Claims
- 1. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document, said document comprising a support bearing an information area and verification area, said information area comprising a visible principal image;
- said verification area comprising a localized coating of a pressure and heat activatable chromogenic composition comprising
- (a) chromogen-containing microscopic pressure-rupturable capsules, and
- (b) a solid heat-sensitive color developing material having a softening point of at least about 40.degree. C. and being capable of forming a visible colored image, said chromogen and said color developing material reacting only under application of both external pressure and external heat, said external pressure causing said capsules to rupture and release said chromogen and said external heat causing said heat-sensitive color developing material to soften and react with said chromogen to produce a visible colored image,
- said method comprising applying external pressure and external heat to said localized coating of said chromogenic composition to form a visible colored image and thereby signifying that said document is authentic.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said visible colored image is formed by applying frictional heat to said localized coating of said chromogenic composition.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure and heat are applied sequentially.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure and heat are applied simultaneously.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said color developing material comprises a solid, heat-sensitive color developer compound having a melting or softening point of about 40.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said visible colored image fades away, and said localized chromogenic coating is thereafter subjected to pressure and heat to again produce a visible colored image.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said pressure and heat is provided by friction, so to form a visible colored image.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said chromogenic coating is heated to a temperature of between about 50.degree. C. and about 100.degree. C. to form a visible colored image.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said document is a negotiable instrument and said method further comprises the step of presenting said negotiable instrument for payment prior to applying pressure and heat to said localized coating to develop a visible colored image for verification purposes.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said visible colored image fades away and is again subjected to pressure and heat to develop a visible colored image for verification purposes.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said visible principal image is provided on said support by a laser printer.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said color developing material comprises finely divided inorganic particles each substantially surrounded by a coating of a color developer compound, said inorganic particle having a melting point greater than that of said color developer material.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said particles have an average diameter in the range of between about 0.8 and about 5 microns.
- 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said inorganic particles are calcium carbonate, clay, talc, barium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, aluminum oxide or zinc oxide.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said inorganic particles are calcium carbonate.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said color developer compound has a melting point of between about 40.degree. and about 200.degree. C.
- 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said capsules additionally contain an ultraviolet light absorbing compound.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said ultraviolet light absorbing compound is a benzotriazole.
- 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said ultraviolet light absorbing compound is present in an amount of from about 5 to about 150 weight percent based upon the weight of said chromogen.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said ultraviolet light absorbing compound is present in an amount of from about 20 to about 80 weight percent based upon the weight of said chromogen.
- 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said capsules additionally contain a hindered phenol stabilizer.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said hindered phenol stabilizer is Irganox 129, Irganox 245, Irganox 1010, Irganox 1035, Irganox MD 1024 or Irganox 1076.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said hindered phenol is present in an amount of from about 5 to about 150 weight percent based upon the weight of said chromogen.
- 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said hindered phenol is present in an amount of from about 20 to about 80 weight percent based upon the weight of said chromogen.
- 25. The method of claim 1, wherein said document comprises a negotiable instrument or pharmaceutical prescription.
- 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said document is a negotiable instrument.
- 27. The method of claim 25, wherein said document is a pharmaceutical prescription.
- 28. The method of claim 26, wherein said visible principal image includes a dollar amount.
- 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the combination of external pressure and heat are provided by frictionally applying a stylus.
- 30. The method of claim 1, wherein said visible colored image gradually fades away.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said faded image is subjected external pressure and heat to produce a visible colored image.
- 32. The method of claim 1, wherein said heat-sensitive color developer comprises a color developer compound having a melting point in the range of about 40.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C.
- 33. The method of claim 1, wherein said verification area comprises a localized chromogenic composition in the form of a latent image message.
- 34. The method of claim 1, wherein said visible principal image is provided on said support by a laser printer.
- 35. The method of claim 1, wherein said document is prepared by applying said localized coating of a pressure and heat activated chromogenic composition to said support, drying said coating, and thereafter printing said visible principal image on said support with a laser printer.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/075,419, filed June 14, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,060 issued on Mar. 28, 1995.
US Referenced Citations (25)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
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Date |
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2722427 |
May 1977 |
DEX |
2913321 |
Apr 1979 |
DEX |
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JPX |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
75419 |
Jun 1993 |
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