Tamper monitoring article, system and method
First Claim
1. A tamper monitoring article, comprising:
- an elongate body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being adherable to the second end portion or to a substrate;
a pathway structure extending along the body portion that is responsive to manipulation by indicating that manipulation has occurred, whereby the article can be secured to the substrate and can indicate whether the body portion has been manipulated; and
an embossable layer disposed on or in the first end portion;
wherein the embossable layer is physically embossable, the embossable layer is responsive to pressure from a sealer surface by conforming to a texture of the sealer surface, whereby the embossable layer has a corresponding texture after contact with the sealer surface; and
wherein the embossable layer campuses a thermochromic ink that responds to the heat present in a heat sealing operation by changing colors, opacity, conductivity, or like property.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tamper monitoring article and system, and an associated method of making, installing and using the article and system. The article has an elongate body portion. The body portion has a first end portion that adheres to a second end portion, if present, or to a substrate. The article also includes a pathway structure that runs along or throughout the body portion and can conduct energy, such as light or electricity, along its length. A monitor communicates with the pathway structure and detects a change in the energy being conducted thereby. A change in the energy is indicative of a change in a conductive property of the pathway structure caused by, for example, manipulation of the body portion and the pathway structure that is disposed therein or thereon. The monitor can then signal, or respond to a request signal, and provide information that such manipulation has occurred.
134 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A tamper monitoring article, comprising:
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an elongate body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being adherable to the second end portion or to a substrate; a pathway structure extending along the body portion that is responsive to manipulation by indicating that manipulation has occurred, whereby the article can be secured to the substrate and can indicate whether the body portion has been manipulated; and an embossable layer disposed on or in the first end portion; wherein the embossable layer is physically embossable, the embossable layer is responsive to pressure from a sealer surface by conforming to a texture of the sealer surface, whereby the embossable layer has a corresponding texture after contact with the sealer surface; and wherein the embossable layer campuses a thermochromic ink that responds to the heat present in a heat sealing operation by changing colors, opacity, conductivity, or like property. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A tamper monitoring article, comprising:
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an elongate body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being adherable to the second end portion or to a substrate; a pathway structure extending along the body portion that is responsive to manipulation by indicating that manipulation has occurred, whereby the article can be secured to the substrate and can indicate whether the body portion has been manipulated; and an embossable layer disposed on or in the first end portion; wherein the embossable layer is magnetically embossable.
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4. A system for monitoring tampering, comprising:
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a body portion configured to secure to an item to be monitored for tampering and having a free end portion, the end portion comprising a plurality of layers that are substantially adjacent to each other to define a multi-layer composite, the plurality of layers comprising; a facestock layer, an adhesive layer supported on the facestock layer comprising a heat seal adhesive or a heat activatable adhesive, and a frangible layer, embeddable layer or a de-laminatable layer supported on the facestock layer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A security strap comprising:
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a data-carrying medium; an outer coating encircling the data-carrying medium; wherein the coating has plural transverse ridges protruding therefrom; and wherein the data-carrying medium and the coating are co-extruded in a concentric fashion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A security strap comprising:
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a data-carrying medium; an outer coating encircling the data-carrying medium; wherein the coating has plural transverse ridges protruding therefrom; wherein the coating has an axial groove therein; and wherein the ridges are located asymmetrically relative to the axial groove. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A security strap comprising:
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a data-carrying medium; an outer coating encircling the data-carrying medium; wherein the coating has plural transverse ridges protruding therefrom; wherein the coating has an axial groove therein; and wherein each of the ridges extends substantially all of the way around the coating.
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32. A security strap comprising:
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a data-carrying medium; an outer coating encircling the data-carrying medium; wherein the coating has plural transverse ridges protruding therefrom; wherein the coating has an axial groove therein; and wherein the ridges are substantially perpendicular to the axial groove. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A security strap comprising:
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an optical fiber having a substantially circular cross-section shape; and a coating encircling the optical fiber; wherein the coating has an axial groove therein; and wherein the optical fiber and the coating are co-extruded in a concentric fashion. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification