Multilayer film indicator for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item and process for using same
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsJohn A. Wheatley, Walter J. Schrenk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multilayer film indicator, mechanism and process for using the indicator for determining the integrity, authenticity, or conformance of an item to an original state, involving the measurement and comparison of the condition of the indicator to an identifiable original quality of the indicator. The identifiable original quality of the indicator is produced by the optical interactions of layers of diverse thermoplastic materials within a laminate of the indicator and is not readily visible to the naked eye.
Claims21
A process for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including the steps of:
- associating a multilayer film indicator with said item, wherein the multilayer film indicator comprises a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices which has an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of the layers, such quality not being readily visible to the naked eye;
- measuring the original quality;
- measuring the laminate a second time;
- and
- comparing the original and the second measurements to ascertain the presence or absence of the identifiable original quality.
A multilayer film indicator associated with an item for indicating the integrity or authenticity of the item or its conformance to an original state, which in an initial condition is substantially colorless, and which when strained to a selected extent will produce and retain evidence of such strain which is not readily visible to the naked eye of an observer, including a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable reflectance spectrum.
A mechanism for determining the integrity or authenticity of an item or its conformance to an original state, including in cooperative combination:
- a multilayer film indicator associated with the item and which includes a laminate of closely adjacent layers of two or more diverse thermoplastic materials of differing refractive indices having an identifiable original quality arising from the optical interactions of said layers which is not readily visible to the naked eye;
- and
- means for comparing the condition of said laminate with the original quality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.