{
  "patent_number": "US 5013088",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Tamper-Proof Labels That Break Into Pieces Work",
  "original_title": "Disintegratable masking label",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "1989-12-22",
  "granted": "1991-05-07",
  "expires": "2009-12-22",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Data Tech Services Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/data-tech-services-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Thomas C. Marin",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/thomas-c-marin"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 23,
  "tags": [
    "mechanical",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "A disintegrating tamper-proof masking label comprising an opaque paper label having an adhesive backing for adhering said opaque label to a medium to be masked, a silicon coated polystyrene backing paper for holding said label, said label being peeled from said polystyrene backing so as to be applied to a medium to be masked, said label having a plurality of cuts such that when said label is removed from said medium, said label fragments thereby evidencing of said label.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5013088/disintegratable-masking-label",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5013088/disintegratable-masking-label/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US5013088",
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}