Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
20~674~
ARTICLE INCLUDING A CONTAINER CONTAINING AT LEAST
ONE PRECIOUS STONE
SPECIFICATION
5Technical Field
The invention relates to an article, a safety card or plate
for this article, a reading device to be used in connection
with this article, and a process for producing the article
according to claims 1, 15, 17, and 21, respectively.
Prior Art
It is known to package precious stones such as diamonds
and similar stones in containers such as, for example,
pouches made of leather or of plastic material or boxes made
of cardboard or synthetic material. It is also known to
accompany stones which are sold by of documents and/or
certificates which might include information about the agency
issuing the stones and/or details about the stones, and which
normally comprise papers having texts and/or figures printed
and/or written by hand.
-- 1 --
17624/case 1
20~67~5
Prior art containers of the type mentioned may be easily
opened and reclosed without it being noticed. If the
documents and/or certificates specifying the origin and/or
other characteristics of the stones sold are separated from
the stones or placed together with the latter in containers
which may be opened and reclosed, it is obviously difficult
to verify whether the precious stones delivered in a con-
tainer are actually the specified stones. Articles compris-
ing prior art containers containing at least one precious
stone are thus not well qualified to be put into circulation
as financially negotiable instruments.
Ob~ect of the Invention
The object of the invention, defined by the claims
indicated below, is thus to allow the elimination of the
disadvantages of the prior art articles which comprise a
container containing at least one precious stone. In par-
ticular, the object of the invention is to manufacture an
article, a card or plate for this article, a reading device
for use in connection with this article and a process for the
production of the article which allows to place precious
stones, such as diamonds or similar types, into circulation
as financially negotiable instruments.
20~6745
Two advantageous embodiments of the invention are
derived from the dependent claims.
Summarized Descri~tion of the Drawinas
The attached drawing represents, by way of example,
embodiments of the object of the invention. In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the article including a
container and precious stones; the transparent box of the
container is drawn, for reasons of clarity, as if it were
opaque, the graphic representation on the upper side of the
safety card or plate not being drawn in;
Fig. 2 is a plan view, from the top, of the article;
the case of the container, for reasons of clarity, being
designed as if it were only transparent in the region of the
stone holder;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the article along line III
- III of Figure 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the surface adjacent
to the case of the safety card or plate;
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the surface opposite
the case of the safety card or plate;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the stone holder
alone;
-- 3
20467~5
Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of an individual insert
showing a receptacle for a precious stonQ;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the case alone;.
Fig. 9 is a side view of a precious stone;
Fig. 10 is a top view of the precious stone represented
in Figure 9;
Fig. ll is a block diagram of a reading device for
reading at least one item of data represented by the
electronic chip;
Fig. 12 is an exploded view of an article including a
container whose housing comprises three crudely separated
pieces;
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variation
of a stone carrier;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of another article cor-
responding to the sectional view represented in Fig. 3;
Fig. 15 is a part of Fig. 14 to a larger scale; and
Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a only the stone carrier
of the article shown in Figures 14 and 15.
-- 4
2046745
Methods for Producinq the Invention
The article intended to serve as a negotiable financial
instrument shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a container
which cannot be opened without being destroyed. The exterior
of the container 1 in general has the shape o~ a paral-
lelepiped of a plane plate having a rectangular contour. In
the projection shown in Figure 2, i.e., in a view perpen-
dicular to the outline defined by the container, the latter
has, however, rounded corners. The container 1 in the
projection shown in Figure 2 has preferably the same shape
and the same dimensions as a credit card according to the
international standard and thus has a length of 85.5 mm and a
width of 54 mm. The thickness of the container is between 5
and 7 mm and, for example, 5.5 to 6 mm. The container or,
more precisely, its housing comprises two parts which are
easily separated, namely, a case 3 having in general the
contour of a plane plate and a plane safety card or plate 5.
The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 have, in a rectan-
gular view to said outline, the same contour and mutually
cover each other completely. The safety card or plate is,
however, thinner than the case and has a thickness similar or
identical to that of standard credit cards. The safety card
2046745
or plate thus has, for example, a thickness of 0.76 mm to
0.78 mm.
The case 3, again drawn separately in Figure 8, has a
surface 3a exterior and opposite the safety card or plate 5
and a surface 3b interior and adjacent to the safety card or
plate. The case is provided with a recess 3c which forms
the interior space of the container 1. This recess 3c is
oblong, has, in general - except for the rounded corners in
perpendicular view to the outline defined by the case - the
shape of a parallelepiped as well as a longitudinal direction
parallel to the two long edges of the case. Moreover, the
recess 3c is near one of the long edges of the case 3. The
length of the recess 3c is at least three fourths of that of
the case 3, while the width of the recess 3c is at least one
half and even one third of the width of the case. The
recess 3c has an opening toward the surface 3b and is
delimited toward the side opposite the safety card or plate
by a solid base formed by a section of the case. The
surface 3a of the case 3 comprises a recess 3d of a circular
contour and only slight depth in comparison to the thickness
of the case, and is arranged between the recess 3c and the
edge of the case which is farther away from the recess 3c in
the central portion of the case. The surface 3b of the case
3 has - when the case is not yet connected to the safety card
-- 6
20467~5
or plate - ribs 3e, 3f, 3g, projecting from the sections
adjacent to the surface 3b and drawn, in addition, to an
exaggerated scale in the sectional view of Figure 8. The
rib 3e is arranged near the periphery of the case and extends
S without interruption along this entire periphery and thus
along the four edges of the case. Rib 3e, consequently,
encircles the greatest part of the surface 3b and, in
particular, the opening of the recess 3c. Rib 3f has the
shape of a circle and is disposed in a perpendicular projec-
tion to the outline defined by the container 1 and its case 3below the recess 3d. Rib 3g is parallel to the edges of the
case and is disposed approximately in the center between the
long edges and the sections of rib 3e along these two edges.
The base of recess 3c is provided with a groove forming a
line of attenuation 3h. The latter follows one of the two
long edges of the recess, namely, the edge which is nearest
the center of surfaces 3a and 3b.
Case 3 comprises one individual piece of a synthetic
material, more precisely, of a semi-hard or hard thermoplas-
tic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or poly-
methylmethacrylate (PMMA) and/or polycarbonate (PC) and/or
oriented polypropylene (OPP). In general that is, with the
exception of zones where these surfaces are provided with a
relief or printed, the case is at least diaphanous, and
preferably perfectly transparent and clear in daylight. The
. :
20467~
material for the case, however, includes preferably at lea~t
one additive - such as a pigmented coloring agent - which
renders the case temporarily colored and thus causes a
change in color under artificial electromagnetic radiation,
in particular under an artificial ultraviolet light having at
least a portion of the wavelength or one range of wavelengths
set in an appropriate manner.
