Patterned indicators
First Claim
1. An indicator comprising:
- a first substrate having first and second surfaces;
an ink pattern on said first surface of said first substrate;
a second substrate having first and second surfaces;
a chemical agent on the first surface of the second substrate;
wherein the first surfaces of each substrate overlay and are in contact with each other, the chemical agent and the ink pattern coacting to cause the ink pattern to bleed along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a visually perceptible change in the pattern over a selected time interval.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patterned indicator is provided which contains latent information. The patterned indicator includes a first substrate having first and second surfaces, the first surface having a uniform pattern printed of an ink thereon. A second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces is also provided. An adhesive activator is provided on the first surface of the second substrate. The indicator is activated by placement of the first surfaces of the first and second substrates into adhesive contact such that the ink and adhesive activator coact to cause the ink pattern to gradually bleed and blend together to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is a parking permit, while other preferred embodiments include transit tickets, admission tickets, time passage indicators for other applications. Also within the scope of this invention are patterned indicators printed with inks having multiple sensitivities for indicating tampering with goods in packages sealed with such indicators.
145 Citations
74 Claims
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1. An indicator comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces; an ink pattern on said first surface of said first substrate; a second substrate having first and second surfaces; a chemical agent on the first surface of the second substrate; wherein the first surfaces of each substrate overlay and are in contact with each other, the chemical agent and the ink pattern coacting to cause the ink pattern to bleed along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a visually perceptible change in the pattern over a selected time interval.
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2. An indicator comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces; a second substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; an ink pattern on said first surface of said first substrate; an ink dissolver on the first surface of the second substrate; wherein the first surfaces of each substrate overlay and are in adhesive contact with each other, the ink and ink dissolver coacting to cause a migration of the ink along the first surface of the first substrate, causing a visually perceptible change through the transparent substrate overlaying the patterned substrate over a selected time interval.
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3. An indicator comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second substrate having first and second surfaces;
an ink pattern printed in the indicia area, comprising;a first pattern of soluble ink; a second pattern of insoluble ink surrounding said first pattern; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the second substrate; the first surface of each substrate are put into adhesive contact, the ink and the adhesive activator coact to cause the soluble ink pattern to gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a visually perceptible change through the second substrate in a selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An indicator comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and at least two indicia areas on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in each of the indicia areas comprising; a pattern of dots of a soluble ink; dots of an insoluble ink surrounding said soluble ink dots to complete the uniform pattern; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; the first surface of each substrate overlay and are put into adhesive contact the soluble ink and adhesive activator coact to dissolve the dots of a soluble ink, the soluble ink dots gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a visually perceptible change through the transparent substrate overlaying the first indicia area in a first selected time interval, and a visually perceptible change through the transparent substrate overlaying the second indicia area in a second selected time interval, the first selected time interval differing from the second selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An indicator comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in the indicia area; a mask, having a pattern described there through, in an overlay arrangement with said first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of said transparent substrate; when the first surfaces of each substrate are put into adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern described through the mask, the dots dissolving and coalescing along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 23, 28)
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14. A time parking permit comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in the indicia area, comprising; a first pattern of dots printed of a first ink; a second pattern of dots printed of a second ink; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; the first substrate comprises an area extending beyond the indicia area, said extending area having a means for mounting the permit to a rearview mirror of a car; when the first surfaces of each substrate are in adhesive contact, with each other, the adhesive activator and first ink coact to dissolve the first pattern of dots, the dots gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval to indicate that the permit has expired. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An parking permit comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed of a soluble ink in the indicia area; a mask, having a pattern described there through, in an overlay arrangement with said first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of said transparent substrate; the first substrate comprises an area extending beyond the indicia area, said extending area having a means for mounting the permit to a rearview mirror of a car; the first surfaces of each substrate are in adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern described through the mask, the dots dissolving and coalescing along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval to indicate that the permit has expired. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
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30. An transit ticket comprising;
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern printed in the indicia area, comprising; a first pattern printed of a first ink; a second pattern printed of a second ink surrounding first said pattern; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; the first surfaces of each substrate are put into adhesive contact with each other, the first pattern and the adhesive activator coact to cause the first ink to bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change that is visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval; wherein the first and second substrates are substantially rectangular and coextensive with each other and of a size suitable for use as a transit ticket; and the indicia area comprises a plurality of indicia sub-areas, each having a uniform pattern of dots printed thereon, wherein a visually perceptible change occurs sequentially in each indicia sub-area after an equal period of time. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An transit ticket comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed of a soluble ink in the indicia area; a mask, having a pattern described there through, in an overlay arrangement with said first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of said transparent substrate; the first surfaces of each substrate are in adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern described through the mask, the dots thereby dissolving and coalescing along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval; wherein the first and second substrates are substantially rectangular and coextensive with each other and of a size suitable for use as a transit ticket; and the indicia area comprises a plurality of indicia sub-areas, each having a uniform pattern of dots printed thereon, wherein a visually perceptible change occurs sequentially in each indicia sub-area after an equal period of time. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A self-expiring wrist band comprising:
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a first elongated substrate having first and second ends and first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in the indicia area, comprising; a first pattern of dots printed of a first ink; a second pattern of dots printed of a second ink; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; means for attaching together the ends of said first substrate to encircle the wrist; the first surface of each substrate are put into adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator and first ink coact to dissolve the first pattern of dots whereby the dots gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A self-expiring wrist band comprising:
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a first elongated substrate having first and second ends and first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed of a soluble ink in the indicia area; a mask, having a pattern described there through, in an overlay arrangement with said first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of said transparent substrate; means for attaching together the ends of said first substrate to encircle the wrist; the first surfaces of each substrate are in adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern described through the mask, the dots thereby dissolving and coalescing along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A self-expiring label for a pharmaceutical container label comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces, and an indicia area on the first surface for printing relevant pharmaceutical information; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in the indicia area comprising; a first pattern of dots printed of a first ink; a second pattern of dots printed of a second ink; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; means for attaching the label to the container; the first surfaces of each substrate are put into adhesive contact, the adhesive and the first ink coact to dissolve the first pattern of dots, the dots gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visibly perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 71, 72)
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57. A self-expiring label for a pharmaceutical container comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on which necessary pharmaceutical information is printed and also on which a uniform pattern of dots is printed of a soluble ink; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a mask having a pattern described there through, and being in an overlay arrangement with the first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate;
means for attaching the label to the container;the first surfaces of each substrate are put into adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern described through the mask, to cause the dots to dissolve and coalesce along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval.
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61. A dynamic price tag comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a price printed on said indicia area; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed in the indicia area, comprising; a first pattern of dots printed of a first ink; a second pattern of dots printed of a second ink; means for attaching the price tag to goods; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of the transparent substrate; the first surface of each substrate are in adhesive contact and overlay each other, the adhesive activator and first ink coact to dissolve the first pattern of dots, the dots gradually bleed and blend together along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate in a selected time interval that includes a date corresponding to an expiration date of the goods with which said price tag is used. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A dynamic price tag comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces and an indicia area on the first surface; a second transparent substrate having first and second surfaces; a uniform pattern of dots printed of a soluble ink in the indicia area; a mask, having a pattern described there through in an overlay arrangement with said first surface of said first substrate; an adhesive activator means on the first surface of said transparent substrate; means for attaching the price tag to goods; the first surface of each substrate are in adhesive contact with each other, the adhesive activator contacts and coacts with the dots within the pattern of the mask, the dots dissolving and coalescing along the first surface of the first substrate to cause a change visibly perceptible through the transparent substrate overlaying the indicia area in a selected time interval, the change visually perceptible through the transparent substrate includes a second reduced price. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70)
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73. A patterned indicator for indicating unauthorized opening of a package comprising:
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a first substrate having first and second surfaces, said first surface having an ink pattern printed thereon and said second surface having an adhesive thereon; a second substrate having first and second surfaces and said first surface having an adhesive pattern printed thereon, said second surface having an adhesive thereon; wherein, when the first surfaces of the first and second substrates are put into adhesive contact, the pattern on said first surface of said first substrate and the adhesive pattern on said first surface of said second substrate interdigitate, and when the first surfaces are pulled out of adhesive contact and then put back into adhesive contact, the adhesive pattern and the pattern will become misaligned, such that the adhesive pattern will contact the pattern and cause the ink to bleed along the first surface of the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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Specification