US5368334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable data clear mark imaging
Assignee: Moore North America Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-10
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2013-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A security document is produced from a paper substrate having invisible hydrophobic toner blended into the paper. The clear toner is produced by milling and classifying a polyester resin, mixing it with silica flowing agent, and then electrostatically imaging the toner onto the paper substrate, as a spot that can be overprinted, or preferably as indicia that is not visible to the naked eye or color copiers. An infra-red absorbing or UV responsive dye may be added to the toner so that it is visible under infra-red/ultraviolet light respectively, or without that dye it is not visible when eliminated by light of any wavelength. When applied to the paper the toner is snow white, but after infra-red heat fusing it blends into the paper and is substantially invisible. The security indicia is easily made visible by passing a conventional marker nib over it, or other mechanism for applying a water based low concentrate colored ink which is readily absorbed by the surrounding paper, but not by the hydrophobic security indicia.
Inventors
- 👤 Orrin D. Christy
- 👤 John E. Pickett
- 👤 Leo Swanson
- 👤 Mark A. Matheis
- 👤 Marc Cousoulis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; A63F3/0685; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of providing and using security indicia on a paper substrate using a substantially clear hydrophobic toner, comprising the steps of: (a) charging and applying the toner in the form of security indicia to the paper substrate; (b) heat fusing the toner so that it blends into the paper and becomes substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers regardless of the wavelength of light directed onto it; and (c) when it is desired to view the indicia, applying an aqueous based solvent system having a distinctly different color than the paper substrate to the paper substrate over the toner, the paper surrounding the toner indicia absorbing the solvent while the toner indicia does not, making the toner indicia visible.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of providing and using security indicia on a paper substrate using a substantially clear hydrophobic toner, comprising the steps of: (a) charging and applying the toner in the form of security indicia to the paper substrate; (b) heat fusing the toner so that it blends into the paper and becomes substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers regardless of the wavelength of light directed onto it; and (c) when it is desired to view the indicia, applying an aqueous based solvent system having a distinctly different color than the paper substrate to the paper substrate over the toner, the paper surrounding the toner indicia absorbing the solvent while the toner indicia does not, making the toner indicia visible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by imaging the toner onto the paper utilizing an imaging technique selected from the group consisting essentially of ionographic, laser, and ion deposition imaging techniques.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by electrostatic imaging.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein step (b) is practiced by infra-red heat fusing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by charging and applying a polyester resin based toner with a silica flow agent that forms a snow white image on the paper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (c) is practiced by moving an applicator of a marker having a water based low concentrate non-white ink over the toner indicia.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by variably imaging indicia on the paper corresponding to visible imaged indicia on the paper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (a) is practiced by variably imaging indicia on the paper, and comprising the further step of variably imaging visible indicia over the invisible indicia.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A security document comprising: a paper substrate; and indicia imaged on said substrate comprising a hydrophobic toner blended into the paper substrate so that it is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers when illuminated with ambient light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A security document comprising: a paper substrate; and indicia imaged on said substrate comprising a hydrophobic toner blended into the paper substrate so that it is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers when illuminated with ambient light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 wherein said toner includes an infra-red absorbing dye so that said indicia is visible when illuminated with infra-red light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 wherein said toner includes a UV responsive dye so that said indicia fluoresces when illuminated with UV light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 further comprising visible indicia corresponding to said invisible indicia imaged on said substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 further comprising visible indicia overprinted on said invisible indicia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 wherein said toner is a polyester resin having a silica flowing agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A security document as recited in claim 9 wherein said substrate is substantially white paper, and further comprising a distinctly non-white colored aqueous based solvent system disposed over said indicia and said substrate immediately adjacent thereto, the nonwhite colored solvent system being absorbed by the substrate but not by said toner indicia, so as to render said toner indicia visible.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A security document comprising: a paper substrate; a spot of hydrophobic toner imaged onto and blended into the paper substrate so that it is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers when illuminated with ambient light; and an overcovering or overprinting over said spot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A security document comprising: a paper substrate; a spot of hydrophobic toner imaged onto and blended into the paper substrate so that it is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers when illuminated with ambient light; and an overcovering or overprinting over said spot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document as recited in claim 16 wherein said overprinting or overcovering is selected from the group consisting essentially of overprinted inks and foil coatings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A security document as recited in claim 16 wherein said hydrophobic toner comprises a polyester resin having a silica flowing agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
A paper substrate security document produced by a method comprising the steps of: (a) charging and applying hydrophobic toner in the form of security indicia to the paper substrate; (b) heat fusing the toner so that it blends into the paper and is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers regardless of the wavelength of light directed onto it; and (c) applying an aqueous based solvent system having a different color than the paper substrate to the paper substrate over the toner, the paper surrounding the toner indicia absorbing the solvent while the toner indicia does not, making the toner indicia visible.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
A paper substrate security document produced by a method comprising the steps of: (a) charging and applying hydrophobic toner in the form of security indicia to the paper substrate; (b) heat fusing the toner so that it blends into the paper and is substantially invisible to the naked eye and color copiers regardless of the wavelength of light directed onto it; and (c) applying an aqueous based solvent system having a different color than the paper substrate to the paper substrate over the toner, the paper surrounding the toner indicia absorbing the solvent while the toner indicia does not, making the toner indicia visible.
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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) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |