Coding and searching guide
Circles	26.01
Ovals	26.03
Triangles	26.05
Diamonds	26.07
Squares	26.09
Rectangles	26.11
Quadrilaterals	26.13
Polygons (geometric figures with five or more sides)	26.15
Lines, bands, bars	26.17
Geometric solids	26.19

Specific Guideline:    The term circle refers to semi-circles except in reference to carriers or borders (26.01.01), incomplete circles (26.01.03) and circles with two breaks (26.01.04).

26.01.01    Circles as carriers or as single line borders

Specific Guideline:    If a circle is coded as a carrier or a single line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.01. If there are multiple circles, one of which is a carrier or a border, the significant circular element will be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

Excluding:    Carriers and borders do not include plain single line circles (26.01.02).

26.01.02    Plain single line circles

Including:    A solid white circle in another design element. For example, a solid white circle in a square.

Excluding:    Single line circles do not include concentric circles (26.01.17 and 26.01.18) or circles as carriers or as single line borders (26.01.01).

26.01.03    Incomplete circles (more than semi-circles)

Excluding:    Incomplete circles do not include entire circles made of broken or dotted lines (26.01.05).

Specific Guideline:    Circles whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.01.04    Circles with two breaks or divided in the middle

26.01.05    Circles made of broken or dotted lines

Including:    Circles with more than two breaks.

26.01.06    Semi-circles

Specific Guideline:    A semi-circle is a mark which resembles a half-circle. The mark may be an object or arrangement of objects in the shape of a "half-circle".

26.01.07    Circles with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

26.01.08    Letters, numerals or punctuation forming or bordering the perimeter of a circle

26.01.09    Geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals forming or bordering the perimeter of a circle.

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which form or border the perimeter the circle.

26.01.11    Letters, numerals, punctuation, geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals comprising a circle

Specific Guideline 1:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which comprise the circle.

Specific Guideline 2:    If a design falling in this section is surrounded by a circle, do not cross-code the design as concentric circles (26.01.17 and 26.01.18) or as a circle within a circle (26.01.20).

26.01.12    Circles with bars, bands and lines

Excluding:    Lining for color is not considered a bar, band or line unless the color comprises a bar, band or line.

26.01.13    Two circles

Excluding:    Concentric circles (26.01.17 and 26.01.18) and circles within a circle (26.01.20) are not considered two circles for coding.

Including:    Multiple concentric circles or circles within circles should be coded.

26.01.15    Three or more circles

Excluding:    Concentric circles (26.01.17 and 26.01.18) and circles within a circle (26.01.20) are not considered multiple circles for purposes of coding.

Including:    Multiple concentric circles or circles within circles should be coded.

26.01.16    Circles touching or intersecting

Specific Guideline:    Designs coded in this section must be cross-referenced with 26.01.13 or 26.01.15.

26.01.17    Two concentric circles

Specific Guideline:    Concentric circles share a common center.

Excluding:    Concentric circles are not coded as two circles (26.01.13) unless there is more than one concentric circle.

26.01.18    Three or more concentric circles

Specific Guideline:    Concentric circles share a common center.

Excluding:    Concentric circles are not coded as three or more circles (26.01.15) unless there are more than one concentric circle.

26.01.20    Circles within a circle

Specific Guideline:    Circles within a circle do not share a common center.

Excluding:    Circles within a circle are not coded as two and three or more circles (26.01.13 and 26.01.15).

26.01.21    Circles that are totally or partially shaded.

26.01.26    Spirals, coils, helixes

26.01.27    Circles containing irregular exterior lining or elements not amounting to a decorative border

Note:    This section is for a design which is generally circular but has additional elements; a circle plus.

26.01.28    Miscellaneous circular designs with an irregular circumference

Note:    This section is for designs which look somewhat like a circle.

26.03    Ovals

Specific Guideline 1:    The term oval refers to a geometric shape that resembles an ellipse or an egg in shape.

Specific Guideline 2:    An oblong shaped figure is a geometric shape with approximately parallel sides and rounded ends. Oblongs are coded in 26.11.27. See the examples below.

26.03.01    Ovals as carriers and single line borders

Specific Guideline:    If an oval is coded as a carrier or a single line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.03. If there are multiple ovals, one of which is a carrier or border, the significant ovals should be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

Excluding:    Plain single line ovals (26.03.02).

26.03.02    Plain single line ovals

Including:    A solid white oval in another design element. For example, a solid white oval in a square.

Excluding:    Single line ovals do not include concentric ovals (26.03.17) or ovals as carriers or single line borders (26.03.01).

