PROTECTING AN ARTICLE

Abstract: An article (12), especially when in sheet form such as a document and which carries insignia like letters and numerals on a first side, is rendered tamperproof by adhering a transmissive (16), e.g. transparent layer to the first side of the article over the insignia (14), and severing the article from a second side opposed to the first side, e.g. by means of cuts, which do not penetrate through the transmissive layer (16). A second layer (18) can be adhered to the second side and the layered article can be severed also from the first side, e.g. by means of cuts which do not coincide with the cuts from the second side and which do not penetrate through the transmissive layer (16). The portions of the article carrying the insignia (14) are held in their original orientations and positions by the intact portions of respectively the transmissive layer (16) and the second layer (18). If the insignia are accessed, e.g. to alter the insignia, the portions carrying the insignia (14) are no longer held in place, which is readily detectable.

Description: PROTECTING AN ARTICLE THIS INVENTION relates to protecting an article. It relates more specifically to a method of rendering a predetermined surface portion of the article tamperproof . It relates also to a composite, layered article including an article which is tamperproof. The Applicant believes that this invention can advantageously be applied to articles in layer or sheet form, most advantageously to such articles carrying insignia le.g. in the form of letters forming words, figures or numbers, diagrams, and the like) in visible form (e.g. in written, typewritten, printed or like form; , such as cheques, bonds, share certificates, other negotiable documents, non-negotiable documents or cards such as identity cards, drivers licences, passports, and the like. In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of rendering a predetermined surface portion of an article tamperproof, including adhering a transmissive layer over said predetermined surface portion; severing said surface portion into fragments; and retaining said fragments in their original positions and orientations by means of said transmissive layer . By "transmissive layer" is meant a layer having properties appropriate to allow access to the surface portion to allow the surface portion to be used for its intended purpose. For example, if the surface portion carries insignia intended to be observed by the eye, the transmissive layer will be transparent, e.g. in the form of a transparent film. Adhering the transmissive layer over said predetermined surface portion may be from a first side corresponding with said predetermined surface portion, the method including adhering a second layer over said article from a second side opposite to said first side. Severing said surface portion into fragments may then be effected from said second side, severing being in respect of the second layer and the article in unison. The method may include also severing the transmissive layer and said predetermined surface portion into fragments, and retaining said fragments in their original positions and orientations by means of said second layer. Said severing, or said severing from the second side, may be effected by cutting into and through the predetermined surface portion, said cutting not penetrating through the transmissive layer. However, severing the transmissive layer and said predetermined surface portion may be effected from the first side by cutting into and through the transmissive layer and the predetermined surface portion, said cutting not penetrating through the second layer. Cutting from the second side may be by forming cuts in parallel. Similarly, cutting from the first side may be by forming cuts in parallel. Preferably, cutting from the firεt side may be transverse to cutting from the second side, such that cuts, even though they may intersect, will not coincide for anv appreciable distance. By way of development, cutting from the second side may be by forming cuts in criss-cross or chequered fashion, e.g. by means of two sets cf parallel lines which are mutually transverse, conveniently about perpendicular. Similarly, cutting from the first side may be by forming cuts in criss-cross or chequered fashion such that cuts from the first side do not coincide for any appreciable distance with cuts from the second side. Thus, advantageously, respective cuts from the first side may be generally parallel to and offset from respective cuts from the second side. It is important to appreciate that the cuts need not be straight; they may, for example, be wavy. In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a composite layered article including an article having a predetermined surface portion which is to be rendered tamperproof; a transmissive layer adhering to a first side of the article over said predetermined surface portion, the predetermined surface portion being severed into fragments, the fragments being retained in their original positions and orientations by means of the transmissive layer. In a preferred embodiment, the article may be in the form of a sheet carrying insignia on the surface portion. The insignia may be intended to be observed by the eye, the transmissive layer then being in the form of a transparent film. The composite layered article may include also a second layer adhering to a second side of the article opposite to said first side, said second layer and the article in the region of the predetermined surface portion being severed in unison by means of cuts penetrating the composite article from 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 of cuts from the first side penetrating the transmissive layer and the predetermined surface portion and not penetrating through the second layer, to form fragments which are retained in their original positions and orientations by means of the second layer. Said cuts from the second side may be parallel. Said cuts from the first side may be parallel. Advantageously, said cuts from the second side and said cuts from the first side may be mutually transverse, such that the respective cuts, even though they may intersect, will not coincide for any appreciable distance. By way of development, said cuts from the second side may be in criss-cross or chequered fashion, e.g. in the form of two sets of parallel lines which are mutually transverse, conveniently about perpendicular. Similarly, said cuts from the first side may be in criss-cross or chequered fashion and such that they do not coincide for any appreciable distance with cuts from the second side. Thus, advantageously, respective cuts from the first side may be parallel to and offset from respective cuts from the second side. Advantageously, said article may be in the form of a document carrying insignia in the form of at least one of letters forming words, figures and diagrams. Said document may be in the form of a negotiable document. Instead, it may be in the form of another kind of document of which the integrity is important, such as an identity card, a driver's licence, a passport, cr the like. The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings Figure 1 shows, in frontal view, a partially cut-away view of a composite layered article in accordance with the invention in the form of a negotiable document; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the negotiable document in side view; Figure 3 shows, to a much enlarged scale, fragmentarily, an edge view of the negotiable document of Figure 1 ; and Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows a developed and more elaborate cutting pattern applied to the composite layered article. With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a composite layered article in accordance with the invention, and more specifically including an article 12 in the form of a negotiable document, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The negotiable document 12 is in the form of a sheet 12 carrying insignia in the form of letters forming words, figures or the like and can be in written, type-written, printed, or like form. The negotiable document in the form of the sheet 12 is rendered tamperproof in accordance with this invention. A covering layer of a transmissive material 16 adheres to an upperside or first side of the sheet 12, directly over the insignia 14. A second layer 13 covers the rear or the reverse side of the sheet 12. Thus, the sheet 12, sandwiched between, and together with, the first or transmissive layer 16 and the second or rear layer 18, form a composite article in accordance with the invention, and more specifically such that the insignia 14 on the sheet 12 are rendered tamperproof in accordance with the invention. For clarity of drawing, the transmissive layer 16 is shown as if torn off at 16.1 to show the sheet 12 underneath. Similarly, the sheet 12 is shown as if torn off as indicated by reference numeral 12.1 to show the second layer 18 underneath. The insignia 14 are intended to be observed by the eye. Thus, the transmissive layer 16 is in the form of a transparent film, e.g. of a synthetic polymeric material, another kind of synthetic material, or the like. The sheet 12 may be of paper or other material suitable to carry the insignia 14. The transmissive layer 16 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 effective way to the sheet 12. The bottom layer 18, in this embodiment, is merely a covering layer and can be of any convenient material. It may conveniently be of the same material as the transmissive layer 16. In other embodiments, for example where the sheet 12 carries insignia also on a rear thereof, 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 of the surface area of the sheet 12 carries insignia and the whole area of the sheet is to be regarded as a predetermined surface portion in accordance with this invention. Thus, the whole of the surface has been treated to be tamperproof 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 reference numeral 20 in fragments, more specifically elongate fragments lying obliquely across the composite article IC . The fragments are retained in their original positions and orientations, to ensure that the insignia 14 are undisturbed, by means of the transmissive layer 16. From Figure 3, it can be appreciated that the cuts 20 enter the composite article 10 from the rear and penetrate into the composite article 10 such that at least the bottom layer 18 and the sheet 12 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 20 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 of the drawings . Should tnere be an attempt to alter the insignia 14, access to the insignia has to be obtained. Thus, in the area where an alteration is to be made, the transmissive layer 15 or the second layer 18 will have to be removed or the sheet 12 has to be split, or the like to render the insignia 14 accessible. Thus, also the retaining function of the transmissive layer 16 or the second layer is nullified and the fragments are no longer held together and the document is effectively destroyed in the region attempted to be altered. Similarly, oblique cuts 22 are applied from the top of the composite article 10 through the transmissive layer 16, through the sheet 12 and only partially into the bottom layer 18. This enhances the beneficial effect of the invention in that even smaller fragments, e.g. in the form of small blocks as can be perceived from the centre portion of Figure 1 showing the sheet 12, are formed. As can alεo be perceived best from 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 for any appreciable distance. With reference to Figure 4, basically the same composite layered article 10 of Figure 1 is shown and the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components or features . However, the cuts from the second side are executed in criss-cross or chequered fashion as indicated at 20.1 and 20.2 respectively, in contrast to the parallel lines 20 of the Figure 1 embodiment. Similarly, the cuts from the first side are executed in criss-cross or chequered fashion as indicated at 22.1 and 22.2 respectively, in contrast to the parallel lines 22 of the Figure 1 embodiment. It is very important that those cuts from the first and second sides which are parallel, are offset with respect to one another such that, in the document 12 where all of 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, for example, each cut 20.1 in the article 12 is covered from above by means of a strip (which is transversely severed) of the transmissive layer 16 in between cuts 22.1 in the transmissive layer. Similarly, each cut 20.2 in the article is covered from above by means of a strip (which is transversely severed) of 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 of the cut by a strip of material either of the transmissive layer 16, or cf the second layer 18. It is to be appreciated that each of the strips referred tc apove is transversely severed, i.e. transversely to the respective cut m question) . In this fashion, 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 of the transmissive layer 16 or of the second layer _8, or if the layer 12 is split to gain access to the insignia 14, e.g. to effect alterations, such covering strips or portions are removed, causing the composite document 10 to fragmentize in the affected region which will render the tampering evident. It is an advantage of the embodiment of Figure 4 that the integrity of the composite article 10 against tampering is enhanced because the respective layers 16 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 of the size of the corresponding blocks of the Figure 1 embodiment . If desired, a portion or portions of the document 12 may be left uncovered, or may be left uncut so as not to interfere with operations effected by banks and the like, e.g by means of magnetic or optical readers, or the like, used m the processing of cheques and other documents. The Applicant is aware that there has been a steady increase in the number of incidences relating to 97/10107 PC17US96/14700 13 fraudulent alteration of negotiable documents or instruments such as cheques, bonds, share certificates and the like by altering, for example, the name of the payee or the amount payable, or both. It is thus an advantage of 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.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of rendering a predetermined surface portion of an article tamperproof, including adhering a transmissive layer over said predetermined surface portion,- severing said surface portion into fragments,- and retaining said fragments in their original positions and orientations by means of said transmissive layer. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the predetermined surface portion carries insignia intended to be observed by the eye, the transmissive layer being in the form of a transparent film. 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 cr Claim 2 in which adhering the transmissive layer over said predetermined surface portion is from a first side corresponding with said predetermined surface portion, the method including adhering a second layer over said article from a second side opposite to said first side. 4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 in which severing said surface portion into fragments is effected from said second side, severing being in respect of the second layer and the article in unison. 5. A method as claimed in Claim 4 which includes also severing the transmissive layer and said predetermined surface portion into fragments, and retaining said fragments in their original positions and orientations by means of said second layer. 6. A method as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 5 inclusive in which said severing, or said severing from the second side, is effected by cutting into and through the predetermined surface portion, said cutting not penetrating through the transmissive layer. 7. A method as claimed in Claim 5 in which said severing from the second side is effected by cutting from the second side into and through the second layer and the predetermined surface portion, said cutting not penetrating through the transmissive layer. 8. A method as claimed in Claim 7 in which severing the transmissive layer and said predetermined surface portion is effected from the first side by cutting into and through the transmissive layer and the predetermined surface portion, said cutting not penetrating through the second layer . 9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which cutting from the second side is by forming cuts in parallel. 10. A method as claimed in Claim 9 in which cutting from the first side is by forming cuts in parallel. 11. A method as claimed in Claim 10 in which cutting from the first side is transverse to cutting from the second side. 12. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which cutting from the second side is by forming cuts in criss-cross or chequered fashion. 13. A method as claimed in Claim 12 in which cutting from the first side is by forming cuts in criss-cross or chequered fashion such that cuts from the first side do not coincide for any appreciable distance with cuts from the second side . 14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 in which respective cuts from the first side are generally parallel to and offset from respective cuts from the second side. 15. A composite layered article including an article having a predetermined surface portion which is to be rendered tamperproof; a transmissive layer adhering to a first side of the article over said predetermined surface portion, the predetermined surface portion being severed into fragments, the fragments being retained in their original positions and orientations by means of the transmissive layer. 16. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 15, in which the article is in the form of a sheet carrying insignia on the surface portion. 17. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 16 in which the insignia are intended to be observed by the eye, the transmissive layer being in the form of a transparent film. 18. A composite layered article as claimed in any one of Claim 15 to Claim 17 inclusive which includes a second layer adhering to a second side of the article opposite to said first side, said second layer and the article in the region of the predetermined surface portion being severed in unison by means of cuts penetrating the composite article from the second side and extending through the article, but not penetrating through the transmissive layer. 19. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 18 which is severed also by means of cuts from the first side penetrating the transmissive layer and the predetermined surface portion and not penetrating through the second layer, to form fragments which are retained in their original positions and orientations by means of the second layer. 20. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 19 in which said cuts from the second side are parallel. 21. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 20 in which said cuts from the first side are parallel. 22. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 21 in which said cuts from the second side and said cuts from the first side are mutually transverse. 23. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 19 in which said cuts from the second side are in criss¬ cross or chequered fashion. 24. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 23 in which said cuts from the first side are in criss- cross or chequered fashion and do not coincide for any appreciable distance with cuts from the second side. 25. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 24 in which respective cuts from the firεt side are parallel to and offset from respective cuts from the εecond side. 26. A composite layered article as claimed in any one of Claim 15 to Claim 25 inclusive in which εaid article is in the form of a document carrying insignia in the form of at least one of letters forming words, figureε and diagrams . 27. A composite layered article as claimed in Claim 26 in which said document is in the form of a negotiable document . 28. A method of rendering a predetermined surface portion of an article tamperproof, substantially as herein described and illuεtrated. 29. A compoεite layered article, subεtantially as herein described and illustrated.

Inventors: ROTHSCHILD MARK RORY, ROTHSCHILD, MARK, RORY
Applicants: HANDELMAN JOSEPH H, ROTHSCHILD MARK RORY, HANDELMAN, JOSEPH, H., ROTHSCHILD, MARK, RORY
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: B42D15