# US 5,707,680 A · Method for reducing invalid acceptances of expired printed offers and end-consumer re-distribution of printed works > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,680 A - Document ID: US5707680A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/581,805 - Filed: 1996-01-02 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-01-02 - Inventors: Steven Jerome Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707680A ## CPC - B41M 3/005: {Colour cards; Painting supports; Latent or hidden images, e.g. for games; Time delayed images} - B41M 3/142: {using chemical colour-formers or chemical reactions, e.g. leuco-dye/acid, photochromes} - Y10S 283/901: Concealed data - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract There is disclosed a method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work, such as a time-dependent coupon. Such method comprises applying opaque print onto a substrate and applying an opacity-labile composition of lesser nascent opacity than the visible print onto the substrate in such a manner that a change in the opacity of the opacity-labile composition causes a time-delayed defacement of the printed substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work comprising: applying opaque print to a substrate to form said printed work; applying an opacity-labile composition, labile to changes in heat, acid, base or water, of lesser nascent opacity than said opaque print on or in proximity to said opaque print in such a manner that a change in the opacity of the opacity-labile composition causes a defacement of said printed work. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition comprises a chromophoric composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition is substantially protected from the environment ambient to the opacity-labile composition in a material capable of being degraded by the environment exogenous or endogenous to the degradable material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition is activated to change opacity by an activating agent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said activating agent is substantially protected from the environment ambient to the opacity-labile composition in a material capable of being degraded by an environment exogenous or endogenous to the degradable material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said opacity-labile composition does not develop in a progressive manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the printed work is selected from the group consisting of: books, novels, or newsprint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the printed work is selected from the group consisting of: consumer-good coupons, promotional materials or confidential documents. ### Claim 9 A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in defacement of a printed work if not protected from the environment to which it is to be exposed; encapsulating said opacity-labile composition with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated composition; applying the encapsulated composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said change in opacity of said opacity-labile composition is substantial about or after the time said distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction of said printed work is set to expire, but not prior to said time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein at said time light transmission through said opacity-labile composition is reduced by approximately one-half that of said opacity-labile composition when first applied to said print. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said print, or portion of said print, is opacity-labile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said opacity-labile composition is a chromophoric composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said opacity-labile composition is activated to change opacity by an activating agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said activating agent is time-released in a controlled manner. ### Claim 16 A method for the time-delayed defacement of all or part of a printed work designed for time-limited distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction comprising: applying print to a substrate to form said printed work; providing an opacity-labile composition which can change opacity and result in a defacement of a printed work; providing an activating agent composition which can activate said opacity-labile composition to change opacity; encapsulating said activating agent with a coating of degradable material which degrades when exposed to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material, to form an encapsulated activating agent composition; applying said opacity-labile composition and said encapsulated activating agent composition to said printed work; exposing said encapsulated activating agent composition to an environment capable of degrading said degradable material which changes the opacity of said opacity-labile composition and results in the defacement of said printed work. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said change in opacity of said opacity-labile composition is substantial about or after the time of said distribution, re-distribution, acceptance or transaction of said printed work is set to expire, but not prior to said time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein at said time light transmission through said opacity-labile composition is reduced by approximately one-half that of said opacity-labile composition when first applied to said substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said print, or portion of said print, is opacity-labile. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said opacity-labile composition is time-released in a controlled manner.