# US 5,700,036 A · Identification protective cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,036 A - Document ID: US5700036A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/606,962 - Filed: 1996-02-26 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-02-26 - Inventors: Steele C. Smith, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700036A ## CPC - A45C 11/182: {Credit card holders} - G11B 23/40: Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph - Y10S 283/901: Concealed data - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A protective cover comprising of a flexible polymeric sheet bonded continuously along three sides to form a pocket for slidably inserting an insert therethrough. An opaque coating, preferably black in color, is applied at specific desired location on the surface of either the front, rear, or on both of the sheets comprising the protective cover. The opaque coating, generally rectangular in shape, is used to block off from view, information contained on an insert, such as an identification card, by positioning the opaque coating on the surface of either polymeric sheet such that when the insert is fully inserted on the protective cover, the opaque coating sits directly on top of the information to be blocked. The sheets are either both transparent or one transparent and the other non-transparent. The protective cover can come singly or in a number of bound flippable, overlapping protective covers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An insert identification protective cover in a range of sizes, comprising: a first flexible conformable polymeric sheet forming a front sheet having a generally planar surface, the front sheet comprising outer peripheral edges; a second flexible conformable polymeric sheet forming a rear sheet having a generally planar surface, the rear sheet comprising outer peripheral edges, the outer peripheral edges of the rear sheet continuously bonded to the outer peripheral edges of the front sheet, leaving an edge open to form a pocket between the front sheet and rear sheet for receiving an insert; and an opaque material permanently applied on a planar surface of the protective cover, the opaque material defining a specific shape, positioned on the planar surface so as to block off from view selected information printed on the insert to prevent public disclosure of information on the insert. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible polymeric sheet is rectangular in shape with two outer longitudinal peripheral edges and two outer lateral edges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the sheets are made of plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein one sheet is transparent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the front and rear sheets are transparent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the front sheet and the rear sheet are of the same length and width. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the rear sheet includes a side longer than a corresponding side of the front sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, wherein a semicircular thumb hole is cut midway between the length of the open edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a means for attaching single identification protective covers to form a plurality of bound protective covers. ### Claim 10 An insert identification protective cover in a range of sizes, comprising: a single four-sided flexible conformable polymeric sheet folded to define a joined generally planar front surface and generally planar rear surface, the joined front and rear surface comprising a joined folded edge, three outer peripheral edges, one outer peripheral edge opposite the joined folded edge kept open, two outer peripheral edges adjacent to the joined folded edge continuously bonded to form a pocket for receiving an insert between the joined front surface and rear surface; and an opaque material permanently applied on a planar surface of the protective cover, the opaque material defining a specific shape, positioned on the planar surface so as to block off from view selected information printed on the insert to prevent public disclosure of information on the insert. ### Claim 11 An opaque material permanently applied on a planar surface of a protective cover, the opaque material defining a specific shape and positioned on the planar surface to block off from view information printed on an object slidably inserted into the protective cover to prevent public disclosure of information on the insert. ### Claim 12 A method for preventing public disclosure of information printed on an insert, comprising the steps of: fabricating a protective cover made of a first and a second flexible conformable polymeric sheets having four outer peripheral edges continuously bonded on three sides, leaving an open edge to form a pocket for receiving an insert, the protective cover having an opaque material permanently applied on a surface of the polymeric sheet, the opaque material positioned on the surface so as to block off selected information from view; sliding an information bearing insert into the open edge; and, covering a selected information on the information bearing insert with the opaque material positioned directly in front of the selected information.