of the goods' on which it is used, and clearly comes within the inhibition.
The decision of the Commissioner of Patents is affirmed, and the clerk is directed to certify these proceedings as by law required. Affirmed.