Title of Invention

SECURITY ELEMENT, SUCH AS A THREAD, STRIP AND THE LIKE, FOR SECURITY DOCUMENTS IN GENERAL

Abstract A security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security documents in general, which comprises a nexible backine layer r 1) hal has- on or east one face a layer (2) of metalic material provided with reeions m which the thickness of the metal is less than 70 %and more than 25 % of the thickness of the laver of tmetalic material of the nearby portons, and further comprises a layer (3) of embossed holographic lacquer between the hacking layer (1) and the layer (2)metalic material.
Full Text WO 2004/098900 PCT/EP2004/004767
1
SECURITY ELEMENT, SUCH AS A THREAD, STRIP AND THE LIKE,
FOR SECURITY DOCUMENTS IN GENERAL
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a security element such as thread, strip,
patch and the like for security documents in general.
Background Art
As is known, security threads that allow correct interpretation even by
visual inspection, without necessarily resorting to particular instruments or
devices, have already been used in the production of security documents,
such as for example bank notes, certificates, passports and the like.
Among solutions of this kind, mention should be made of a security
thread, disclosed in EP0 319 157, which is substantially constituted by a
strip of plastic material on which a layer of metallic material, generally
aluminum, is deposited; areas are provided thereon in which graphic
markings, text or the like are written in hollow form, since they are formed
by metal-free regions located so as to maintain the metallic continuity of the
thread.
The most widely used solution for producing this thread is the use of
systems for demetallizing aluminum vaporized in vacuum on a polyester
film.
Over time, it has been found that this type of execution, which initially
had a good degree of security, can be circumvented, since counterfeiters, by
virtue of the increased availability of technology, have succeeded in
providing very valid simulations by virtue of punch transfer methods or
even by using laser beams for marking.
Another known solution that used this type of thread entailed insertion in
the paper with the so-called windowing technique, disclosed for example in
US 4,186,943, which provided for the insertion of the strip inthe paper with
protrusion of the thread in a selected and controlled position so as to be able
to see all the characteristics of the security thread in reflected light in the

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places where it lies outside the paper and the texts or graphic markings
without metal in transmitted light in the places where the thread is inserted
in the paper, thus achieving a further function for such thread.
In this case also, counterfeiters have been able to simulate the thread
system by depositing similar materials, by using a punch and/or laser beam
technique.
To increase the degree of security, solutions have already been devised in
which additional security elements were applied to the thread with a
holographic technique or the like, but in these solutions the text region
provided in hollow form, or with partial or complete covering of the text, as
disclosed for example in EP 0 330 733, produced an absence of holographic
detection also on the character or graphic markings, so that the counterfeiter
could still use punch or laser application.
Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks cited above, by
providing a new type of security element, such as a thread, strip, patch and
the like, for security documents in general, that allows to extend
considerably the degree of protection, combining with conventional threads
the possibility to have a holographic representation or otherwise a
representation that varies the colors that are reflected as a function of the
type of light and of the angle with which they are struck.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a security
element in which it is possible to have continuity of the holographic
characteristics or of the color variation also in the regions where text is
provided.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a security element
that thanks to its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving
the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a security element,
such as a thread, strip and the like, for security documents in general, that

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can be obtained easily starting from commonly commercially available
elements and materials and is also competitive from a merely economical
standpoint.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent
hereinafter are achieved by a security element, such as a thread, strip and the
like, for security documents in general, according to the invention, which
comprises a flexible backing layer that has, on at least one face, a layer of
metallic material provided with regions in which the thickness of the metal
is less than 70% and more than 25% of the thickness of the layer of metallic
material of the nearby portions, characterized in that it comprises a layer of
embossed holographic lacquer.
Brief description of the drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become
better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive
embodiment of a security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for
security documents in general, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of the security element according to the
invention, in the form of a strip;
Figure 2 is a layered view of the security element of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a layered view of a security element with a layer of color-
shifting material;
Figure 4 is a schematic view showing an embedded thread of the
document that cannot be detected in reflected light;
Figure 5 is a schematic view, showing the thread that is detectable in
transmitted light.
Ways to carrying out the Invention
With reference to the figures, the security element, such as a thread, strip,
patch and the like, for security documents in general, comprises a flexible
backing layer, designated by the reference numeral 1, which is

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advantageously made of polyester according to conventional methods.
A layer of metallic material 2 is provided on the backing layer 1, and on
said layer there are regions, schematically designated by the reference
numeral 3, in which the thickness of the metal is less than 70% and more
than 25% of the thickness of the layer of metallic material of the nearby
portions, i.e., the thickness is therefore comprised between 25 and 70% of
the thickness of the layer of metallic material of the nearby portions, as
shown in WO 2004/014665 Al, which is assumed included herein by
reference.
Explicitly with reference to Figures 1 and 2, an important particularity of
the invention consists in that a holographic lacquer, designated by the
reference numeral 5, is preferably interposed between the backing layer 1
and the layer of metallic material 2, and is embossed so as to provide a
holographic representation or optionally an exelgram, a pixelgram, an e-
beam, a kinegram and so forth; although the best results have been achieved
with the solution described above, the holographic lacquer can also be
arranged on top of the metallic layer or on the other face of the backing
layer.
The holographic lacquer 5 is covered completely by the aluminum,
which is deposited in vacuum and, after providing the regions 3, a
continuity of the hologram is obtained even in the regions 3 that show
graphic markings, designs, letters and so forth, differently from the
solutions of the background art, which provided an interruption of the
hologram at the recessed regions that constituted the text, since the metallic
layer was not present in these regions.
With the embodiment described above, by using a layer that has metallic
continuity on its entire surface it is possible to combine the possibility to
detect the reduced-thickness regions that in practice constitute the recessed
lettering with the additional security that arises from the presence of the
hologram, which has continuity on the various thicknesses of metal, and

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accordingly a variation of the holographic representation is obtained while
maintaining its continuity.
According to what is shown in Figures 3 to 5, the security element is
again constituted with the base layer, designated by the reference numeral 1,
and with the layer of metallic material 2 provided with the regions 3, in a
manner fully similar to what has been described earlier.
The difference arises from the fact that there is a layer of material 10 that
shifts color depending on the type of light and on the angle of incidence of
the light; the color-shifting layer 10 is provided for example by a fluorescent
ink or color-shifting ink that allows to have color-shifting areas in a parallel
and/or alternating manner and in any case in register with the regions 3 that
have a different thickness of metal; the color-shifting layer can optionally
have a solid background.
Furthermore, with the thread inserted in the document, generally
designated by the reference numeral 20, the thread is not visible in reflected
light, as shown in Figure 4, and is instead visible in transmitted light and, if
viewed from the side provided with the metallic layer, the typical
characteristic of the metallic layer is combined with the color variability that
is provided by the layer 10 made of a material that has particular color
properties.
It should be noted that the thread can be embedded completely in the
document or inserted with the so-called "windowing" technique. The
security element, once inserted in the document is always visible at
openings provided on at least one face of the document..
The layer 10 can be arranged in the most disparate manner, i.e., it can be
arranged so as to have portions that are alternated with the regions 3 or
optionally continuously and in any case in any type of application that
allows to define a constant relation between the presence of the layer and
the regions 3.
Another possibility to increase the security characteristics is to provide

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magnetic elements in register with the regions 3; said magnetic elements can
be of different kinds and can be for example of the type shown in EP
310707.
From the above description it is thus evident that the invention achieves
the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a
security element, such as a thread, strip and the like is provided which
allows, by using a continuous metallic layer, to have continuity in the
holographic representation and continuity even if inks that produce color-
shifting effects are used, while having a differentiation of the color aspect
depending on the different thickness of the metallic layer.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications
and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be modified according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2003A000929 from
which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