26.03.03    Incomplete ovals

Excluding:    Incomplete ovals do not include entire ovals made of broken or dotted lines (26.03.05)

Specific Guideline:    Circles whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.03.04    Ovals with two breaks or divided in the middle

26.03.05    Ovals made of broken or dotted lines

Including:    Ovals made of broken or dotted lines include ovals with more than two breaks.

26.03.07    Ovals with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

26.03.08    Letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of an oval or bordering the perimeter of an oval

26.03.09    Geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals forming the perimeter of an oval or bordering the perimeter of an oval

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which form or border the perimeter of the oval.

26.03.11    Letters, numerals, punctuation, geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals comprising an oval

Specific Guideline 1:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which comprise the oval.

Specific Guideline 2:    If a design falling in this section is surrounded by an oval, do not cross-code the design as concentric ovals (26.03.17).

26.03.12    Ovals with bars, bands and lines

26.03.13    Two or more ovals

Excluding:    Concentric ovals 26.03.17 are not considered two ovals for coding.

26.03.16    Ovals touching or intersecting

26.03.17    Concentric ovals and ovals within ovals

Excluding:    Concentric ovals are not coded as two ovals (26.03.13).

26.03.21    Ovals that are completely or partially shaded

26.03.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall oval shape, including amoeba-like shapes and irregular ovals

Note:    This section is for designs which look somewhat like an oval.

Excluding:    Rectangles with curved sides (26.11.22). For example, if the design has two straight sides and two curved sides, the design should be coded as a rectangle with curved sides or as an oblong shape.

26.05    Triangles

Specific Guideline:    Chevrons or other V-shaped patterns are coded in 26.17.12.

26.05.01    Triangles as borders or carriers

Specific Guideline:    If a triangle is coded as a carrier or a border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.05. If there are multiple triangles, one of which is a carrier or border, the significant triangle should be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

26.05.02    Plain single line triangles

Including:    Triangles with slightly rounded corners and a solid white triangle in another design element. For example, a solid white triangle in a square.

Specific Guideline:    Triangles whose borders are broken by words, letters or designs are not incomplete.

26.05.03    Incomplete triangles (must have two angles)

Excluding:    Entire triangles made of broken or dotted lines (26.05.05) are not coded as incomplete triangles.

Specific Guideline:    Triangles whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.05.05    Triangles made of broken or dotted lines
26.05.07    Triangles with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges
26.05.08    Letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a triangle or comprising a triangle

26.05.09    Triangles made of geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which either form or border the perimeter or comprise the triangle.

26.05.12    Triangles with bars, bands and lines

26.05.13    Two or more triangles

Excluding:    Triangles inside one another (26.05.20) are not coded as more than one triangle.

26.05.16    Triangles touching or intersecting
26.05.20    Triangles inside one another

Specific Guideline 1:    Only triangles within triangles are coded in this section.

Specific Guideline 2:    Triangles inside one another are not coded as more than one triangle (26.05.13).

26.05.21    Triangles that are completely or partially shaded
26.05.25    Triangles with one or more curved sides

Excluding:    Triangle with curved corners (26.05.02) are not coded as triangles with curved sides.

26.05.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall triangular shape

26.07    Diamonds

Excluding:    Jewelry (17.03)

26.07.01    Plain diamonds with a single or multiple line border and decorative borders

Including:    Diamonds with slightly rounded corners and a solid white diamond in another design element. For example, a solid white diamond in a square.

26.07.03    Incomplete diamonds or divided in the middle

Specific Guideline:    Diamonds whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.07.12    Diamonds with bars, bands and lines
26.07.13    More than one diamond
26.07.21    Diamonds that are completely or partially shaded
26.07.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall diamond shape, including letters forming or comprising a diamond

26.09    Squares

26.09.05    Squares made of broken or dotted lines
26.09.07    Squares with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

Including:    This section includes squares with concave corners.

26.09.08    Squares comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a square or bordering the perimeter of a square

26.09.09    Squares made of geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which either form or border the perimeter or comprise the square.

26.09.01    Squares as carriers or squares as single or multiple line borders

Specific Guideline:    If a square is coded as a carrier or a single or multiple line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.09. If there are multiple squares, one of which is a carrier or border, the significant square should be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

Excluding:    Carriers and borders do not include plain single line squares (26.09.02).

26.09.02    Plain single line squares

Including:    Squares with slightly rounded corners.

Including:    A solid white square in another design element is coded as a plain single line square. For example, a solid white square in a circle.

26.09.03    Incomplete squares

Excluding:    Incomplete squares do not include entire squares made of broken or dotted lines (26.09.05).

Specific Guideline:    Squares whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.09.25    Squares with curved sides

Excluding:    Squares with curved corners (26.09.02) are not coded as squares with curved sides.

Specific Guideline:    Alcohol bottle labels are coded in 20.03.10.

26.09.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall square shape

26.09.12    Squares with bars, bands and lines

26.09.13    More than one square

Excluding:    Squares inside one another (26.09.20) are not considered more than one square for coding.

Note:    Checkerboards are coded in 25.03.01 also.

26.09.16    Squares touching or intersecting
26.09.20    Squares inside one another

Excluding:    Squares inside one another are not coded as more than one square (26.09.13).

26.09.21    Squares that are completely or partially shaded

Specific Guideline:    This may encompass squares with bars, bands and lines (26.09.12).

26.11.05    Rectangles made of broken or dotted lines
26.11.07    Rectangles with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

26.11.08    Rectangles comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a rectangle or bordering the perimeter of a rectangle.

26.11.09    Rectangles made of geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which either form or border the perimeter or comprise the rectangle.

Specific Guideline:    See 26.11.27 for oblongs.

26.11.01    Rectangles as carriers or rectangles as single or multiple line borders

Specific Guideline:    If a rectangle is coded as a carrier or a single or multiple line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.11. If there are multiple rectangles, one of which is a carrier or border, the significant rectangle should be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

26.11.02    Plain single line rectangles

Including:    Rectangles with slightly rounded corners. A solid white rectangle in another design element is coded as a plain single line rectangle. For example, a solid white rectangle in a circle.

26.11.03    Incomplete rectangles

Excluding:    Incomplete rectangles do not include entire rectangles made of broken or dotted lines (26.11.05).

Specific Guideline:    Rectangles whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.11.10    Rectangles divided once into two sections

26.11.11    Rectangles divided twice into three sections

26.11.12    Rectangles with bars, bands and lines

Excluding:    Rectangles with bars, bands and lines do not include rectangles divided once (26.11.10) or rectangles divided twice (26.11.11).

26.11.13    More than one rectangle

Specific Guideline:    More than one rectangle does not include rectangles divided once (26.11.10) or rectangles divided more than once (26.11.11).

Excluding:    Rectangles inside one another (26.11.20) are not considered more than one rectangle for coding.

26.11.16    Rectangles touching or intersecting

Specific Guideline:    Rectangles touching or intersecting do not include rectangles divided once (26.11.10) or rectangles divided more than once (26.11.11).

Note:    Rectangles touching or intersecting may include incomplete rectangles (26.11.03).

26.11.20    Rectangles inside one another

Excluding:    Rectangles with multiple line borders (26.11.01)

Specific Guideline 1:    Only rectangles within rectangles are coded in this section.

Specific Guideline 2:    Rectangles inside one another are not coded as more than one rectangle (26.11.13).

26.11.21    Rectangles that are completely or partially shaded

Specific Guideline:    This may encompass rectangles with bars, bands and lines (26.11.12).

26.11.25    Rectangles with one or more curved sides

Excluding:    Plain rectangles with curved corners (26.11.02) are not considered rectangles with curved sides. Oblongs are not considered rectangles with curved sides.

Specific Guideline:    Alcohol bottle labels are coded in 20.03.10.

26.11.27    Oblongs

Specific Guideline 1:    An oblong shaped figure is a geometric shape with approximately parallel sides and rounded ends.

Specific Guideline 2:    Oblongs are not double coded with any other third level code in Division 26.11.

26.11.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall rectangular shape

26.13    Quadrilaterals

Specific Guideline 1:    For purposes of the code, a quadrilateral is defined as a four (4) sided geometric figure without four (4) right angles.

Specific Guideline 21:    Designs which clearly depict banners are coded exclusively in 24.09.07.

26.13.01    Quadrilaterals as carriers or as single or multiple line borders

Specific Guideline:    If a quadrilateral is coded as a carrier or as a single or multiple line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.13. If there are multiple quadrilaterals, one of which is a carrier or a border, the significant quadrilateral will be coded. The carrier or border will not be coded.

Excluding:    Carriers and borders do not include plain single line quadrilaterals (26.13.02).

26.13.02    Plain single or multiple line quadrilaterals

Including:    Quadrilaterals with slightly rounded corners and a solid white quadrilateral in another design element. For example, a solid white quadrilateral in a circle.

26.13.03    Incomplete quadrilaterals and quadrilaterals made of broken or dotted lines

Specific Guideline:    Quadrilaterals whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.13.07    Quadrilaterals with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

26.13.08    Quadrilaterals comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a quadrilateral or bordering the perimeter of a quadrilateral.

26.13.09    Quadrilaterals made of geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which either form or border the perimeter or comprise the quadrilateral.

26.13.12    Quadrilaterals with bars, bands and lines

26.13.13    More than one quadrilateral

26.13.16    Quadrilaterals touching or intersecting

26.13.21    Quadrilaterals that are completely or partially shaded
26.13.25    Quadrilaterals with one or more curved sides

Excluding:    Quadrilaterals with curved corners (26.13.02) are not considered to be quadrilaterals with curved sides.

26.13.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall quadrilateral shape

26.15    Polygons (geometric figures with five or more sides)

26.15.01    Polygons as carriers or as single or multiple line borders

Specific Guideline:    If a polygon is coded as a carrier or as a single or multiple line border, the drawing should not have any other code in 26.15. If there are multiple polygons, one of which is a carrier or a border, the significant polygon should be coded. The carrier of border will not be coded.

26.15.02    Plain single or multiple line polygons

Including:    Polygons with slightly rounded corners.

Including:    A solid white polygon in another design element should be coded as a plain polygon. For example, a solid white polygon in a circle.

26.15.03    Incomplete polygons and polygons made of broken or dotted lines

Specific Guideline:    Polygons whose borders are broken by words, letters or design elements are not incomplete. See examples in 26.05.02 and 26.09.20.

26.15.07    Polygons with a decorative border, including scalloped, ruffled and zig-zag edges

26.15.08    Polygons comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a polygon or bordering the perimeter of a polygon

26.15.09    Polygons made of geometric figures, objects, humans, plants or animals

Specific Guideline:    This section is cross-coded with the specific section(s) for the objects, humans, plants or animals which either form or border the perimeter or comprise the polygon.

26.15.12    Polygons with bars, bands and lines
26.15.13    More than one polygon

Excluding:    More than one polygon does not include polygons inside one another (26.15.20).

26.15.16    Polygons touching or intersecting

26.15.20    Polygons inside one another

Specific Guideline 1:    Only polygons within polygons are coded in this section.

Specific Guideline 2:    Polygons inside one another are not coded as more than one polygon (26.15.13).

26.15.21    Polygons that are completely or partially shaded
26.15.25    Polygons with one or more curved sides

26.15.27    Keystones

Specific Guideline:    Keystones are not double coded with any other third level code in Division 26.15.

26.15.28    Miscellaneous designs with overall polygon shape

26.17    Lines, bands, bars, chevrons and angles

Specific Guideline 1:    Straight lines (26.17.01), wavy lines (26.17.02) and dotted lines (26.17.03) must be cross-referenced with vertical lines (26.17.04), horizontal lines (26.17.05) or diagonal lines (26.17.06).

Specific Guideline 2:    Wavy lines must be cross-referenced with straight or wavy lines.

Excluding:    Lines which are components of other figurative elements, and bars and bands contained in geometric figures

26.17.01    Straight line(s), band(s) or bar(s)
26.17.02    Wavy line(s), band(s) or bar(s)

Specific Guideline:    Wavy lines consist of more than one curve.

Excluding:    Lines which depict a single wave of water (01.15.13); lines which depict multiple ocean waves (06.03.03)

26.17.03    Dotted line(s)
26.17.04    Vertical line(s), band(s) or bar(s)
26.17.05    Horizontal line(s), band(s) or bar(s)
26.17.06    Diagonal line(s), band(s) or bar(s)
26.17.07    Lines depicting speed, propulsion, heat or wind

Specific Guideline:    If a mark is coded for lines depicting speed, propulsion, heat or wind, the line depicting speed, propulsion, heat or wind should not have any other code in 26.17.

26.17.08    One line, band, bar or angle
26.17.09    Curved line(s), band(s) or bar(s)

Specific Guideline:    Curved lines, bands, or bars have one curve.

26.17.10    Zig-zag line(s)

Excluding:    Zig-zag lines on an oscilloscope are coded in 17.07.25.

26.17.12    Chevrons and angles

26.17.13    Letters or words underlined and/or overlined by one or more strokes or lines

Specific Guideline:    This similar to a carrier or a border. The lines are not significant elements of the mark. The lines serve merely to highlight other elements of the mark.

26.17.25    Other lines, bands or bars

26.19    Geometrical solids

Specific Guideline 1:    Geometrical solids have a 3 dimensional appearance.

Specific Guideline 2:    Obvious articles of manufacture which have a 3 dimensional appearance should not be coded in this division. The articles of manufacture should be coded with the appropriate articles of manufacture.

26.19.01    Spheres

26.19.02    Cylinders

26.19.03    Cones

26.19.04    Cubes

26.19.05    Prisms

26.19.25    Other geometric solids