A stone carrier 7 shown separately in Figure 6 is
inserted into the recess 3c of the case 3 and is dimensioned
in such a way that its contour corresponds at least ap-
proximately to that of recess 3c and so that it may be well
positioned in the latter. These two surfaces of the stone
carrier 7 adjacent to the base of the recess 3c and the
safety card or plate 5, respectively, are designated 7a and
7b, respectively. The stone carrier 7 is provided with at
least one blind hole 7c, preferably several, for example, ten
blind holes 7c which have a cylinder shape and are arranged
on a straight line extending parallel to the long edges o~
the stone carrier 7 and thus also to the case 3. The
openings of the blind holes 7c open into surface 7a. The
surface 7b is provided with two ribs 7d which extend parallel
to the two long edges of surface 7b for at least a portion of
the length of the stone carrier 7.
204674~
A groove is provided at the two sides of each rib 3e,
3f, 3g, 7d and immediately adjacent to the latter. The total
area of a pair of grooves allocated to one of these ribs
corresponds in a cross section at least approximately to the
area of the portion of the rib which rises above the planar
portion of the surface 3b or 7b, respectively.
Each hole 7c contains an insert 9. For reasons of
clarity, only two inserts 9 are shown in Figure 1. Each
insert 9 - one of which is shown separately in Figure 7 - has
lo a cylindrical contour whose dimensions correspond, at least
approximately, to those of the blind hole 7c in such a way
that each insert 9 may be positioned well in the hole 7c.
Each insert 9 represents a receptacle 9a comprising a blind
hole whose opening opens into the surface of the adjacent
lS insert at the base of the recess 3c of the case 3. Each
receptacle 9a comprises a portion of the base 9b and a
portion of the opening 9c. The portion of the base 9b is
conical and the portion~of the opening 9c is cylindrical and
shorter than the portion of the base 9b.
The stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9 are made, for
example, of a synthetic and thermoplastic material, such as
polyvinyl chloride. The stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9
are opaque and are, for example, of a blue color.
_ g
20467~5
The article comprises a plurality, i.e., ten precious
stones 11. Each precious stone 11 co~stitutes a diamond cut
in the shape of a brilliant as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and,
consequently, comprises a pavilion shown at the bottom in
S Figure 9 and a crown having a table lla having a plane
surface which is perpendicular to the axis of the precious
stone 11. Each precious stone 11 is placed separately in one
of the receptacles 9a. As wi11 be explained in detail as
well, articles may be provided which involve containers
containing precious stones 11 of different dimensions and
weights. One could make provisions for placing stones having
a number of, for example, fifteen different orders of
magnitude in the containers. One may also prepare and make
available a range of inserts so that for each of said order
1S of magnitude there is a type of insert whose dimensions of
receptacle 9a are adapted to the dimensions of the precious
stones 11. More precisely, the dimension of the portion of
the base 9b of each receptacle 9a corresponds at least
approximately to that of the conical covering surface of the
pavilion of the precious stone 11 placed in the receptacle in
question. The axial dimension of the portion of the opening
9c of a receptacle 9a corresponds at least approximately to
an axial dimension of the crown of the precious stone. The
table lla of each precious stone 11 placed in a receptacle 9a
-- 10 --
20~67~
is thus at least approximately flush with the fiurface 7a of
the stone carrier 7. If the container 1 is assembled and
closed, the stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9 contained in
the container comprise, therefore, the means representing and
delimiting, in cooperation with the section of the case
forming the base of the of the recess 3c, the receptacles 9a
which hold the precious stones 11 which are placed there with
little radial and axial play, or preferably, at least
practically without play. Each precious stone 11 is, in any
case, held in the receptacle 9a arranged in such a way that
the same side, i.e., the table lla, of the precious stone
remains always on the base of the recess 3c independent of
the current position of the container 1 and of the movements
to which the container is subjected. Since the section of
the case 3 comprising the base of the recess 3c is - just as
the other parts of the case which are not equipped either
with a relief or printed signs - transparent and clear, the
precious stones 11 contained in the container 1 and, in
particular, their crowns are clearly visible from the
exterior of the container 1 through said section of the case
against an opaque and blue background formed by the stone
carrier 7 and the inserts 9.
The surface of the safety card or plate which is
adjacent to the case 3 and is thus turned toward the interior
20467~
of the container, designated 5a, i~ visible - plan view - in
Figure 4. The other surface of the ~afety card or plate
which is opposite the case 3 and is thus di~posed ~n ~he
exterior side of the container 1 was designated 5b and is
visible - plan view - in Figure 5. The principal portion of
the safety card or plate 5 comprises at least two sheets of
mutually laminated synthetic material, more precisely, a
semi-hard or hard thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl
chloride, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), oriented polypropylene (OPP)
or Polycarbonate (PC). The card or plate may also be made of a
mixture of sheets of these materials, using if necessary an
adhesive between sheets consisting of different materials.
The safety card or plate 5 compri~es, in addition
to said principal portion, an information processing device
as well, which serves to memorize and process the digital
data and includes an electronic circuit comprising an
electronic chip 13. The electronic chip is connected by
means of lamination and/or an adhesive with the remainder of
the safety card or plate 5 and comprises on the face opposite
the case 3 electric contacts 13a to constitute the connec-
tions accessible from the exterior of the container. The
place of the electronic chip 13 is especially the location
and/or arrangement of the eleçtric contacts 13a of the
electronic chip 13 in relation to the edges of the safety
card or plate 5 and is preferably different fro~ the location
- 12 -
204674~
and/or arrangement specified in the international standards
ISO 7816 for electronic chips integrated in credit cards.
This ensures that the electronic chip 13 may only be con-
nected to a reading device particularly adapted for this
purpose and not to reading devices intended to read in~orma-
tion from electronic chips of said credit cards. The safety
card or plate 5 is, in contrast to the case 3, in general,
more or less opaque, but has a diaphanous or translucent zone
having a certain permeability to light without allowing to
clearly distinguish the objects on the other side, for a
reason which will be explained in further detail.
The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 are mutually
and directly solidly joined, i.e., without intermediary
element, by means of ultrasound welding, along ribs 3e, 3f,
and 3g of the case 3 and thus, in particular, close to the
edges of the case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 along all
peripheries of the case and the safety card or plate. The
stone carrier 7 is also solidly joined with the safety card
or plate by means of ultrasound welding along ribs 7d. Ribs
3e, 3f, 3g and 7d, shown in Figures 8 and 6 on an exaggerated
scale, are deformed during ultrasound welding, the deforma-
tion being facilitated by the grooves at the two sides of
each rib. The material for the ribs may, in addition,
penetrate into the safety card or plate and mix with the
- 13 -
2~67~
material of the latter. After welding, the case 3 and the
stone carrier 7 are thus in contact over their entire
surfaces 3b and 7b, respectively, with surface 5a adjacent to
the safety card or plate 5. The weld seem resulting from rib
3e closes the interior of the container 1 and, in particular,
the space containing the precious stones ll in such a manner
as to be at least substantially and, preferably, perfectly
sealed. The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 together
comprise the complete housing of the container 1 which, after
the welding encloses the precious stones ~1 in such a way
that the safety card or plate cannot be detached from the
rest of the container and that the precious stones 11 cannot
be removed from container 1 without damaging and/or destroy-
ing the case 3 and/or the safety card or plate 5 and without
leaving visible traces on the container. The housing of the
container 1 is, in addition, at least substantially - that is
to say with the exception of a possible deformability and, in
particular, elastic flexibility - rigid and especially, not
pliable as is the case with certain pouches formerly used as
containers for precious stones.
The organization issuing the article may prepare and
place a number of articles into circulation as financially
negotiable instruments. These articles may include con-
tainers all having the same shapes and dimensions. The
- 14 -
20~674~
qualities and sizes of these precious stones contained in the
different containers may be identical or different. One may,
for example, plan to prepare articles having four qualities,
more precisely, four different zones of quality for precious
stones. These four qualities may be designated by the Greek
letters ALP~A, BETA, GAMMA, DELTA. ALPHA is attributed to
the best and DELTA to the poorest guality. The definition of
these qualities for precious stones, including diamonds, may
be based on the gradation of color and on the gradation of
clarity according to the nomenclature of the Gemological
Institute of America. The gradation of color according to
the Gemological Institute of America includes degrees D, E,
F, G, H, I, J, R, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, ~, X, Y,
Z. The gradation of clarity according to the Gemological
Institute of America includes degrees FL, IF, W Sl, W S2,
VSl, VS2, SIl, SI2, Il, I2, I3. These series of degrees
designates progressively a diminution in the quality of the
diamonds.
Each of the four qualities attributed to the articles
may be defined by a color zone extending over a plurality -
preferably at least two and at most five and, for example,
three or four - grades of color clos~ to the adjacent pair of
the gradation series according to the Gemological Institute
of America and for a zone of clarity extending over a
- 15 -
2~467~5
plurality - preferably at least two and at most five and, for
example, three or four - grades of clarity adjacent to the
pair of the gradation series according to the Gemological
Institute of America. One might, for example define a first
color zone which extends over the three adjacent grades of
color D, E, F and a second color zone which joins,.without
any gap, the first zone and extending over the color grades
G, H, I, J. One may also define, in addition, a first zone
of clarity extending over the adjacent grades of color FL,
IF, W S1 and WS2 and a second zone of clarity joining
without a gap the first zone extending over the adjacent
grades of clarity VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2. The four qualities may
thus be defined by the combinations of the color zones of
color grades and the quality represented in Table 1.
- 16 -
2046745
Table 1
Definition of Qualities ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, DELTA by Color
Zones and Clarity
Color Grades of Clarity
Grades
FL IF W S1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SIl SI2
D _
~
25 ~ GA~A D~LTA
The articles produced may comprise precious stones 11
having a different number of total calculated masses. The
total calculated mass of precious stones contained in a
container may have, for example, one of the five values:
0.2 g, 0.4 g, 0.6 g, 0.8 g, 1 g. The total actual mass
of a set of precious stones contained in a container may
differ within the limits of a certain tolerance range from
the attributed total calculated mass. The issuing organiza-
tion guarantees, however, that the total actual mass is at
- 17 -
~;
20~6745
least equal to the attributed total calculated mass and,
preferably, greater than the latter. The total effective
masses are preferably at most 5% greater than the attributed
total calculated mass and have, for example, values between
100.3% and 100.5% of the attributed total calculated mass.
The masses of individual precious stones of an article
are advantageously at least 50% and at most 170%, and
preferably between 70% and 150% of the average mass of the
precious stones contained in the container of the article in
question. Because the effective total masses only differrelatively little from the attributed total calculated mass,
the average masses of precious stones are very close to an
individual calculated mass, being identical to the total
calculated mass divided by the number of precious stones of
the article in questionO The average mass of the articles
having ten precious stones and five total calculated masses
0.2 g, 04, g [sic], 0.8 g, 1 g are thus approximately
identical to the individual calculated masses of 20 mg,
40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and 100 mg, respectively. The individual
effective masses of precious stones belonging to the articles
having the five total calculated masses are, for example,
20 mg 4ommgg/ 40 mg + lO mgg' 60 mg 10 mmgg/ 80 mg + lO m~g
and 100 mg + 10 mmgg The mass zones attributed to the
- 18 -
20~674~
calculated masses adjacent to the pair join without a gap
and even interlace. The total and individual masses of
precious stones are, of course, related, i.e., proportional
to the weight of the preciou6 stones. A calculated total
mass of 0.2 g corresponds, for example, to a total calcu-
lated weight of 1.962 mN or - indicated by the "carat" unit
normally used for precious stones - to 1 carat. The effec-
tive weights depend, however, on the altitude above sea level
and other external influences. If the precious stones 11
placed in the container 1 are selected in such a way that
their total effective mass is a little greater than the total
calculated mass, one ~ight, in addition, ensure that the
total effective weight is also always at least equal to the
total calculated weight corresponding to the total calculated
mass. An article comprising a container and ten precious
stones contained in the container may therefore belong to one
of the four possible qualities and have one of the five
possible calculated total weights. ~s a consequence, the
different articles, each comprising a container and ten
precious stones, may belong to one of the twenty possible
categories. It is evident from the definitions of the
quality zones and mass zones attributed to the individual
precious stones that all precious stones, i.e., diamonds
having the cut of a brilliant, which have a color grading
-- 19 --
20~6745
between D and J, a clarity grade between FL and SI2 and a
mass between 16 mg and 112 mg may be used for at least one of
the twenty categories of the articles. The precious stones
are, moreover, distributed advantageously in such a way over
the individual articles that all the articles having the same
calculated quality have the same average color grade and ap-
proximately the same degree of average clarity.
The container 1, i.e., the case 3 and particularly the
safety card or plate 5, serve as data carrier for the visual
data perceivable by the human eye from the exterior of the
container. In this context, it is noted out that the
greatest portion of the interior surface 5a of the safety
card or plate is visible through the case 3. This visible
information may comprise graphic polychrome representations
printed on a plane surface and/or in relief.
A plurality of this visible information serves mainly,
or among other things, to specify the origin and the or-
ganization issuing the article and/or possibly the manufac-
turers of the container l, the case 3, and the safety card or
plate 5 or the electronic chip 13 and the origin of the
precious stones 11 contained in the container. Information
serving this purpose may be identified on the containers of
all the articles issued or at least on a certain number of
these containers. This group of information comprises, among
- 20 -
20~67~
others, signs 21 and 23 on ~he case 3, signs 31, 37 and ~1 on
surface 5a of the safety card or plate 5 and signs 33, 35,
39, and 43 on surface 5b of the safety card or plate. Sign
21 in recess 3d of the case comprises a relief and r~presents
a symbol serving as a seal for the issuing organization and
is formed by a stylized diamond cut like a brilliant having a
stippled background. This sign 21 renders the section of the
case 3, which supports it, i.e., the base of recess 3d more
or less opaque and prevents at least a clear view across said
section of the case in such a way that the weld seem, having
been made along rib 3f, is not visible from the exterior of
the container. Signs 31, 33, 35, printed on the two surfaces
of the safety card or plate 5, represent a stylized diamond
having the same shape as that of the sign 21. At least one
of these four lateral surfaces perpendicular to the outline
defined by the container 1 and, for example, each of these
four lateral surfaces carries at least once the sign 23
comprising, for example, a relief representing the term DES.
The same term is imprinted as sign 37 in different places on
surface 5a and as sign 39 on surface 5b of the safety card or
plate 5 and constitutes an abbreviation of the words DIAMOND
EXCHANGE STANDARD printed as sign or indication 43 on the
surface 5b of the safety card or plate. The surface Sa
comprises also the sign or indication 41 representing the
- 21 -
204G745
name of the issuing organization INTER-DIAMOND EXCHANGE
STANDARD.
The safety card or plate 5 contains also prin ed data
specifying the number, the type and/or the quality and the
total calculated weight and/or the total calculated mass of
the precious stones 11 contained in the container, thus
giving information on the exchange value of the article. To
this information belongs the sign or indication 51 printed
on surface 5b and specifying the number of precious stones 11
contained in the container, signs or indication 53, 55
printed on the two surfaces 5a and Sb, respectively, and
specifying the quality by one of the Greek letters mentioned
previously and which is indicated in addition to the Greek
letter itself as well as its name in Roman letters. Signs 57,
59 are printed on the two surfaces 5a and 5b, respectively,
of the safety card or plate 5, specifying the total calcu-
lated weight of the precious stones and thus giving as well a
measure for the total calculat d mass of the precious stones
11, the value of the total calculated weight being indicated
in carats.
On the interior surface 3b of the case 3, a sign 27 is
printed, which is visible through the case 3 from the
exterior of the container and is at least in part al-
phanumeric comprising, for example, a letter, a number
2046745
comprising a plurality of digits as well as lines and/or
dots. A sign 61, at least in part alphanumeric and identiaal
to sign 27, is printed on the exterior surface 5b ~f the
safety card or plate 5. These two identical signs 27, 61
include a letter in the beginning, namely the first letter,
written in Roman letters, of the name of the Greek letter
specifying the quality. This letter is followed - separated
by a slash - by a two-digit number specifying the weight in
carats. This number is followed - separated by a dash - by
an identification number serving to identify the article and
individual container and is thus different for each in-
dividual articleO At the end of signs 27, 61 is a two-digit
number serving as control number or letter linked, according
to a defined algorithm, to the identification number.
In addition, the case may optionally be provided with
at least one sign, which in daylight is invisible to the
human eye, but which becomes visible to the human eye and/or
may be detected and/or read by a detection and/or reading
element under artificial ultraviolet radiation or perhaps
under another artificial electromagnetic radiation having at
least in part a wavelength or range of wavelengths fixed in
an appropriate manner. This sign may be formed by a bar code
representing the same alphanumeric information or at least
the same number as signs 27 and 61.
.:
2046745
As already mentioned, the precious 8tone6 11 aannot be
removed from the container 1 without destroying the latter.
The container l is constructed in such a way that it i6
practically impossible to open it, to substitute the precious
stones by fake and/or artificial stones and/or those of
inferior quality and/or of less weight without leaving easily
detectable traces. It is noted in this context that the
polyvinyl chloride and/or the methyl polymethacrylate of
which the housing of the container is substantially made, is
relatively sensitive to high temperatures, and changes in
appearance and, especially, in color if it is heated as would
be the case, for example, if someone tried to cut the
container with a fine saw or a fine beam produced by a laser.
The signs and/or indications on the case 3 and the
safety card or plate 5 previously mentioned and serving as
information, visible to the human eye, on the origin and the
exchange value of the articles and to specify an individual
article, as well as serving the purpose both, of preventing
the containers from being opened without it showing, and the
article from being counterfeited. But the articles comprise,
in addition to the visual information mentioned, more charac-
teristics that prevent the production of fake articles.
Some of these characteristics are described below.
- 24 -
204674~
The portions of the lateral surfaces of the ca~e which
are not occupied by signs 23 are provided with a stripe 25 in
relief comprising fine grooves perpendicular to the outline
defined by the container 1. This stripe 25 helps, in
cooperation with the signs 23, that the container 1 cannot
be opened by cutting the case along its edges and then -
after exchanging the precious stones - be reclosed without it
being noticeable.
The safety card or plate 5 comprises at least one
lo safety feature and, preferably a plurality of these features
detectable from the exterior of the container. Certain of
these safety features are visible to the naked human eye,
i.e., without an auxiliary device, but they are, of course,
still more distinctly visible with the aid of a magnifying
glass. The safety card or plate 5 comprises also at least
one safety character which is only detectable with an
auxiliary device. The different safety characters make it
practically impossible for a counterfeiter to copy the safety
card or plate without a copy of it being recognized as such.
The signs, information and images represented on the
safety card or plate 5 and being printed and/or comprising a
relief made by engraving and/or an impression and/or the
like may comprise and/or be constituted of at least one
graphic feature serving as safety character. Such graphic
- 25 -
20467~5
feature may, for example, comprise certain digits or letters
including anticipated "errors" such as discontinuities in
the lines and/or the ornamentation, etc.
The safety card or plate 5 comprises as safety feature
at least one guilloche and, more precisely, guilloches 71, 73
which are printed on the zones of surfaces 5a, 5b bearing
signs 53, 55, 57, 59. These guilloches 71, 73 may be at
least in part of at least a color which can only be copied
with difficulty or not at all by means of polychrome
electrostatic copiers presently known for making electrogra-
phic copies in color as is the case, for example, for brown
and/or iridescent colors. The guilloches are, for example,
polychromatic and of several colors of said type.
The safety card or plate 5 may also comprise as safety
feature at least a sign and/or a graphic representation 75,
77 of a different kind from the guilloches in order to make
an electrographic copy different from the original and thus
make it recognizable as a copy. These graphic signs
or representations 75, 77 comprise a design having elements
such as a number of parallel lines of which at least the
extension in one direction and/or the density of color is
below the capacity of reproduction devices for making
electrographic copies. This object may be accomplished -
according to the color and type of electro-copier used - in
- 26 -
204679~
making said dimension, for example, the thickness of said
lines, less than 0.5 mm or even at most 0.05 mm and/or in
making the density of the color less than 0.25. The elements
in question may also have in place of or, in addition to
this, a special color, especially an iridescent color which
cannot be copied at all with presently known electrostatic
polychrome photocopiers. These graphic signs or representa-
tions are preferably polychromatic and may very well be
combined, i.e., masked by a guilloche. Graphic signs or
representations of this type are disclosed in patent CH-A-
645,308.
The card or plate comprises - as already mentioned - a
diaphanous, but not altogether transparent, section or zone.
This section or zone is provided at least with an opacity
sign 81. A sign of opacity is a sign which corresponds to a
filigree on paper but is made of a synthetic material and is
only poorly visible or not at all in incident light, but may
become relatively well and clearly visible in light penetrat-
ing the section or zone provided with the opacity sign 81.
The latter represents, for example, a stylized diamond having
the same form as the diamond of signs 21, 31, 33, 35 and on
the two sides of the diamond the words DES forming signs 23,
37, 39 as well. The two words DES of sign 81 are written,
moreover, in such a manner that one of them appears in
- 27 -
20~674S
"normal" letters and the other in inverted letters when
looking at each of the two ~urface~ 5a and 5b of the safety
card or plate 5. The opacity sign 81 may be produoed by
forming the section or zone comprising the opacity sign of
two laminated sheets or layers whose surface are in mutual
contact, one upon the other, have a relief structure which
has different permeabilities to light, one of these sheets
or layers being relatively transparent and the other rela-
tively opaque. More detailed information on these opacity
signs and possibilities for producing them are found in
patent CH-A-650,732~
The surface 5b carries at least one latent image 83
which forms another safety feature. A latent image is an
image which changes the visual appearance for an observer as
a function of the angle of incidence of light and/or the
angle of observation. Since the latent image 83 is superim-
posed on another graphic representation, the contour of the
section of surface occupied is indicated only schematically
for reasons of clarity. A person looking at the latent
image 83 recognizes - depending on the angle of observation -
the word DES several times or the stylized diamond already
mentioned several times.
A latent image may be realized, for example, by giving to
the zone on surface 5b intended to carry the latent image a
- 28 -
20~6745
fine and special relief ~tructure and by printing this
surface zone in color. Supplementary information to make
latent images on a surface - of a safety paper - a~e found in
patent CH-A-611,211 and CH-A-617,889.
The surface 5b carries, in addition, luminescent signs 87
which are distributed over large portions of said surface but
of which only a single one is designed to newly represent
the stylized diamond. These luminescent or, more precisely,
fluorescent signs, are invisible to the naked human eye in
daylight but may become visible to the naked human eye if
they are irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
The electronic chip 13 also constitutes a safety feature
and comprises at least one memory having a plurality of
memory addresses and defining at least one access zone and,
preferably, a plurality of access æones. The electronic chip
comprises a hard-wired circuit logic and/or a processor as
well and is made and/or programmed in such a way that each
stored piece of information in a particular access zone of
the memory can only be read if one sends to the electronic
chip an identification signal corresponding to an identifica-
tion which has been attributed to said access zone and was
programmed and/or stored in the electronic chip during the
manufacturing process of the article. The manufacturer of
electronic chips feeds and makes store at least one piece of
- 29 -
20467~5
information in at least one access zone, for example, dif-
ferent informations in different access zones of the memory.
Subsequently, the manufacturer who produces the safety cards
or plates and equips them with an electronic chip makes it
store at least one piece of information. Finally, the
issuing organization of the articles feeds at least one
piece of information into the memory.
The informations fed into the memory of the electronic
chip are coded with cryptographic codes and thus are stored
in form of cryptograms. Thé stored information permits, in
combination with the identification signals or signals to
verify whether the electronic chip 13 of a particular article
has in effect been manufactured by the manufacturer involved,
integrated into the safety card or plate 5 by the manufac-
turer, and processed by the issuing organization of thefinished article. If the memory has different access zones,
they may, for example, constitute in conjunction with the
identification signala a hierarchic order. Each access zone
thus corresponds to a particular access level. The
electronic chip may, for example, be constituted and/or
programmed in such a way that a portion of the information
supplied by the manufacturer of the electronic chip is stored
in an access zone to which only said manufacturer has access.
- 30 -
2~46745
The electronic chip 13 is constituted and/or programmed to
form locking and/or refractory means ensuring, among othex
things, that it is only possible one time to put t~e informa-
tion into memory. These locking and/or refractory means
include, for example, electric connections which are irrever-
sibly interrupted after the information has been placed in
memory and/or are constituted in such a way as to ensure that
an attempt to modify the stored infoxmation causes irrever-
sible locking and/or irreversible damage of the locking
and/or refractory means so that the stored information can
no longer be read. If someone tried to read information from
the electronic chip 13 without the identification signal,
which gives access to the memory zone containing the informa-
tion to be read, being directed to the electronic chip, this
may also cause irreversible locking and/or irreversible
damage to the locking and/or refractoxy means, blocking
access to the memory.
If the safety card or plate is strongly bent, it has a
tendency to form an irrevexsible crease along one of the weld
seams and especially along the weld seam which extends along
rib 3g. This type of crease would be easily visible. This
tendency of the safety card or plate to form an irreversible
crease during strong bending is thus one of the features of
the container which helps to recognize an attempt at theft.
20467~
The line of attenuation 3h of the case extends - in a rectangu-
lar projection to surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b of the case 3 and
safety card or plate S - in the section of the electronic chip or
even crosses this section. The safety card or plate 5 itself
is optionally provided with a line of attenuation 93 as well,
which runs parallel to the edges of the safety card or plate
5, is disposed at least approximately opposite the line of
attenuation 3h, and extends at least on one side of the
electronic chip 13 to the latter and/or crosses the latter.
This line of attenuation 93 may, for example, be formed by a
row of small blind holes or penetrate the safety card or
plate, or by a fine stripe, or perhaps be invisible from the
exterior. If someone attempts to open the container by
force, an irreversible crease or fracture of the electronic
chip 13 along the lines of attenuation 3h and 93 may result.
This crease or this fracture will also cause locking and/or
damage to the locking and refractory means or put the
electronic chip out of service altogether. If the container
is heated during an attempt at theft, the electronic chip may
become damaged. Damage to the electronic chip caused by
thermal effects may subsequently be detected electrically as
well.
20~674~
Each precious stone 11 itself optionally comprises a sign
or indication 97 for the purpose of speciying the issuing
organization of the article and/or certain properties of the
stone and/or for identifying an individual precious stone.
The sign or indication 97 is entered or recorded prior to
enclosing the precious stone in the container, for example,
on a portion of the table lla as shown or else with the aid
of a beam emitted by a laser or by means of a similar method
to the one used for optical recording of data on disks. The
sign or information 97 may be made in such a way that it only
extends over a small fraction of the surface of the precious
stone and is also at least practically invisible to the naked
human eye even during an inspection with a magnifying glass
and thus does not diminish the value of the precious stone.
If the article is finished and precious stones having signs
or indications 97 are enclosed in the container, the informa-
tion represented by the signs or indications 97 may be
detected and read with a device employing an emission
provided by a laser and penetrating into the case.
A reading device for reading the stored information in
the electronic chip 13 is shown in Figure 11 and designated
101. This device comprises an enclosure and a guidance and
transport device 103. The latter limits - for example, on
the side of the panel in front of the enclosure - a slot
- 33 -
204674~
permitting insertion of an article into the container 1 and
includes the guidance and transport means for guiding the
container 1 which is pushed manually into the slot. The
device 103 comprises, in addition, tran port and ejection
means including an electric motor 103a for transporting and
ejecting the container l from the slot. The reading device
101 comprises, in addition, a coupling element 105 having
contacts adapted to be connected separately to electric
contacts 13a of the electronic chip 13 integrated into the
safety card or plate 5 of an article and thus for coupling
the electronic chip 13 electrically to the reading device
101. The reading device 101 also comprises a computer 107, a
keyboard 109, a display device 111, a network branch 115, a
current supply device 117, and a radiation source 119 ar-
ranged, for example, on the panel in front of the enclosureand adapted to emit ultraviolet rays. The computer 107 is
electrically connected to the coupling elements 105, the
motor 103a, the keyboard 109, the display device 111 and an
optional printer as well, which is disposed on the exterior
of the enclosure and/or an optional complete information
processing system. The keyboard lO9 comprises keys for
inputting digits o to 9 and optional letters and/or other
characters as well. The keyboard lO9 comprises, in addi-
tion, a key connected to the current supply device 117 for
- 34 -
2046745
activating and disconnecting the reading device, and an
ejection key for initiating the ejection of a container and
thus for activating the motor 103a by means of the.computer
107 and/or directly, as desired. The current supply device
117 is connected to the radiation source 119 and - as
indicated by the arrows - with other components of the
reading device requirin~ electric energy.
In the production of articles including a container 1 and
precious stones, first a number of electronic chips 13, cases
3 and safety cards or plates 5 are manufactured. The
manufacturers of electronic chips and safety cards or plates
then put the intended information into the memory of the
electronic chips. Subsequently, an authorized person from
the organization issuing the articles places the precious
stones 11 selected from a stock into the stone carriers 7 and
the latter into the cases 3 in such a way that each container
1 contains stones of the quality and the total weight cor-
responding to informations on the safety card or plate 5.
When a case contains precious stones, the container is closed
by welding, as previously described. Subsequently, it is
optional as well to verify using, for example, a device that
employs at least one appropriate physical method such as a
spectrometric and/or optical methods using, for example, rays
which penetrate the case 3, if the container effectively
- 35 -
20~6745
contains natural precious stones. The device may aomprise
at least one source of radiation, for example, at lea~t a
laser for the production of a visible or invisible.emis6ion
and a spectrometer and/or spectrocomparator. One might also
optionally verify, for example, microscopically, if the
quality and the dimension of the precious stones correspond
to the quality and the weight respectively specified on the
safety card or plate. Subsequently, an authorized person
from the issuing organization records on the electronic chip
13, with the help of a recording device containing a com-
puter, the information corresponding to the alphanumeric
code represented by signs 27 and 61 and, optionally, other
information as well, specifying, for example, the issuing
organization issuing the complete article, the issuing date,
the number and/or individual features of the precious stones
contained in the container, etc.
The articles may thus be placed as objects of value into
circulation as financially negotiable instruments and be
negotiated. The exchange value of an individual article may
be fixed at the start, i.e., when a number of articles is
first issued by the issuing organization based on the value
of the precious stones connected with the article and it
depends, of course, on the quality and the total weight of
the precious stones of the article. Subseguently, the
- 36 -
204674~
exchange value of a particular article is establi~hed at a
given time, i.e., the date when the article i6 negotiated, as
a function of supply and demand. The exchange value~ or
quotations of the different categories of articles may be
published regularly and, preferably, every day by the
organization issuing the articles and/or an agency recognized
by said organization, in the press, in particular in the
international financial press, and also on the international
financial telecommunications network. The issuing organiza-
tion may be involved in re-purchasing an article for a trade-
in price related, for example, to the daily quotation
according to a fixed convention.
The reading device 101 may be installed in different
sales and purchasing locations, in particular in banks or
other institutions accredited by the issuing organization.
Reading devices may be used and operated by the organization
issuing the articles itself and/or by other organizations
such as banks, authorized ~y the issuing organization and
recognizing the latter. If the owner of an article wishes to
verify that the product involved is authentic or to have the
exchange value of an article paid to him, he may render the
article to the issuing organization or to an organization
cooperating with the latter A person from the organization
receiving said article may verify visually that the container
20~67~5
is intact - by way of inspecting the different safety
features of the safety card or plate 5 - and that it is, in
effect, an article put into circulation by the iss~ing
organization. During this inspection and verification, one
may irradiate the safety card or plate 5 by means of
ultraviolet rays emitted by the radiation source 119 of a
reading device 101 and examine if the safety card or plate
has luminescent signs 87. If the case 3 which is normally -
i.e., in daylight - clear, contains an additive rendering
the case colored in artificial ultraviolet light, one might
equally verify, that the case temporarily attains the
predetermined color when it is subjected to the ultraviolet
rays emitted by the irradiation source 119. But in par-
ticular, one may push the container 1 of the article into the
slot of the guide and transport device 103 of the reading
device 101 and connect the electronic chip 13 electrically to
the interconnection of the coupling element 105 with the
computer 107. The person operating the reading device 101
may then introduce by means of the keyboard 109 a personal
identification and/or a part or the total identification
giving access to at least a zone of access to the memory of
the electronic chip 13. The computer 107 thus sends the
electronic chip at least one identification signal permitting
it to read at least one piece of information stored in the
- 38 -
20~67~5
memory of the electronic chip. This or each stored piece of
information in the electronic chip 13 may thus be read if the
electronic chip and the reading device 101 have made a
reciprocal authentication. The computer 107 also "pos~esses"
a key or keys for decoding or deciphering the cryptogram or
each cryptogram representing information or the informations
to be read. The computer 107 may, for example, read and
decode at least one piece of information stored by the
manufacturer of the electronic chip, the or at least one
piece of information stored by the manufacturer of the safety
card or plate and the or at least one piece of information
stored by the issuing organization. The computer 107
processes information read, calculates, among other things,
the number or control code represented by the last digit of
the signs 27 and 61 and checks if the electronic chip, the
safety card or plate, and the entire article were in effect
issued by the issuing organization. As has been described
above, the attempt to manipulate the electronic chip 13 and
at least certain ways of attempting to open a container 1
cause locking and/or damage to the locking and/or refractory
means or put the electronic chip out of service, which may be
detected electrically when the electronic chip is connected
to the reading device 101 and is signaled by the latter. If
the computer 107 confirms, based on the information read,
- 39 -
204674~
that the product is authentic and intact, it signals the
display device 111 information such as is represented in
Figure 11 and specifies, for example, the number o~ precious
stones, the quality, the total calculated weight and,
especially, the alphanumeric sign represented by sign~ 27 and
61. The operator of the reading device 101 may thus verify
whether displayed information corresponds, in effect, to the
visible information on the article and, particularly, if the
information read in the memory of the electronic chip
contains signs 27 and 61 visible on the case 3 and the safety
card or plate 5. It may, in addition optionally be verified
by the person operating the reading device 101 and/or
automatically by the computer 107 whether said sign is
contained in a list of alphanumeric signs of articles placed
in circulation by the issuing organization. The organization
receiving the article knows then that it can pay the trade-in
amount related to the daily quotations according to a fixed
convention. If the examination of the article is completed,
it is automatically or by a manual activation of the ejection
key ejected by the guide and transport device 103. The
ejection key permits, in addition, to interrupt the examina-
tion procedure and to cause the article to be ejected prior
to the completion of the examination or in case of malfunc-
tion.
- 40 -
20~67~
As mentioned, the case 3 may optionally be provided with
at least one sign - such as a bar code corresponding to signs
27 and 61 - which i5 invisible in daylight, but becomes
visible to the human eye and/or detectable and/or legible in
S artificial ultraviolet light by means of a detection and/or
reading element. If the case includes this type of sign,
one may also verify the presence of this sign with the eye
when the case is subjected to radiation emitted by the
radiation source 119 and/or detected and/or read with the
help of a detection and/or reading element connected to the
reading device 101.
As already described previously, the electronic chip 13 is
capable to respond as a function of detecting a possible
attempt at theft. If such attempt has been made and been
detected by the electronic chip 13, it will also be recog-
nized and signaled by the reading device 101. If the reading
device confirms and signals that the electronic chip does not
contain the correct information and is not coded correctly
and/or is not in order otherwise and/or if other traces of a
theft are present, the organization may have the article and
the precious stones examined, for example, by an expert of
the issuing organization prior, to paying out the trade-in
amount. If it is necessary to open a container 1 to examine
the precious stones and/or to place them into a new, intact
- 41 -
204674~
container, one may open the container by breaking it along
the line of attenuation 3h intended for the rupture~ It is
obvious that this method of opening the container causes much
and distinct damage to the case 3, the safety card or plate 5
5 and the electronic chip 13.
The articles according to the invention are thus ap-
propriate for being negotiated as objects of value such as
gold bullion or by permitting to recognize easily and with a
high degree of assurance whether or not an article cor-
10 responds to the specifications indicated. The container 1thus comprises a housing which offers all the necessary
guarantees not only in matters regarding identification of
the financial value of the article, but also the possibility
to negotiate the article on the basis of its published quota-
15 tion.
The variant of the article represented in Figure 12comprises a container 201 whose housing comprises a case 203
and a safety card or plate 205. The article also comprises a
stone carrier 207, inserts 209, and precious stones 211.
20 These elements of the article represented in Figure 12 may be
similar or identical to those of the article described in
reference to Figures 1 to 11 with the exception of the fact
that the case 203 comprises two initially separate pieces,
namely, plate 215 and a cover plate 217, the latter being
-- 42 --
20~674~
thinner than plate 215. The plate 215 has a hole which
penetrates into the plate 215 and forms the recess 215c for
lodging the stone carrier 207. In order to assemble the
container 201, the covering plate 217 is connected analogous-
ly to the safety card or plate 205, by ultrasound welding tothe plate 215 in such a way that it cannot be separated from
the plate 215 without damage and/or destruction to the latter
or itself.
Stone carriers 7 and 207 could be replaced by stone
carrier 407 shown in Figure 13. Stone carrier 407 has blind
holes forming receptacles 407a whose shapes and dimensions
are similar or identical to those of receptacles 9a of the
inserts 9. Thus, one may lodge the precious stones directly,
i.e., without inserts corresponding to inserts 9, in the
receptacles of the one-peice stone carrier 407. The use of a
stone carrier 407 permits thus to eliminate inserts 9. If,
however, one desires to position a set of precious stones,
whose individual sizes are relatively different, into
r~ceptacles 407a, it is o~viously necessary to dimension the
receptacles 407a to the largest precious stone in said set
and, as a consequence, to accept that the smallest stones
have relatively much play in the receptacle.
The variant of the article represented in Figure 14
includes a container whose housing includes a case 503 and a
- 43 -
20467~
safety card or plate 505. The case 503 is provided with a
recess 503c corresponding to recess 3c of the case 3, bu~
being closer to the center of the container in recess 3c. A
stone carrier 507 drawn on a larger scale in Figure 15 and
shown separately in Figure 16 is lodged in reces~ 503c of the
case 503. The stone carrier 507 is dimensioned in such a way
that its contour corresponds - from a perpendicular view on
the safety card or plate 505 - at least appxoximately to that
of recess 503c. The side of the stone carrier 507 measured
perpendicularly to the safety card or plate 505 is smaller
than the depth of the recess 503c. The stone carrier 507 is
lodged in the recess 503c in such a way that its side
adjacent to the safety card or plate is flush with the side
corresponding to the case 503. Thus there is a free space in
the form of a slot between the base of the recess 503c and
the stone carrier 507. The latter is provided at least with
one receptacle 507a and, that is to say, a plurality of, for
example, ten receptacles 507a. Each receptacle 507a com-
prises a hole that traverses the stone carrier. Each
20 receptacle 507a or hole has a first section 507b and a
second section 507c~ The first section S07b is disposed at
the side of the stone carrier which is opposite the base of
recess 503c and diminishes conically toward the safety card
or plate 505. The second section 507c is on the side of the
20~674~
stone carrier adjacent to the safety card or plate and is
cylindrical. The diameter of the second section 507c is
greater than the smallest diameter and also greater than the
greatest diameter of the first section 507b. The second
section 507c of the receptacle 507a thus constitutes an
enlargement of the latter. The stone carrier 507 forms an
annular lip 507d which encircles the first section 507b of
each receptacle 507a and projects toward the axis of the
corresponding receptacle. The article comprises precious
stones 511 each of which constitutes a diamond cut in the
shape of a brilliant and is held in one of the receptacles
507a. Since the stone carrier 507 is closer to the center of
the container than the stone carrier 7 of the first article
described, one may optionally displace the signs of the
safety card or plate 05 which correspond to signs 31, 37,
of the card and plate 5 toward the upper edge in such a way
that they are visible between the upper edge of the safety
card or plate 505 and the stone carrier 507.
The case 503 consist of a thermoplastic material, more
precisely, methyl polymethacrylate. The case 503 is - as
the other cases previously described - clear and transparent
in daylight, but preferahly comprises an additive which
renders the case colored under artificial ultraviolet light.
The safety card or plate 505 comprises at least one layer
- 45 -
20467~
and, for example, a plurality of layers of polyvinyl chloride
and, at least on the side adjacent to the case 503 and the
stone carrier 507, a layer of methyl polymethacrylate. The
stone carrier 507 consists of a thermoplastic material, for
example, a mixture of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene.
The stone carrier 507 is otherwise opaque and colored like
the other stone carriers previously described. Case 503 is
rendered solid with the safety card or plate 505 all around
the stone carrier 507 by means of an adhesive connection.
This connection is established during the manufacturing of
the container with the help of an adhesive comprising a
monomer having a methyl methacrylate base capable of
polymerizing with the substances forming the adjacent faces
of the case 503d and the safety card or plate 505. Stone
lS carrier 507 may also be joined to the safety card or plate
5Q5 and optionally, in addition, also with the case 503 by
means of gluing. Since the case 503 and the stone carrier
507 are joined to the safety card or plate by gluing rather
than by ultrasound welding as case 3 and stone carrier 7,
20 case 503 and the stone carrier 507 do not require the ribs
corresponding to ribs 3e, 3f, 3g, and 7d of case 3 and stone
carrier 7.
Each lip 507d encircling and bordering the first conical
section S07b of a receptacle 507a is flexible and resilient.
- 46 -
20467~5
If a receptacle 507a is free from precious stones, the lip
507d projects radially toward the axis of the receptacle
concerned, as is visible in Figur0 16. If a precious stone
511 constituted of a diamond in the form of a brilliant is
lodged in a receptacle 507a, the table 511a of the diamond
touches the base of the recess 503c. The crown 511b of the
diamond i5 thus disposed at least substantially at the
exterior of the recess 507a in the space between the base of
the recess 503c and the stone carrier 507, while the pavilion
511c of the diamond is disposéd at least substantially in the
receptacle 507a, and rests with one portion on the lip ~07d
which is elastically deformed, more precisely, curved toward
the safety card or plate 505. The lip 507d thus clamps the
diamond lightly against the base of the recess 503c and holds
the diamond substantially immobile. The stone carrier 507 is
dimensioned in such a way that it may hold the diamonds
having different sizes in the manner described; the lips 507d
of the stone carrier 507 are thus - depending on the size of
the diamonds - more or less strongly curved. Since the lips
20 507d clamp the precious stones 511 formed by the diamonds
against the base of the recess, they push the stone carrier
507 in the same way against the safety card or plate 505.
One could thus optionally position the stone carrier 507 in
- 47 -
20~67~5
the recess 503c without gluing the same to the safety card or
plate 505.
The article described with reference to Figures-14 to 16
and the use of this article may, furthermore - that is to
say, inasmuch as no other has been described previously - be
similar or identical to the article and the use of the
article described with reference to Fiqures 1 to 11.
The articles may be modified in other ways as well. One
may, for example, lodge in the containers described with
reference to the drawing a number of precious stones which is
lower than the number of holes of the stone carrier. A
container may thus contain a number of stones having any
value between one and ten. Of course, one may also vary the
number and the holes of the stone carriers intended for
lodging a precious stone by means of an insert or directly.
The contour of the container may also be varied. The
container may, for example, have the form of a polygonal
plate having any number of angles or of a circular, ellipti-
cal or oval plate. In place of a case being transparent
everywhere, one could furnish the article with a case whose
housing or wall, covering the sides of the precious stones
intended to be looked at, is transparent while the rest of
the case is in part or altogether opaque. The stone carriers
and inserts may, of course, have any kind of color in place
- 48 -
20~745
of the blue color mentioned. Optionally one could even do
without a separate stone carrier and replace rece~ses 3c and
215c of the case 3 and the plate 215, respectivelyr by a
number of receptacles each of which is designed to lodge and
hold in place a precious ~tone directly.
Moreover, there may be provided an outer housing or shell
that encloses those parts of the containers that are represen-
ted in the various figures. This outer housing or shell may be
formed by two pieces that consist of one of the materials spe-
cified for the case 3 and that are connected with each otherand with the case and/or with the safety card or plate by
welding and/or gluing. The part of the outer housing or shell
contiguous to the outer siede of the safety card or plate has
at least one hole and for instance two oblong holes enabling
access to the two rows of electric contacts of the electronic
chip. The outer housing or shell is preferably perfectly trans-
parent and clear in daylight, but changes its color - i.e. obtains
a color - under an irradiation with artificial ultraviolet
light. If someone cuts open the outer housing or shell and
closes it again, the boundaries resulting thereof will also be
clearly visible under ultraviolet light.
The cases 3 and 503 may be provided with at least one
additional recess being parallel to the recess 3c and 503c,
respectively, and opening into the surface facing the safety
- 49 -
20~67~
card or plate. Moreover, the lateral portions of the stone
carrier 507 may be made thinner than in Figure 15 and
similar to a bellow so that the entire stone carrier is
somewhat resilient and pushes the precious stones away
from the safety card or plate.
One may also modify the information indicated on the
safety card or plate as well as the safety features of the
latter. One could, for example, provide as safety feature a
hologram as well, at least one magnetic support carrying the
information in the form of digital data recorded magneti-
cally and/or a support for digital data recorded similarly as
on an optical data disk and/or a compact disk and optically
readable with the help of a beam produced by a laser.
As has been described previously, the locking and/or
refractory means of the electronic chip are made in such a
way that the attempt to modify the stored information or
data or to read the information or data without sending the
identifying signal or signals may cause an irreversihle lock
and/or irreversible damage. One could, however, make the
electronic chip so that certain locks my be cancelled with
the aid of a special device and by sending at least one
identification signal and/or at least one piece of instruc-
tion which is, for example, only known to the manufacturer of
the electronic chip. Possible damage to the locking and/or
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refractory means or malfunctioning of the electronic chip i5
practically always irreversible.
The information device of a safety card may naturally
comprise more than one electronic chip. On could optionally
even use electronic chips which in place of the electric
contacts have electromagnetic or opto-electronic coupling
means permitting to establish a connection by means of
electromagnetic or optical induction, respectively, and
therefore, without contacts. The information processing
devices could optionally even comprise, in addition to or in
place of an electronic circuit, electromagnetic and/or
magnetic and/or opto-electronic and/or optical means as well
for storing and/or processing digital data and for executing,
for example, logical operations.
The diamonds could, in place of the brilliant cut, have
any other cut. In place of diamonds one could encase, in
addition, other precious stones, for example, emeralds,
sapphires or rubies, in the containers of the type
represented in the drawing. If the articles are prepared
with diamonds or other precious stones which are not cut like
a brilliant, the contours and dimensions of the receptacles
intended to lodge a precious stone may, of course, be adopted
to the contours and dimensions of the precious stones for
holding the latter in an intended position and, in any case,
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in such a way that they always present the same ~ide to a
person who looks through the section of the container
provided.
It is understood that the features of the different
variants of the articles described may be combined in dif-
ferent ways. One may, for example, render the case and the
stone carrier integral with the safety card or plate by a
combined glued and welded connection.
The reading device could also be equipped with at least
one opto-electronic detector connected electronically to the
computer and adapted to detect the alphanumeric sign 61 and
at least one of the luminescent signs 87. The computer
could also verify whether the visible alphanumeric sign 61
and the information stored in the electronic chip 13 which
must represent this sign, in effect, correspond and whether
the safety card or plate 5 in effect comprises at least one
luminescent sign 87.
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