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CLAIMS
1. A security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security
documents in general, comprising a flexible backing layer (1) that has, on at
least one face, a layer (2) of metallic material provided with regions (3) in
which the thickness of the metal is less than 70% and more than 25% of the
thickness of the layer of metallic material (2) of the nearby portions,
characterized in that it comprises a layer (5) of embossed holographic
lacquer.
2. A security, element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security
documents in general, comprising a flexible backing layer (1) that has, on at
least one face, a layer (2) of metallic material provided with regions (3) in
which the thickness of the metal is less than 70% and more than 25% of the
thickness of the layer (2) of metallic material of the nearby portion,
characterized in that it comprises, on said backing layer (1), a layer (10) of
material that shifts color according to the type of light and angle of
incidence of the light, said layer (10) of color-shifting material being in any
case in register with said regions (3).
3. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (5) of holographic lacquer is
arranged between said backing layer (1) and said layer of metallic material
(2)-
4. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (5) of holographic lacquer is
arranged on top of said layer of metallic material (2).
5. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (5) of holographic lacquer is
arranged on said backing layer (1), on the opposite face with respect to said
metallic layer (2).
6. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that the holographic representation visible on said

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metallic layer (2) |is different between-said regions (3) and the remaining
part.
7. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
applied with ajsolid background.
8. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
arranged between said backing layer (1) and said layer/'(3y of metallic
material.
9. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
arranged above said metallic layer (2).

10. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
arranged on said backing layer (1), on the opposite face with respect to said
metallic layer (2).
11. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
constituted by a fluorescent ink.
12. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
constituted by a layer of color-changing ink.
13. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said layer (10) of color-shifting material is
arranged so as to be parallel and/or alternated with respect to said regions
(3).
14. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said security element (1,20), once inserted in
the document, is invisible in reflected light and is visible m transmitted
light.

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15. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said security element (1,20), once inserted in
the document, is always visible at openings provided on at least one face of
said document.
16. The security element according to one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it comprises magnetic elements in register with
said regions (3).
17. The security element according to one or more of the preceding ,
claims, characterized in that said magnetic elements provide a magnetically
detectable code.
18. A document in general, characterized in that it comprises a security
element (1) according to the preceding claims.


A security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security documents in general, which comprises a nexible backine layer r 1) hal has- on or east one face a layer (2) of metalic material provided with reeions m which the thickness of the metal is less than 70 %and more than 25 % of the thickness of the laver of tmetalic material of the nearby portons, and further comprises a layer (3) of embossed holographic lacquer between the hacking layer (1) and the layer (2)metalic material.

Documents:

02028-kolnp-2005-abstract.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-claims.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-description complete.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-drawings.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-form 1.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-form 2.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-form 3.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-form 5.pdf

02028-kolnp-2005-international publication.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(11-04-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(11-04-2012)-FORM-1.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(11-04-2012)-FORM-2.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(11-04-2012)-FORM-3.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(11-04-2012)-FORM-5.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(19-03-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(19-03-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(19-03-2012)-PA-CERTIFIED COPIES.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(23-12-2011)-CERTIFIED COPIES(OTHER COUNTRIES).pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(23-12-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE-1.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(23-12-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(23-12-2011)-FORM-13.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-(23-12-2011)-FORM-6.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 13.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 18.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 26.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 3.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 5.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-FORM 6.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GPA.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-LETTER PATENT.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-OTHERS.pdf

2028-KOLNP-2005-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-02028-kolnp-2005.jpg


Patent Number 251130
Indian Patent Application Number 2028/KOLNP/2005
PG Journal Number 09/2012
Publication Date 02-Mar-2012
Grant Date 27-Feb-2012
Date of Filing 17-Oct-2005
Name of Patentee FABRIANO SECURITIES S.R.L.
Applicant Address VIA DEL LINFANO, 38062 ARCO (TRENTO), ITALY
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LAZZERRINI, MAURIZIO VIA ADAMELLO, I-20070 CERROAL LAMBRO, ITALY
PCT International Classification Number B42D 15/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2004/004767
PCT International Filing date 2004-05-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 MI2003A000929 2003-05-08 Italy