How Tamper-Proof Labels That Break Into Pieces Work
A simple security sticker designed to break into tiny, unrecoverable pieces if someone tries to peel it off, making it impossible to hide or alter sensitive information.
Original patent title: “Disintegratable masking label”
A simple security sticker designed to break into tiny, unrecoverable pieces if someone tries to peel it off, making it impossible to hide or alter sensitive information. Granted to Data Tech Services Inc in 1991 with 12 claims and 23 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a label made of opaque paper with a special adhesive that sticks to documents. The key feature is a series of pre-cut patterns, specifically radial cuts or interlocking rings, that weaken the label's structure. When someone attempts to peel the label off the document, these cuts ensure the label tears into small, unusable fragments rather than coming off in one piece. This leaves clear evidence that the label was tampered with, while the underlying document remains intact.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover labels that use chemical color-changing reactions to show tampering.
- Does not cover labels that leave a 'VOID' pattern on the surface when removed.
- Does not cover labels made of non-paper materials like plastic or metallic foils.
- Does not cover adhesive systems that require heat or light to activate or deactivate.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention turns the label's own structural integrity against itself; by adding specific geometric cuts, the label is engineered to fail predictably under the stress of removal.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Security masking labels on sensitive legal documents
Tamper-evident seals on private medical records
Redaction stickers used in document processing
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addressed the need for low-cost security in physical document management, such as masking sensitive data on forms or checks. It provided a mechanical, rather than chemical, way to ensure that any attempt to uncover hidden information would be immediately visible to the naked eye.
Filed
December 22, 1989
Granted
May 7, 1991
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology is fundamental to the physical security and document management industries. Companies specializing in security printing and tamper-evident packaging materials continue to refine these mechanical failure patterns for modern document redaction.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the use of mechanical 'frangible' labels for document security. It provided a reliable, non-destructive way to mask information, which became a standard practice in administrative and legal workflows before digital redaction became the norm.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a label made of opaque paper with a special adhesive that sticks to documents. The key feature is a series of pre-cut patterns, specifically radial cuts or interlocking rings, that weaken the label's structure. When someone attempts to peel the label off the document, these cuts ensure the label tears into small, unusable fragments rather than coming off in one piece. This leaves clear evidence that the label was tampered with, while the underlying document remains intact.
The clever bit
The invention turns the label's own structural integrity against itself; by adding specific geometric cuts, the label is engineered to fail predictably under the stress of removal.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover labels that use chemical color-changing reactions to show tampering.
- Does not cover labels that leave a 'VOID' pattern on the surface when removed.
- Does not cover labels made of non-paper materials like plastic or metallic foils.
- Does not cover adhesive systems that require heat or light to activate or deactivate.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
8/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$20K – $65K
Midpoint $41K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
12 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Marin, T. C. (1991). How Tamper-Proof Labels That Break Into Pieces Work (U.S. Patent No. 5,013,088). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5013088/disintegratable-masking-label
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Tamper-Proof Labels That Break Into Pieces Work cover?
A simple security sticker designed to break into tiny, unrecoverable pieces if someone tries to peel it off, making it impossible to hide or alter sensitive information.
Who owns patent US 5013088?
Data Tech Services Inc owns this patent, granted in 1991.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5013088 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 23 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addressed the need for low-cost security in physical document management, such as masking sensitive data on forms or checks. It provided a mechanical, rather than chemical, way to ensure that any attempt to uncover hidden information would be immediately visible to the naked eye.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover labels that use chemical color-changing reactions to show tampering.
Patent monitoring