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US 6,280,891 B1Granted
Multi-layer assembly and method for marking articles and resulting marked articles
AssigneeHologram Industries
InventorsFrancoise Daniel, Hugues Souparis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and adhesive labels useful in marking products or documents by applying these to substrates. A mark such as a barcode, photograph or characters are formed directly on the substrate and the adhesive label is applied over it. The adhesive label includes a concealing film layer which is transparent to a first wavelength outside the visible region, a diffractive optical mark with a transparent reflective layer and an adhesive layer. The first wavelength may be infrared allowing the underlying mark to be read by an IR laser. The adhesive labels are formed as to allow them to be continuously separated from a temporary detachment layer, thereby exposing the adhesive layer, and affixed to the document.
Claims18
A multi-layer assembly for customizing a product, comprising:
- (a) a film substrate;
- (b) an active portion;
- and
- (c) a detachment layer between the film substrate and the active portion, wherein the detachment layer allows separation of the film substrate from the active portion wherein the active portion comprises:
- (1) a concealing film having an upper portion that is opaque in the visible spectrum and transparent in at least one passband in the invisible spectrum and a lower portion;
- (2) a transparent reflective layer positioned between the concealing film upper and lower portions and forming a diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (3) an adhesive layer adjacent the concealing film lower portion, wherein:
- the multi-layer assembly forms a strip on a spool, the strip suitable for being unwound from the spool and continuously deposited on the product;
- and wherein
- the multi-layer assembly is adapted to be used to customize a product by:
- (i) applying a personalized identifier to the product;
- (ii) unwinding the strip of the multi-layer assembly from the spool;
- (iii) permanently securing the multi-layer assembly over the personalized identifier on the product such that the adhesive layer adheres to the product and the active portion cannot be removed from the product without adversely affecting the diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (iv) separating the film substrate from the active portion, such that the resulting customized product comprises both the diffracting optical marker and the personalized identifier hidden from view under light in the visible spectrum by the concealing film overlay, but both the diffracting optical marker and the personalized identifier being visible under light in the pass-band in the invisible spectrum.
13 more elements
A method for customizing a product, comprising the steps of:
- (i) providing a multi-layer assembly comprising:
- (a) a film substrate;
- (b) an active portion;
- and
- (c) a detachment layer between the film substrate and the active portion, wherein the detachment layer includes regions of differing levels of adhesion and allows separation of the film substrate from the active portion, such that, when the film substrate is removed from the active portion, a first plurality of regions of the active portion are torn away and a second plurality of regions of the active portion remain affixed depending on the level of adhesion, the removal of the film substrate forming a specific pattern in the active portion, wherein the active portion comprises:
- (1) a concealing film overlay that is opaque in the visible spectrum and transparent in at least one passband in the invisible spectrum;
- (2) a transparent reflective layer below the concealing film overlay and forming a diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (3) an adhesive layer below the transparent reflective layer;
- (ii) applying a personalized identifier to the product;
- (iii) permanently securing the multi-layer assembly over the personalized identifier on the product such that the adhesive layer adheres to the product and the active portion cannot be removed from the product without adversely affecting the diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (iv) separating the film substrate from the active portion, such that the resulting customized product comprises the second plurality of regions of the active portion, the diffracting optical marker and the personalized identifier hidden from view under light in the visible spectrum by the concealing film overlay, but both the diffracting optical marker and the personalized identifier being visible under light in the pass-band in the invisible spectrum.
10 more elements
A multi-layer assembly for customizing a product, comprising:
- (a) a film substrate;
- (b) an active portion;
- and
- (c) a detachment layer between the film substrate and the active portion, wherein the detachment layer includes regions of differing levels of adhesion and allows separation of the film substrate from the active portion, such that, when the film substrate is removed from the active portion, a first plurality of regions of the active portion are torn away and a second plurality of regions of the active portion remain affixed depending on the level of adhesion, the removal of the film substrate forming a specific pattern in the active portion, wherein the active portion comprises:
- (1) a concealing film overlay that is opaque in the visible spectrum and transparent in at least one passband in the invisible spectrum;
- (2) a transparent reflective layer below the concealing film overlay and forming a diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (3) an adhesive layer below the transparent reflective layer, wherein:
- the multi-layer assembly is adapted to be used to customize a product by:
- (i) applying a personalized identifier to the product;
- (ii) permanently securing the multi-layer assembly over the personalized identifier on the product such that the adhesive layer adheres to the product and the active portion cannot be removed from the product without adversely affecting the diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (iii) separating the film substrate from the active portion, such that the resulting customized product comprises the second plurality of regions of the active portion, the diffracting optical marker and the personalized identifier hidden from view under light in the visible spectrum by the concealing film overlay, but being visible under light in the pass-band in the invisible spectrum.
10 more elements
A multi-layer assembly for customizing a product, comprising:
- (a) a film substrate;
- (b) an active portion;
- and
- (c) a detachment layer between the film substrate and the active portion, wherein the detachment layer allows separation of the film substrate from the active portion, wherein the active portion comprises:
- (1) a concealing film having an upper portion that is opaque in the visible spectrum and transparent in at least one passband in the invisible spectrum and a lower portion;
- (2) a transparent reflective layer positioned between the concealing film upper and lower portions and forming a diffracting optical marker;
- and
- (3) an adhesive layer adjacent the concealing film lower portion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.