Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
PROTECTING AN ARTIC~E
THIS INVENTIGN relates to protecting an article.
It relates more speci~ically to a method o~ rendering a
predetermined sur~ace portion of the article tamperproo~.
It relates also to a composite, layered article including
an article which is tamperproo~.
The Applicant believes that this invention can
aavantageously be applied to articles in layer or sheet
~orm, most advantageously to such articles carr~ing
insignia ~e.g. in the ~orm of letters ~orming words,
figures or numbers, diagrams, znd the like) in visible ~o~.
(e.g. in written, typewritten, printed or like ~orm), such
as cheques, bonds, share certi~icates, other negotiable
documents, non-negotiable documents or cards such as
identity cards, drivers licences, passports, and the like.
In accor~ce with a ~irst aspect o~ this
invention, there i5 provided a method o~ rendering a
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTnUS96/14700
predetermined sur~ace portion o~ an article tamperproo~,
including
adhering a transmissive layer over said predetermined
sur~ace portion;
severing said sur~ace portion into ~ragments; and
retaining said ~ragments in their original positions
and orientations by means o~ said transmissive layer.
By "transmissive layer~ is meant a layer having
properties appropriate to allow access to the sur~ace
portion to allow the sur~ace portion to be used ~or its
intended purpose. For example, i the sur~ace portion
carries insignia intended to be observed by the eye, the
transmissive layer will be transparent, e.g. in the ~orm o~
a transp~rent ~ilm.
Adhering the transmissive layer over said
predetermined surface portion may be ~rom a ~irst side
corresponding with said predetermined sur~ace portion, the
method including adhering a second layer over said article
~rom a second side opposite to said ~irst side. Severing
said sur~ace portion into ~ragments may then be e~ected
~rom said second side, severing being in respect o~ the
second layer and the article in unison.
The method may include also severing the
transmissive layer and said predetermined sur~ace portion
into ~ragments, and retaining said ~ragments in their
CA 02232065 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTrUS96/14700
original positions and oriencations by means of said second
layer. Said severing, or said severing ~rom the second
side, may be e~ected by cutting into and through the
predetermined sur~ace portion, said cutting not penetrating
through the transmissive l~yer.
However, severing the transmissive layer and said
predetermined surlace portion may be e~~ected Irom the
~irst side by cutting into and through the transmissive
layer and the predetermined sur~ace portion, said cutting
not penetrating through the second layer.
Cutting ~rom the second side may be by ~orming
cuts in parallel. Similarly, cutting ~om the ~irst side
may be by ~orming cuts in parallel. Pre~erably, cutting
~rom the ~lrst side may be transverse to cutting ~rom the
second side, such that cuts, even though thev may
intersect, will not coincide ~or any appreciable distance.
By way o~ development, cutting ~rom the second
side may be by ~orming cuts in criss-cross or chequered
~ashion, e.g. by means o~ two sets o, parallel lines which
~0 are mutually transverse, conveniently about perpendicular.
Similarly, cutting ~rom the ~irst side may be by
~orming cuts in criss-cross or chequered ~ashion such that
cu~s ~rom the ~irst side do not coincide ~or any
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
WO 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
appreclable distance with cuts ~rom the second side. Thus,
advantageously, respective cuts ~rom the ~irst side may be
generally parallel to and o~set ~rom respective cuts ~rom
the second side.
5It is important to appreciate that the cuts need
not be straight; they may, ~or example, be wavy.
In accordance with a second aspect o~ this
invention, there is provided a composite layered article
including
10an article having a pr_determined sur~ace portion
which is to be rendered tamperproo~;
a transmissive layer adhering to a ~irst side o~ the
article over said predetermined sur~ace portion, the
Fredetermined sur~ace portion being severed into ~ragments,
lSthe ~ragments being retained in their original positions
and orientations by means o~ the transmissive layer.
In a pre~erred embodiment, the article may be in
the ~orm o~ a sheet carrying insignia on the sur~ace
portion. The insignia may be intended to be observed by
20the eye, the transmissive layer then being in the ~orm o~
a transparent ~ilm.
The composite layered article may include also a
second layer adhering to a second side o~ the article
opposite to said ~irst side, said second layer and the
CA 0223206~ l998-03-l3
W O 97/10107 PCTAJS96/14700
article in the regicn o~ the predetermined surrace portion
~ heing severed in unison by means o~ cuts penetrating the
composite article ~rom the second side and extending
through the article, but not penetrating through the
transmissive layer.
Similarly, the composite layered article may be
severed also by means o~ cuts ~rom the ~irst side
penetrating the transmissive layer and the predetermined
sur~ace portion and nct penetrating thrcugh the second
layer, to ~orm ~ragments which are retained in their
original positions and orientations by means o~ the second
layer.
Said cut~ ~rom the second side may be parallel.
Said cuts From the ~irst side may be parallel.
Advantageously, said cuts ~rom the second side and said
cuts ~rom the ~irst side may be mutually transverse, such
that the respective cuts, even though they may intersect,
will not coincide for any appreciable distance.
By way o~ development, said cuts ~rom the second
side may be in criss-cross or chequered ~ashion, e.g. in
the ~orm o~ two sets o~ parallel llnes which are mutually
transverse, conveniently about perpendicular.
Similarl~r, said cuts from the ~irst side may be
in criss-cross or chequered ~ashion and such that they do
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
not coincide ~or any appreciable distance with cuts ~rom
the second side. Thus, advantageously, respective cuts
~rom the ~irst side may be parallel to and o~se~ ~rom
respective cuts rrom the second side.
5Advantageously, said article may be in the ~orm
o~ a document carrying insignia in the ~orm o~ at least one
o~ letters ~orming words, ~igures and diagrams.
Said document may be in the form o~ a negctiable
document. Instead, it may be in the ~orm o~ another kind
10o~ document o~ which the integrity is important, such as an
identity card, a driver's licence, a passport, or the like.
The invention is now described by wav o~ example
with re~erence to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
In the drawings
15Figure 1 shows, in ~rontal view, a partially cut-away
view o~ a composite layered article in accordance with the
invention in the ~orm o~ a negotiable document;
Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the
negotiable document in side view;
20Figure 3 shows, to a much enlarged scale,
~ragmentarily, an edge view o~ the negotiable document o~
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows a
developed and more elaborate cutting pattern applied to the
25composite layered article.
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTAJS96/14700
With rererence to Figures l to 3 o~ the drawings,
a composite layered article in accordance with the
invention, and more speci~ically including an article 12 in
the ~orm o~ a negotiable document, is generally indicated
by re~erence numeral lO. The negotiable document 12 is in
the ~orm o~ a sheet 12 carrying insignia in the ~orm o~ =
letters ~orming words, ~igures or the like and can be in
written, type-written, printed, or like ~orm. The
negotiable document in the ~orm o~ the sheet 12 is rendered
tamperproof in accordance with this invention.
A covering layer o~ a transmissive material 16
adheres to an upperside or ~irst side o the sheet 12,
directly over the insignia 14.
A second layer 18 covers the rea~ or the reverse
side o~ the sheet 12.
Thus, the sheet 12, sandwiched between, and
together with, the ~irst or transmissive layer 16 and the
second or rear layer 18, ~orm a composite article in
accordance with the invention, and more speci~ically such
that the insignia 14 on the sheet 12 are rendered
~ tamperproo~ in accordance with the invention. For clarity
o~ drawing, the transmissive layer 16 is shown as i~ torn
o~ at 16.1 to show the sheet 12 underneath. Similarly,
the sheet 12 is shown as i~ torn o~ as indicated by
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
re~erence numeral 12.1 to shGw the second layer 18
underneath.
The insignia 14 are intended to be observed by
the eye. Thus, the transmissive layer 16 is in the ~orm o~
a transparent ~ilm, e.g. o~ a synthetic polymeric material,
another kind o~ synthetic material, or the like.
The sheet 12 may be o~ paper or other material
suitable to carry the insignia 14.
The transmissive layer 15 may adhesively be
attached to the sheet 12, instead it may be heat sealed to
the sheet 12, instead it may be bonded in any other
convenient and e~Eective way to the sheet 12.
The bottom layer 18, in this embodiment, is
merely a covering layer and can be o~ any convenient
material. It may conveniently be o~ the same material as
the transmissive layer 16. In other embodiments, ~or
example where the sheet 12 carries insignia also on a rear
thereo~, also the second or bottom layer 18 will be a
suitably transmissive layer. Adhering the bottom layer 18
to the sheet 12 may be done similarly to adhering the
transmissive layer 16 to the sheet 12.
In this embodiment, substantially all o~ the
sur~ace area o~ the sheet 12 carries insignia and the whole
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTrUS96/14700
area o~ the sheet is to be regarded as a predetermined
sur~ace portion in accordance with this invention. Thus,
the whole o~ the sur~ace has been treated to be tamperproo~
in accordance with the invention.
In accordance with the invention, the bottom
layer 18 and the sheet 12 have been severed by cutting as
indicated by re~erence numeral 20 in ~ragments, more
speci~ically elongate ~ragments lying obliquely across the
com~osite article lC. The Iragments are retzined in their
original positions and orientations, to ensure that the
insignia 1~ are undisturbed, by means o~ the transmissive
l~yer 15. From Figure 3, it can be appreciated that the
cuts 20 enter the composite article 10 ~rom the rear and
penetrate into the composite article 10 such that at least
the bottom layer 18 and the sheet 1 are penetrated. In
practice, the Applicant expects that it may be necessary to
extend the cuts 20 also partially into the transmissive
layer 16, but such that the cuts ,0 do not extend through
the transmissive layer 16. The cuts 20 are numerous and
closely spaced - generally much more so than shown
diagrammatically in Figure 1 o~ the drawings.
Should there be an attempt to al~er the insignia
14, access to the insignia has to be obtained. Thus, in
the area where an alteration is to be made, the
.5 transmissive layer 15 or the second layer 18 will have to
be removed or the sheet 1~ has to be split, or the like to
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
render the insignia 14 accessible. Thus, also the
retaining ~unction oc the transmissive layer 15 or the
second layer i5 nulli~ied and the ~ragments are no longer
held together and the document is e~ectively destroyed in
the region attempted to be altered.
Similarly, oblique cuts 2~ are applied ~rom the
top o~ the composite article 10 through the transmissive
layer 16, through the sheet 12 and only partially into the
bottom layer 18. This enhances the bene~icial e~ect o~
the invention in that even smaller fragments, e.g. in the
rorm o~ small blocks as can be perceived f rom the centre
portion o~ Figure 1 showing the sheet 12, are ~ormed. As
can also be perceived best ~rom Figure 1, the cuts 20 are
in parallel to one another, the cuts 22 are in parallel to
one another and the cuts 20 and 22 are respectively
transverse, more particularly at about right angles in this
embodiment.
It is to be appreciated that the cuts 20 and 22,
although they intersect, will not coincide ~or any
appreciable distance.
With re~erence to Figure ~, basically the same
composite layered article 10 o~ Figure 1 is shown and the
same or similar re~erence numerals denote the same or
similar components or ~eatures.
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCT~US96/14700
However, the cuts ~rom the second side are
executed in criss-cross or chequered ~ashion as indicated
at 20.1 and 20.2 respectively, in contrast to the parallel
lines 20 o~ the Figure 1 embodime~t.
Similarly, the cuts ~rom the ~irst side are
executed in criss-cross or chequered ~ashion as indicated
at 22 1 and 22.2 respectively, in contrast to the parallel
7ines 22 o~ the Figure 1 embodiment.
It is very important that those cuts ~rom the
~irst and second sides which are parallel, are o~set with
respect to one another such that,in the document 12 where
all o~ the cuts are applied, the cuts 22.1 extend in
between the cuts 20.1 and do not coincide with the cuts
20.1. Similarly, the cuts 22.2 extend in between the cuts
20.2 and do not coincide with the cuts 20.2. Thus, ~or
example, each cut 20.1 in the article 12 is covered from
above by means o~ a strip (which is transversely severed)
o~ the transmissive layer 16 in between cuts 22.1 in the
transmissive layer. Similarly, each cut 20.2 in the
article is covered ~rom above by means o~ a strip (which is
transversely severed) o~ the transmissive layer 16 in
between cuts 22.2. Thus, no cut extends through the depth
or thickness of the composite article 10, i.e. each cut is
covered along one extremity o~ the cut by a strip o~
material either o~ the transmissive layer 16, or o~ the
second layer 18. (It is to be appreciated that each o~ the
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTrUS96/14700
strips rererred to above is transverselv severed, i.e.
transversely to the respective cut in question). In this
~ashion, the ccmposite layered article 10 is held intact.
However, in accordance with the invention, should
the composite article 10 be tampered with by removing a
portion o~ the transmissive layer 16 cr o~ the second layer
18, or ir the layer 12 is split to gain access to the
insignia 14, e.g. to e~ect alterations, such covering
strips or portions are removed, causing the composite
document 10 to ~ragmentize in the a~ected region which
will render the tampering evident.
It is an advantage o~ the embodiment o~ Figure ~
that the integrity o~ the composite article 10 ayainst
tampering is enhanced because the respective layers 6 and
18 are severed into blocks as opposed to merely strips, and
the article 12 being protected is severed into blocks
generally about one quarter o~ 'che size o~ the
corresponding blocks o~ the Figure 1 embodiment.
I~ desired, a portion or portions o~ the document
12 may be lei~t uncovered, or may be le~t uncut 60 as not to
inter~ere with operations e~ected by banks and the like,
e.g. by means o~ magnetic or optical readers, or the like,
used in the processing o~ cheques and other documents.
The Applicant is aware that there has been a
steady increase in the number o~ incidences relating to
CA 0223206~ 1998-03-13
W O 97/10107 PCTAJS96/14700
~raudulent alteration o~ negotiable documents or
instruments such as cheques, bonds, share certilicates and
the like by altering, ~or example, the name o~ the payee or
the amount payable, or both. It is thus an advantage o~
the current invention that, inter alia, such negotiable
documents can be rendered tamperproof to the extent that
any attempt to tamper with the document is irreversibly
exposed.
