Abstract:
This and other objects are achieved by providing a security image on a substrate. The security image is formed by first stamping or otherwise transferring a first foil section on a substrate wherein the first foil section has a first sheen. A second and optionally subsequent foils are stamped or otherwise transferred over the first foil section in the form of an image or pattern. The second or subsequent foils are of a different sheen than the first foil.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is related to identification and other types of media and more particularly to the application of security images to such media.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Identification and other types of media such as credit cards increasingly require added security features. Security features include holograms which are presently applied over a foiled section. Application of a holographic image requires specialized machinery to create multicolored defractive images in a holographic relief pattern on a substrate.  
         [0003]     One example of such a method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,296 which discloses a method of making surface relief holograms wherein hot stamping foils are used for applying defractive or holographic anti-counterfeiting features to credit cards, identification cards, passports, secured documents, certificates and the like. The holographic relief pattern can be applied over a foil section which is typically hot stamped onto the card. Multicolored defractive images are composed from segments of the foil with regions of different color being formed by foils having different average spatial frequency.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,759,683 and 5,464,690 disclose a holographic article wherein an apparatus and process is used for hot stamping small areas of a composite sheet onto a document substrate in order to create a chip. A holographic image is then embossed over the chip.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,050 discloses a card produced by a xerography method. There, a press is used for transferring stamping foils and heat transfers onto a card. A die of the press may be textured or have an overall pattern to make forgery difficult. The die is used over a transfer sheet with an image carried thereon laid face downwards on the top of a plastic base or card to create the texture.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,120 teaches a technique and apparatus for printing a hologram directly on paper or a sheet of other material. The material or paper is sequentially passed through printing and hologram forming stations. This process requires the application of a thin layer of reflective material to the surface relief pattern so that light is reflected and defracted onto an image of the hologram.  
         [0007]     The creation of holographic images is a relatively expensive method for producing security features on a card or other substrate, but they provide the best form of security because they are relatively difficult to replicate. While other references suggest the use of hot stamped foils and heat transfers onto a card, these do not provide a relatively high level of security because of the relative ease with which they may be duplicated. What is needed is a security feature which simulates the level of security provided by a holographic image while being produceable by a relatively less costly method.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple foil security feature for application on substrates such as credit cards, identification cards, passports, secured documents, certificates and the like. This and other objects are achieved by providing a security image on a substrate. The security image is formed by first stamping or otherwise transferring a first foil section on a substrate wherein the first foil section has a first sheen. A second foil is stamped or otherwise transferred over the first foil section in the form of an image or pattern. The second foil is of a different sheen than the first foil. Subsequent foils of differing sheens may optionally be applied over or adjacent to the second foil. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures of which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of an identification card having the security image of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of successive transfer sections utilized in manufacturing the card of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a completed identification card of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The invention will first be described generally with reference to  FIG. 1 . It should be understood that while the invention will be described by the exemplary embodiment of an identification card, this invention may be utilized with any suitable substrate to create other media such as passports, secured documents, certificates and the like. A card  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  having four major components. First, a substrate  20  is provided for receiving images, text, and security features on both or either of its major surfaces  22 ,  24 . A first foil section  30  is applied on the first major surface  22  and a second or subsequent foil images  40  are applied over the first foil section  30 . The substrate  20  may be optionally laminated utilizing a laminant sleeve  50 .  
         [0014]     Each of the major components will be described in greater detail with reference once again to  FIG. 1 . First, the substrate  20  may consist of known PVC materials, TESLIN, or other suitable substrates for creating an identification, credit card or other media. It should also be understood that the substrate  20  may include other materials such as paper or other plastics which may be utilized in creating passports, secured documents, certificates, tags or other media. The substrate  20  material is only limited to a group of materials which is suitable for applying a foil or foil transfer thereon. The substrate  20  has two major surfaces  22 ,  24 . In this exemplary embodiment, a photo  26 , text  28 , a bar code or other security features may be printed or otherwise applied on the first major surface  22  by well known techniques. Similarly, a bar code, magnetic strip, text, or other images may be printed or otherwise applied on the second major surface  24  also by well known techniques which are suitable for the particular material selected for the substrate  20 .  
         [0015]     The first foil section  30  is applied over the substrate  20  on one of the major surfaces  22 ,  24 . Here, in  FIG. 1 , the first foil section  30  is shown as being applied on the first major surface  22 . This foil section  30  may be applied by a hot stamping or other transfer process which is suitable for the foil material selected. A typical foil material for use in this application is commercially available from API foils, or Crown Roll Leaf and sold under trade names Holografx™ and Holofoil™. It should be understood that while these are suitable foil materials, the invention is not limited to their use and any transferable foil material may be utilized. The first foil section  30  has a sheen which may be a high sheen to provide a high degree of light reflection from the surface thereof.  
         [0016]     It should be understood that while a second foil image  40  will now be described, subsequent foil images may also be applied over either the first section  30  or over the second foil image  40 . Subsequent foil images may be applied utilizing foils of differing sheens to create contrast between layers.  
         [0017]     A second foil image  40  is applied over the first foil section  30  by a similar heat stamping or transfer process. The second foil image  40  is also commercially available from API foils or Crown Roll Leaf as described above without limitation. The second foil image  40  takes a shape of an image, pattern, text, logo or insignia and is applied within the area of the first foil section  30 . The second foil image  40  is preferably of a different sheen than the foil section  30  and optimally of a lower sheen than the first foil section  30  in order to provide light reflective contrast therebetween.  
         [0018]     The method of making the card  10  of  FIG. 1  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The substrate  20  is supplied to various stations  60 ,  70 ,  80  along a continuous sheet  21 . The continuous sheet  21  is shown here as having a single row of cards  20  however the continuous sheet  21  may take various other matrix formats in the assembly process. The sheet  21  enters a first transfer station  60  wherein the first foil section  30  is applied. The first foil section  30  is supplied to the transfer station along a first continuous roll  32 . The transfer station  60  includes a die  62  extending from a press  64 . Depending upon the foil material, the die  62  may be heated in order to perform the transfer or may simply apply pressure to transfer the foil from the continuous roll  32  onto the substrate  20 . This die  62  is moved by the press  64  in the direction of the arrow P perpendicular to the direction of motion M of the substrate  20 . The die  62  is preferably a flat surface die to create the first foil section  30  in a desired location on the first major surface  22  of the substrate  20 . The substrate  20  then progresses in the direction M towards the second station  70  where a similar press  74  has a die  72  extending therefrom. The die  72  transfers foil material from a second continuous roll  42  to create the foil image  40  over the first foil section  30  on the first major surface  22 . This die  72  is different, however, in that it preferably comprises the shape of an image, text, pattern or logo according the requirements of the security features. The die  72  similarly may be heated or simply pressed over the roll  42  as required by the material for achieving appropriate transfer. The substrate  20  continues to move along the direction M toward a third station  80  wherein various text, images or other features may be applied by printing or other well known techniques. It should be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art that while application of these features have been shown here in three stations  60 ,  70 ,  80  on a first major surface  22 , this process is as equally applicable to the opposite major surface  24  of the substrate  20 . Also, additional stations may be added for applying subsequent foils as described above. After exiting the third station  80 , the substrate  20  may be separated into appropriate sized cards along perforations  26 . Optionally, those cards may then be laminated by well known techniques to apply a laminant  50  thereover as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]     The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.