Patent US4527383A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4527383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Threads for identification of garments
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1983-03-28
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Granted: 1985-07-09
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Expires: 2003-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A thread is provided which comprises a polymeric material onto which has been fixed a symbol or repeating multiple symbols which are detectable and readable under magnification. When incorporated into garments or garment labels, this thread is useful in identifying the true manufacturer of the goods, and the absence of such threads would help in the detection of counterfeit goods.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace K. Bingham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:13
CPC Classifications
D; D02; D02G; D02G3/00; D02G3/02; D06; D06H; D06H1/00; D02G3/22; D02G3/40; D02G3/404; G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
26 words
A thread comprising a filament made of polymeric material to which has been applied a microscopic symbol which is visibly detectable and readable only under magnification.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thread comprising a filament made of polymeric material to which has been applied a microscopic symbol which is visibly detectable and readable only under magnification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thread as recited in claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylidine chloride and cellulose acetate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thread as recited in claim 1 wherein the symbol is selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A thread as recited in claim 1 which comprises a slit sheet material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The thread of claim 1 in which the symbol has been formed by a process comprising: (a) coating the polymeric material with a photosensitive composition; (b) exposing the coated polymeric sheet material to light which has passed through a negative containing the symbol; (c) developing the image of the symbol on the polymeric material; and (d) slitting the polymeric material into strands which can be manipulated as threads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thread of claim 1 in which the symbols have a maximum dimension of about 50 percent of the thread width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thread as recited in claim 1 which has been intertwined with other fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thread as recited in claim 1 which has a metal coating on part of its surface which does not obscure the symbol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A fabric into which the thread of claim 1 has been incorporated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A garment into which the thread of claim 1 has been incorporated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thread as recited in claim 1 wherein the magnification required to detect and read the symbol is from 15 to 100×.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
An encoded thread comprising a length of slit sheet material which carries a repeating series micro-symbols formed by a process comprising: (a) coating the sheet material with a photosensitive composition; (b) exposing the coated sheet material to light which has passed through a negative showing the symbols; (c) developing the image of the symbols on the sheet material; and (d) slitting the sheet material into strands which can be manipulated as threads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
An encoded thread comprising a length of slit sheet material which carries a repeating series micro-symbols formed by a process comprising: (a) coating the sheet material with a photosensitive composition; (b) exposing the coated sheet material to light which has passed through a negative showing the symbols; (c) developing the image of the symbols on the sheet material; and (d) slitting the sheet material into strands which can be manipulated as threads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The thread of claim 12 which is intertwined with other fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process for manufacturing a polymeric thread comprising the steps of: (a) coating a polymeric material with a photo-sensitive chemical composition; (b) exposing the coated polymeric material to light which has passed through a negative showing a symbol to be imparted to the polymeric film; (c) developing the image of the symbol imparted to the film in step (b); and (d) slitting the polymeric film into strands which can be manipulated as threads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process for manufacturing a polymeric thread comprising the steps of: (a) coating a polymeric material with a photo-sensitive chemical composition; (b) exposing the coated polymeric material to light which has passed through a negative showing a symbol to be imparted to the polymeric film; (c) developing the image of the symbol imparted to the film in step (b); and (d) slitting the polymeric film into strands which can be manipulated as threads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as recited in claim 14 wherein the polymeric material in step (a) is a polymeric film selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylidine chloride and cellulose acetate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as recited in claim 14 wherein the negative used in step (b) is a microfilm negative on which the image reduction is in the range of 1:24 to 1:96.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as recited in claim 14 which further comprises an additional step in between Steps (a) and (b), said additional step comprising the deposition of a metal coating on the side of the polymeric film opposite the side coated with the photo-sensitive composition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as recited in claim 14 which further comprises (e) twisting the thread from Step (d) together with the other threads.
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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) | 1988-07-08 | 1989-01-07 | 1989-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-08 | 1993-01-07 | 1993-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-08 | 1997-01-07 | 1997-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |