Patent US5688738A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5688738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Security card and method for making same
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1996-06-18
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Granted: 1997-11-18
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Expires: 2016-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A security card comprising a backing, a cover film, and a security image, the security image being located between the backing and the cover film, the backing and the cover film being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein the backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride, and the cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester. Also, a method for making such security cards.
Inventors
- 👤 Shih-Lai Lu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:09
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/40; B42D25/45; B42D25/455; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/30; B32B27/304; B32B27/32; B32B27/36; B32B38/00; B32B38/14; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B42D25/20; B42D25/23; B42D25/30; B42D25/36; B42D25/46; B42D25/465; B42D25/47; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/30; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/402; B32B2307/4026; B32B2307/412; B32B2307/416; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/702; B32B2309/00; B32B2309/02; B32B2309/04; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/06; B32B2367/00; B32B2425/00; C; C09; C09K; C09K2323/00; C09K2323/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24876; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24901; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31797; Y10T428/31855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A security card comprising a backing, a cover sheet, and a security image, said security image being located between said backing and said cover sheet, said backing and said cover sheet being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein said backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride on at least its first side, and said cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester on at least its first side, the first side of said backing being laminated to the first side of cover sheet, said security image being visible through said cover sheet and comprising one or more colored dyes diffused into the surface of said polyvinyl chloride member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A security card comprising a backing, a cover sheet, and a security image, said security image being located between said backing and said cover sheet, said backing and said cover sheet being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein said backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride on at least its first side, and said cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester on at least its first side, the first side of said backing being laminated to the first side of cover sheet, said security image being visible through said cover sheet and comprising one or more colored dyes diffused into the surface of said polyvinyl chloride member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said backing comprises amorphous copolyester and said cover sheet comprises polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said backing is between about 500 and 550 micrometers thick.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said cover sheet is between about 175 and about 250 micrometers thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said card is between about 675 and about 825 micrometers thick.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said amorphous copolyester is a copolymer of ethylene glycol, cyclohexanedimethanol, and terephthalic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said amorphous copolyester is a copolymer of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, sebacic acid, ethylene glycol, and neopentyl glycol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The card of claim 1 further comprising verification images disposed between said cover sheet and said backing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The card of claim 8 wherein said verification images comprise partially transparent, specularly reflective material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The card of claim 8 wherein said verification images comprise pearlescent particles in a transparent binder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The card of claim 1 wherein said cover sheet comprises lens elements protruding from the front surface thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The card of claim 1 further comprising at least one secondary image on the outer surface of at least one of said cover sheet or said backing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The card of claim 12 wherein said secondary image is covered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
A security card consisting of a backing, a cover sheet, and a security image, said security image being located between said backing and said cover sheet, said backing and said cover sheet being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein said backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride on at least its first side, and said cover sheet comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester on at least its first side, the first side of said backing being laminated to the first side of said cover sheet, and wherein said image comprises a dye diffused into the surface of the polyvinyl chloride member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
A security card consisting of a backing, a cover sheet, and a security image, said security image being located between said backing and said cover sheet, said backing and said cover sheet being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein said backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride on at least its first side, and said cover sheet comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester on at least its first side, the first side of said backing being laminated to the first side of said cover sheet, and wherein said image comprises a dye diffused into the surface of the polyvinyl chloride member.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for making a security card, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a first sheet having first and second sides, said first sheet comprising polyvinyl chloride on at least said first side; b) forming an image on said first side of said first sheet via thermal dye transfer; c) providing a second sheet having first and second sides, said second sheet comprising an amorphous copolyester on said first side; d) applying heat and pressure to laminate said first side of said second sheet to said first side of first sheet so as to encapsulate said image and laminate said first sheet to said sheet substantially without causing said amorphous copolyester to crystallize; wherein at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet is transparent such that said image is visible therethrough.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for making a security card, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a first sheet having first and second sides, said first sheet comprising polyvinyl chloride on at least said first side; b) forming an image on said first side of said first sheet via thermal dye transfer; c) providing a second sheet having first and second sides, said second sheet comprising an amorphous copolyester on said first side; d) applying heat and pressure to laminate said first side of said second sheet to said first side of first sheet so as to encapsulate said image and laminate said first sheet to said sheet substantially without causing said amorphous copolyester to crystallize; wherein at least one of said first sheet and said second sheet is transparent such that said image is visible therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said second sheet comprises a copolymer of ethylene glycol, cyclohexanedimethanol, and terephthalic acid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said second sheet comprises a copolymer of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, sebacic acid, ethylene glycol, and neopentyl glycol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said transparent sheet comprises lens elements protruding from the second side thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 15 wherein sufficient heat to raise the temperature of said first side of said first sheet and the temperature of said first side of said second sheet to between about 120° and about 150° C. is applied.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said heat and pressure are applied for less than about 1 minute.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said applying of heat and pressure is performed with a desk top type laminator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising forming a secondary image on the outer surface of at least one of said first sheet or said second sheet.
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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) | 2000-11-17 | 2001-05-19 | 2001-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-17 | 2005-05-19 | 2005-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-17 | 2009-05-19 | 2009-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |