Simulated security thread by cellulose transparentization

Claim 2

A security document, comprising: a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces; said transparentized portion comprising a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces so as to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate; said area of increased transparency including at least one thin line; and said area of increased transparency resembling a simulated security thread.

Claim 3

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate further comprises printed indicia on at least one of said first and second major surfaces.

Claim 4

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises material selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fibers, vegetable fibers, plant fibers, plastics, synthetics, and polymeric films, and combinations thereof.

Claim 5

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is comprised of a web of material.

Claim 6

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is comprised of an individual cut sheet.

Claim 7

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said transparentizing composition is applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define a plurality of thin lines.

Claim 8

The security document of claim 1 , wherein the width of said simulated security thread is between about 0.015 and about 0.0625 inches.

Claim 9

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines an area of reduced thickness.

Claim 10

The security document of claim 8 , wherein said area of reduced thickness lies on said first major surface.

Claim 11

The security document of claim 8 , wherein said area of reduced thickness lies on both said first major surface and said second major surface.

Claim 12

The security document of claim 8 , wherein said area of reduced thickness is between about 0.0005 and about 0.002 inches thick.

Claim 13

The security document of claim 8 , wherein said area of reduced thickness defines said transparentized portion.

Claim 14

The security document of claim 12 , wherein said transparentized portion defines said simulated security thread.

Claim 15

The security document of claim 12 , wherein the thickness of said transparentized portion does not exceed the thickness of the remainder of said substrate.

Claim 16

The security document of claim 12 , wherein said transparentized portion has a higher density than the remaining areas of said substrate.

Claim 17

The security document of claim 8 , wherein said area of reduced thickness defines a groove in said substrate.

Claim 18

The security document of claim 16 , wherein said groove is slightly rounded along the top and bottom portions of said groove.

Claim 19

The security document of claim 16 , wherein said groove has relatively vertical side walls.

Claim 20

The security document of claim 16 , wherein said transparentizing composition is applied to said groove, which defines said transparentized portion in said substrate.

Claim 21

The security document of claim 19 , wherein said transparentized portion defines said simulated security thread.

Claim 22

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said substrate defines a textured portion and wherein said at least one thin line is further defined by said textured portion.

Claim 23

The security document of claim 21 , wherein said textured portion and said transparentized portion lie in common areas of said substrate.

Claim 24

The security document of claim 22 , wherein said textured portion and said transparentized portion define substantially identical boundaries and wherein said textured portion and said transparentized portion are positioned in substantial alignment on said substrate.

Claim 25

The security document of claim 21 , wherein said textured portion defines a variable thickness profile and wherein said transparentizing composition is applied across said variable thickness profile such that said area of increased transparency defines a varying transparency.

Claim 26

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said transparentizing composition comprises a radiation-curable composition.

Claim 27

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said transparentizing composition is selected so as to cure upon contact with said substrate.

Claim 28

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said transparentizing composition further comprises a security agent.

Claim 29

The security document of claim 27 , wherein said security agent is a photochromic agent, a thermochromic agent, a fluorescent agent, a coloring agent, a fragrance, a UV ink, an optically variable ink, or a combination thereof.

Claim 30

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said transparentized portion further comprises a printed portion, which comprises printed matter.

Claim 31

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter is completely covered by said transparentizing composition.

Claim 32

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter is partially covered by said transparentizing composition.

Claim 33

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter comprises a line of text written in white ink, thermochromic ink, photochromic ink, or combinations thereof.

Claim 34

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter lies in said area of reduced thickness of said substrate.

Claim 35

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter comprises an amount field of a negotiable document.

Claim 36

The security document of claim 29 , wherein said printed matter comprises a secure data field.

Claim 37

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said at least one thin line comprises a first simulated security thread and a second simulated security thread.

Claim 38

The security document of claim 36 , wherein said first and second simulated security threads are formed on the same said major surface of said substrate.

Claim 39

The security document of claim 36 , wherein said first and second simulated security threads are formed on said first and second major surfaces, respectively, of said substrate.

Claim 40

The security document of claim 36 , wherein said first simulated security thread is a first color and wherein said second simulated security thread is a second color.

Claim 41

The security document of claim 39 , wherein said first color is different than said second color.

Claim 42

The security document of claim 36 , wherein said first simulated security thread overlaps with said second simulated security thread.

Claim 43

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said simulated security thread is linear.

Claim 44

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said simulated security thread is curvilinear.

Claim 45

The security document of claim 43 , wherein said curvilinear simulated security thread is asymmetrical.

Claim 46

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said simulated security thread has a varying width.

Claim 47

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said simulated security thread is discontinuous.

Claim 48

The security document of claim 46 , wherein said discontinuous simulated security thread comprises a plurality of individual discrete simulated security threads.

Claim 49

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said at least one simulated security thread extends in a direction which is parallel to a machine direction of said substrate.

Claim 50

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said at least one simulated security thread extends in a direction which is parallel to a cross-web direction of said substrate.

Claim 51

The security document of claim 1 , wherein said at least one simulated security thread extends in a direction which is diagonal between a machine direction and a cross-web direction of said substrate.

Claim 52

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises at least one compound selected from compounds of the formula: wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 1-20 and is independent of x and z; and wherein if any of R, R′, or R″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different; or wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 1-20 and is independent of x and z; and R′″ is H or a group of the formula: wherein R, R′, and n are as defined as above, wherein if any of R, R′, R″ or R′″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different.

Claim 53

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises at least one compound selected from compounds of the formula: wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 1-20 and is independent of x and z; and wherein if any of R, R′, or R″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different; or wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 1-20 and is independent of x and z; and R′″ is H or a group of the formula: wherein R, R′, and n are as defined as above, wherein if any of R, R′, R″ or R′″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different.

Claim 54

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises: i) a cationic catalyzable constituent selected from 1) a vinyl ether, 2) a polyepoxide, 3) a mixture of vinyl ethers, 4) a mixture of polyepoxides, or 5) a mixture of at least one of a vinyl ether and at least one of a polyepoxide; ii) a free radical catalyzable constituent selected from at least one compound of the Formula: wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 0-20 and is independent of x and z; and wherein if any of R, R′, or R″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different; and iii) a catalyst constituent selected from 1) a free radical catalyst, 2) a mixture of free radical catalysts, 3) a living cationic catalyst, 4) a mixture of living cationic, catalysts, or 5) mixtures of at least one of a free radical catalyst and at least one of a living cationic catalyst.

Claim 55

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises: i) a cationic catalyzable constituent selected from 1) a vinyl ether, 2) a polyepoxide, 3) a mixture of vinyl ethers, 4) a mixture of polyepoxides, or 5) a mixture of at least one of a vinyl ether and at least one of a polyepoxide; ii) a free radical catalyzable constituent selected from at least one compound of the Formula: wherein, R″ is any mono- or polyfunctional organic radical; R is H or CH 3 ; R′ is H or —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 with the proviso that —C(O)C(R)═CH 2 occurs at least once; x is an integer 0-4 and indicates the number of functional groups on R″ which are reactive with ethylene or propylene oxide; z is an integer 1-4 and may vary independently of x and n; n is an integer 0-20 and is independent of x and z; and wherein if any of R, R′, or R″ are greater than one, their identities and the number of each may be the same or different; and iii) a catalyst constituent selected from 1) a free radical catalyst, 2) a mixture of free radical catalysts, 3) a living cationic catalyst, 4) a mixture of living cationic, catalysts, or 5) mixtures of at least one of a free radical catalyst and at least one of a living cationic catalyst.

Claim 56

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, methacrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, and vinyl ethers.

Claim 57

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, methacrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, and vinyl ethers.

Claim 58

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises a polymer consisting of aliphatic monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, methacrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, and vinyl ethers.

Claim 59

A security document comprising a finished cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said substrate defines first and second major surfaces, said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to at least one of said first and second major surfaces to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate resembling a simulated security thread, and wherein said transparentizing composition comprises a polymer consisting of aliphatic monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, methacrylic esters of polyhydric alcohols, and vinyl ethers.