WO1993012416A1

WO1993012416A1 - Composition for detecting legitimacy of currency

Info

Publication number: WO1993012416A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/010977
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Reichmann
Original assignee: Dri Mark Products Inc.
Priority date: 1991-12-17
Filing date: 1992-12-16
Publication date: 1993-06-24
Also published as: CA2098601A1; AU3328093A

Abstract

A mixture of iodine powder, sodium iodide, purified water and ethyl alcohol forms a composition tincture which, when applied to currency, reacts with the ink therein to provide an indication of the genuineness of the currency.

Description

Title: COMPOSITION FOR DETECTING LEGITIMACY OF CURRENCY Technical Field

This invention relates to a system for determining the genuineness of currency, that is official script, or paper money and, more particularly, to a composition which, when applied to the currency, will provide a visual indication as to its genuineness. Background Art

The problem of bogus counterfeit paper currency is, of course, an old one and is apparently very difficult to overcome. In the past, the only method to detect counterfeit currency was by a relatively long and sometimes tedious visual inspection. Recently, complex eguip ent such as infrared inspection devices, magnetic thread detectors, and the like have been used. In both instances, considerable time is spent, and the use of inspection devices reguires considerable space and is so costly as not to be readily suitable in day-to-day activities such as, for example, in retail shops, banks, or the like. It is the object of the present invention to provide a system for detecting the genuineness of paper currency which is easy to use and which overcomes the problems described above.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system for detecting the genuineness of paper currency which is extremely portable and which does not require any complex equipment or device.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a system utilizing a liquid composition which, when placed in contact with legitimate currency, turns the ink in such currency into one color and when placed in contact with currency that is counterfeit, turns the ink into another color.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an applicator by which the liquid may be easily placed in contact with the currency. The foregoing objects as well as others will be apparent from the following disclosure of the invention. Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with the present invention, a liquid composition is provided which, when applied to a small portion of paper currency, will react with the ink in such currency to produce one or two colors, one color indicating the currency to be legitimate, and the other color being indicative of counterfeit currency. In particular, the composition of the present invention comprises a mixture of a relatively weak tincture of iodine (USP) , a relatively strong sodium iodide solution, and an ethyl alcohol as a solvent, thinned down by water. The inventive composition , when used, for example, on United States currency, will turn the ink in a legitimate bill into a color ranging in hue from orange to yellow, while in a counterfeit bill it will change the ink to a color between black, brown and gray. The precise color obtained will depend upon the various constituents of the composition and their relative strengths.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the composition is such that it may be contained in a variety of dispensers such as a small bottle or a pen- shaped dispenser. Such dispensers will store the liquid and prevent it from becoming stale and will enable the application of the composition to a small and inconspicuous area of the bill.

Mode For Carrying Out The Invention The composition of the present invention comprises 7.5 to 21.5 percent per volume of tincture of iodine (I), 10.0 to 60.0 percent per volume of sodium iodide (Nal) , and 15 to 55 percent per volume of alcohol and 10 to 48 percent purified water. A weaker than normal tincture of iodine is preferred, having not less than 0.75 and not more than 21.5 grams of iodine per 100 ml of its carrier, conventionally denatured alcohol. On the other hand, a somewhat stronger solution of sodium iodide may be used, having not less than 1.0 and not more than 6.0 grams per volume of a similar alcohol carrier. The alcohol constituent of the composition is preferably ethyl alcohol (Cn.H .OH) .

It has been found that the mixture of tincture of iodine and a sodium iodide enables the formation of a balanced composition wherein the resultant reaction with the ink of the currency can be stabilized and made uniform for each currency value. In this manner, the use will neither be confused nor will he have to interpret the resulting color to determine whether it is legitimate or counterfeit. A composition according to the invention which comprises the lower amount of each constituent as set forth in the above-mentioned ranges turns the ink in legitimate U.S. currency orange when placed in contact therewith and turn the ink in counterfeit U.S. currency black when placed in contact therewith. On the other hand, base solutions of the upper amount of each constituent turn the ink in legitimate U.S. currency yellow, while they turn the ink in counterfeit currency dark gray. Varying shades of orange to yellow and black to dark gray result when amounts of the constituents are varied within the above-mentioned ranges as well as by variation of the relative volumes of tincture of iodine and of sodium iodide.

The compositions of this invention are formulated simply by adding alcohol to the constituents together at ambient temperatures (@ 20-25 degrees Celsius) and agitating the mixture until a substantially homogeneous solution is attained and thinning it down with water.

The solution so obtained may then be employed by contact U.S. currency therewith by any convenient means such as, for example, an eye dropper or with a felt tip pen—the preferred and more convenient way. In this connection the compositions of the invention can be mixed with a suitable filler, such as a polyester filler or the like and then dispensed through a felt tipped writing instrument or pen into contact with U.S. currency to determine its legitimacy or whether it is counterfeit. The resultant mixed composition has a slightly yellowish color in its liquid form and, when applied to legitimate currency, appears to be merely translucent. When applied to bogus currency, it not only turns blacker but it loses its translucency, making its change readily obvious to the user. Once the composition is applied to the currency, it cannot be readily erased or washed away and, therefore, the fact that the bill is counterfeit will remain apparent until the bill is destroyed.

The following examples of compositions made in accordance with the present invention were prepared by mixing the constituent in a bowl, by hand, until homogeneous. Proportions are set forth as percentages per volume unless otherwise given.

I II Iodine (USP) 5 21.5 Sodium Iodide 30 10 Ethyl Alcohol 55 55 Purified Water 10 13.5

Each of the examples was further replicated using iodine having 1.8 and 2.2 grams per ml solution as well as using sodium iodide having 2.1 and 2.6 grams per ml solution.

Samples of each of the above compositions were loaded into felt tip pens such as the markers manufactured by Dri Mark Products, Inc. of Port Washington, NY, and were applied to numerous legitimate and bogus bills in small, dot-like areas (approximately 1/4 inch diameters) . On legitimate bills the stain retains a yellowish translucent appearance or a slightly darker orange hue, while on bogus currency the stain turns into a blackish opaque color. The degree of intensity of yellow to orange or gray to black hue depended largely ont he degree of bogus fiber content in the currency and upon the proportion of each example.

It was found that when the iodine in the tincture and the sodium iodine in its solution fell below the limits of 1.8 and 2.1 grams, respectively, as defined above,t he composition was too transparent and too weak even to react with the ink in the currency. On the other hand, when the limits exceeded the 2.2 and 2.6 grams, respectively, too much of a reaction occurred, and therefore, a spurious indication was even obtained in legitimate currency.

Compositions according to the invention present many advantages. For example, the various constituents in the composition are readily available through normal convenient channels at relatively low costs. They are easy to employ to make the inventive compositions simply by mixing the same in the required amounts and require no special equipment for formulating the same. Numerous other advantages of the compositions of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Industrial Applicability

The present invention is useful in various financial, mercantile and similar establishments to prevent passing off and dissemination of counterfeit currency.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A composition for determining the genuineness of U.S. currency, which when placed in contact with legitimate U.S- currency, reacts with the ink in said currency to create a first color when the currency is legitimate and which when placed in contact with counterfeit U.S. currency, creates a second color, whereby the legitimacy of said currency can be determined said composition comprising a mixture of 7.5% to 21.5% by volume of tincture of iodine (USP) , 10 to 60% by volume of sodium iodide, and 15-55% by volume of ethyl alcohol, and 10-48% purified water.

3. The composition according to Claim- 1, wherein said tincture of iodine contains at least 0.75 grams of iodine and no more than 21.5 grams of iodine per 100 ml of solution.

4. The composition according to Claim 1, wherein said sodium iodide contains at least 1.0 grams of iodine and no ore than 6.0 grams of sodium iodine per 100 ml of solution. 9. Apparatus for determining the genuineness of U.S. currency comprising a pen, having a hollow barrel, closed at one end and having a felt writing tip at the other end, provided with a polyester absorbent filler, said hollow barrel providing a reservoir for a liquid detector comprising a mixture of 7.5% to 21.5% by volume of iodine

(USP) , 10 to 60% by volume of sodium iodide, and 15-55% by volume of ethyl alcohol, and 10-48% purified water, said polyester filler absorbing said mixture for dispensing in contact with the currency whereby said mixture changes color to identify counterfeit currency.