Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
  • B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
  • B42D25/373—Metallic materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
  • B42D25/355—Security threads
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
  • B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
  • B42D25/324—Reliefs
• • B42D2035/16—

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to counterfeit-resistant, metal-formed images for use with security documents such as banknotes and the like.
• the invention is directed to metal-formed images that are difficult (if not impossible) to effectively simulate using metallic inks, foil transfer, or hot stamping techniques.
• Security devices that employ at least one such metal-formed image are also considered part of the subject invention as are security documents that have at least one metal-formed image located on a surface thereof or that have at least one security device at least partially embedded therein or mounted thereon.
• Security threads are used extensively in banknotes and other documents of high value, providing visual and/or mechanical means for verifying the authenticity of these documents. Generally constituting a metallized polyester strip measuring between 1.0 and 5.0 millimeters in width, these threads are chemically etched to form indicia that are readily discernable in reflective and/or transmitted light. Security threads may be either fully or partially embedded in these documents. For partially embedded security threads, the threads are embedded into paper during manufacture and alternately rise to the surface of the paper at regular intervals. These so-called “windowed” threads can be found in banknotes throughout the world and are therefore a target of simulation by counterfeiters. In fact, it is generally known in the banknote industry that counterfeiters simulate the surface portions of the "windowed” security threads by applying metallized foil to the surface of the counterfeit.
• One such metal foil simulation technique uses a conventional laser printer to print the intended foil pattern on the surface of the counterfeit.
• Conventional, adhesiveless metallized artistic foils can be applied to the pattern and heated with a heating element such as a household iron. Under heat, the laser printer's toner acts as an adhesive, pulling the metal layer from the foil carrier according to the printed pattern.
• the silvery metallic surface of the foil adheres only to the printed areas simultaneously reproducing the simple text and patterns and reflective appearance of typical demetallized security threads.
• This technique can be further enhanced by using commercially available, color variable, novelty films to simulate color-shifting or holographic windowed security threads.
• counterfeiters have been known to produce hot stamping dies according to the desired pattern and then foil stamp counterfeit documents using traditional hot stamp materials and methods.
• the present invention serves to frustrate or defeat these ongoing attempts by counterfeiters to replicate the appearance of security threads in "windowed" banknotes by providing a metal-formed image that is difficult (if not impossible) to effectively simulate using metallic inks, foil transfer, or hot stamping techniques.
• counterfeit- resistant security device that employs or displays one or more such metal-formed images, as well as a security document having one or more such metal-formed images located on a surface thereof or that have one or more such security devices at least partially embedded therein or mounted thereon.
• the present invention more specifically provides a metal-formed image that incorporates one or more visible patterns of alternating metal and metal-free regions that may take the form of lines, dots, swirls, or combinations thereof, wherein when the metal-formed image is simulated using metallic inks, foil transfer, or hot stamping techniques; ink or foil bridges and/or is missing from portions of at least some of the metal regions of the visible pattern(s) thereby rendering portions of the simulated image indistinct or blurred.
• the visible pattern(s) comprises alternating metal and metal-free lines, the width of the metal-free lines within the pattern(s) ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.10 millimeters, while the frequency of metal-free lines ranges from about 4 to about 14 lines per millimeter (i.e., line frequency equal to from about 0.07 to about 0.25 mm).
• the present invention also provides a counterfeit-resistant, demetallized security device that comprises: a carrier substrate having opposing planar surfaces; and at least one metal-formed image, as described above, located on at least one surface of the substrate.
• the present invention further provides a security document that employs at least one metal-formed image and/or at least one counterfeit-resistant, demetallized security device, both as described above.
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred holographic embodiment of a security thread according to the present inventive, on an enlarged scale, as seen in transmitted light, showing negative or reverse-image letters having a pattern of metal and metal-free lines incorporated therein, while FIGS. 1A and 1B are partial top plan views of the FIG. 1 security thread, both on an enlarged scale, detailing the appearance of the thread when viewed at different angles in reflective light;
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred holographic embodiment of a security thread according to the present inventive, on an enlarged scale, as seen in transmitted light, showing negative or reverse-image letters having a pattern of metal and metal-free lines incorporated therein
• FIGS. 1A and 1B are partial top plan views of the FIG. 1 security thread, both on an enlarged scale, detailing the appearance of the thread when viewed at different angles in reflective light
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred holographic embodiment of a security thread according to the present inventive, on an enlarged scale, as
• FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another preferred embodiment of the present inventive security thread, on an enlarged scale, as seen in either transmitted or reflective light, showing letters that have a Crosshatch pattern of lines incorporated therein, and metal numbers surrounded by a fine metal-free outline; and
• FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of an attempt to simulate the security thread of FIG. 1 using conventional foil transfer or hot stamping techniques.
• the metal-formed images of the present invention increase the effectiveness without compromising the fundamental advantages of demetallized security devices (e.g., security threads) and security documents (e.g., banknotes).
• demetallized security devices e.g., security threads
• security documents e.g., banknotes
• the present inventors have determined the limitations (i.e., dimensional breakpoints) of these techniques and using this information, while balancing readability and production feasibility, have designed finely resolved demetallized patterns or images that are difficult (if not impossible) to effectively simulate.
• any attempt at imitation or replication by means of metallic inks, foil transfer or hot stamping will result in a simulation that is readily discemable (by the untrained and naked eye) from the original (or authentic) security device or security document in that the aesthetics of the security device or document are distorted, omitted or otherwise completely destroyed in the simulation.
• the metal-formed images of the present invention incorporate one or more visible patterns of alternating metal and metal-free regions which may take the form of, for example, complex or simple patterns of lines, dots, swirls, or combinations thereof.
• each component of the pattem(s) are chosen to avoid effective simulation by metallic inks, foil transfer and hot stamping techniques. More specifically, when the metal-formed image is simulated using these techniques, metallic ink or foil will bridge or link and/or will be missing from portions of at least some of the metal regions of the visible pattem(s). As a result, portions of the simulated image become indistinct or blurred.
• metal or metallic materials which are suitable for use in forming the counterfeit-resistant images of the present invention, include, but are not limited to, aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), gold (Au), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), silver (Ag), or alloys of two or more of the aforementioned materials.
• the metal or metallic material is aluminum.
• the width of the metal-free lines within the pattem(s) ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.10 millimeters (mm) (preferably, from about 0.06 to about 0.07 mm),- while the metal-free line frequency ranges from about 0.07 to 0.25 mm (preferably, from about 0.16 to about 0.17 mm).
• the metal-formed image comprises negative or reverse-image characters (e.g., symbols, letters and/or numerals) that have one or more patterns of alternating metal and metal-free lines incorporated therein.
• metal-free line frequencies that fall below the lower end of the noted frequency range i.e., ⁇ 0.07 mm
• metal-free line frequencies that exceed the upper end of the noted frequency range i.e., > 0.25 mm
• the character or text areas to appear as traditional negative text (as shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,943,093 to Melling eif al.) and thus prone to simulation via metallic ink and foil transfer.
• the metal-formed image comprises positive characters that are formed by the one or more patterns of alternating metal and metal-free lines.
• metal-free line frequencies that fall below 0.07 mm cause the character or text areas to appear as traditional positive text (as shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,652,015 to Timothy T. Crane) and thus more susceptible to simulation via metallic ink and foil transfer, while metal-free line frequencies that exceed 0.25 mm render the character or text areas difficult to visually detect and decipher.
• the diameter of the dots within the pattern(s) ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.10 millimeters, while the density (e.g., dots per inch) is selected such that the dots do not touch yet are close enough together to thwart simulation using metallic ink, foil transfer and hot stamping techniques.
• the counterfeit-resistant images of the present invention may be used alone, or in combination with, for example, optical marks, on a surface of a banknote or any document or means of identification for authentication purposes.
• the inventive images are formed on a release-coated transfer film or sheet (typically, a metallized foil provided on a release coated polyester carrier film) and then transferred from the film or sheet onto a surface of a banknote or other security document using conventional transfer techniques.
• the inventive images are formed on optical marks (e.g., diffractive gratings, hologram structures) contained on a release-coated transfer film or sheet (typically, a holographic foil secured to a release coated polyester carrier film) and the resulting combination transferred from the film or sheet onto a surface of a security document.
• optical marks e.g., diffractive gratings, hologram structures
• the counterfeit-resistant images of the present invention may also be non-releasably or permanently formed on a surface of a plastic carrier substrate (e.g., a security strip or thread) and then used with banknotes or other security documents.
• a plastic carrier substrate e.g., a security strip or thread
• the security device of the present invention is shown generally at 10, and basically comprises: a carrier substrate 12 having opposing planar surfaces; and at least one metal-formed image 14 located on at least one surface of substrate 12.
• Carrier substrate 12 is a light-transmitting carrier substrate that has a thickness ranging from about 12 to about 26 microns (preferably from about 17 to about 21 microns).
• substrate 12 is formed using one or more essentially colorless polymers selected from the group of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and mixtures thereof.
• carrier substrate 12 is a polyester film.
• carrier substrate 12 is colored and/or luminescent and, in yet another preferred embodiment, substrate 12 contains optical marks such as diffractive gratings and/or hologram structures.
• carrier substrate 12 preferably provides adhesive properties to bond security device 10 into or onto a security document such as paper.
• security device 10 is a security strip or thread that comprises: a carrier substrate 12 having opposing planar surfaces; at least one metal-formed image 14 located on one surface of substrate 12; and a holographic relief pattern (not shown) formed on an opposing surface of substrate 12.
• the metal-formed image 14, as viewed in transmitted light, is made up of negative or reverse-image letters that have a pattern of alternating metal and metal-free lines 16, 18, incorporated therein.
• security device 10 is a security strip or thread that comprises: a carrier substrate having a holographic relief pattern formed on a surface thereof; and at least one metal-formed image formed on the holographic relief pattern.
• FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of security thread 10 that does not employ a holographic relief pattern.
• metal-formed image 14 as seen in either transmitted or reflective light, consists of letters that have a Crosshatch pattern of lines incorporated therein, and metal numbers surrounded by a fine metal-free outline.
• Security thread 10 also displays a series of interruptions or breaks 20 in the metal contained on substrate 12. As amply described in U.S. Patent No. 5,486,022, the pattern of metal regions formed by these interruptions or metal breaks define a machine-readable code that provides yet a further means for verifying the authenticity of a banknote or other security document containing the thread, as well as a means for denominating the banknote.
• image 14 consists of letters and numbers that are formed by a pattern of metal dots.
• the security device 10 of the present invention may include additional layers, coatings, or devices; provided however that any such additional layer, coating, or device does not interfere with the visual perception of the information conveyed by way of the metal-formed image 14, and/or the signals seen by authenticity testing devices.
• Contemplated additional layers, coatings, or devices include, but are not limited to, magnetic layers, two-dimensional arrays of non- cylindrical lenses that serve to enlarge metal-formed image 14 (and optionally, to also affect the image's rotation, orthoparallactic movement, and/or apparent visual depth), optically variable devices, interference filter optical devices, outer protective layers, light-transmitting adhesive layers on either or both sides of device 10 that facilitate the incorporation of the device 10 into or onto security documents, and fluorescent coatings made up of eosin, fluorescein, fluorspar, fuchsin, sulphate of quinine, calcium sulphide, Neodymium salicylate, Samarium gluconate, Yttrium salicylate and the like.
• security device 10 employs an outer protective layer.
• the outer protective layer is a light-transmitting protective layer that may take the form of a protective film having a thickness ranging from about 3.0 to about 12.0 microns (preferably from about 3.0 to about 6.0 microns) or a printed coating having a thickness ranging from about 1.0 to about 6.0 microns.
• the protective layer is formed using one or more essentially colorless polymers selected from the group of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and mixtures thereof.
• the protective layer is a laminated polyester film.
• the protective layer is colored and/or luminescent and, in yet another more preferred embodiment, the protective layer provides adhesive properties to bond the security device 10 into or onto paper.
• the outer protective layer may be laminated to the metal layer by using the light-transmitting adhesives described above.
• Security device 10 may be manufactured using conventional techniques.
• the security thread shown in FIG. 1 may be manufactured by: a) embossing or coating a relief pattern on one surface of a polymeric (e.g., polyester) film; b) coating an opposing surface of the polymeric film with a metal (e.g., aluminum) layer; c) coating the metal layer with a resist material except where the metal-free lines 18 (within each negative or reverse-image character) are to be formed; and d) applying a chemical to the printed metal layer to remove the metal layer except where protected by the resist, so that the metal-free lines 18 become transparent regions in the opaque reflective metal surface.
• a polymeric e.g., polyester
• a metal e.g., aluminum
• the metal-formed image 14 comprises positive characters formed by the pattern of alternating metal and metal-free regions (e.g., lines, dots, swirls, or combinations thereof)
• the metal layer is coated with resist so as to protect the metal layer only in those regions in which the metal regions of the pattern(s) are to appear in the final thread.
• the resist is preferably applied by a printing process such as flexo printing, rotogravure or silk screening.
• a printing process such as flexo printing, rotogravure or silk screening.
• the security document of the present invention is preferably a security paper and the security device 10, which is preferably in the form of a security thread, is either wholly or partially embedded within the paper. For partially embedded threads, portions thereof are exposed at the surface of the paper at spaced intervals along the length of the thread at windows or apertures in the paper.
• the security thread 10 may be at least partially incorporated in security papers during manufacture by techniques commonly employed in the papermaking industry. For example, the inventive thread 10 may be fed into a cylinder mold papermaking machine, cylinder vat machine, or similar machine of known type, resulting in total or partial embedment of the thread within the body of the finished paper.
• the security device 10 of the present invention may be mounted on the surface of security papers either during or post manufacture. Mounting of the device 10 may be achieved by any number of known techniques including: applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to a surface of the device 10 and pressing the device 10 to the surface of the paper; and applying a heat activated adhesive to a surface of the device 10 and applying the device 10, using thermal transfer techniques, to the surface of the paper.

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-31 RU RU2006138599/12A patent/RU2341379C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-03-31 BR BRPI0509643-0A patent/BRPI0509643A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-03-31 EP EP05731599A patent/EP1732768A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-03-31 WO PCT/US2005/010779 patent/WO2005100040A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-03-31 CN CNA2005800155514A patent/CN1953878A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-03-31 KR KR1020067023160A patent/KR100851093B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-03-31 CA CA002562057A patent/CA2562057A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-03-31 JP JP2007507372A patent/JP2007531650A/ja active Pending

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