Negotiable document having enhanced security for deterring fraud by use of a thermochromatic fingerprint image

• US 6,030,000 A
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diamond Security Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diamond Security Incorporated
• Inventors: Diamond, Robert I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US08/958,146
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 283/57, 283/58, 283/74, 283/75, 283/78, 283/114, 283/113, 283/67
• US Class Current: 283/58
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/10 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/142 using chemical colour-formers or chemical reactions, e.g. leuco-dye/acid, photochromes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes

Abstract

A negotiable document having enhanced security for deterring fraud includes at least one thermochromatic fingerprint image printed with thermochromatic ink, wherein said thermochromatic fingerprint image will fade when heat is transferred to the image from a live human hand. The negotiable document further includes a warning clause that the negotiable document may be fraudulent without the thermochromatic fingerprint image.

Claims

1. A negotiable document having enhanced security for deterring fraud, including:

at least one thermochromatic image printed with thermochromatic ink, wherein said thermochromatic image will fade when heat is transferred to the image from a live human hand.

2. The negotiable document of claim 1 further including a warning clause that the negotiable document may be fraudulent without the thermochromatic image.

3. The negotiable document of claim 1 including a warning clause describing a thermochromatic property of the thermochromatic image.

4. The negotiable document of claim 1 wherein the thermochromatic image is located in the endorsement portion on a back side of the negotiable document.

5. The negotiable document of claim 1 wherein the thermochromatic image is located in the payor identification portion on a front face of the negotiable document.

6. The negotiable document of claim 1 wherein the thermochromatic image is a fingerprint.

8. The negotiable document of claim 6 further including a warning clause that the negotiable document may be fraudulent without the thermochromatic image.

9. The negotiable document of claim 6 including a warning clause describing a thermochromatic property of the thermochromatic image.

10. The negotiable document of claim 1 wherein the thermochromatic image is a fingerprint.

7. A negotiable document having enhanced security for deterring fraud, including:

at least one thermochromatic image printed with thermochromatic ink, wherein said thermochromatic image will fade when heat is transferred to the image from a live human hand, said image being impressed by a signature plate concurrent with impressing an authorized signature.