Patent US4200394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4200394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hologram technique for establishing the integrity of packages
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1971-01-13
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Granted: 1980-04-29
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Expires: 1991-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A technique for detecting whether a package has been tampered with or altd. A package is first coated with a transparent material, such material having bubbles or particles of random size and/or spacing trapped within it. A hologram is then made of the package with the bubbled coating, showing the spacial relationship of the surface of the package and the bubbled coating. At the destination of the package, the package is viewed through the hologram to detect any change in the spacial relationship between the package surface and the bubbled coating. Any such change in the spacial relationship would indicate that the package had been tampered with or altered.
Inventors
- 👤 Oliver H. Bartlett, Jr.
- 👤 Charles B. Izard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:35
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/03; G09F3/0376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with, comprising the steps of: coating an object with a transparent material, said material having visible inconsistencies trapped therein; making a hologram of said coated object, and viewing said coated object through said hologram to detect any change in the spacial relationship between a surface of the object and said coating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with, comprising the steps of: coating an object with a transparent material, said material having visible inconsistencies trapped therein; making a hologram of said coated object, and viewing said coated object through said hologram to detect any change in the spacial relationship between a surface of the object and said coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 1, wherein said visible inconsistencies are bubbles trapped within said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 1, wherein said visible inconsistencies are particles of matter trapped within said material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 1, wherein said visible inconsistencies are bubbles and particles of matter trapped within said material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 4, wherein said visible inconsistencies are trapped within said material in a permanent relationship to one another after coating said object with said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 5, wherein said visible inconsistencies trapped within said material are of a random size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 5, wherein said visible inconsistencies trapped within said material are of a random spacing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 5, wherein the step of coating includes coating said object with material having visible inconsistencies of random size and spacing trapped within it.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 8, which includes the step of roughening the surfaces of the objects to be coated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of coating an object includes coating a rigid object with a transparent material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step of making a hologram includes making a hologram on rigid material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of coating an object includes coating an object with a material of sufficient transparency to define a spacial relationship between the surface of said object and said visible inconsistencies trapped therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 12, including the step of physically aligning the hologram with said object to view said object by mechanical and optical procedures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for detecting whether a package has been tampered with in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of coating includes coating said object with a non-deformable plastic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-29 | 1983-10-29 | 1984-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-29 | 1987-10-29 | 1988-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-29 | 1991-10-29 | 1992-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |