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we continued a series on U.S. patents related to latent print examination.

we continue this series with a patent involving the combination of a fingerprint powder container and brush.

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Patent - Fingerprint Powder Container and Brush Apparatus
Authored by Matthew Tate

Claims

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1. A fingerprint powder container comprising: a container lid that incorporates a fingerprint brush.

2. A fingerprint powder container comprising: a lid having a sized hole and fingerprint brush holder designed to adjust for inserting a fingerprint brush.

3. A fingerprint powder container with a lid that would allow a fingerprint brush to descend into the fingerprint powder container while in storage.
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Description

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FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention concerns latent fingerprint collection with a kit that uses fingerprint powder, and the instruments used to collect them.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The conventional latent fingerprint lifting kit that uses fingerprint powder consists of a brush, powder container, powder, tape, and a card for displaying the prints. For purposes of this invention, the fingerprint brush container, and the powder container will be concentrated on. The fingerprint brush traditionally comes in a plastic protective tube to protect the bristles while it is being stored. The fingerprint powder is traditionally stored in a plastic cup style container with a lid to keep the powder from spilling while in storage. To collect the fingerprints the brush must be removed from the tube and dipped in the cup containing the print powder for application. After the fingerprint brush is full of fingerprint powder it is twirled over the latent fingerprints. This allows the fingerprint powder to stick to the oils left from fingers. After the fingerprints are outlined with the fingerprint powder a piece of tape is spread out over the print. The tape is removed pulling the fingerprint with it. The tape is then put on a card to display the fingerprint.

[0003] It is important to keep the print powder in a small area during application. It is also important to keep the powder from spilling while in storage. It is near impossible to keep the print powder from contaminating unwanted areas while storing and applying it with the brush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is the primary aim of this invention to keep the print powder from contaminating unwanted surfaces. It is a further aim of this invention to make it easier to transport the fingerprint brush and the fingerprint powder of a latent fingerprint lifting kit while still protecting the bristles on the fingerprint brush.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to maintain the fingerprint brush in a manner that it is already loaded with print powder prior to use. It is a further goal to provide a means to incorporate ones existing fingerprint brush as well as have one already incorporated into the lid if needed.

[0006] The foregoing objectives are achieved by a fingerprint powder container consisting of a lid that incorporates a fingerprint brush. A fingerprint brush will be incorporated into the lid in a manner that it descends into the powder container through the center of the lid. The lid attaches to the container that holds the print powder. The fingerprint brush is suspended above the top of the powder line in the container. This allows powder to be added to the fingerprint brush by shaking the container. When the brush is removed from the container the center portion of the lid remains connected to the brush. The lid is similar to many containers in that it has a rubber seal around the rim of the inner portion of the lid that comes in contact with the rim of the container to establish a seal.

[0007] The lid is also similar to a self sealing canning jar lid that is commonly used to make jams as it has two components. The first and outer portion of the lid is threaded and fits on top of and around the second and inner portion holding it securely when it is rotated down on the threaded part of the container. The second component is the inner portion of the lid which fits on top of the container, holds the fingerprint brush with a clamp, and has a rubber seal. The two components are necessary for the success of the brush due to the way it is manipulated during use. The brush must be rotated between the thumb and forefinger in a twisting motion. Therefore the lid components are separated to allow the portion of the lid that is connected to the brush to be as weightless as possible.

[0008] The second portion of the lid is different from that of a self sealing canning lid as it has a hole through the center portion to allow the addition of a fingerprint brush. The second portion of the lid is also different from a self sealing canning jar due to the area around the brush is raised to stabilize the brush. The raised portion has 6 components that come together to create a clamp around the fingerprint brush handle. Half of the raised portion of the second part of the lid is removable and is secured with two screws and nuts to allow it to be clamped securely around the shaft of the fingerprint brush. The clamp portion of the lid also has a "T" shaped rail which allows it to slide on the raised "T" shaped portion of the lid it attaches to. The "T" shaped rail allows the removable portion of the clamp to keep from moving while secured. The purpose of the second portion of the lid with the hole is to accept existing latent fingerprint brushes and the hole will vary in size.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220070017826%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20070017826&RS=DN/20070017826