Abstract:
A copy-resistant coupon including a human-readable section with text formed by reflective areas and dark-colored areas, and a machine-readable bar code section composed of reflective bars appearing in a light-colored background. Photosensitive devices used in copiers and bar code scanners interpret the reflective areas as dark, such that the reflective bars in the bar code stand out as dark in high contrast to their light-colored background, and are easily readable by the bar code scanner, while the human-readable section when copied will show reflective areas and dark-colored areas both as dark with little or no contrast between them and revealing that copying has taken place. The coupons are made with printing methods that apply dark- and light-colored inks to metallicized paper, or apply metallic inks to dark- or light-colored surfaces of papers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to retail merchandise discount coupons, and more particularly to a coupon structure and a method for making coupons that provides coupons that are resistant to fraudulent copying and redemption.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In the marketing of retail products, e.g., at supermarkets, merchandisers often promote sales with discount coupons, often referred to as “cents off” coupons, that are redeemed at the point of sale by the customer. The coupons have a human readable section that contains, e.g., the name of the product, the amount of the discount, expiration date, and any other terms and conditions for use. The coupons also have a bar code section readable by a bar code reader with similar information that can be scanned and processed by a store&#39;s checkout software to perform tasks such as: verify the product is actually being purchased, automatically process the discount, tally the resulting discounted cost on the customer&#39;s bill, and provide a record, by manufacturer, of the discounts processed by the store. The store in effect advances the amount of the coupon discount to the customer on behalf of the manufacturer, and the manufacturer is obligated to reimburse the store for the advances, plus a handling fee.  
         [0003]     Once redeemed by the store, it is customary for the coupons to be forwarded in bulk to a clearing house or redemption house that automatically scans the coupon bar codes, totals the individual coupons and arranges for appropriate transfers of funds from coupon-issuing manufacturers to coupon-redeeming stores.  
         [0004]     A problem has arisen in that as coupon values have increased, customers or retailers (and organized crime) have found it lucrative to fraudulently copy legitimate coupons and redeem the fraudulent copies. Such copies are typically made with color photocopiers, or with scanned images printed on a color printer. Because of the quality of modern reproduction devices, it often is difficult to distinguish such copies from originals. Manufacturers have grounds to object when counterfeit coupons are redeemed, either because their marketing plans are intended to provide a limited incentive through discounts, or in a limited geographical area, or because the redeemed coupons do not represent actual sales.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a coupon that is resistant to fraudulent copying and redemption. In the past, anti-counterfeiting measures have been devised for checks, currency or securities that rely on holographic images, or the use of watermarked “security paper”, on diffraction gratings, or on other techniques to thwart copying. However, because merchandise coupons have relatively little value, the cost of these known techniques has proven too great for them to be employed, and often they limit the graphic advertising designs that manufacturers would like to put on their coupons. Moreover, the coupons need to be accurately scanned by bar code readers which use optical devices similar to those found on copiers and bar code reading can be interfered with by some anti-copying techniques. There remains a need to provide a coupon structure and coupon-making method that allows copy-resistant coupons to be made simply and economically, without detracting from the appearance of the coupons, and at the same time permitting bar code scanning to take place without interference.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Briefly, the present invention in one aspect includes a copy-resistant coupon feature. The copy-resistant feature includes a structure and method that provides a human-readable section composed of reflective areas and dark-colored areas, and a machine-readable bar code section composed of reflective bars in a light-colored background. Photosensitive devices used both in copiers and bar code scanners interpret the reflective areas as “dark”, which means that the reflective bars in the bar code stand out as “dark” in high contrast to their light-colored background, and are easily readable by the bar code scanner, while the human-readable section when copied will show reflective areas and dark-colored areas both as “dark” with little or no contrast between them and plainly revealing that copying has taken place.  
         [0007]     In a first aspect of the invention, the coupon has a sheet (such as metallized paper stock) with a reflective surface, a dark-colored covering (such as blue or black ink) over the reflective surface in the human-readable section and forming the text of the human-readable section either as negative or positive images, and a light-colored covering (such as white ink) over the reflective surface in the bar code section and forming the bars as a negative image (i.e., with the bars formed by the reflective background surface surrounded by the light-colored covering).  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, the coupon has a sheet forming a dark-colored background in the human-readable section, a light-colored background in the bar code section (which may itself be a light-colored covering over a dark-colored background), and a reflective covering (such as metallic ink) forming the text of the human-readable section either as negative or positive images, and forming the bars in the bar code section as a positive images (i.e., the bars are formed by the reflective covering).  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, a method provides for making copy-resistant coupons. In accordance with the method, a coupon is formed by applying or depositing (e.g., with customary printing techniques) two sections on a sheet. A first section forms a human-readable section composed of reflective areas and dark-colored areas defining text, and a second section forms a bar code section composed of reflective bars on a light-colored background and defining machine-readable bar codes.  
         [0010]     In another aspect of the invention, the method for making copy-resistant coupons provides a reflective sheet, prints the first image on the reflective sheet with dark-colored ink to form the human-readable section composed of reflective areas and dark-colored areas defining text, and prints the second image on the reflective sheet with light-colored ink to form the bar code section composed of reflective bars on a light-colored background and defining machine-readable bar codes.  
         [0011]     In still another aspect of the invention, the method of making copy-resistant coupons provides a non-reflective sheet with dark-colored and light-colored sections, and prints reflective ink on the non-reflective sheet to form the human-readable section composed of reflective areas on dark-colored areas defining text, and to the form the bar code section composed of reflective bars on a light-colored background and defining machine-readable bar codes.  
         [0012]     The present invention has several advantages. It enables a coupon to be created that is both copy-resistant and capable of having bar codes read by usual bar code scanners. Moreover, it enables a coupon to be created that allows copying to be easily detected. In addition, a copy-resistant coupon can be created that permits customary graphic designs to be used. Another advantage includes enabling a copy-resistant coupon to be created inexpensively. Still other advantages include enabling a copy-resistant coupon to be created using available printing paper stocks and inks and conventional printing techniques. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a coupon according to the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a section along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  with a greatly expanded vertical scale for illustrative purposes;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a section along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  with a greatly expanded vertical scale for illustrative purposes;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a section along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  with a greatly expanded vertical scale for illustrative purposes;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a section along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  with a greatly expanded vertical scale for illustrative purposes;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a method for making the coupon of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a method for making the coupon of  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a photocopy of the coupon of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a coupon  10  in accordance with the invention with a rectangular bar code region  12  and a human readable text portion  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the coupon  10  is formed on a sheet  20  with a backing layer  22  and a metallized coating layer  24  which provides a reflective surface.  
         [0024]     The human readable text portion  14  is formed with a dark-colored covering  26  which either forms positive image characters  28  (shown in  FIG. 1  by the text “40¢”) by covering the reflective surface of metallized layer  24  with the character shapes or negative image characters  30  (shown in  FIG. 1  by the text “COUPON”) by covering areas of the reflective surface of metallized layer  24  that surround the character shapes. The backing layer  22  and metallized coating layer  24  advantageously are an aluminized paper product such as Vacumet Metallized Paper marketed by Vacumet Corporation. The dark-colored covering is advantageously a dark-colored ink, for example, blue or black, such as the translucent gun metal blue ink marketed by Superior Ink Corp. The sheet  20  may have other constructions, for example instead of the laminated structure illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sheet  20  may be a homogeneous layer of materials providing a reflective surface, such as a metal foil, or a matrix carrying metallic particles. While a metal foil may have handling properties that are not optimal for many stand-alone coupon applications, a foil can be adhered to other materials, such as the paper or plastic wrapping for a product. Additionally, the metallized coating  24  may itself have a transparent coating, e.g., a plastic film, to prevent corrosion or to enhance printability or handling, or to supply a green, gold, copper or brass or other shade of tint.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the scannable bar code region  12  is formed with a light-colored covering  40  which forms the bars  42  of the bar code as a negative image, i.e., the bars  42  are formed by areas of the reflective surface of metallized layer  24  visible between areas of the light-colored covering  40 . The light-colored covering is advantageously a light-colored ink, for example, the opaque white ink marketed by Superior Ink Corp. The bars  42  are sized and spatially arranged in accordance with well-known bar coding standards, such as the coding standards known as the UPC Code Standards of the Uniform Code Council, Dayton, Ohio, www.uc-council.org, to contain the information needed to process the coupon  10 , such as the amount of the discount, the expiration date, the name of the manufacturer offering the discount, and the product or products for which the coupon is valid.  
         [0026]     When the coupon  10  is copied by a conventional photocopier or reproduced with a scanner-printer combination, the copy  10 C shown in  FIG. 9  results. Conventional photocopiers and scanner-printer combinations reproduce the light-colored covering  40  as a light color on the copy, but do not reproduce the shiny appearance of reflective metallized areas, and it has been discovered that in addition they cause the reflective areas provided by the metallized coating  24  to be reproduced as “dark” areas on the copy. As a result the bar code section  12  is reproduced as dark-colored bars on a light background (which means the bars stand out in high contrast and will be accurately scanned with usual photosensitive bar code scanners). In the human-readable text sections  14 , however, both the reflective areas and the dark-colored covering  26  reproduce as “dark” areas on the copy  10 C. Accordingly, the human readable text section  14  has no contrast as shown in  FIG. 9 , or has very little contrast depending on the copiers used, with the result that the text becomes substantially illegible and the fact that an illicit copy has been attempted is vividly displayed. Ink colors and properties can be selected together with reflective properties of layer  24  to provide the appropriate degree of lost contrast. Because the human readable section is essentially all dark, store clerks easily detect the counterfeit coupons and are instructed to decline to accept them. Likewise, a clearing or redemption house to which coupons are sent for bulk processing can easily detect the existence of counterfeit coupons and decline to honor them. If desired, a warning  10 W such as “WARNING: DO NOT REDEEM IF COUPON COPY IS NOT LEGIBLE” can be placed on the coupon to draw the clerk&#39;s attention to the problem, and such a warning can be supplied in a color that will survive reproduction well and stand out on the copy  10 C, such as the light-colored ink  40  used to form the background in the bar code section  12 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates schematically a method M 1  for making the coupon  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , in step  50  a sheet with a reflective surface, such as sheet  20 , is provided. In step  52 , a dark-colored covering  26  is applied to the sheet to form the human-readable text section  14  with characters appearing as negative or positive images. Step  52  may be accomplished by applying the dark-colored covering as blue or black printers ink using conventional printing processes such as continuous sheet printing. In step  54 , a light-colored covering  40  is applied to the sheet  20  to form the bar-code section  12  with the bars  42  appearing as negative images. Step  54  may also be accomplished by applying printers ink using conventional printing processes. Step  54  may be performed either after step  52  or before, or the two steps may be performed simultaneously. In accordance with conventional coupon manufacturing practice, the coupons may then be cut into individual units if printed on a continuous sheet, and stacked and packaged. At the conclusion of method M 1 , a copy-resistant coupon has been created simply and inexpensively.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which copy-resistant coupon  100  has a rectangular bar code region  112  and a human readable text portion  114 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the coupon  100  is formed on a sheet  120  with a backing layer  122  and a dark-colored layer  124 .  
         [0029]     The human readable text portion  114  is formed with a reflective covering  126  which either forms negative image characters  128  (shown by the text “40¢”) on the dark-colored layer  124  by covering areas of the layer  124  that surround the characters or positive image characters  130  (shown by the text “COUPON”). The backing layer  122  and dark-colored layer  124  advantageously are formed as a laminated paper product. The reflective covering  126  is advantageously a reflective ink, for example, a metallic ink, of which many commercial examples exist. The sheet  120  may have other constructions, for example instead of the laminated structure illustrated, the sheet  120  may be a homogeneous layer of materials providing a dark-colored surface, such as simple paper stock, or may be a light-colored sheet of paper with dark-colored ink applied in the human readable section  114 . Additionally, the reflective metallized ink or coating  126  may itself have a transparent coating (not shown) to prevent corrosion or to enhance usability or to provide a desired tint.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the scannable bar code region  12  is formed with a light-colored covering  140  on sheet  120  and a reflective covering  126  which forms the bars  142  of the bar code as a positive image, i.e., the bars  140  are formed by areas of the reflective covering  126  between areas of the light-colored covering  140 . The light-colored covering is advantageously a light-colored ink, for example, the opaque white ink marketed by Superior Ink Corp. The bars  142  are sized and spatially arranged in accordance with bar coding standards, such as the coding standards provided by the Uniform Code Counsel of Dayton, Ohio, to contain the information needed to process the coupon  100 , such as the amount of the discount, the expiration date, the name of the manufacturer offering the discount, and the product or products for which the coupon is valid. If the sheet  120  is a light-colored sheet of paper as suggested in the previous paragraph, the light colored covering  140  is provided by the surface of the sheet.  
         [0031]     When the coupon  100  is copied by a conventional photocopier or reproduced with a scanner-printer combination, the copy again is similar to the copy  10 C shown in  FIG. 9 . Conventional photocopiers and scanner-printer combinations reproduce the light-colored covering  140  as a light color on the copy, and reproduce the reflective areas provided by the metallized coating  126  as “dark” areas on the copy. As a result the bar code section  112  is reproduced as dark-colored bars  142  on a light background (which means the bars stand out in high contrast and will be accurately scanned with usual photosensitive bar code scanners). In the human-readable text sections  114 , however, both the reflective areas  126  and the dark-colored layer  124  reproduce as “dark” areas on the copy. Accordingly, the human readable text section  114  has no contrast as shown in  FIG. 9 , or has very little contrast depending on the copiers used, with the result that the text becomes substantially illegible and the fact that an illicit copy has been attempted is vividly displayed. Store clerks easily detect the counterfeit coupons. Likewise, a clearing or redemption house to which coupons are sent for bulk processing can easily detect the existence of counterfeit coupons and decline to honor them. If desired on coupon  100 , a warning such as warning  10 W shown in  FIG. 9  reading “WARNING: DO NOT REDEEM IF COUPON COPY IS NOT LEGIBLE” can be placed on the coupon to draw the clerk&#39;s attention to the problem, and such a warning can be supplied in a color that will survive reproduction well and stand out on the copy  10 C, such as the light-colored ink  140  used in the bar code section  112 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates schematically a method M 2  for making the coupon  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , in step  150  a sheet is supplied with a dark-colored surface area  124  and a light-colored surface area  140 . In step  152 , the reflective covering  126  is applied to the dark-colored areas  126  of the sheet to form the human-readable text section  114  with characters appearing as negative or positive images. Step  152  may be accomplished by applying the reflective covering  126  as reflective metallic printers ink using conventional printing processes such as continuous sheet printing. In step  154 , the reflective covering  126  is applied to the light-colored surface  140  of the sheet  110  to form the bar-code section  112  with the bars  142  appearing as positive images. Step  154  also may be accomplished by applying metallic printers ink using conventional printing processes. Step  154  may be performed either after step  152  or before, or the two steps may be performed simultaneously as indicated by dashed arrow  156  in  FIG. 8 . In step  150 , the light-colored surface  140  may be supplied by applying a light-colored covering such as a white ink to a dark-colored surface  124 , or if the sheet  120  is itself light colored, then the dark-colored surface may be supplied by applying a dark-colored covering such as blue or black ink to the sheet  120 . Alternatively, both light-colored and dark-colored coverings may be applied to a backing sheet of arbitrary color to form the light- and dark-colored surfaces areas. These three alternatives are shown as blocks  150   a ,  150   b  and  150   c  within block  150  in  FIG. 8 . In accordance with conventional coupon manufacturing practice, after steps  150 ,  152  and  154 , the coupons may then be cut into individual units if printed on a continuous sheet, and stacked and packaged. At the conclusion of method M 2 , a copy-resistant coupon has been created simply and inexpensively.  
         [0033]     Thus, a copy-resistant feature for merchandise coupons has been described. The copy-resistant feature includes a structure and method. While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred and exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Different materials may be used than that shown and suggested that may comprise other implementations of the present invention. For example, all of the light-colored, dark-colored and reflective metallic surfaces may be supplied by deposition processes other than those described, and may be supplied as separate non-overlapping regions on a background that is unrelated to any of these surfaces. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. All United States patents or patent applications cited herein should be deemed to be incorporated by reference as to their entire contents.