Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A transparent overlay by which a document can be protected from tampering, characterized in that said overlay comprises: (a) a transparent flexible cover sheet (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A transparent overlay by which a document can be protected from tampering, characterized in that said overlay comprises: (a) a transparent flexible cover sheet (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 1 further characterized in at least one of the following: (a) said cover sheet is a thermoplastic film; or (b) said cover sheet is retroreflective sheeting which incorporates means for bearing a pattern or legend that is readily legible only when viewed retroreflectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 1 further characterized in at least one of the following: (a) the major polymeric component of said image-receiving layer is selected from poly(vinylchloride)s, polyesters, cellulosic derivatives, polyvinylpyrollidones, polycarbonates, butyral vinyl acetates, acrylates, methacrylates, and styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers; or (b) the glass transition temperature of the major polymeric component of said image-receiving layer is from about 60° to about 150°C; or (c) said image-receiving layer comprises chlorinated poly(vinylchloride) having a glass transition temperature no lower than about 80°C, and an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to about 1.5; or (d) the thickness of said image-receiving layer is from about 8 to about 25 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 1 further characterized in at least one of the following: (a) said hot-melt adhesive has a glass transition temperature of from about 40°C to about 100°C; or (b) said hot-melt adhesive comprises a linear, random copolyester of one or more aromatic dibasic acids and one or more aliphatic diols, modified with up to about 30 mole percent of one or more aliphatic dibasic acids; or (c) the thickness of said hot-melt adhesive is from about 25 to about 200 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a barrier layer between said hot-melt adhesive layer and said cover sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A document having a transparent overlay characterized in that said overlay comprises: (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent covering, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness. said overlay being bonded to the document by said hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A document having a transparent overlay characterized in that said overlay comprises: (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent covering, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness. said overlay being bonded to the document by said hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A document as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that said image-receiving layer bears an image which is protected from tampering by the transparent overlay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A document as defined in claim 7 further characterized in at least one of the following: (a) said cover sheet comprises retroreflective sheeting; or (b) said cover sheet comprises retroreflective sheeting that bears a pattern or legend that is readily legible only when the document is viewed retroreflectively; or (c) said cover sheet is a thermoplastic film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
Method of protecting a document from tampering, characterized in that said method comprises: 1) creating a transparent overlay comprising (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness; 2) forming an image on said image-receiving layer; and 3) adhering said overlay by its hot-melt adhesive to the document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
Method of protecting a document from tampering, characterized in that said method comprises: 1) creating a transparent overlay comprising (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a glass transition temperature of at least about -15°C, and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 microns in thickness; 2) forming an image on said image-receiving layer; and 3) adhering said overlay by its hot-melt adhesive to the document.