US5095210A — Multilayer film indicator for determining the int…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

A process for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including the steps of: associating a multilayer film indicator with said item, wherein the multilayer film indicator comprises a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices which has an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of the layers, such quality not being readily visible to the naked eye; measuring the original quality; measuring the laminate a second time; and comparing the original and the second measurements to ascertain the presence or absence of the identifiable original quality.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 106 words

A process for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including the steps of: associating a multilayer film indicator with said item, wherein the multilayer film indicator comprises a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices which has an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of the layers, such quality not being readily visible to the naked eye; measuring the original quality; measuring the laminate a second time; and comparing the original and the second measurements to ascertain the presence or absence of the identifiable original quality.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifiable original quality is an identifiable original reflectance spectrum.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the second measurement follows a delivery of the item to the custody of another.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 83 words

A multilayer film indicator associated with an item for indicating the integrity or authenticity of the item or its conformance to an original state, which in an initial condition is substantially colorless, and which when strained to a selected extent will produce and retain evidence of such strain which is not readily visible to the naked eye of an observer, including a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable reflectance spectrum.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 83 words

A multilayer film indicator associated with an item for indicating the integrity or authenticity of the item or its conformance to an original state, which in an initial condition is substantially colorless, and which when strained to a selected extent will produce and retain evidence of such strain which is not readily visible to the naked eye of an observer, including a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable reflectance spectrum.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

An indicator as defined in claim 4, wherein the evidence includes a shift in the identifiable reflectance spectrum of said indicator.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

An indicator as defined in claim 5, wherein the yield point of at least one of the diverse thermoplastic materials has been at least equaled when the shift is produced.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

An indicator as defined in claim 4, wherein the film indicator will rupture with a degree of additional strain while the evidence is still not readily visible to the naked eye of an observer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

A tamper evident, tamper resistant packaging material which includes an indicator as defined in claim 4.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

An item which has been at least partially packaged within an indicator as defined in claim 4, such that the indicator has been joined to two portions of the item which are movable with respect to one another.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

An item which has been embossed with an indicator as defined in claim 4.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 85 words

A mechanism for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including in cooperative combination: a multilayer film indicator associated with the item and which includes a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of said layers which is not readily visible to the naked eye; and means for comparing the condition of said laminate with the original quality.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 85 words

A mechanism for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including in cooperative combination: a multilayer film indicator associated with the item and which includes a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of said layers which is not readily visible to the naked eye; and means for comparing the condition of said laminate with the original quality.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein the identifiable original quality of the laminate of the multilayer film indicator is an identifiable original reflectance spectrum.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 63 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein said laminate consists essentially of at least one period of layers of a first thermoplastic material A having a refractive index n A and an average layer thickness d A and of a second thermoplastic material B having a refractive index n B and an average layer thickness d B in an ABAB-type layer order.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein λ 0 =2(n A d A +n B d B ) is less than about 0.4 micrometers or greater than about 0.7 micrometers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 14, wherein the laminate further includes outer skin layers which are transparent to visible light.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 42 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein: the layers of the two or more diverse thermoplastic materials in the laminate of the indicator are arranged in one or more periods of P layers: and ##EQU3## is less than about 0.4 micrometers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for comparing the condition of the laminate with the original reflectance spectrum includes a printed copy of the reflectance spectrum.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for comparing the condition of the laminate with the original reflectance spectrum further includes a spectrophotometer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for comparing the condition of the laminate with the original quality includes a written description or illustration of the original quality.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 42 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 19, wherein said written description or illustration is intended to be previously or contemporaneously but separately communicated to one who is to employ the means for comparing the condition of the laminate with the original quality.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

A mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for comparing the condition of the laminate with the original quality includes equipment for measuring the laminate with respect to the original quality.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-10	1995-09-09	1996-03-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-10	1999-09-09	2000-03-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-10	2003-09-09	2004-03-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multilayer film indicator for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item and process for using same

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