Patent US6062604A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6062604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Self-verifying security documents
Assignee: Securency Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1997-10-08
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2017-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A self-verifying security document, such as a banknote (1) comprises a flexible sheet formed from a plastics substrate (2) bearing indicia (3). The sheet has a window (5) of transparent plastics material which includes self-verification means (11) for verifying a security device (4) provided at a laterally spaced second portion of the sheet when the sheet is bent or folded to bring the window (5) into register with the security device (4). The self-verification means may be an optical lens (11) for reading an area of microprinting (10). In another embodiment, the self-verification means may be an optical filter (21) for viewing an area (22) printed with metameric inks. In other embodiments, the self-verification means and the security device (4) may be polarising windows (31, 32) or Moire inducing patterns (41, 42).
Inventors
- 👤 John Charles Taylor
- 👤 Bruce Alfred Hardwick
- 👤 Wayne Kevin Jackson
- 👤 Paul Zientek
- 👤 Cameron Rex Hibbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:20
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B42D25/328; B42D25/342; B42D25/351; G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/04; G03G21/043; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/128; G07D7/20; G07D7/202; G07D7/206; G07D7/207; B42D2035/36; B42D2035/44; B42D2035/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A security document, such as a banknote, comprising a single flexible sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having a first portion of transparent plastics material, and a security device provided at a second portion of the sheet spaced laterally from the transparent first portion, wherein the transparent first portion includes self-verification means to verify or inspect the security device when the sheet is bent, folded or twisted to bring the first and second portions into register with one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A security document, such as a banknote, comprising a single flexible sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having a first portion of transparent plastics material, and a security device provided at a second portion of the sheet spaced laterally from the transparent first portion, wherein the transparent first portion includes self-verification means to verify or inspect the security device when the sheet is bent, folded or twisted to bring the first and second portions into register with one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is formed from a transparent plastics substrate to which at least one opacifying layer is applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A security document according to claim 2 wherein said at least one opacifying layer only partially covers the surface of the substrate to leave at least said first portion essentially indicia-free.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document according to claim 2 wherein the at least one opacifying layer comprises a coating of opacifying ink applied to the transparent plastics substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the flexible sheet is generally rectangular and the first and second portions are so disposed that folding of the sheet about a centre line brings the first and second portions into register.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is oblong having a major axis and a minor axis and the first and second portions are so disposed that folding of the sheet about a line coincident with or parallel to the major axis or the minor axis brings the first and second portions into register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is generally rectangular and the first and second portions are so disposed that folding of the sheet about a diagonal axis brings the first and second portions into register.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the flexible sheet is able to be rolled to form a cylinder and the first and second portions are so disposed that rolling of the flexible sheet into a cylinder brings the first and second portions into register.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the self verification means of the first portion comprises an optical lens and the security device provided at the second portion comprises a feature which can be inspected, enhanced or optically varied by the optical lens when the first and second portions are brought into register.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A security document according to claim 9 wherein the optical lens is a magnifying lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document according to claim 10 wherein the security device comprises an area of microprinting, a small image or a fine line or filigree pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A security document according to claim 9 wherein the optical lens is a distorting lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A security document according to claim 12 wherein the security device comprises a feature or image which is distorted by the distorting lens when the first and second portions are brought into register.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A security document according to claim 12 wherein the security device comprises a distorted feature or image which is corrected by the distorting lens when the first and second portions are brought into register.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A security document according to claim 9 wherein the optical lens is formed by embossing, engraving or otherwise deforming the first portion of transparent plastics material with a series of lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A security document according to claim 9 wherein the optical lens is formed by applying a curable varnish or coating to the first portion of transparent plastics material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the security device comprises an area of the sheet printed with metameric inks, and the self-verification means comprises an optical filter for viewing the area printed with metameric inks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A security document comprising a sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having an essentially indicia-free portion of transparent plastics material, wherein the transparent, essentially indicia-free portion includes a colour tinted optical filter for viewing an area printed with metameric inks on the same or a different security document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A security document comprising a sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having an essentially indicia-free portion of transparent plastics material, wherein the transparent, essentially indicia-free portion includes a colour tinted optical filter for viewing an area printed with metameric inks on the same or a different security document.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A security document according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the optical filter is arranged to create a restricted or altered wavelength environment to reveal colour changing properties of the area printed with metameric inks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A security document according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the optical filter is produced by including pigments with a polymer in the production of a plastics film substrate to colour tint the substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A security document according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the optical filter is formed by applying a tinted varnish or coating over the transparent portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document according to claim 1 the self-verification means comprises a first polarising transparent window and the security device comprises a second polarising transparent window.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A security document comprising a flexible sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having an essentially indicia-free window of transparent plastics material with polarisation characteristics for verifying a second transparent polarising window at another location on the same or a different security document.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A security document comprising a flexible sheet formed from a substrate bearing indicia, said sheet having an essentially indicia-free window of transparent plastics material with polarisation characteristics for verifying a second transparent polarising window at another location on the same or a different security document.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
58 words
A security document according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the first transparent polarising window has a first plane polarisation axis and the second transparent polarising window has a second plane polarisation axis and the windows are disposed so that when the windows are brought into register the intensity of light transmitted through the windows is reduced.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
A security document according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the portion of the sheet including the first polarising window is able to be twisted or rotated relative to the second polarising window to vary the intensity of light transmitted through the polarising windows when they are in register.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A security document according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein each polarising window is formed by stretching the transparent plastics substrate in one direction during manufacture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A security document according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the transparent plastics substrate includes liquid crystals to form the polarising window or windows.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A security document according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein a coating containing liquid crystals is applied to at least one transparent, essentially indicia-free portion of the sheet to form a polarising window.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the self-verifying means comprises a feature including a first set of lines and the security device comprises a feature including a second set of lines, wherein an interference effect is produced when the security document is bent or folded o bring the self-verifying means and the security device into register.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A security document according to claim 29 wherein the self-verifying means and the security device are Moire inducing patterns.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
A security document according to claim 29 or claim 30 wherein the self-verifying means and the security device are arranged at transversely spaced locations of the sheet such that when the sheet is folded over itself to bring the self-verifying means and the security device into register, the second set of lines is inclined to the first set of lines.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security document according to claim 29 wherein the first and second sets of lines are printed on the first and second portions of the sheet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
A security document according to claim 29 wherein the first and second sets of lines are embossed or engraved on the first and second portions of the sheet.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
59 words
A security document according to claim 1 wherein the self-verifying means comprises a first part of an image and the security device comprises a second part of an image, said first and second parts together forming a complete image when the flexible sheet is bent, folded or twisted over itself to bring the first and second portions into register.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A security document according to claim 34 wherein the second part of the mage is provided on a transparent window.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A security document according to claim 34 wherein the second part of the image is hidden by an opacifying coating in reflected light but visible in transmitted light.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
A security document according to claim 34 wherein the first and second parts of the image are printed on the first and second portions of the sheet.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A security document according to claim 34 wherein the first and second parts of the image are embossed or engraved on the first and second portions of the sheet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of verifying a security document in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of bending, folding or twisting the flexible sheet to bring the first portion of the sheet including the self-verifying means into register with the security device provided at the second portion of the sheet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |