What Is Nice Class 22?
Nice Class 22 is the trademark classification for ropes, nets, covers, and raw textile fibers. It covers ropes, string, and cordage; nets and netting; tents, awnings, and tarpaulins; sails; sacks and bags for bulk transport; padding and stuffing materials; and raw fibrous textile materials before they are spun into yarn. It is an early link in the textile supply chain and the home of outdoor, marine, and industrial cordage and cover products.
Class 22 marks the raw-fiber and cordage stage. The textile chain runs from raw fibers (Class 22) to spun yarns and threads (Class 23) to woven and finished textiles (Class 24) to finished clothing (Class 25). Knowing where a product sits along that chain is the key to filing in the right class.
What Class 22 Covers
- Ropes, string, twine, and cordage
- Nets and netting for various uses
- Tents, awnings, tarpaulins, and covers
- Sails and marine textile covers
- Sacks and bags for transporting bulk materials
- Padding, cushioning, and stuffing materials
- Raw fibrous textile materials (cotton, wool, fibers before spinning)
- Hammocks and rope-based products
Exclusions: spun yarns and threads are Class 23; woven fabric and finished textiles are Class 24; finished clothing is Class 25; and fishing tackle and sporting nets can be Class 28. The same fiber moves through several classes as it is processed, so accurate placement depends on the product's stage.
Boundary note: A raw textile fiber is Class 22, but once it is spun into yarn it becomes Class 23, and once woven into cloth it becomes Class 24. A company spanning fiber, yarn, and fabric needs all three classes for full coverage.
The Textile Supply Chain Across Classes
Class 22 anchors the start of a four-class progression that mirrors how textiles are actually made. Raw fibers and cordage (Class 22) become spun yarns and threads (Class 23), which become woven and finished textile goods (Class 24), which become finished clothing (Class 25). A vertically integrated textile business may file across several of these, while a specialist — say, an industrial rope maker — files only in Class 22. Our Class 23 guide and Class 24 guide cover the next links in the chain.
Notable Areas in Class 22
Class 22 is dominated by industrial, marine, and outdoor brands rather than household names. Samson Rope Technologies, a long-established U.S. cordage manufacturer, is a representative example — it makes synthetic rope for marine rigging, industrial lifting, and towing applications, and its product line names sit squarely in Class 22's rope-and-cordage territory rather than in the finished-textile classes. Tarpaulin and cover manufacturers, tent and awning brands, and raw-fiber suppliers round out the class alongside cordage makers. The outdoor-gear sector — tents, camping covers, and hammocks — has brought a degree of consumer-facing branding to what is otherwise a heavily B2B class.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing yarn in Class 22: spun yarns and threads are Class 23.
- Filing finished fabric in Class 22: woven textiles are Class 24.
- Filing sporting nets in Class 22: sporting equipment can be Class 28.
- Single-class filing for an integrated maker: the textile chain spans Classes 22-25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Class 22, 23, and 24?
They are consecutive stages of the textile chain. Class 22 covers raw fibers, ropes, and cordage. Class 23 covers spun yarns and threads. Class 24 covers woven and finished textile goods like fabric and bed linen. A fiber moves through all three as it is processed, and integrated producers file across multiple classes.
Are tents and tarpaulins in Class 22?
Yes. Tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, and covers are in Class 22, along with ropes, nets, and raw fibers. The class covers cordage and cover products as well as the raw fibrous materials at the start of the textile chain.
Where do raw textile fibers go?
Raw fibrous textile materials — fibers before they are spun into yarn — are in Class 22. Once spun into yarn or thread, they become Class 23, and once woven into fabric, Class 24. The classification follows the stage of processing.
Are sacks and bags in Class 22?
Sacks and bags for transporting and storing bulk materials are in Class 22. Note that handbags, luggage, and leather goods are in Class 18, so the classification depends on the type and purpose of the bag — industrial bulk sacks versus consumer carry goods.
Search Class 22 Before You File
Cordage, cover, and raw-fiber names overlap across the textile-chain classes, so clearance should span Classes 22-24. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 22 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit. File across the right classes for an integrated textile business.