US4960651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Magnetic devices
Assignee: Meto International GmbH
•
Filing: 1988-06-07
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Granted: 1990-10-02
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Expires: 2008-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Magnetic devices are disclosed which include an article comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, in which: (a) said substrate is a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material is an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material is not greater than 6 microns in thickness. This article can be used as, or to make, an antipilferage tag or marker. Deactivation materials and configurations are also disclosed, as well as techniques, in particular sputtering or PVD, for producing such a tag.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Pettigrew
- 👤 Stephen H. Chambers
- 👤 Dafydd G. Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:52
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2408; G08B13/2411; G01; G01V; G01V15/00; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2437; G08B13/244; G08B13/2442; H; H01; H01F; H01F10/00; H01F10/08; H01F10/10; H01F10/12; H01F10/13; H01F10/132; H01F10/18; H01F10/26; H01F10/28; H01F10/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/90; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/928; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12431; Y10T428/12438; Y10T428/12465; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12542; Y10T428/12736; Y10T428/12743; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12937
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material generally circular in shape; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material generally circular in shape; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said thin coating of a magnetic material is coterminous with said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating of a magnetic material covers substantially all of the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating of a magnetic material is substantially uniform in thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating of a magnetic material is in the form of a lattice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating of a magnetic material has been bonded directly to, or deposited upon, said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article as claimed in any claim 1, wherein said thin coating of a magnetic material has been bonded to, or deposited upon, an intermediate layer which itself has been deposited on said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as claimed in claim 7, wherein said intermediate layer is a thin metal film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein said metal film is an aluminum film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of a polyamide or a polyimide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of a polyester.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article as claimed in claim 11, wherein substrate is formed of polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating is a broken or discontinuous flat loop of ferromagnetic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 13, wherein said thin coating is a circular annulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating substantially magnetically isotropic in the plane of the substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy containing cobalt and niobium together with a glass-forming element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy containing cobalt, iron, silicon and boron.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article as claimed in claim 17, wherein said alloy further contains nickel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 17, wherein the atomic ratio Co:Fe is in the range 8:1 to 20:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 19, wherein the atomic ratio Co:Fe is about 16:1.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy of the formula: Co a l Fe b Ni c Mo d Si e B f , where a is in the range of 35 to 70 atomic percent, b zero to 8 atomic percent, c zero to 40 atomic percent, d zero to four atomic percent, e zero to thirty atomic percent and f zero to thirty atomic percent, with at least one of groups b, c, d, e, and f being non zero.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy having a composition (in atomic percent) in the range: Co, 35-70; Fe, 2-7; Ni 10-35; Mo, 0-2; Si, 12-20; and B, 6-12.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 22, wherein said alloy has the composition (in atomic %): Co,42; Fe,4; Ni,28; Si,16; B,9.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
An antipilferage tag or marker in the form of a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material,: (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability and with low or substantially zero magnetostriction; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness. wherein said tag or marker further comprises a deactivation layer or zone(s) adjacent to or overlying said thin coating.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
An antipilferage tag or marker in the form of a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material,: (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability and with low or substantially zero magnetostriction; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness. wherein said tag or marker further comprises a deactivation layer or zone(s) adjacent to or overlying said thin coating.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein said deactivation layer is a continuous sheet overlying said thin coating.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein said deactivation zone(s) comprise a multiplicity of discrete elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein the material constituting said deactivation layer or zone(s) comprises a mild steel foil.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein the material constituting said deactivation layer or zone(s) is formed of a cold worked Type AISI 301 stainless steel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein a thick film ferrite is the deactivating material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article as claimed in claim 29, wherein said ferrite has the formula ([Co 0 .2 Fe 2+ 0 .8 Fe 3+ 2 0 4 ]).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article as claimed in claim 24, wherein a semi-hard ferromagnetic material in the form of needles, steelwool fibers or a grid is the deactivating material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein said thin coating is a coating that has been deposited onto said substrate by a physical vapour deposition process.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thin coating is from 1 to 5 microns in thickness.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
129 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity, and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, (i) said substrate has a primary axis defining the major dimension of the substrate and a real or notional secondary axis perpendicular to said primary axis and located so as to pass through the mid point of said primary axis; and (ii) the ratio between the dimensions of said substrate measured along said primary axis and said secondary axis is not greater than 3:1.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
129 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity, and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, (i) said substrate has a primary axis defining the major dimension of the substrate and a real or notional secondary axis perpendicular to said primary axis and located so as to pass through the mid point of said primary axis; and (ii) the ratio between the dimensions of said substrate measured along said primary axis and said secondary axis is not greater than 3:1.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article as claimed in claim 34, wherein the ratio between the dimensions of said primary and secondary axes is in the range of 1:1 to 3:1.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
An article as claimed in claim 34, wherein the primary axis of said substrate has a dimension in the range of 10 to 60 millimeters and the secondary axis of said substrate has a dimension in the range of 4 to 45 millimeters.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 34, wherein the article is generally rectangular in shape.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 34, wherein the article is generally square in shape.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
An antipilferage tag or marker which comprises a deactivating layer of region comprising a stainless steel which has been cold worked substantially to a hardened state, said steel being an alloy containing, in atomic %, 15-20% chrominum; 5-10% nickel; carbon up to 0.15%; and the balance iron together with incidental impurities present up to a total of 4%.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
58 words
An antipilferage tag or marker which comprises a deactivating layer of region comprising a stainless steel which has been cold worked substantially to a hardened state, said steel being an alloy containing, in atomic %, 15-20% chrominum; 5-10% nickel; carbon up to 0.15%; and the balance iron together with incidental impurities present up to a total of 4%.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
An antipilferage tag or marker as claimed in claim 39, which contains (in atomic %) 0.5-3% manganese and 0.5-1.5% silicon.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
An antipilferage tag or marker, which comprises a substrate that includes a plurality of acicular elements of magnetic material on said substrate.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
An antipilferage tag or marker, which comprises a substrate that includes a plurality of acicular elements of magnetic material on said substrate.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tag or marker as claimed in claim 41, wherein said acicular elements are fine needle-shaped particles of magnetically non-linear material incorporated into paper or into a film.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tag or marker as claimed in claim 41, wherein said acicular elements are about 200 microns long.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
An antipilferage tag or marker which comprises a substrate, and a broken or discontinuous flat loop of ferromagnetic material carried by said substrate.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
An antipilferage tag or marker which comprises a substrate, and a broken or discontinuous flat loop of ferromagnetic material carried by said substrate.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tag or marker as claimed in claim 44, wherein said flat loop of ferromagnetic material is in the form of a circular annulus of magnetically non-linear ferromagnetic material.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
109 words
An article for use as an antipilferage marker, comprising: an active component of soft magnetic material for generating a signal in an interrogation field applied by a detection system for detecting the article; and means for deactivating the active component so that said signal is not generated, or is generated only below a level detectable by the detection system, said deactivating means comprising a plurality of ferromagnetic elements carried by the active component, and each ferromagnetic element acquiring, in the presence of a deactivating magnetic field, north and south magnetic poles at opposite end regions thereof and the ferromagnetic elements being randomly oriented over the surface of the article.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
109 words
An article for use as an antipilferage marker, comprising: an active component of soft magnetic material for generating a signal in an interrogation field applied by a detection system for detecting the article; and means for deactivating the active component so that said signal is not generated, or is generated only below a level detectable by the detection system, said deactivating means comprising a plurality of ferromagnetic elements carried by the active component, and each ferromagnetic element acquiring, in the presence of a deactivating magnetic field, north and south magnetic poles at opposite end regions thereof and the ferromagnetic elements being randomly oriented over the surface of the article.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as claimed in claim 46, in which the ferromagnetic elements comprise steel wool fibres.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article as claimed in claim 46, in which the ferromagnetic elements comprise ferrite particles.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article for use as an antipilferage marker, comprising: an active component of soft magnetic material for generating a signal in an interrogation field applied by a detection system for detecting the article; and means for deactivating the active component so that said signal is not generated, or is generated only below a level detectable by the detection system, said deactivating means comprising a layer of mild steel secured to the active component.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article for use as an antipilferage marker, comprising: an active component of soft magnetic material for generating a signal in an interrogation field applied by a detection system for detecting the article; and means for deactivating the active component so that said signal is not generated, or is generated only below a level detectable by the detection system, said deactivating means comprising a layer of mild steel secured to the active component.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
143 words
An antipilferage tag which comprises a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material,: (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar polymer material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness; (d) said substrate having a primary axis defining the major dimension of the substrate and a real or notional secondary axis perpendicular to said primary axis and located so as to pass through the mid point of said primary axis; (e) the ratio between the dimensions of said substrate measured along said primary axis and said secondary axis being no greater than 3:1; and (f) the tag further including a deactivation layer of zone(s) adjacent to said thin coating.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
143 words
An antipilferage tag which comprises a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material,: (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar polymer material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness; (d) said substrate having a primary axis defining the major dimension of the substrate and a real or notional secondary axis perpendicular to said primary axis and located so as to pass through the mid point of said primary axis; (e) the ratio between the dimensions of said substrate measured along said primary axis and said secondary axis being no greater than 3:1; and (f) the tag further including a deactivation layer of zone(s) adjacent to said thin coating.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
89 words
A tag as claimed in claim 50, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy of the formula: Co a Fe b Ni c Mo d Si e B f , where a is in the range of 35 to 70 atomic percent, b zero to 8 atomic percent, c zero to 40 atomic percent, d zero to four atomic percent, e zero to thirty atomic percent and f zero to thirty atomic percent, with at least one of groups b, c, d and e, f being non zero.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tag as claimed in claim 51, wherein said amorphous metal glass is an alloy having a composition (in atomic percent) in the range: Co, 35-70; Fe, 2-7; Ni 10-35; Mo, 0-2; Si, 12-20; and B, 6-12.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
69 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, a. said substrate being a flexible, laminar material formed of a polyester; b. said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and c. said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
69 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, a. said substrate being a flexible, laminar material formed of a polyester; b. said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and c. said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
78 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, a. said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; b. said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and c. said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, and being configured as a broken or discontinuous flat loop of ferromagnetic material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
78 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, a. said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; b. said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and c. said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, and being configured as a broken or discontinuous flat loop of ferromagnetic material.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
76 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, and being substantially magnetically isotropic in the plane of the substrate.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
76 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness, and being substantially magnetically isotropic in the plane of the substrate.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
80 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity, and being formed from an alloy containing cobalt and niobium together with a glass-forming element, and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
80 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and a thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity, and being formed from an alloy containing cobalt and niobium together with a glass-forming element, and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
74 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity and including an alloy containing cobalt, iron, silicon and boron; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
74 words
An antipilferage tag or marker comprising a substrate and thin coating of a magnetic material, (a) said substrate being a flexible, laminar material; (b) said magnetic material being an amorphous metal glass of high intrinsic magnetic permeability, with low or substantially zero magnetostriction, and with low coercivity and including an alloy containing cobalt, iron, silicon and boron; and (c) said thin coating of a magnetic material being no greater than 6 microns in thickness.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-01 | 1994-04-02 | 1994-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-01 | 1998-04-02 | 1998-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-01 | 2002-04-02 | 2002-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |