Patent US4976456A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4976456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marking system
Assignee: PREVENT-A-CRIME INTERNATIONAL Inc A CA CORP
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Filing: 1988-09-28
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2008-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A label formed of a plastic film having a mottled background on its lower surface, which is covered by a layer of adhesive and a backing strip. The label has an invisible identifier on its upper surface which becomes visible when a marking pen is applied to it and the excess material around the identifier is wiped away.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Jack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:09
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/0291; G09F3/0292; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of marking property, comprising: forming in an impressionable label a physical impression which is substantially invisible to the casual observer; applying visible marking material to said physical impression and its surrounding area when it is desired to make the physical impression visible; and wiping said surrounding are to remove the marking material, which results in removing the material surrounding the physical impression while leaving marking material in the physical impression to form visible indicia.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of marking property, comprising: forming in an impressionable label a physical impression which is substantially invisible to the casual observer; applying visible marking material to said physical impression and its surrounding area when it is desired to make the physical impression visible; and wiping said surrounding are to remove the marking material, which results in removing the material surrounding the physical impression while leaving marking material in the physical impression to form visible indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said label is made of transparent material, and including the step of applying a visible background to the backside of the label, which helps to make said impression invisible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, including applying an adhesive to the backside of said label for applying the label to said property.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said label is transparent, and including the step of applying masking material to the backside of said label, with said masking having an appearance visible through the label which helps make the impressions invisible from the top side of the label.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said label is made of a transparent plastic film, and said visible marking material is applied to the top surface of the label with a marking pen or similar implement wherein the marking material is easily wiped off the surface of the label except in the area of said impressions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A label to be applied to an article on which a marking is desired, said label comprising a thin layer having a permanent physical impression in its upper surface which is substantially invisible, said layer upper surface, except in the area of said impression having characteristics such that the visible material from a marking implement will not readily adhere to the layer, but instead can be readily removed except in the area of said impression, whereby the impression on the label can be made visible.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A label to be applied to an article on which a marking is desired, said label comprising a thin layer having a permanent physical impression in its upper surface which is substantially invisible, said layer upper surface, except in the area of said impression having characteristics such that the visible material from a marking implement will not readily adhere to the layer, but instead can be readily removed except in the area of said impression, whereby the impression on the label can be made visible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The label of claim 6, wherein said layer is a plastic film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The label of claim 7, wherein the film is made of polyester about 0.002 inch thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The label of claim 7, wherein the film is made of transparent material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The label of claim 9, wherein there is background on the lower surface of the label which masks the impression.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The label of claim 10, wherein the background is printed directly on the lower surface of the layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The label of claim 6, wherein said impression does not extend completely through the layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The label of claim 6, wherein said impression is a permanent scarring in the surface of the label.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The label of claim 6, wherein said impression is identifying indicia.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The label of claim 6, wherein said impression is formed by a physical imprinting device which does not have visible marking material on it.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
111 words
A label comprising a thin, flexible, transparent layer of plastic film, a permanent physical impression in the top surface of the film which is substantially invisible to a casual human observer, said impression being formed such that "ink" from a marking pen will adhere to the impression and cannot be wiped away, while the "ink" can be readily wiped away from the surface of the film surrounding the impression to create indicia on the film, a background on the lower surface of the film which further masks the presence of the impression, a layer of adhesive on the background surface of the label, and a removable backing strip covering the adhesive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
A label comprising a thin, flexible, transparent layer of plastic film, a permanent physical impression in the top surface of the film which is substantially invisible to a casual human observer, said impression being formed such that "ink" from a marking pen will adhere to the impression and cannot be wiped away, while the "ink" can be readily wiped away from the surface of the film surrounding the impression to create indicia on the film, a background on the lower surface of the film which further masks the presence of the impression, a layer of adhesive on the background surface of the label, and a removable backing strip covering the adhesive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The label of claim 16, in combination with an article to be identified by the label in determining whether the article is stolen property.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of marking property, comprising: forming on the top surface of a thin, transparent label to be applied to said property, a physical impression which is substantially invisible to the casual observer, said impression being formed by permanently scarring or creating a depression in the top surface of the label with a printing device without the use of a visible printing "ink", and applying visible marking material to the area of said impression when it is desired to make the impression visible.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of marking property, comprising: forming on the top surface of a thin, transparent label to be applied to said property, a physical impression which is substantially invisible to the casual observer, said impression being formed by permanently scarring or creating a depression in the top surface of the label with a printing device without the use of a visible printing "ink", and applying visible marking material to the area of said impression when it is desired to make the impression visible.
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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) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |