US5436974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of encoding confidentiality markings
Assignee: Innovator Corp
•
Filing: 1993-10-12
•
Granted: 1995-07-25
•
Expires: 2013-10-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention disclosed here is a method of encoding serial numbers indicating "confidentiality" or "proprietary information" on printed documents. A group of marks in the form of small-sized dots or equivalent markings are repetitively printed across the face of the document. The placement and location of the markings defines a readable binary serial number. Intermixing the markings with the printed matter on the document makes it difficult or impossible to remove the serial number created by the markings, and they will remain on the document after repeated photocopies of it are made.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Kovanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:29
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, the document bearing printed matter other than the coded serial number, the method comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across at least a portion of the face of the document; including intermixing at least one of the repetitively printed groups of marks with at least some of the printed matter on the document.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, the document bearing printed matter other than the coded serial number, the method comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across at least a portion of the face of the document; including intermixing at least one of the repetitively printed groups of marks with at least some of the printed matter on the document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, including repetitively printing the group of marks along a plurality of lines extending across the face of the document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, including printing at least one index symbol on the face of the document, wherein the index symbol defines the physical orientation on the document for the set of possible print locations corresponding to printed groups of marks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the set of possible print locations comprise a finite number of equidistant marking positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the marks of each group have a maximum print size dimension within the range of 0.003 to 0.007 inches.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, the document bearing at least some printed text having a certain print size dimension, the method comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across at least a portion of the face of the document, wherein the marks of each group have a maximum print size dimension that is smaller than the print size dimension of the printed text.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, the document bearing at least some printed text having a certain print size dimension, the method comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across at least a portion of the face of the document, wherein the marks of each group have a maximum print size dimension that is smaller than the print size dimension of the printed text.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6, including printing at least one index symbol on the face of the document, wherein the index symbol defines the physical orientation on the document for the set of possible print locations corresponding to printed groups of marks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the marks of each group have a maximum print size dimension within the range of 0.003 to 0.007 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6, including intermixing at least one of the repetitively printed group of marks with at least some of the printed text on the face of the document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the set of possible print locations are equidistant from each other.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across the face of the document, including printing at least one index symbol on the face of the document, wherein the index symbol defines the physical orientation on the document for the set of possible print locations corresponding to printed groups of marks.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document, comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and repetitively printing the group of marks across the face of the document, including printing at least one index symbol on the face of the document, wherein the index symbol defines the physical orientation on the document for the set of possible print locations corresponding to printed groups of marks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the marks of the group have a maximum print size dimension within the range of 0.003 to 0.007 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the set of possible print locations are equidistant from each other.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document bearing printed matter, comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and printing the group of marks across the face of the document, including intermixing the group with at least some of the printed matter, in a manner so that the markings do not interfere with the readability of the printed matter.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of placing a coded serial number on the face of a document bearing printed matter, comprising: defining a readable code from a group of marks, the group being defined by a set of possible print locations and selectively printing marks at certain predefined locations within the set of possible print locations; and printing the group of marks across the face of the document, including intermixing the group with at least some of the printed matter, in a manner so that the markings do not interfere with the readability of the printed matter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14, including repetitively printing the group of marks across the face of the document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14, including printing at least one index symbol on the face of the document, wherein the index symbol defines the physical orientation of the set of possible print locations corresponding to the printed group of marks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the set of possible print locations comprises a finite number of equidistant marking positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the marks of each group have a maximum print size dimension within the range of 0.003 to 0.007 inches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US792312A
Cited
US1070342A
Cited
US2129364A
Cited
US3279826A
Cited
US3675948A
Cited
US3862501A
Cited
US4234214A
Cited
US4303307A
Cited
US4351547A
Cited
US4582346A
Cited
US4681348A
Cited
US4837737A
Cited
US4678322A
Cited
US4739377A
Cited
US4896029A
Cited
US4998010A
Cited
US5062666A
Cited
US5153418A
Cited
US5189292A
Cited
US5149140A
Cited
US5178418A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-24 | 1999-01-23 | 1999-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-24 | 2003-01-23 | 2003-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-24 | 2007-01-23 | 2007-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |