Credit instrument with fields identifying values of each digit of the amount

Abstract: A credit instrument (100) comprising at least one region (110a, 110b) in which an indication of an amount of the credit instrument (100) can be written, the amount being suitable of being expressed by a predetermined number of digits each associated with a different degree of significance, in which, for each digit, a set (125i5-125f2) of fields identifying possible values of the digit is provided, each field being suitable of being marked substantially irreversibly according to the amount of the credit instrument (100).

Description: The present invention relates to a credit instrument and, in particular, to a credit instrument according to the preamble of the first claim. A credit instrument, which is commonly used to execute commercial transactions, is a document on which the value of a certain amount (a credit) is given (handwritten or printed); this document confers on the person who possesses it the right to demand the amount from the person who has issued the credit instrument, or from another person on his instruction. A disadvantage of known credit instruments is that the amount can be forged relatively easily. The use of credit instruments cannot therefore be guaranteed to be safe and reliable in all circumstances. A known solution used in a particular type of credit instrument (a banker's draft) consists of the provision of various boxes in each of which a different value is pre-printed; the box which shows the value immediately above the amount of the banker's draft is perforated by a suitable punch; this ensures that the amount of the banker's draft cannot exceed this maximum value. The solution described above does not, however, ensure that the banker's draft is not forged since it is possible to change its amount to any value between the value shown in the perforated box and the value shown in the immediately preceding box. Moreover, this solution cannot easily be applied to credit instruments of other types such as, for example, bank cheques, since it requires the use of a punch which is not generally available to a person filling out the bank cheque manually. Document US 4,864,111 describes a numerical instrument comprising a first location array defining a plurality of digit location for entry of numerals to define a number amount and a second location array I the form of a grid having columns corresponding to digit locations. The grid may be filled in to correspond to the number amount indicating in the first location array. Document US 4,667,985 discloses a bank check or like instrument analogous to the one described by the above mentioned patent US 4,864,111. The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. To achieve this object, a credit instrument as described in the first claim is proposed. In short, the present invention provides a credit instrument of the type comprising at least one region in which an indication of an amount of the credit instrument can be written, the amount being capable of being expressed by a predetermined number of digits each associated with a different weight, in which, for each digit, a set of fields identifying possible values of the digit is provided, each field being capable of being marked substantially irreversibly according to the amount of the credit instrument. A corresponding method of drawing up a credit instrument is also proposed as defined by claim 10. Further characteristics and the advantages of the credit instrument according to the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1a is a schematic view of a bank cheque, and Figure 1b shows a detail of the cheque on an enlarged scale. With reference in particular to Figure 1a, this shows a bank cheque 100; the bank cheque is a credit instrument containing an unconditional order by a person (the drawer) to a bank to pay a predetermined amount; the issuing of the cheque requires that sufficient funds for its payment be in the bank, generally in the form of deposits in a current account at the bank. The cheque 100 is constituted by a document, generally made of paper, on which various data are pre-printed, for example, the name of the bank on which the cheque is drawn up and which is therefore designated to pay the amount (Bank_name), the address of the bank (Bank_office, Bank_address), a progressive number identifying the cheque (No. 0,000,238,656-02), the payment order ("Pay the sum of"), the currency in which the amount of the cheque is expressed (Euros), the codes identifying the bank (ABI 1234, CAB 12345), and the current account number (C/C 123456). The cheque 100 also provides various regions to be filled in, such as, for example, a region 105 in which to write the place and the date of issue of the cheque, two regions 110a and 110b in which to write the value of the amount of the cheque in figures and in words, respectively a region 115 in which to write the name of the payee to whose order the cheque is drawn (if it is not drawn to the bearer), and a region 120 for the signing of the cheque by the drawer. Similar remarks apply if the cheque has a different structure, different preprinted data and other regions to be filled in (which may vary, for example, according to different national legislations), if the cheque is crossed or is not transferable, or if a travellers' cheque, a banker's draft, or a bill of exchange is used or, more generally, in relation to the use of any other credit instrument having at least one region in which an indication of the amount of the cheque can be written (in figures and in words, in figures alone, or in words alone, etc). The amount of the cheque 100 is constituted by a number (1,307.12 in the example shown in the drawing) which can be expressed by an ordered sequence of digits each of which is less than a base of the numeration system used; typically, the base-10 or decimal numeration system is used, and the digits thus have values of between 0 and 9. A decimal point (or a comma) is interposed between the digits of the number, separating the integer digits (to the left of the point) from the fractional digits (to the right of the point); in the case of a number without fractional digits (an integer) the point which would be disposed to the right of the number, is generally omitted. The value of the number is obtained by adding the individual digits, each multiplied by 10 raised to the power of an index (a degree of significance or order) depending linearly on the distance of the digit from the point (a positive index for integer digits and a negative index for fractional digits). For example, the number 1,307.12 is equal to 1·10 3 + 3·10 2 + 0·10 1 + 7·10 0 + 1·10 -1 +2·10 -2 . The value of the number does not change if one or more digits equal to 0 precede the integer digits or follow the fractional digits (if there is a finite number thereof) or the point; these zero digits, which are known as non-significant digits, are distinguished from the significant digits which cannot be eliminated without changing the value of the number. A predetermined number of digits (significant and non-significant), for example, 8 digits constituted by 6 integer digits and 2 fractional digits, will now be considered to be set for the amount of the cheque 100; similar remarks apply if the predetermined number of digits is different, if the amount is constituted solely by integer digits (in the case of a currency such as the Italian Lira which does not provide for fractional amounts), etc. In the example illustrated in the drawing, the amount of the cheque 100 can thus be expressed by the digits 001,307.12. In the cheque according to the present invention, for each digit, there is a set of fields which identify the possible values of the digit (0-9), and each of which can be marked substantially irreversibly (as described in detail below); in particular, for the integer digits associated with the degrees of significance 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0, there are respective sets 125i5, 125i4, 125i3, 125i2, 125i1 and 125i0 and, for the fractional digits associated with the degrees of significance -1 and -2, there are respective sets 125f1 and 125f2. The amount of the cheque 100 can thus be identified by marking a single field in each set 125i5-125f2; for example, as shown in the drawing, the amount 1,307.12 is identified by marking the fields with the values 0,0,1,3,0,7,1 and 2, in the sets 125i5, 125i4, 125i3, 125i2, 125i1, 125i0, 125f1 and 125f2, respectively. This solution ensures that the amount of the cheque cannot be forged; for this purpose, it suffices to check that one and only one field is marked in each set 125i5-125f2 and that the fields marked correspond to the amount written in the regions 110a and 110b. This makes the use of the cheques very secure and reliable. Moreover, the cheque of the present invention ensures that the amount cannot be greater than a maximum value depending on the predetermined maximum number of digits (999,999.99 in the embodiment in question). It is thus possible to produce cheques with different maximum values according to their use, for example, with a low maximum value for private use by individuals and with a high maximum value for commercial use by companies. The sets 125i5-125f2 are combined graphically in groups associated with homogeneous degrees of significance, for example, the group 125i5-125i3 for thousands, the group 125i2-125i0 for units, and the group 125f1-125f2 for fractional digits. Within each group 125i5-125i3, 125i2-125i0 and 125f1-125f2, digits 0-9, followed (except for the 0) by a number of Os increasing linearly (starting from zero) from left to right, are pre-entered in the fields of each set 125i5-125f2; for example, with reference to the group 125i2-125i0, the figures 0-9 (units) are pre-entered in the fields of the set 125i0, the figures 0-90 (tens) are pre-entered in the fields of the set 125i1, and the figures 0-900 (hundreds) are pre-entered in the fields of the set 125i2. This facilitates reading of the amount corresponding to the fields marked in the sets 125i5-125f2; the cheque of the present invention may, however, also be produced with the sets 125i5-125f2 combined in a different manner (or not at all), simply with the digits 0-9 pre-entered in the fields of all of the sets 125i5-125f2, with the fields left blank and with the provision of one or more columns with the digits 0-9 pre-entered beside all of the sets, or with other equivalent indications. Typically, the cheque 100 is rectangular. Preferably, an indentation 130a and two indentations 130b-130c are provided on a lower edge and on a righthand side edge of the cheque 100, respectively. This enables the orientation of the cheque 100 to be verified automatically, for example, in an optical reader or in any other equivalent device. Similar remarks apply if the indentations are formed on other edges or, more generally, if the cheque has a different asymmetric shape. Moreover, locating holes 135 are formed in the vicinity of the sets 125i5-125f2, for the automatic detection of the position of the sets 125i5-125f2 by the optical reader; the locating holes 135 are constituted by two rows (each comprising 4 holes), disposed below and above the sets 125i5-125f2, respectively, (alternatively, there is a different number of holes, the holes are in another position, or other equivalent means are provided). Each bank can therefore arrange the sets 125i5-125f2 in any position within the cheque 100; this also enables the optical reader correctly to detect the fields marked in the sets 125i5-125f2 even when there are alignment errors caused by a process for printing and cutting the cheque 100. On the cheque 100 (in the vicinity of its lower edge), there is also a bar-code representation 140a of the current account number (to the left of the indentation 130a) and a bar-code representation 140b of the cheque number and of the bank identification code (to the right of the indentation 130a). This enables this data (or other equivalent data identifying the cheque) to be detected automatically by the optical reader. One or more fields 143, similar to the fields of the sets 125i5-125f2 and disposed in the vicinity of the lower edge of the cheque 100 are used, when marked, to identify the type of cheque such as, for example, a non-transferable or crossed cheque, etc. The characteristics described above enable a process for controlling the cheques to be automated (at least partially). Cheques received at a bank counter are in fact sorted at the end of each day according to the bank on which they are drawn and are then sent to that bank; each bank checks its own cheques, verifying the signature, the existence of funds for payment (cover) in the current account, and the match between the indication of the amount in figures and in writing. All of these operations are currently performed manually. However, the bar code 140b enables the cheques received at each bank counter to be sorted automatically extremely easily and economically; the bar code 140a and the sets 125i5-125f2 (with the respective locating holes 135) then enable each bank to check the cover in the current account and the fields 143 enable the cheques to be sorted automatically, according to their types. The optional use of an optical character recognition (or OCR) system also enables the signature and the match between the indication of the amount in figures, the indication of the amount in writing, and the fields marked in the sets 125i5-125f2 to be checked automatically. The cheque of the present invention may, however, also be produced in a symmetrical form without locating holes, bar-code information, or fields identifying the type of cheque (for example, if there is no provision for automatic reading thereof). With reference now to Figure 1b (elements already shown in Figure 1a are identified by the same reference numerals), each field 145 of the set 125i0 (similar remarks apply to the other sets and to the fields identifying the type of cheque) is constituted by a box (or another similar structure) comprising a portion 150 which can be removed manually (as described in detail below). This enables the field corresponding to the amount of the cheque to be marked in each group simply by removing the removable portion. This solution is particularly advantageous in the case of a bank cheque (although its use in other credit instruments is not excluded) since it enables the drawer to mark the fields corresponding to the amount of the cheque directly (for example with the tip of a ball-point pen used to fill out the cheque) without the need to use a special instrument. The holes defined by the removed portions make forging of the amount of the cheque extremely difficult (if not impossible); moreover, they facilitate automatic detection of the fields thus marked (by means of the optical reader). The cheque according to the present invention may, however, also be produced with fields which are marked by being shaded (for example, by means of a ball-point pen), with fields covered by a silvered film which is removed (for example, by means of a sharp body), etc. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, in the vicinity of each corner of the box 145, there is an incision 155 which follows an outline of the removable portion 150; the removable portion 150 is thus connected to the rest of the cheque by means of thin interconnecting strips 160 extending from the centre of each edge of the outline of the removable portion 150. This structure makes removal of the removable portion 150 extremely easy. Similar remarks apply if the incisions, and hence the interconnecting strips, are arranged in different positions, if perforations are provided along the outline of the removable portion, etc. Preferably, the boxes of each set are aligned, for example, vertically, with the pre-entered digits arranged in increasing order towards the bottom (from 1 to 9 and then 0) and the boxes of each set are offset relative to the corresponding boxes of the adjacent sets. This prevents the cheque from being weakened excessively if several portions 150 disposed in the same line are removed. The cheque of the present invention may, however, also be produced with the boxes aligned horizontally and not offset, etc. Naturally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the above-described credit instrument many modifications and variations, all of which, however, are included within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims: A credit instrument (100) comprising at least one region (110a, 110b) in which an indication of an amount of the credit instrument (100) can be written, the amount being suitable of being expressed by a predetermined number of digits, each associated with a different weight, the credit instrument (100) includes, for each digit, a set (125i5-125f2) of fields (145) identifying possible values of the digit, each field (145) being suitable of being marked substantially irreversibly according to the amount of the credit instrument (100) characterized in that each field (145) includes a manually removable portion (150) which can be removed for marking the corresponding field. A credit instrument (100) according to Claim 1, in which each set (125i5-125f2) comprises 10 fields (145) each with a different pre-entered digit from 0 to 9, the pre-entered digit being alone or being followed by at least one 0. A credit instrument (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a plurality of incisions (155) is formed in the credit instrument (100) in each field (145) so that the removable portion (150) is connected to a remaining portion of the credit instrument (100) by means of a plurality of interconnecting strips (160). A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the fields (145) of each set (125i1) are aligned with one another and are offset relative to the corresponding fields (145) of the adjacent sets (152i2, 125i0). A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the credit instrument (100) has an asymmetric shape (130a-130c) so that its orientation can be checked automatically. A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, further comprising means (135) for the automatic detection of a position of the sets (125i5-125f2). A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, further comprising a bar-code representation (140a, 140b) of data identifying the credit instrument (100). A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one further field (145) which can be marked substantially irreversibly according to the type of the credit instrument (100). A credit instrument (100) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the credit instrument is a bank cheque. A method of drawing up a credit instrument (100) comprising the step of writing at least one indication of an amount of the credit instrument (100), the amount being suitable of being expressed by a predetermined number of digits each associated with a different degree of significance, the method comprising the step of marking substantially irreversibly for each digit, according to the amount of the credit instrument (100), a single field (145) of a set (125i5-125f2) of fields identifying possible values of the digit, characterized in that said marking step includes manual removing of a portion (150) of said single field so as to define an hole in said single field.

Inventors: GUERRINI DARIO, GUERRINI, DARIO
Applicants: GUERRINI DARIO, GUERRINI, DARIO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: B42D15