Patent US5707680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5707680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for reducing invalid acceptances of expired printed offers and end-consumer re-distribution of printed works
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-01-02
•
Granted: 1998-01-13
•
Expires: 2016-01-02
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work, such as a time-dependent coupon. Such method comprises applying opaque print onto a substrate and applying an opacity-labile composition of lesser nascent opacity than the visible print onto the substrate in such a manner that a change in the opacity of the opacity-labile composition causes a time-delayed defacement of the printed substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Jerome Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:20
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/005; B41M3/14; B41M3/142; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work comprising: applying opaque print to a substrate to form said printed work; applying an opacity-labile composition, labile to changes in heat, acid, base or water, of lesser nascent opacity than said opaque print on or in proximity to said opaque print in such a manner that a change in the opacity of the opacity-labile composition causes a defacement of said printed work.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work comprising: applying opaque print to a substrate to form said printed work; applying an opacity-labile composition, labile to changes in heat, acid, base or water, of lesser nascent opacity than said opaque print on or in proximity to said opaque print in such a manner that a change in the opacity of the opacity-labile composition causes a defacement of said printed work.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition comprises a chromophoric composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition is substantially protected from the environment ambient to the opacity-labile composition in a material capable of being degraded by the environment exogenous or endogenous to the degradable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition is activated to change opacity by an activating agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said activating agent is substantially protected from the environment ambient to the opacity-labile composition in a material capable of being degraded by an environment exogenous or endogenous to the degradable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition does not develop in a progressive manner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the printed work is selected from the group consisting of: books, novels, or newsprint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the printed work is selected from the group consisting of: consumer-good coupons, promotional materials or confidential documents.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in defacement of a printed work if not protected from the environment to which it is to be exposed; encapsulating said opacity-labile composition with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated composition; applying the encapsulated composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in defacement of a printed work if not protected from the environment to which it is to be exposed; encapsulating said opacity-labile composition with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated composition; applying the encapsulated composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said change in opacity of said opacity-labile composition is substantial about or after the time said distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction of said printed work is set to expire, but not prior to said time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein at said time light transmission through said opacity-labile composition is reduced by approximately one-half that of said opacity-labile composition when first applied to said print.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said print, or portion of said print, is opacity-labile.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said opacity-labile composition is a chromophoric composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said opacity-labile composition is activated to change opacity by an activating agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said activating agent is time-released in a controlled manner.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in a defacement of a printed work; providing an activating agent composition which can activate said opacity-labile composition to change opacity; encapsulating said activating agent with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated activating agent composition; applying said opacity-labile composition and said encapsulated activating agent composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated activating agent composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in a defacement of a printed work; providing an activating agent composition which can activate said opacity-labile composition to change opacity; encapsulating said activating agent with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated activating agent composition; applying said opacity-labile composition and said encapsulated activating agent composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated activating agent composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said change in opacity of said opacity-labile composition is substantial about or after the time of said distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction of said printed work is set to expire, but not prior to said time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein at said time light transmission through said opacity-labile composition is reduced by approximately one-half that of said opacity-labile composition when first applied to said substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said print, or portion of said print, is opacity-labile.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said opacity-labile composition is time-released in a controlled manner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1167566A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-12 | 2001-07-14 | 2002-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-12 | 2005-07-14 | 2006-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-12 | 2009-07-14 | 2010-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |