Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A thermal transfer dye donor sheet comprising a substrate having a coating consisting essentially of at least one neutral 1:1 metalazo or neutral 1:1 metal-azomethine dye having the general structure: ##STR38## wherein Z 1 and Z 2 each independently represent an arene nucleus, having from 5 to 14 ring atoms; G 1 and G 2 each independently represent a metal ligating group, and further wherein G 1 and G 2 may be contained within or pendant from at least one of Z 1 and Z 2 ; R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an acylamino group, an alkoxy group, a sulfonamido group, an aryl group, a thiol group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkylamino group, an arylamino group, an amino group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfoxyl group, an aryloxy group, a hydroxy group, a thioamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a formyl group, an acyl group, a ureido group, or aryloxycarbonyl group, a silyl group, a carbonato group, or a sulfoalkoxy group; L is any combination of monodentate, bidentate, or tridentate ligands which satisfy the coordination requirements of the metal; X represents nitrogen or a methine group; M is a divalent or polyvalent transition metal where the coordination number is at least four; and k, m, and n are whole numbers less than or equal to 3.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A thermal transfer dye donor sheet comprising a substrate having a coating consisting essentially of at least one neutral 1:1 metalazo or neutral 1:1 metal-azomethine dye having the general structure: ##STR38## wherein Z 1 and Z 2 each independently represent an arene nucleus, having from 5 to 14 ring atoms; G 1 and G 2 each independently represent a metal ligating group, and further wherein G 1 and G 2 may be contained within or pendant from at least one of Z 1 and Z 2 ; R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an acylamino group, an alkoxy group, a sulfonamido group, an aryl group, a thiol group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkylamino group, an arylamino group, an amino group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acyloxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group, a sulfonyl group, a sulfoxyl group, an aryloxy group, a hydroxy group, a thioamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a formyl group, an acyl group, a ureido group, or aryloxycarbonyl group, a silyl group, a carbonato group, or a sulfoalkoxy group; L is any combination of monodentate, bidentate, or tridentate ligands which satisfy the coordination requirements of the metal; X represents nitrogen or a methine group; M is a divalent or polyvalent transition metal where the coordination number is at least four; and k, m, and n are whole numbers less than or equal to 3.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 further comprising a binder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 2 wherein said binder is nontransferrable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 wherein G, and G 2 independently represent hydroxy, carboxy, or a nitrogen atom which is part of Z, and Z 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 wherein L is a nitrogen-containing heterocycle or tertiary phosphine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 wherein L is selected from the group consisting of pyridine, substituted pyridines, imidazole, and substituted imidazoles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 wherein L is selected from the group consisting of 4-vinyl pyridine or 1-vinyl imidazole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 1 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of chromium(III), nickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A dye-donor sheet according to claim 8 wherein M is chromium(III).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A thermal dye transfer process which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the thermal transfer dye-donor sheet of claim 1 with a suitable receptor sheet; and (b) thereafter, applying heat in an imagewise fashion to said thermal transfer dye-donor sheet whereby the dye is thermally transferred to the receptor sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A thermal dye transfer process according to claim 10 wherein said dye-donor sheet is heated to a temperature from about 100° C. to 400° C. for a period of about 1 to 10 milliseconds while in contact with the receptor sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal dye transfer process according to claim 10 wherein the receptor sheet is paper or transparent polyester film.