US5060981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparent overlay for protecting a document from tampering
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1989-09-19
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Granted: 1991-10-29
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Expires: 2009-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A transparent overlay that can protect a document from tampering has a transparent cover sheet, a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of the transparent cover sheet, and a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer. The transparent cover sheet can be a simple thermoplastic film but preferably is retroreflective sheeting which can bear a pattern or legend that is noticeable only when viewed retroreflectively. When the polymeric image-receiving layer is dye-receptive, it can be imaged by using a thermal printing head with a dye-donor element. A preferred polymeric image-receiving layer that is dye-receptive is chlorinated poly(vinylchloride).
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas K. Fossum
- 👤 Susan K. Jongewaard
- 👤 John W. McConville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:36
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M7/00; B41M7/0027; B41M5/00; B41M5/50; B41M5/52; B41M5/5254; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A document having a transparent overlay comprising: (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent covering, which adhesive has a Tg of at least about -15° C., and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 μm in thickness, said overlay being bonded to the document by said hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A document having a transparent overlay comprising: (a) a transparent cover sheet, (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent covering, which adhesive has a Tg of at least about -15° C., and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 μm in thickness, said overlay being bonded to the document by said hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A document as defined in claim 1 wherein said polymeric image-receiving layer bears an image which is protected from tampering by the transparent overlay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A document as defined in claim wherein said transparent cover sheet comprises retroreflective sheeting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A document as defined in claim wherein said retroreflective sheeting bears a pattern or legend that is readily legible only when the document is viewed retroreflectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A document as defined in claim wherein said transparent cover sheet is a thermoplastic film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A transparent overlay by which a document can be protected from tampering, said overlay comprising: (a) a transparent flexible cover sheet (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a Tg of at least about -15° C., and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 μm in thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A transparent overlay by which a document can be protected from tampering, said overlay comprising: (a) a transparent flexible cover sheet (b) a layer of hot-melt adhesive over one surface of said transparent cover sheet, which adhesive has a Tg of at least about -15° C., and (c) a polymeric image-receiving layer over the exposed face of said hot-melt adhesive layer, which image-receiving layer is no more than about 50 μm in thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein said transparent cover sheet is a thermoplastic film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein said transparent cover sheet is retroreflective sheeting which incorporates means for bearing a pattern or legend that is readily legible only when viewed retroreflectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein the major polymeric component of said polymeric image-receiving layer is selected from poly(vinylchloride)s, polyesters, cellulosic derivatives, polyvinylpyrollidones, polycarbonates, butyral vinyl acetates, acrylates, methacrylates, and styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 9 wherein the Tg of said major polymeric component is from about 60° to about 150° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein said polymeric image-receiving layer comprises chlorinated poly(vinylchloride) having a Tg no lower than about 80° C., and an inherent viscosity of about 0.4-1.5.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein said hot-melt adhesive has a Tg of from about 40° C. to about 100° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 12 wherein said hot-melt adhesive comprises a linear, random copolyester of one or more aromatic dibasic acids and one or more aliphatic diols, modified with up to about 30 mole % of one or more aliphatic dibasic acids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein the thickness of said hot-melt adhesive is from about 25 to about 200 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 6 wherein the thickness of the polymeric image-receiving layer is from about 8 to about 25 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transparent overlay as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a barrier layer between the hot-melt adhesive layer and the cover sheet.
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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) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |