US5260252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal latent image material and method of producing and developing the same
Assignee: Nashua Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-24
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2010-07-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and material for producing and developing thermal latent images. Upon imagewise thermal exposure of a heat sensitive recording material, the recording material selectively yields both a latent image and a visually readable image. The latent image may comprise confidential data or text, and may subsequently be rendered visually readable by an authorized recipient.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick G. Frangie
- 👤 Roberta R. Arbree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:31
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B41M3/142; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A web having a surface coating comprising a first region comprising a binder having dispersed therein an electron-accepting material capable of inducing a color change upon exposure to an electron-donating material, and having an imagewise thermally exposed data-containing area which is visually indistinguishable from an unexposed background area of said first region, wherein said thermally exposed area of the first region comprises a solid solution of said electron-accepting material, and wherein said unexposed area of said first region comprises dispersed particles of said electron-accepting material, said first region being receptive selectively to a latent image-developing material comprising said electron-donating material which when applied to said surface produces a visually readable contrast between said exposed and unexposed areas; and a second region having an imagewise thermally exposed data-containing area having visually readable data contrasting with an unexposed background area of said second region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A web having a surface coating comprising a first region comprising a binder having dispersed therein an electron-accepting material capable of inducing a color change upon exposure to an electron-donating material, and having an imagewise thermally exposed data-containing area which is visually indistinguishable from an unexposed background area of said first region, wherein said thermally exposed area of the first region comprises a solid solution of said electron-accepting material, and wherein said unexposed area of said first region comprises dispersed particles of said electron-accepting material, said first region being receptive selectively to a latent image-developing material comprising said electron-donating material which when applied to said surface produces a visually readable contrast between said exposed and unexposed areas; and a second region having an imagewise thermally exposed data-containing area having visually readable data contrasting with an unexposed background area of said second region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The web of claim 1 wherein said electron-donating material is selected from the group consisting of 3-isobutyl ethyl amino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-isopentyl ethyl amino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran; 3-N-ethyl-N-tetrahydrofurfurylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; and crystal violet lactone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The web of claim 1 wherein said first region bears a latent, invisible image of confidential data and said second region bears a visible image of non-confidential data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The web of claim 1 wherein said electron-accepting material is selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxy-4' isopropoxy diphenyl sulfone; bisphenol A; bisphenol S; and benxyl p-hydroxy benzoate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The web of claim 1 wherein the coating of said first region further includes sa sensitizer selected from the group consisting of dibenzyl terephthalate; dibenzyloxalate; diphenyl carbonate; and dimethyl benzyl oxalate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The web of claim 1 wherein the visually readably data of said second data-containing region comprises at least one electron-donating material and an electron-accepting material which, upon imagewise thermal exposure, react to form a color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The web of claim 6 wherein at least one of said electron-donating materials is a leuco dye selected from the group consisting of 3-isobutyl ethyl amino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-N-ethyl-N-tetrahydrofurfurylamino-6methyl-7-anilino fluoran; and crystal violet lactone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A web for receiving electronically transmitted confidential information and non-confidential information, said web comprising on a surface thereof: first and second data-receiving regions; said first region comprising a first coating comprising a binder having dispersed therein particles of an electron-accepting material capable of inducing a color change upon exposure to an electron-donating material which, upon imagewise exposure, produces a latent thermal image comprising the confidential information, developable by applying said electron-donating material to a visually readable form; and said second region comprising a second coating comprising both electron-donating and electron-accepting materials which, upon imagewise thermal exposure, produces a visually readable image corresponding to the non-confidential information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A web for receiving electronically transmitted confidential information and non-confidential information, said web comprising on a surface thereof: first and second data-receiving regions; said first region comprising a first coating comprising a binder having dispersed therein particles of an electron-accepting material capable of inducing a color change upon exposure to an electron-donating material which, upon imagewise exposure, produces a latent thermal image comprising the confidential information, developable by applying said electron-donating material to a visually readable form; and said second region comprising a second coating comprising both electron-donating and electron-accepting materials which, upon imagewise thermal exposure, produces a visually readable image corresponding to the non-confidential information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The web of claim 8 wherein the second coating comprises an electron-donating material and an electron-accepting material, both disposed in a binder which, upon imagewise thermal exposure, produces a visible image as said electron-donating and electron-accepting materials react to form a colored complex.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
A web having a surface coating comprising a first region comprising a binder having dispersed therein particles of an electron-accepting material which upon imagewise thermal exposure melts to form a solid solution of said electron-accepting material, which exposed area is visually indistinguishable from an unexposed background area of said first region, said first region being receptive selectively to a latent image-developing electron-donating material applied to said surface to produce a visually readable contrast between said exposed and unexposed areas, wherein said electron-accepting material is capable of inducing a color or an image upon exposure to the electron-donating material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A web having a surface coating comprising a first region comprising a binder having dispersed therein particles of an electron-accepting material which upon imagewise thermal exposure melts to form a solid solution of said electron-accepting material, which exposed area is visually indistinguishable from an unexposed background area of said first region, said first region being receptive selectively to a latent image-developing electron-donating material applied to said surface to produce a visually readable contrast between said exposed and unexposed areas, wherein said electron-accepting material is capable of inducing a color or an image upon exposure to the electron-donating material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The web of claim 10 wherein said coating further comprises a second region having an imagewise thermally exposed data-containing area having visually readable data contrasting with an unexposed background area of said second region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The web of claim 10 wherein the electron-accepting material is selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxy-4' isopropoxy diphenyl sulfone; bisphenol A; bisphenol S; and benzyl p-hydroxy benzoate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The web of claim 10 wherein the electron-donating material is selected from the group consisting of 3-isobutyl ethyl amino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-isopentylethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; 3-N-ethyl-N-tetrahydrofurfurylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino fluoran; and crystal violet lactone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The web of claim 10 wherein the coating of said first region further includes a sensitizer selected from the group consisting of dibenzyl terephthalate; dibenzyloxalate; diphenyl carbonate; and dimethylbenzyl oxalate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS61248784A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |