US3858705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color coded digit identifying value ribbon for document fraud prevention
Assignee: Nu Kote International Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract The present disclosure has to do with prevention of the fraudulent alteration of negotiable instrument amounts and particularly the alteration of negotiable check amounts by the so-called ''''cut and paste'''' method wherein the digit value amount or amounts may be cut from one check and inserted into a previously provided cut out in another check so as to ''''raise'''' the amount of the latter. The invention contemplates the utilization of a multicolor ribbon in conjunction with a socalled free-floating prefix to designate the origin of this item. Each of the digits of the amount, e.g. thousands, hundreds, tens, units, and cents is coded a separate, distinguishable color. Each color is different for each digit with the code preselected by the issuing entity. A check, for example, issued by the Home Federal Savings Bank for the sum of $1,234.56 would be coded as follows: the floating prefix Home Federal (black), the one (for 1,000) red, the two (for 200) black, the three (for thirty) orange, the four (for four dollars) blue, the ''''and'''' grey, the ''''56'''' green, and the ''''cts'''' (cents designation) brown. Alteration by cutting and pasting of the amount digits to fraudulently raise the amount is immediately, visually recognizable without the aid of machine hardware due to misplaced colors. Fraud, being thus at once apparent, payment of the amount of the item can be immediately stopped or checked.
Inventors
- 👤 Carmen T Reitano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07G; G07G5/00; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/121; G06K1/123; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Color coded digit value identifying means for making a multicolor impression on a negotiable document comprising: a multicolor ribbon including distinguishable separate colored areas of red, black, orange, blue, gray, green and brown extending from end to end thereof and a separate contiguous black area for receiving an impression from a prefix designating element and forming a color code digit value identifying means from the most to the least significant digit position, means mounting said ribbon for indexible presentation to an impression receiving area, a plurality of digit impression producing elements, a prefix designating element selectively movable so as to be positioned adjacent to the digit of largest denomination, a take up member for said ribbon adjacent said impression receiving area, and said ribbon mounting and indexing means and said movable prefix designating element being movable to position a selected color area of the ribbon adjacent to said prefix designating element at the impression receiving area responsive to the movement of the digit impression producing elements to the selected denominational order position to cause the image of the digits of the amount and said designating element to be printed and shredded into a negotiable document so that the code of the colors from least to most significant digit corresponds to the predesignated positional orientation of colors of the ribbon whereby alteration of the amount or any portion thereof is immediately visibly apparent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Color coded digit value identifying means for making a multicolor impression on a negotiable document comprising: a multicolor ribbon including distinguishable separate colored areas of red, black, orange, blue, gray, green and brown extending from end to end thereof and a separate contiguous black area for receiving an impression from a prefix designating element and forming a color code digit value identifying means from the most to the least significant digit position, means mounting said ribbon for indexible presentation to an impression receiving area, a plurality of digit impression producing elements, a prefix designating element selectively movable so as to be positioned adjacent to the digit of largest denomination, a take up member for said ribbon adjacent said impression receiving area, and said ribbon mounting and indexing means and said movable prefix designating element being movable to position a selected color area of the ribbon adjacent to said prefix designating element at the impression receiving area responsive to the movement of the digit impression producing elements to the selected denominational order position to cause the image of the digits of the amount and said designating element to be printed and shredded into a negotiable document so that the code of the colors from least to most significant digit corresponds to the predesignated positional orientation of colors of the ribbon whereby alteration of the amount or any portion thereof is immediately visibly apparent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
277 words
Color coded digit value identifying means for making a multicolor impression on a negotiable document comprising: a multicolor ribbon including distinguishable separate colored areas extending from end to end thereof and a separate contiguous area for receiving an impression from a prefix designating element, said ribbon being arranged so that eaCh color red, black, orange, blue, gray, green and brown represents a digit of different denomination increasing in value from brown to red so that the color of the impression from said ribbon is caused to change as the amount increases in value with the prefix designating element color being likewise altered according to the change in amount, means mounting said ribbon for indexible presentation to an impression receiving area, a plurality of digit impression producing elements, a prefix designating element selectively movable so as to be positioned adjacent to the digit of largest denomination effective to produce a color, contrasting to that of the highest value digit, a take up member for said ribbon adjacent said impression receiving area, and said ribbon mounting and indexing means and said movable prefix designating element being movable to a selected color area of the ribbon adjacent to said prefix designating element at the impression receiving area responsive to the movement of the digit impression producing elements to the selected denominational order position to shred and print the image of the digits of the amount and said designating element into a negotiable document so that the code of the colors from least to most significant digit corresponds to the predesignated positional orientation of colors of the ribbon whereby alteration of the amount or any portion thereof is immediately visibly apparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
277 words
Color coded digit value identifying means for making a multicolor impression on a negotiable document comprising: a multicolor ribbon including distinguishable separate colored areas extending from end to end thereof and a separate contiguous area for receiving an impression from a prefix designating element, said ribbon being arranged so that eaCh color red, black, orange, blue, gray, green and brown represents a digit of different denomination increasing in value from brown to red so that the color of the impression from said ribbon is caused to change as the amount increases in value with the prefix designating element color being likewise altered according to the change in amount, means mounting said ribbon for indexible presentation to an impression receiving area, a plurality of digit impression producing elements, a prefix designating element selectively movable so as to be positioned adjacent to the digit of largest denomination effective to produce a color, contrasting to that of the highest value digit, a take up member for said ribbon adjacent said impression receiving area, and said ribbon mounting and indexing means and said movable prefix designating element being movable to a selected color area of the ribbon adjacent to said prefix designating element at the impression receiving area responsive to the movement of the digit impression producing elements to the selected denominational order position to shred and print the image of the digits of the amount and said designating element into a negotiable document so that the code of the colors from least to most significant digit corresponds to the predesignated positional orientation of colors of the ribbon whereby alteration of the amount or any portion thereof is immediately visibly apparent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |