The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1998
Applicant:
Inventor:
Raymond John Herbert, Leigh-on-Sea, GB;
Assignee:
Neopost Limited, Essex, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
400106 ; 382101 ; 705405 ; 705408 ;
Abstract
Postage indicia are printed on mail items using an ink having a characteristic such that the ink is rendered invisible when subjected to light or light and heat of sufficient intensity. When an attempt is made to copy the imprint of a postage indicia on a mail item for which proper accounting has been effected the imprint is subjected to a butst of light or light and heat and the ink becomes invisible and prevents copying of the imprint. The imprint of the postage indicium may overly and obscure a void mark which becomes visible and is copied in the event of attempting to copy the original authentic postage indicium.