EP0194042A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Embossed articles
Assignee: De la Rue International Ltd
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Filing: 1986-02-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A subtrate, (1) e.g. of thermoplastic or paper material, has embossed thereon first (2a) and second (2b) non-light diffracting relief elements which define first and second patterns, respectively. The patterned area is uniformly reflective. For example, the first relief elements (2a) form a background area in which are arranged the second elements (2b) in the shape of a company logo. The first (2a) and second (2b) relief elements are so strutured that when the direction of view thereof is changed from a first to a second direction the relative perceived distinctness of the first and second patterns is changed. The substrate may form part of a security document whose au t hen- ticity may be checked by ensuring that the relative distinctness of-the two patterns changes with the angle of view.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Edward Chatwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:44
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/324; B42D25/20; B42D25/328; B42D25/40; B42D25/405; B42D25/425; B44; B44C; B44C1/00; B44C1/16; B44C1/165; B44C1/17; B44C1/1712; B44C1/1729; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/08; B44F1/10; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/083; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; B42D2033/18; B42D2033/20; B42D2033/28; B42D2035/02; B42D2035/06; B42D2035/08; B42D2035/16; B42D2035/20; B42D2035/24; B42D25/45; B42D25/455; B42D25/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An article having a surface which comprises an embossed patterned uniformly reflective portion which portion includes first and second non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements defining first and second patterns, respectively, the first and second relief elements being so structured that when the direction of view of the surface is changed from a first to a second direction the relative perceived distinctness of the first and second patterns is changed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An article having a surface which comprises an embossed patterned uniformly reflective portion which portion includes first and second non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements defining first and second patterns, respectively, the first and second relief elements being so structured that when the direction of view of the surface is changed from a first to a second direction the relative perceived distinctness of the first and second patterns is changed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
2(a). An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface is of a thermoplastic material; (b) an article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patterned portion is of a paper material; or (c) an article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patterned portion comprises a photograph surface. 3(a). An article as claimed in.any one of the preceding claims wherein the patterned portion is ink-free; or (b) an article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the patterned portion is inked, the relief elements and the recesses therebetween being uniformly inked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3(a), which has a sheet or foil adhered over at least part of the patterned portion, which sheet or foil is contiguous with underlying relief elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An article as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sheet or foil comprises light diffracting elements, the article optionally having recorded thereon the distance between a feature defined by the relief elements and a feature defined by the diffracting elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the patterned area includes at least three patterns defined by non-light diffracting relief elements, the relief elements being so structured that when the direction of view is changed from a first to a second to a third and, appropriately, subsequently directions, the relative perceived distinctness of the patterns is changed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the relief elements are not less than 10 µm high, preferably from 20 to 200 pm high, and more preferably from 50 to 150 µm high.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the relief elements comprise solid or broken lines and there are from 40 to 500 lines per inch (16-200 lines/cm), preferably from 80 to 180 lines per inch (32-72 lines/cm).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first relief elements are of a different height from the second relief elements.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of forming an embossed surface, comprising stamping or moulding a material to define an embossed patterned surface portion which includes first and second non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements defining first and second patterns, respectively, the first and second relief elements being so structured than when the direction of view of the surface is changed from a first to a second direction the perceived relative distinctness of the first and second patterns is changed.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of forming an embossed surface, comprising stamping or moulding a material to define an embossed patterned surface portion which includes first and second non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements defining first and second patterns, respectively, the first and second relief elements being so structured than when the direction of view of the surface is changed from a first to a second direction the perceived relative distinctness of the first and second patterns is changed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
11(a). A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the surface portion is of a thermoplastic material; or (b) a method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the surface portion is of a paper material. 12(a). A method as claimed in claim 11(a) wherein the thermoplastic material is stamped and thermoplastic ink material is placed between the surface and the stamping plate whereby it fuses to the surface when it is stamped; (b) a method as claimed in claim 11(a) wherein the thermoplastic material is moulded and the moulding plate is inked with a plastisol ink so that under the heat and pressure of moulding the plastisol cures and bonds to the thermoplastics material; (c) a method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the material is stamped and the stamping plate is simultaneously used to apply a foil or sheet to the material in a hot foil blocking process; or (d) a method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the material is a photograph which is stamped prior to being secured to a security document or is stamped in a hot foil blocking process in which the photograph is secured to an identity document.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of hot foil blocking a sheet or foil onto a surface wherein the blocking die has a portion comprising a pattern of recesses to apply, at least partly through the sheet or foil, a corresponding non-diffracting relief pattern to the surface, or an article having a surface which comprises an embossed patterned portion, which portion includes non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements, and a foil or sheet adhered over at least a part of the embossed patterned area and contiguous with underlying relief elements, in either case the sheet or foil optionally comprising a diffraction pattern.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of hot foil blocking a sheet or foil onto a surface wherein the blocking die has a portion comprising a pattern of recesses to apply, at least partly through the sheet or foil, a corresponding non-diffracting relief pattern to the surface, or an article having a surface which comprises an embossed patterned portion, which portion includes non-light diffracting pattern defining relief elements, and a foil or sheet adhered over at least a part of the embossed patterned area and contiguous with underlying relief elements, in either case the sheet or foil optionally comprising a diffraction pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 or 13 which is a security document; a method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the material constitutes at least a part of a security document; or a security marking or a decoration on an article which marking or decoration comprises an embossed patterned surface portion as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 or 13 or which has been made by a method as defined in any one of claims 10 to 13.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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