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US5149140A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Security, information document

Assignee: Standard Register Co
•
Filing: 1991-03-11
•
Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2011-03-11
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Abstract

Abstract A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization includes a document substrate having a first area in which a half-tone warning image is printed, indicating that a copy of the document is an unauthorized document. A half-tone background image is printed in a second area on the substrate, with the second area surrounding the first area. A camouflage image extends over the document substrate for confusing the eye of an observer such that the warning image is not readily observed. One of the half-tone warning image and the half-tone background image is printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing that it is not readily reproducible by a copier. The camouflage image may contain an identification of the source of the information.

Inventors

  • 👤 William H. Mowry, Jr.
  • 👤 Robert L. Neitman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 09:54
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B41M3/146; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; G; G03; G03C; G03C5/00; G03C5/08; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/04; G03G21/043; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/902

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization, comprising: a document substrate; a first area on said substrate in which a half-tone warning image is printed, delineating said information source organization, said half-tone warning image being printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing and element size that it is readily reproducible by a copier; a second area on said substrate in which a half-tone background image is printed, one of said first and second areas surrounding the other, and in which said information printed over said substrate is printed in an ink of substantially the same blackness as said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image, whereby an attempt to copy said document without copying said half-tone warning image or said half-tone background image by adjustment of copier settings results in loss of said information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization, comprising: a document substrate; a first area on said substrate in which a half-tone warning image is printed, delineating said information source organization, said half-tone warning image being printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing and element size that it is readily reproducible by a copier; a second area on said substrate in which a half-tone background image is printed, one of said first and second areas surrounding the other, and in which said information printed over said substrate is printed in an ink of substantially the same blackness as said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image, whereby an attempt to copy said document without copying said half-tone warning image or said half-tone background image by adjustment of copier settings results in loss of said information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The security, information document of claim 1 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said information is printed over said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The security, information document of claim 1 in which said half-tone background image and said half-tone warning image are printed in black ink on said document substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 191 words
A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization, comprising: a document substrate; a first area on said substrate in which a half-tone warning image is printed, indicating that a copy of the document is an unauthorized document, said half-tone warning image defining the words "UNAUTHORIZED COPY"; a second area on said substrate in which a half-tone background image is printed, said second area surrounding said first area; and a camouflage image extending over said document substrate for confusing the eye of an observer such that said warning image is not readily observed, one of said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image being printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing and element size that it is not readily reproducible by a copier, and in which said information printed over said substrate is printed in an ink of substantially the same blackness as said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image, whereby an attempt to copy said document without copying said half-tone warning image or said half-tone background image by adjustment of copier settings results in loss of said information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 191 words
A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization, comprising: a document substrate; a first area on said substrate in which a half-tone warning image is printed, indicating that a copy of the document is an unauthorized document, said half-tone warning image defining the words "UNAUTHORIZED COPY"; a second area on said substrate in which a half-tone background image is printed, said second area surrounding said first area; and a camouflage image extending over said document substrate for confusing the eye of an observer such that said warning image is not readily observed, one of said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image being printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing and element size that it is not readily reproducible by a copier, and in which said information printed over said substrate is printed in an ink of substantially the same blackness as said half-tone warning image and said half-tone background image, whereby an attempt to copy said document without copying said half-tone warning image or said half-tone background image by adjustment of copier settings results in loss of said information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
The security, information document of claim 4 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said camouflage image is defined by portions of said first area in which half-tone screens are not printed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The security, information document of claim 4 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said camouflage image is defined by portions of said second area in which half-tone screens are not printed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
The security, information document of claim 4 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said camouflage image is defined by portions of said first area and said second area in which half-tone screens are not printed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The security, information document of claim 4 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said camouflage image delineates said information source organization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The security, information document of claim 4 for providing information to a reader from an information source organization in which said information is printed over said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The security, information document of claim 4 in which said half-tone background image and said half-tone warning image are printed in black ink on said document substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1995-09-22 1996-03-23 1996-09-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-09-22 2000-03-23 2000-09-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-09-22 2004-03-23 2004-09-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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