Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A water-soluble dye comprising a polymeric chain with carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups having the capability to form at least one five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam ring by condensing with the carboxyl groups, but remaining in the ring open form when dissolved in aqueous inks at slightly basic pH, and having at least one chromophore attached to the chain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A water-soluble dye comprising a polymeric chain with carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups having the capability to form at least one five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam ring by condensing with the carboxyl groups, but remaining in the ring open form when dissolved in aqueous inks at slightly basic pH, and having at least one chromophore attached to the chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dye of claim 1 wherein said polymeric chain has a plurality of six- or seven-membered lactone or lactam rings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dye with a polymeric chain attached thereto, said polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dye with a polymeric chain attached thereto, said polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A polymer having a plurality of dye chromophores attached thereto, said polymer having a plurality of carboxyl groups, and a plurality of either hydroxyl groups or amine groups, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A polymer having a plurality of dye chromophores attached thereto, said polymer having a plurality of carboxyl groups, and a plurality of either hydroxyl groups or amine groups, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The polymer of claim 4 wherein said polymer is a polyvinyl polymer or a sorbitol polymer having about 1 to 5 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The polymer of claim 5 having 2 to 3 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer having attached thereto at least one dye chromophore, said polymer having at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group, which upon neutralization is able to close into at least one lactone ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer having attached thereto at least one dye chromophore, said polymer having at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group, which upon neutralization is able to close into at least one lactone ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The polymer of claim 7 having about 1 to 5 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The polymer of claim 8 having 2 to 3 carboxyl groups per dye chromophore attached thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ink for ink-jet printing comprising a vehicle and a water-soluble dye, wherein said dye comprises a polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
An ink for ink-jet printing comprising a vehicle and a water-soluble dye, wherein said dye comprises a polymeric chain (a) having at least one chromophore attached thereto and (b) having carboxyl groups and either hydroxyl groups or amine groups attached thereto, which upon neutralization is able to close into either a lactone or a lactam ring, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink of claim 10 wherein said polymeric chain upon closure has a plurality of five- to eight-membered lactone or lactam rings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink of claim 10 wherein said polymeric chain upon closure has a plurality of six- or seven-membered lactone rings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink of claim 10 comprising at least about 80% water, about 1 to 15% dye, and sufficient buffer to keep said carboxyl groups on said dye in salt form with a basic pH.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of making a water-soluble dye comprising: (a) providing a polymeric chain having a molecular weight ranging from about 180 to 100,000 and a plurality of hydroxyl or amine groups attached thereto; (b) in either order, converting up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl or amine groups to carboxyl groups, with said carboxyl and said hydroxyl or amine groups alternating; (c) attaching at least one chromophore to said chain; and (d) removing water to force neighboring carboxyl groups and hydroxyl or amine groups to form lactone or lactam rings, respectively.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of making a water-soluble dye comprising: (a) providing a polymeric chain having a molecular weight ranging from about 180 to 100,000 and a plurality of hydroxyl or amine groups attached thereto; (b) in either order, converting up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl or amine groups to carboxyl groups, with said carboxyl and said hydroxyl or amine groups alternating; (c) attaching at least one chromophore to said chain; and (d) removing water to force neighboring carboxyl groups and hydroxyl or amine groups to form lactone or lactam rings, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said lactone or lactam rings comprise from five- to eight-membered rings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said lactone or lactam rings comprise six- to seven-membered rings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said polymeric chain comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and sorbitol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said polymeric chain is reacted with chloroacetic acid to replace up to approximately one-half of said hydroxyl groups with carboxymethyl groups.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said polymeric chain comprises polyvinyl alcohol, said polyvinyl alcohol possibly containing acetate groups, and wherein any such acetate groups are removed by hydrolysis after said conversion of hydroxyl groups to carboxyl groups or said chromophore attachment.