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US 6,896,296 B2Granted
Irreversible metal film display
AssigneeTimer Technologies, LLC
InventorsMark A. Shadle, David M. Good, Gerrit L. Verschuur, Chauncey T. Mitchell, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Display information is revealed from behind a metal film that can be cleared upon effective contact with a clearing agent. The metal film, while opaque, is generally less than 1000 Angstroms thick and can be cleared by exposure to innocuous agents including food or other household products.
Claims16
An irreversible display comprising:
- a metal film;
- a display window aligned with the metal film:
- an indicium aligned with the display window and obscured by the metal film;
- said window providing access to said metal film for exposing the metal film to a chemical agent that clears a portion of the metal film and reveals the indicium;
- top and bottom substrates between which the metal film is mounted;
- and
- the display window being formed as an opening in the top substrate.
4 more elements
An irreversible display comprising:
- a metal film supported between two substrates;
- a display window formed in one of the substrates and aligned with the metal film;
- an indicium aligned with the display window and obscured by the metal film;
- and
- an opening in one of the substrates providing access to said metal film for exposing the metal film to a chemical agent that clears a portion of the metal film and reveals the indicium.
2 more elements
An irreversible display comprising:
- an opaque metal film supported by a substrate;
- a protective layer laid out in a pattern on the metal film;
- a first portion of the metal film that is not covered by the protective layer being accessible to a clearing agent that changes the first portion of the metal film from opaque to clear upon contact;
- a second portion of the metal film that is covered by the protective layer being at least temporarily inaccessible to the clearing agent;
- the first and second portions of the metal film being arranged for producing a viewable pattern upon exposure of the first portion of the metal film to the clearing agent;
- the substrate being one of a top substrate and a bottom substrate between which the metal film is mounted;
- a display window being formed in the top substrate;
- and
- the display window being formed by an opening through which the clearing agent can be applied to the first portion of the metal film.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.