Abstract This invention relates to paper, or like sheet material, sensitized with a coating of liquid-containing pressurerupturable capsules of both minute and a little larger dimensions arranged in interspersion and in close juxtaposition. In the preferred embodiment, the larger capsules contain a nonsignificant diluent, and the smaller capsules contain a concentrated liquid marking substance or other significant material. The capsules, large and small, are rupturable individually, are interspersed as to size, and are closely spaced on the sheet, so that an intentional impact directed on a small area of the coating will smash all of the capsules in the area and result in the expression of diluted liquid marking or other significant material, whereas a hit-or-miss applied pressure will rupture only a few of the larger capsules of the area, releasing a small amount of harmless diluent. Each capsule is a unit containing a cluster of droplets and, when the cluster is encapsulated, forms an irregular botryoid minute mass. The larger and protruding bosses of the diluent capsules represent outside droplets acting to guard the smaller capsule units beside them. The marking or other significant material may be an inherently colored dye, a colorless chromogenic color reactant, or an odorous, obscurant, or active material, and the capsules on a sheet may be associated with other materials on the sheet or be used to express their contents onto another sheet in contact therewith.
A coated sheet which releases liquid confined in capsules coated on the sheet when and where subject to pressure, characterized by the capsules being coated on the sheet in close juxtaposition and of individual size too small to be seen by the unaided eye, yet being of two kinds in random interspersion, a first kind being of two kinds in random interspersion, a first kind being smaller than the second kind and containing droplets of concentrated liquid selected from the group consisting of marking liquids and odorant liquids, and wherein said liquid droplets are protected from pressure release except by direct intentionally applied pressure, and the other kind being at least about 1 to 3 microns larger in diameter, and containing droplets of liquid which is a diluent for and which does dilute in use the liquid contained in the first kind of capsules, and which does not contribute to the odorant or marking properties of the liquid in the first kind of capsules and which larger capsules act as a physical buffer to prevent rupture and release of liquid from the first kind of capsules by less than the direct intentionally applied pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A sheet of record material comprising a sheet of support material; and a coating, on the sheet, of an interspersed mixture of two kinds of minute liquid-drOplet-containing capsules in close juxtaposition, both kinds of capsules being pressure rupturable to release the droplets and being of botryoid outer conformation, the inner construction of each capsule consisting of a cluster of droplets held in a matrix of deposited polymeric material, the botryoid conformation resulting from the matrix material following the cluster contours, one kind of capsule being smaller than the second kind and containing droplets of concentrated marking liquid material, which droplets are to be protected against premature release, and the second kind of capsule being at least about 1 to 3 microns larger in diameter than the smaller kind, and the larger kind of capsule containing droplets of liquid useful as a diluent for the droplets of the marking liquid in the smaller kind of capsule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The product of claim 3 wherein the sheet material is paper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The product of claim 2 wherein the droplets of the smaller capsules are of a marking material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The product of claim 3 wherein the droplets of the smaller capsules comprise a colorless marking material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The product of claim 3 in which the larger kind of capsule has an outer coating of a more rigid material than the matrix material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product of claim 3 wherein the diluent droplets of the larger capsules are at least in part a readily evaporable liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The product of claim 3 wherein the diluent droplets are a readily evaporable liquid.