US5524294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper- or damage-indicating members
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-06-28
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Granted: 1996-06-11
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Expires: 2013-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A apparatus for providing a tamper- or damage-indicating member, such as a tamper-evident glove. The apparatus comprises first and second layers, typically inner and outer glove-shaped bodies, of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material, at least a portion of the second layer being of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the first layer. The apparatus further comprises means for sealing at least the portion of the second layer to the first layer, such that the portion surrounds a zone of the surface of the first layer, forming a space between the layers which is adjacent the zone and is substantially free of air. When the second layer is sealed to the first layer, breach in either layer adjacent the zone results in a change in perceived color in the area of breach.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret P. Richardson
- 👤 Philip Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:32
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/0291; G09F3/0292; A; A41; A41D; A41D19/00; A41D19/0055; A41D19/0058; A41D19/0082; A41D19/0096; B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/14; B29C41/22; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/0064; B29D99/0067; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/066; A61; A61B; A61B42/00; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/001; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0058; B29K2105/0064; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/002; B29K2995/0025; B29K2995/0026; B29K2995/0029; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0065; B29K2995/0067; B29K2995/0068; B29K2995/0069; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/48; B29L2031/4842; B29L2031/4864; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/807; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/916; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/231
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a tamper- or damage-indicating member, which apparatus comprises: (a) first and second layers of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material, at least a portion of said second layer being of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to said first layer; (b) means for sealing at least said portion of said second layer to said first layer, such that said portion surrounds a zone of the surface of said first layer, thereby forming a space between said layers which is adjacent said zone and is substantially free of air; whereby, when said second layer is sealed to said first layer, breach in either layer adjacent said zone results in a change in perceived color in the area of breach.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing a tamper- or damage-indicating member, which apparatus comprises: (a) first and second layers of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material, at least a portion of said second layer being of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to said first layer; (b) means for sealing at least said portion of said second layer to said first layer, such that said portion surrounds a zone of the surface of said first layer, thereby forming a space between said layers which is adjacent said zone and is substantially free of air; whereby, when said second layer is sealed to said first layer, breach in either layer adjacent said zone results in a change in perceived color in the area of breach.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least said portion of said second layer is substantially lighter in color than said zone of said first layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second layer is thinner than said first layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a release layer is provided for arrangement between facing surfaces of said layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second layer is wholly of translucent material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises an inner glove-shaped body, and said second layer comprises an outer glove-shaped body capable of surrounding the inner body, said bodies capable of being sealed together at or near the wrist-engaging edges thereof, a substantial proportion of the outer surface of the inner body being in contact with the inner surface of the outer body but substantially unbonded thereto and the space between the layers being substantially evacuated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said bodies are secured to one another by the resilience of the outer body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of detecting breach of a tamper- or damage-indicating member, which method comprises: (a) providing an inner layer of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; (b) providing an outer layer of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material, at least a portion of said outer layer surrounding a zone off the surface of said inner layer, which zone is not sealed to said outer layer, said outer layer being of translucent material at least in the area thereof overlying said zone and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said inner layer; (c) sealing said portion of said outer layer to said inner layer so as to form a space between said layers which is adjacent said zone and is substantially free of air; and (d) detecting breach in either layer adjacent said zone by monitoring a change in perceived color in the area of breach.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of detecting breach of a tamper- or damage-indicating member, which method comprises: (a) providing an inner layer of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; (b) providing an outer layer of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material, at least a portion of said outer layer surrounding a zone off the surface of said inner layer, which zone is not sealed to said outer layer, said outer layer being of translucent material at least in the area thereof overlying said zone and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said inner layer; (c) sealing said portion of said outer layer to said inner layer so as to form a space between said layers which is adjacent said zone and is substantially free of air; and (d) detecting breach in either layer adjacent said zone by monitoring a change in perceived color in the area of breach.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus effective for providing a tamper-evident glove-shaped member, which apparatus comprises: (a) a first glove-shaped body; and (b) a second glove-shaped body of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body: said bodies each being of flexible, substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; said second body being configured to surround said first body and be secured thereto by the resilience of said second body when said bodies are donned by a wearer, such that when said second body is breached, and in the presence of an aqueous liquid, there is a change in perceived color in the area of breach as a result of capillary action of said liquid between said bodies.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus effective for providing a tamper-evident glove-shaped member, which apparatus comprises: (a) a first glove-shaped body; and (b) a second glove-shaped body of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body: said bodies each being of flexible, substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; said second body being configured to surround said first body and be secured thereto by the resilience of said second body when said bodies are donned by a wearer, such that when said second body is breached, and in the presence of an aqueous liquid, there is a change in perceived color in the area of breach as a result of capillary action of said liquid between said bodies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second body is substantially lighter in color than said first body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second body is thinner than said first body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a release layer is provided for arrangement between facing surfaces of said bodies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second body is wholly of translucent material.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of providing an apparatus effective for providing a tamper-evident glove-shaped member, which method comprises: (a) providing a first glove-shaped body having a relatively dark color; and (b) providing a second glove-shaped body of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body; said bodies each being of flexible, substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; said second body being capable of surrounding said first body so as to be secured thereto by the resilience of said second body when said bodies are donned on a wearer's hand, such that when said second body is breached, and in the presence of an aqueous liquid, there is a change in perceived color in the area of breach as a result of capillary action of said liquid between said bodies.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of providing an apparatus effective for providing a tamper-evident glove-shaped member, which method comprises: (a) providing a first glove-shaped body having a relatively dark color; and (b) providing a second glove-shaped body of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body; said bodies each being of flexible, substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; said second body being capable of surrounding said first body so as to be secured thereto by the resilience of said second body when said bodies are donned on a wearer's hand, such that when said second body is breached, and in the presence of an aqueous liquid, there is a change in perceived color in the area of breach as a result of capillary action of said liquid between said bodies.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring breach of a glove-shaped member, which method comprises: (a) providing a first glove-shaped body; (b) providing a second glove shaped body surrounding said first body and secured thereto by the resilience of said second body, both bodies being worn on a user's hand, said second body being of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body; said bodies being of flexible substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; (c) allowing an aqueous liquid to penetrate a breach in said second body; and (d) monitoring a perceived color change in the area of breach.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of monitoring breach of a glove-shaped member, which method comprises: (a) providing a first glove-shaped body; (b) providing a second glove shaped body surrounding said first body and secured thereto by the resilience of said second body, both bodies being worn on a user's hand, said second body being of translucent material and having a contrasting color relative to the color of said first body; said bodies being of flexible substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material; (c) allowing an aqueous liquid to penetrate a breach in said second body; and (d) monitoring a perceived color change in the area of breach.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said aqueous liquid comprises a body fluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein penetration of said liquid involves capillary action between said bodies, such that the perceived color is that of said first body.
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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) | 1999-06-11 | 1999-12-11 | 2000-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-12-11 | 2004-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-11 | 2007-12-11 | 2008-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |