CA2046745A1

CA2046745A1 - Article including a container containing at least one precious stone

Info

Publication number: CA2046745A1
Application number: CA 2046745
Authority: CA
Inventors: Isaac Neuman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-10
Filing date: 1991-07-10
Publication date: 1993-01-11

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The article includes a container containing at least one and preferably several precious stones. The envelope of the container includes a housing and a safety card or plate inte-gral with the housing so that the precious stone or stones contained in the container cannot be removed from the latter and that the safety card or plate cannot be separated from the remaining container without damaging the latter in a noticeable manner. The safety card or plate includes visible safety characters and an electronic chip that make it virtually impossible to falsify the safety card or plate. Said article is therefore suitable for use as a negotiable financial item.

Description

20~674~

ARTICLE INCLUDING A CONTAINER CONTAINING AT LEAST
ONE PRECIOUS STONE

SPECIFICATION

5Technical Field The invention relates to an article, a safety card or plate for this article, a reading device to be used in connection with this article, and a process for producing the article according to claims 1, 15, 17, and 21, respectively.

Prior Art It is known to package precious stones such as diamonds and similar stones in containers such as, for example, pouches made of leather or of plastic material or boxes made of cardboard or synthetic material. It is also known to accompany stones which are sold by of documents and/or certificates which might include information about the agency issuing the stones and/or details about the stones, and which normally comprise papers having texts and/or figures printed and/or written by hand.

17624/case 1 20~67~5 Prior art containers of the type mentioned may be easily opened and reclosed without it being noticed. If the documents and/or certificates specifying the origin and/or other characteristics of the stones sold are separated from the stones or placed together with the latter in containers which may be opened and reclosed, it is obviously difficult to verify whether the precious stones delivered in a con-tainer are actually the specified stones. Articles compris-ing prior art containers containing at least one precious stone are thus not well qualified to be put into circulation as financially negotiable instruments.

Ob~ect of the Invention The object of the invention, defined by the claims indicated below, is thus to allow the elimination of the disadvantages of the prior art articles which comprise a container containing at least one precious stone. In par-ticular, the object of the invention is to manufacture an article, a card or plate for this article, a reading device for use in connection with this article and a process for the production of the article which allows to place precious stones, such as diamonds or similar types, into circulation as financially negotiable instruments.

20~6745 Two advantageous embodiments of the invention are derived from the dependent claims.

Summarized Descri~tion of the Drawinas The attached drawing represents, by way of example, embodiments of the object of the invention. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the article including a container and precious stones; the transparent box of the container is drawn, for reasons of clarity, as if it were opaque, the graphic representation on the upper side of the safety card or plate not being drawn in;
Fig. 2 is a plan view, from the top, of the article;
the case of the container, for reasons of clarity, being designed as if it were only transparent in the region of the stone holder;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the article along line III
- III of Figure 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the surface adjacent to the case of the safety card or plate;
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of the surface opposite the case of the safety card or plate;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the stone holder alone;

20467~5 Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of an individual insert showing a receptacle for a precious stonQ;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the case alone;.
Fig. 9 is a side view of a precious stone;
Fig. 10 is a top view of the precious stone represented in Figure 9;
Fig. ll is a block diagram of a reading device for reading at least one item of data represented by the electronic chip;
Fig. 12 is an exploded view of an article including a container whose housing comprises three crudely separated pieces;
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variation of a stone carrier;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of another article cor-responding to the sectional view represented in Fig. 3;
Fig. 15 is a part of Fig. 14 to a larger scale; and Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a only the stone carrier of the article shown in Figures 14 and 15.

Methods for Producinq the Invention The article intended to serve as a negotiable financial instrument shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a container which cannot be opened without being destroyed. The exterior of the container 1 in general has the shape o~ a paral-lelepiped of a plane plate having a rectangular contour. In the projection shown in Figure 2, i.e., in a view perpen-dicular to the outline defined by the container, the latter has, however, rounded corners. The container 1 in the projection shown in Figure 2 has preferably the same shape and the same dimensions as a credit card according to the international standard and thus has a length of 85.5 mm and a width of 54 mm. The thickness of the container is between 5 and 7 mm and, for example, 5.5 to 6 mm. The container or, more precisely, its housing comprises two parts which are easily separated, namely, a case 3 having in general the contour of a plane plate and a plane safety card or plate 5.
The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 have, in a rectan-gular view to said outline, the same contour and mutually cover each other completely. The safety card or plate is, however, thinner than the case and has a thickness similar or identical to that of standard credit cards. The safety card or plate thus has, for example, a thickness of 0.76 mm to 0.78 mm.
The case 3, again drawn separately in Figure 8, has a surface 3a exterior and opposite the safety card or plate 5 and a surface 3b interior and adjacent to the safety card or plate. The case is provided with a recess 3c which forms the interior space of the container 1. This recess 3c is oblong, has, in general - except for the rounded corners in perpendicular view to the outline defined by the case - the shape of a parallelepiped as well as a longitudinal direction parallel to the two long edges of the case. Moreover, the recess 3c is near one of the long edges of the case 3. The length of the recess 3c is at least three fourths of that of the case 3, while the width of the recess 3c is at least one half and even one third of the width of the case. The recess 3c has an opening toward the surface 3b and is delimited toward the side opposite the safety card or plate by a solid base formed by a section of the case. The surface 3a of the case 3 comprises a recess 3d of a circular contour and only slight depth in comparison to the thickness of the case, and is arranged between the recess 3c and the edge of the case which is farther away from the recess 3c in the central portion of the case. The surface 3b of the case 3 has - when the case is not yet connected to the safety card 20467~5 or plate - ribs 3e, 3f, 3g, projecting from the sections adjacent to the surface 3b and drawn, in addition, to an exaggerated scale in the sectional view of Figure 8. The rib 3e is arranged near the periphery of the case and extends S without interruption along this entire periphery and thus along the four edges of the case. Rib 3e, consequently, encircles the greatest part of the surface 3b and, in particular, the opening of the recess 3c. Rib 3f has the shape of a circle and is disposed in a perpendicular projec-tion to the outline defined by the container 1 and its case 3below the recess 3d. Rib 3g is parallel to the edges of the case and is disposed approximately in the center between the long edges and the sections of rib 3e along these two edges.
The base of recess 3c is provided with a groove forming a line of attenuation 3h. The latter follows one of the two long edges of the recess, namely, the edge which is nearest the center of surfaces 3a and 3b.
Case 3 comprises one individual piece of a synthetic material, more precisely, of a semi-hard or hard thermoplas-tic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) and/or polycarbonate (PC) and/or oriented polypropylene (OPP). In general that is, with the exception of zones where these surfaces are provided with a relief or printed, the case is at least diaphanous, and preferably perfectly transparent and clear in daylight. The . :

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material for the case, however, includes preferably at lea~t one additive - such as a pigmented coloring agent - which renders the case temporarily colored and thus causes a change in color under artificial electromagnetic radiation, in particular under an artificial ultraviolet light having at least a portion of the wavelength or one range of wavelengths set in an appropriate manner.
A stone carrier 7 shown separately in Figure 6 is inserted into the recess 3c of the case 3 and is dimensioned in such a way that its contour corresponds at least ap-proximately to that of recess 3c and so that it may be well positioned in the latter. These two surfaces of the stone carrier 7 adjacent to the base of the recess 3c and the safety card or plate 5, respectively, are designated 7a and 7b, respectively. The stone carrier 7 is provided with at least one blind hole 7c, preferably several, for example, ten blind holes 7c which have a cylinder shape and are arranged on a straight line extending parallel to the long edges o~
the stone carrier 7 and thus also to the case 3. The openings of the blind holes 7c open into surface 7a. The surface 7b is provided with two ribs 7d which extend parallel to the two long edges of surface 7b for at least a portion of the length of the stone carrier 7.

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A groove is provided at the two sides of each rib 3e, 3f, 3g, 7d and immediately adjacent to the latter. The total area of a pair of grooves allocated to one of these ribs corresponds in a cross section at least approximately to the area of the portion of the rib which rises above the planar portion of the surface 3b or 7b, respectively.
Each hole 7c contains an insert 9. For reasons of clarity, only two inserts 9 are shown in Figure 1. Each insert 9 - one of which is shown separately in Figure 7 - has lo a cylindrical contour whose dimensions correspond, at least approximately, to those of the blind hole 7c in such a way that each insert 9 may be positioned well in the hole 7c.
Each insert 9 represents a receptacle 9a comprising a blind hole whose opening opens into the surface of the adjacent lS insert at the base of the recess 3c of the case 3. Each receptacle 9a comprises a portion of the base 9b and a portion of the opening 9c. The portion of the base 9b is conical and the portion~of the opening 9c is cylindrical and shorter than the portion of the base 9b.
The stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9 are made, for example, of a synthetic and thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride. The stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9 are opaque and are, for example, of a blue color.

_ g 20467~5 The article comprises a plurality, i.e., ten precious stones 11. Each precious stone 11 co~stitutes a diamond cut in the shape of a brilliant as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and, consequently, comprises a pavilion shown at the bottom in S Figure 9 and a crown having a table lla having a plane surface which is perpendicular to the axis of the precious stone 11. Each precious stone 11 is placed separately in one of the receptacles 9a. As wi11 be explained in detail as well, articles may be provided which involve containers containing precious stones 11 of different dimensions and weights. One could make provisions for placing stones having a number of, for example, fifteen different orders of magnitude in the containers. One may also prepare and make available a range of inserts so that for each of said order 1S of magnitude there is a type of insert whose dimensions of receptacle 9a are adapted to the dimensions of the precious stones 11. More precisely, the dimension of the portion of the base 9b of each receptacle 9a corresponds at least approximately to that of the conical covering surface of the pavilion of the precious stone 11 placed in the receptacle in question. The axial dimension of the portion of the opening 9c of a receptacle 9a corresponds at least approximately to an axial dimension of the crown of the precious stone. The table lla of each precious stone 11 placed in a receptacle 9a 20~67~

is thus at least approximately flush with the fiurface 7a of the stone carrier 7. If the container 1 is assembled and closed, the stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9 contained in the container comprise, therefore, the means representing and delimiting, in cooperation with the section of the case forming the base of the of the recess 3c, the receptacles 9a which hold the precious stones 11 which are placed there with little radial and axial play, or preferably, at least practically without play. Each precious stone 11 is, in any case, held in the receptacle 9a arranged in such a way that the same side, i.e., the table lla, of the precious stone remains always on the base of the recess 3c independent of the current position of the container 1 and of the movements to which the container is subjected. Since the section of the case 3 comprising the base of the recess 3c is - just as the other parts of the case which are not equipped either with a relief or printed signs - transparent and clear, the precious stones 11 contained in the container 1 and, in particular, their crowns are clearly visible from the exterior of the container 1 through said section of the case against an opaque and blue background formed by the stone carrier 7 and the inserts 9.
The surface of the safety card or plate which is adjacent to the case 3 and is thus turned toward the interior 20467~

of the container, designated 5a, i~ visible - plan view - in Figure 4. The other surface of the ~afety card or plate which is opposite the case 3 and is thus di~posed ~n ~he exterior side of the container 1 was designated 5b and is visible - plan view - in Figure 5. The principal portion of the safety card or plate 5 comprises at least two sheets of mutually laminated synthetic material, more precisely, a semi-hard or hard thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), oriented polypropylene (OPP) or Polycarbonate (PC). The card or plate may also be made of a mixture of sheets of these materials, using if necessary an adhesive between sheets consisting of different materials.
The safety card or plate 5 compri~es, in addition to said principal portion, an information processing device as well, which serves to memorize and process the digital data and includes an electronic circuit comprising an electronic chip 13. The electronic chip is connected by means of lamination and/or an adhesive with the remainder of the safety card or plate 5 and comprises on the face opposite the case 3 electric contacts 13a to constitute the connec-tions accessible from the exterior of the container. The place of the electronic chip 13 is especially the location and/or arrangement of the eleçtric contacts 13a of the electronic chip 13 in relation to the edges of the safety card or plate 5 and is preferably different fro~ the location 204674~

and/or arrangement specified in the international standards ISO 7816 for electronic chips integrated in credit cards.
This ensures that the electronic chip 13 may only be con-nected to a reading device particularly adapted for this purpose and not to reading devices intended to read in~orma-tion from electronic chips of said credit cards. The safety card or plate 5 is, in contrast to the case 3, in general, more or less opaque, but has a diaphanous or translucent zone having a certain permeability to light without allowing to clearly distinguish the objects on the other side, for a reason which will be explained in further detail.
The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 are mutually and directly solidly joined, i.e., without intermediary element, by means of ultrasound welding, along ribs 3e, 3f, and 3g of the case 3 and thus, in particular, close to the edges of the case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 along all peripheries of the case and the safety card or plate. The stone carrier 7 is also solidly joined with the safety card or plate by means of ultrasound welding along ribs 7d. Ribs 3e, 3f, 3g and 7d, shown in Figures 8 and 6 on an exaggerated scale, are deformed during ultrasound welding, the deforma-tion being facilitated by the grooves at the two sides of each rib. The material for the ribs may, in addition, penetrate into the safety card or plate and mix with the 2~67~

material of the latter. After welding, the case 3 and the stone carrier 7 are thus in contact over their entire surfaces 3b and 7b, respectively, with surface 5a adjacent to the safety card or plate 5. The weld seem resulting from rib 3e closes the interior of the container 1 and, in particular, the space containing the precious stones ll in such a manner as to be at least substantially and, preferably, perfectly sealed. The case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 together comprise the complete housing of the container 1 which, after the welding encloses the precious stones ~1 in such a way that the safety card or plate cannot be detached from the rest of the container and that the precious stones 11 cannot be removed from container 1 without damaging and/or destroy-ing the case 3 and/or the safety card or plate 5 and without leaving visible traces on the container. The housing of the container 1 is, in addition, at least substantially - that is to say with the exception of a possible deformability and, in particular, elastic flexibility - rigid and especially, not pliable as is the case with certain pouches formerly used as containers for precious stones.
The organization issuing the article may prepare and place a number of articles into circulation as financially negotiable instruments. These articles may include con-tainers all having the same shapes and dimensions. The 20~674~

qualities and sizes of these precious stones contained in the different containers may be identical or different. One may, for example, plan to prepare articles having four qualities, more precisely, four different zones of quality for precious stones. These four qualities may be designated by the Greek letters ALP~A, BETA, GAMMA, DELTA. ALPHA is attributed to the best and DELTA to the poorest guality. The definition of these qualities for precious stones, including diamonds, may be based on the gradation of color and on the gradation of clarity according to the nomenclature of the Gemological Institute of America. The gradation of color according to the Gemological Institute of America includes degrees D, E, F, G, H, I, J, R, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, ~, X, Y, Z. The gradation of clarity according to the Gemological Institute of America includes degrees FL, IF, W Sl, W S2, VSl, VS2, SIl, SI2, Il, I2, I3. These series of degrees designates progressively a diminution in the quality of the diamonds.
Each of the four qualities attributed to the articles may be defined by a color zone extending over a plurality -preferably at least two and at most five and, for example, three or four - grades of color clos~ to the adjacent pair of the gradation series according to the Gemological Institute of America and for a zone of clarity extending over a 2~467~5 plurality - preferably at least two and at most five and, for example, three or four - grades of clarity adjacent to the pair of the gradation series according to the Gemological Institute of America. One might, for example define a first color zone which extends over the three adjacent grades of color D, E, F and a second color zone which joins,.without any gap, the first zone and extending over the color grades G, H, I, J. One may also define, in addition, a first zone of clarity extending over the adjacent grades of color FL, IF, W S1 and WS2 and a second zone of clarity joining without a gap the first zone extending over the adjacent grades of clarity VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2. The four qualities may thus be defined by the combinations of the color zones of color grades and the quality represented in Table 1.

Table 1 Definition of Qualities ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, DELTA by Color Zones and Clarity Color Grades of Clarity Grades FL IF W S1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SIl SI2 D _ ~

25 ~ GA~A D~LTA

The articles produced may comprise precious stones 11 having a different number of total calculated masses. The total calculated mass of precious stones contained in a container may have, for example, one of the five values:
0.2 g, 0.4 g, 0.6 g, 0.8 g, 1 g. The total actual mass of a set of precious stones contained in a container may differ within the limits of a certain tolerance range from the attributed total calculated mass. The issuing organiza-tion guarantees, however, that the total actual mass is at ~;

20~6745 least equal to the attributed total calculated mass and, preferably, greater than the latter. The total effective masses are preferably at most 5% greater than the attributed total calculated mass and have, for example, values between 100.3% and 100.5% of the attributed total calculated mass.
The masses of individual precious stones of an article are advantageously at least 50% and at most 170%, and preferably between 70% and 150% of the average mass of the precious stones contained in the container of the article in question. Because the effective total masses only differrelatively little from the attributed total calculated mass, the average masses of precious stones are very close to an individual calculated mass, being identical to the total calculated mass divided by the number of precious stones of the article in questionO The average mass of the articles having ten precious stones and five total calculated masses 0.2 g, 04, g [sic], 0.8 g, 1 g are thus approximately identical to the individual calculated masses of 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg and 100 mg, respectively. The individual effective masses of precious stones belonging to the articles having the five total calculated masses are, for example, 20 mg 4ommgg/ 40 mg + lO mgg' 60 mg 10 mmgg/ 80 mg + lO m~g and 100 mg + 10 mmgg The mass zones attributed to the 20~674~

calculated masses adjacent to the pair join without a gap and even interlace. The total and individual masses of precious stones are, of course, related, i.e., proportional to the weight of the preciou6 stones. A calculated total mass of 0.2 g corresponds, for example, to a total calcu-lated weight of 1.962 mN or - indicated by the "carat" unit normally used for precious stones - to 1 carat. The effec-tive weights depend, however, on the altitude above sea level and other external influences. If the precious stones 11 placed in the container 1 are selected in such a way that their total effective mass is a little greater than the total calculated mass, one ~ight, in addition, ensure that the total effective weight is also always at least equal to the total calculated weight corresponding to the total calculated mass. An article comprising a container and ten precious stones contained in the container may therefore belong to one of the four possible qualities and have one of the five possible calculated total weights. ~s a consequence, the different articles, each comprising a container and ten precious stones, may belong to one of the twenty possible categories. It is evident from the definitions of the quality zones and mass zones attributed to the individual precious stones that all precious stones, i.e., diamonds having the cut of a brilliant, which have a color grading 20~6745 between D and J, a clarity grade between FL and SI2 and a mass between 16 mg and 112 mg may be used for at least one of the twenty categories of the articles. The precious stones are, moreover, distributed advantageously in such a way over the individual articles that all the articles having the same calculated quality have the same average color grade and ap-proximately the same degree of average clarity.
The container 1, i.e., the case 3 and particularly the safety card or plate 5, serve as data carrier for the visual data perceivable by the human eye from the exterior of the container. In this context, it is noted out that the greatest portion of the interior surface 5a of the safety card or plate is visible through the case 3. This visible information may comprise graphic polychrome representations printed on a plane surface and/or in relief.
A plurality of this visible information serves mainly, or among other things, to specify the origin and the or-ganization issuing the article and/or possibly the manufac-turers of the container l, the case 3, and the safety card or plate 5 or the electronic chip 13 and the origin of the precious stones 11 contained in the container. Information serving this purpose may be identified on the containers of all the articles issued or at least on a certain number of these containers. This group of information comprises, among 20~67~

others, signs 21 and 23 on ~he case 3, signs 31, 37 and ~1 on surface 5a of the safety card or plate 5 and signs 33, 35, 39, and 43 on surface 5b of the safety card or plate. Sign 21 in recess 3d of the case comprises a relief and r~presents a symbol serving as a seal for the issuing organization and is formed by a stylized diamond cut like a brilliant having a stippled background. This sign 21 renders the section of the case 3, which supports it, i.e., the base of recess 3d more or less opaque and prevents at least a clear view across said section of the case in such a way that the weld seem, having been made along rib 3f, is not visible from the exterior of the container. Signs 31, 33, 35, printed on the two surfaces of the safety card or plate 5, represent a stylized diamond having the same shape as that of the sign 21. At least one of these four lateral surfaces perpendicular to the outline defined by the container 1 and, for example, each of these four lateral surfaces carries at least once the sign 23 comprising, for example, a relief representing the term DES.
The same term is imprinted as sign 37 in different places on surface 5a and as sign 39 on surface 5b of the safety card or plate 5 and constitutes an abbreviation of the words DIAMOND
EXCHANGE STANDARD printed as sign or indication 43 on the surface 5b of the safety card or plate. The surface Sa comprises also the sign or indication 41 representing the name of the issuing organization INTER-DIAMOND EXCHANGE
STANDARD.
The safety card or plate 5 contains also prin ed data specifying the number, the type and/or the quality and the total calculated weight and/or the total calculated mass of the precious stones 11 contained in the container, thus giving information on the exchange value of the article. To this information belongs the sign or indication 51 printed on surface 5b and specifying the number of precious stones 11 contained in the container, signs or indication 53, 55 printed on the two surfaces 5a and Sb, respectively, and specifying the quality by one of the Greek letters mentioned previously and which is indicated in addition to the Greek letter itself as well as its name in Roman letters. Signs 57, 59 are printed on the two surfaces 5a and 5b, respectively, of the safety card or plate 5, specifying the total calcu-lated weight of the precious stones and thus giving as well a measure for the total calculat d mass of the precious stones 11, the value of the total calculated weight being indicated in carats.
On the interior surface 3b of the case 3, a sign 27 is printed, which is visible through the case 3 from the exterior of the container and is at least in part al-phanumeric comprising, for example, a letter, a number comprising a plurality of digits as well as lines and/or dots. A sign 61, at least in part alphanumeric and identiaal to sign 27, is printed on the exterior surface 5b ~f the safety card or plate 5. These two identical signs 27, 61 include a letter in the beginning, namely the first letter, written in Roman letters, of the name of the Greek letter specifying the quality. This letter is followed - separated by a slash - by a two-digit number specifying the weight in carats. This number is followed - separated by a dash - by an identification number serving to identify the article and individual container and is thus different for each in-dividual articleO At the end of signs 27, 61 is a two-digit number serving as control number or letter linked, according to a defined algorithm, to the identification number.
In addition, the case may optionally be provided with at least one sign, which in daylight is invisible to the human eye, but which becomes visible to the human eye and/or may be detected and/or read by a detection and/or reading element under artificial ultraviolet radiation or perhaps under another artificial electromagnetic radiation having at least in part a wavelength or range of wavelengths fixed in an appropriate manner. This sign may be formed by a bar code representing the same alphanumeric information or at least the same number as signs 27 and 61.

.:

As already mentioned, the precious 8tone6 11 aannot be removed from the container 1 without destroying the latter.
The container l is constructed in such a way that it i6 practically impossible to open it, to substitute the precious stones by fake and/or artificial stones and/or those of inferior quality and/or of less weight without leaving easily detectable traces. It is noted in this context that the polyvinyl chloride and/or the methyl polymethacrylate of which the housing of the container is substantially made, is relatively sensitive to high temperatures, and changes in appearance and, especially, in color if it is heated as would be the case, for example, if someone tried to cut the container with a fine saw or a fine beam produced by a laser.
The signs and/or indications on the case 3 and the safety card or plate 5 previously mentioned and serving as information, visible to the human eye, on the origin and the exchange value of the articles and to specify an individual article, as well as serving the purpose both, of preventing the containers from being opened without it showing, and the article from being counterfeited. But the articles comprise, in addition to the visual information mentioned, more charac-teristics that prevent the production of fake articles.
Some of these characteristics are described below.

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The portions of the lateral surfaces of the ca~e which are not occupied by signs 23 are provided with a stripe 25 in relief comprising fine grooves perpendicular to the outline defined by the container 1. This stripe 25 helps, in cooperation with the signs 23, that the container 1 cannot be opened by cutting the case along its edges and then -after exchanging the precious stones - be reclosed without it being noticeable.
The safety card or plate 5 comprises at least one lo safety feature and, preferably a plurality of these features detectable from the exterior of the container. Certain of these safety features are visible to the naked human eye, i.e., without an auxiliary device, but they are, of course, still more distinctly visible with the aid of a magnifying glass. The safety card or plate 5 comprises also at least one safety character which is only detectable with an auxiliary device. The different safety characters make it practically impossible for a counterfeiter to copy the safety card or plate without a copy of it being recognized as such.
The signs, information and images represented on the safety card or plate 5 and being printed and/or comprising a relief made by engraving and/or an impression and/or the like may comprise and/or be constituted of at least one graphic feature serving as safety character. Such graphic 20467~5 feature may, for example, comprise certain digits or letters including anticipated "errors" such as discontinuities in the lines and/or the ornamentation, etc.
The safety card or plate 5 comprises as safety feature at least one guilloche and, more precisely, guilloches 71, 73 which are printed on the zones of surfaces 5a, 5b bearing signs 53, 55, 57, 59. These guilloches 71, 73 may be at least in part of at least a color which can only be copied with difficulty or not at all by means of polychrome electrostatic copiers presently known for making electrogra-phic copies in color as is the case, for example, for brown and/or iridescent colors. The guilloches are, for example, polychromatic and of several colors of said type.
The safety card or plate 5 may also comprise as safety feature at least a sign and/or a graphic representation 75, 77 of a different kind from the guilloches in order to make an electrographic copy different from the original and thus make it recognizable as a copy. These graphic signs or representations 75, 77 comprise a design having elements such as a number of parallel lines of which at least the extension in one direction and/or the density of color is below the capacity of reproduction devices for making electrographic copies. This object may be accomplished -according to the color and type of electro-copier used - in 204679~

making said dimension, for example, the thickness of said lines, less than 0.5 mm or even at most 0.05 mm and/or in making the density of the color less than 0.25. The elements in question may also have in place of or, in addition to this, a special color, especially an iridescent color which cannot be copied at all with presently known electrostatic polychrome photocopiers. These graphic signs or representa-tions are preferably polychromatic and may very well be combined, i.e., masked by a guilloche. Graphic signs or representations of this type are disclosed in patent CH-A-645,308.
The card or plate comprises - as already mentioned - a diaphanous, but not altogether transparent, section or zone.
This section or zone is provided at least with an opacity sign 81. A sign of opacity is a sign which corresponds to a filigree on paper but is made of a synthetic material and is only poorly visible or not at all in incident light, but may become relatively well and clearly visible in light penetrat-ing the section or zone provided with the opacity sign 81.
The latter represents, for example, a stylized diamond having the same form as the diamond of signs 21, 31, 33, 35 and on the two sides of the diamond the words DES forming signs 23, 37, 39 as well. The two words DES of sign 81 are written, moreover, in such a manner that one of them appears in 20~674S

"normal" letters and the other in inverted letters when looking at each of the two ~urface~ 5a and 5b of the safety card or plate 5. The opacity sign 81 may be produoed by forming the section or zone comprising the opacity sign of two laminated sheets or layers whose surface are in mutual contact, one upon the other, have a relief structure which has different permeabilities to light, one of these sheets or layers being relatively transparent and the other rela-tively opaque. More detailed information on these opacity signs and possibilities for producing them are found in patent CH-A-650,732~
The surface 5b carries at least one latent image 83 which forms another safety feature. A latent image is an image which changes the visual appearance for an observer as a function of the angle of incidence of light and/or the angle of observation. Since the latent image 83 is superim-posed on another graphic representation, the contour of the section of surface occupied is indicated only schematically for reasons of clarity. A person looking at the latent image 83 recognizes - depending on the angle of observation -the word DES several times or the stylized diamond already mentioned several times.
A latent image may be realized, for example, by giving to the zone on surface 5b intended to carry the latent image a 20~6745 fine and special relief ~tructure and by printing this surface zone in color. Supplementary information to make latent images on a surface - of a safety paper - a~e found in patent CH-A-611,211 and CH-A-617,889.
The surface 5b carries, in addition, luminescent signs 87 which are distributed over large portions of said surface but of which only a single one is designed to newly represent the stylized diamond. These luminescent or, more precisely, fluorescent signs, are invisible to the naked human eye in daylight but may become visible to the naked human eye if they are irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
The electronic chip 13 also constitutes a safety feature and comprises at least one memory having a plurality of memory addresses and defining at least one access zone and, preferably, a plurality of access æones. The electronic chip comprises a hard-wired circuit logic and/or a processor as well and is made and/or programmed in such a way that each stored piece of information in a particular access zone of the memory can only be read if one sends to the electronic chip an identification signal corresponding to an identifica-tion which has been attributed to said access zone and was programmed and/or stored in the electronic chip during the manufacturing process of the article. The manufacturer of electronic chips feeds and makes store at least one piece of 20467~5 information in at least one access zone, for example, dif-ferent informations in different access zones of the memory.
Subsequently, the manufacturer who produces the safety cards or plates and equips them with an electronic chip makes it store at least one piece of information. Finally, the issuing organization of the articles feeds at least one piece of information into the memory.
The informations fed into the memory of the electronic chip are coded with cryptographic codes and thus are stored in form of cryptograms. Thé stored information permits, in combination with the identification signals or signals to verify whether the electronic chip 13 of a particular article has in effect been manufactured by the manufacturer involved, integrated into the safety card or plate 5 by the manufac-turer, and processed by the issuing organization of thefinished article. If the memory has different access zones, they may, for example, constitute in conjunction with the identification signala a hierarchic order. Each access zone thus corresponds to a particular access level. The electronic chip may, for example, be constituted and/or programmed in such a way that a portion of the information supplied by the manufacturer of the electronic chip is stored in an access zone to which only said manufacturer has access.

2~46745 The electronic chip 13 is constituted and/or programmed to form locking and/or refractory means ensuring, among othex things, that it is only possible one time to put t~e informa-tion into memory. These locking and/or refractory means include, for example, electric connections which are irrever-sibly interrupted after the information has been placed in memory and/or are constituted in such a way as to ensure that an attempt to modify the stored infoxmation causes irrever-sible locking and/or irreversible damage of the locking and/or refractory means so that the stored information can no longer be read. If someone tried to read information from the electronic chip 13 without the identification signal, which gives access to the memory zone containing the informa-tion to be read, being directed to the electronic chip, this may also cause irreversible locking and/or irreversible damage to the locking and/or refractoxy means, blocking access to the memory.
If the safety card or plate is strongly bent, it has a tendency to form an irrevexsible crease along one of the weld seams and especially along the weld seam which extends along rib 3g. This type of crease would be easily visible. This tendency of the safety card or plate to form an irreversible crease during strong bending is thus one of the features of the container which helps to recognize an attempt at theft.

20467~

The line of attenuation 3h of the case extends - in a rectangu-lar projection to surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b of the case 3 and safety card or plate S - in the section of the electronic chip or even crosses this section. The safety card or plate 5 itself is optionally provided with a line of attenuation 93 as well, which runs parallel to the edges of the safety card or plate 5, is disposed at least approximately opposite the line of attenuation 3h, and extends at least on one side of the electronic chip 13 to the latter and/or crosses the latter.
This line of attenuation 93 may, for example, be formed by a row of small blind holes or penetrate the safety card or plate, or by a fine stripe, or perhaps be invisible from the exterior. If someone attempts to open the container by force, an irreversible crease or fracture of the electronic chip 13 along the lines of attenuation 3h and 93 may result.
This crease or this fracture will also cause locking and/or damage to the locking and refractory means or put the electronic chip out of service altogether. If the container is heated during an attempt at theft, the electronic chip may become damaged. Damage to the electronic chip caused by thermal effects may subsequently be detected electrically as well.

20~674~

Each precious stone 11 itself optionally comprises a sign or indication 97 for the purpose of speciying the issuing organization of the article and/or certain properties of the stone and/or for identifying an individual precious stone.
The sign or indication 97 is entered or recorded prior to enclosing the precious stone in the container, for example, on a portion of the table lla as shown or else with the aid of a beam emitted by a laser or by means of a similar method to the one used for optical recording of data on disks. The sign or information 97 may be made in such a way that it only extends over a small fraction of the surface of the precious stone and is also at least practically invisible to the naked human eye even during an inspection with a magnifying glass and thus does not diminish the value of the precious stone.
If the article is finished and precious stones having signs or indications 97 are enclosed in the container, the informa-tion represented by the signs or indications 97 may be detected and read with a device employing an emission provided by a laser and penetrating into the case.
A reading device for reading the stored information in the electronic chip 13 is shown in Figure 11 and designated 101. This device comprises an enclosure and a guidance and transport device 103. The latter limits - for example, on the side of the panel in front of the enclosure - a slot 204674~

permitting insertion of an article into the container 1 and includes the guidance and transport means for guiding the container 1 which is pushed manually into the slot. The device 103 comprises, in addition, tran port and ejection means including an electric motor 103a for transporting and ejecting the container l from the slot. The reading device 101 comprises, in addition, a coupling element 105 having contacts adapted to be connected separately to electric contacts 13a of the electronic chip 13 integrated into the safety card or plate 5 of an article and thus for coupling the electronic chip 13 electrically to the reading device 101. The reading device 101 also comprises a computer 107, a keyboard 109, a display device 111, a network branch 115, a current supply device 117, and a radiation source 119 ar-ranged, for example, on the panel in front of the enclosureand adapted to emit ultraviolet rays. The computer 107 is electrically connected to the coupling elements 105, the motor 103a, the keyboard 109, the display device 111 and an optional printer as well, which is disposed on the exterior of the enclosure and/or an optional complete information processing system. The keyboard lO9 comprises keys for inputting digits o to 9 and optional letters and/or other characters as well. The keyboard lO9 comprises, in addi-tion, a key connected to the current supply device 117 for activating and disconnecting the reading device, and an ejection key for initiating the ejection of a container and thus for activating the motor 103a by means of the.computer 107 and/or directly, as desired. The current supply device 117 is connected to the radiation source 119 and - as indicated by the arrows - with other components of the reading device requirin~ electric energy.
In the production of articles including a container 1 and precious stones, first a number of electronic chips 13, cases 3 and safety cards or plates 5 are manufactured. The manufacturers of electronic chips and safety cards or plates then put the intended information into the memory of the electronic chips. Subsequently, an authorized person from the organization issuing the articles places the precious stones 11 selected from a stock into the stone carriers 7 and the latter into the cases 3 in such a way that each container 1 contains stones of the quality and the total weight cor-responding to informations on the safety card or plate 5.
When a case contains precious stones, the container is closed by welding, as previously described. Subsequently, it is optional as well to verify using, for example, a device that employs at least one appropriate physical method such as a spectrometric and/or optical methods using, for example, rays which penetrate the case 3, if the container effectively 20~6745 contains natural precious stones. The device may aomprise at least one source of radiation, for example, at lea~t a laser for the production of a visible or invisible.emis6ion and a spectrometer and/or spectrocomparator. One might also optionally verify, for example, microscopically, if the quality and the dimension of the precious stones correspond to the quality and the weight respectively specified on the safety card or plate. Subsequently, an authorized person from the issuing organization records on the electronic chip 13, with the help of a recording device containing a com-puter, the information corresponding to the alphanumeric code represented by signs 27 and 61 and, optionally, other information as well, specifying, for example, the issuing organization issuing the complete article, the issuing date, the number and/or individual features of the precious stones contained in the container, etc.
The articles may thus be placed as objects of value into circulation as financially negotiable instruments and be negotiated. The exchange value of an individual article may be fixed at the start, i.e., when a number of articles is first issued by the issuing organization based on the value of the precious stones connected with the article and it depends, of course, on the quality and the total weight of the precious stones of the article. Subseguently, the 204674~

exchange value of a particular article is establi~hed at a given time, i.e., the date when the article i6 negotiated, as a function of supply and demand. The exchange value~ or quotations of the different categories of articles may be published regularly and, preferably, every day by the organization issuing the articles and/or an agency recognized by said organization, in the press, in particular in the international financial press, and also on the international financial telecommunications network. The issuing organiza-tion may be involved in re-purchasing an article for a trade-in price related, for example, to the daily quotation according to a fixed convention.
The reading device 101 may be installed in different sales and purchasing locations, in particular in banks or other institutions accredited by the issuing organization.
Reading devices may be used and operated by the organization issuing the articles itself and/or by other organizations such as banks, authorized ~y the issuing organization and recognizing the latter. If the owner of an article wishes to verify that the product involved is authentic or to have the exchange value of an article paid to him, he may render the article to the issuing organization or to an organization cooperating with the latter A person from the organization receiving said article may verify visually that the container 20~67~5 is intact - by way of inspecting the different safety features of the safety card or plate 5 - and that it is, in effect, an article put into circulation by the iss~ing organization. During this inspection and verification, one may irradiate the safety card or plate 5 by means of ultraviolet rays emitted by the radiation source 119 of a reading device 101 and examine if the safety card or plate has luminescent signs 87. If the case 3 which is normally -i.e., in daylight - clear, contains an additive rendering the case colored in artificial ultraviolet light, one might equally verify, that the case temporarily attains the predetermined color when it is subjected to the ultraviolet rays emitted by the irradiation source 119. But in par-ticular, one may push the container 1 of the article into the slot of the guide and transport device 103 of the reading device 101 and connect the electronic chip 13 electrically to the interconnection of the coupling element 105 with the computer 107. The person operating the reading device 101 may then introduce by means of the keyboard 109 a personal identification and/or a part or the total identification giving access to at least a zone of access to the memory of the electronic chip 13. The computer 107 thus sends the electronic chip at least one identification signal permitting it to read at least one piece of information stored in the 20~67~5 memory of the electronic chip. This or each stored piece of information in the electronic chip 13 may thus be read if the electronic chip and the reading device 101 have made a reciprocal authentication. The computer 107 also "pos~esses"
a key or keys for decoding or deciphering the cryptogram or each cryptogram representing information or the informations to be read. The computer 107 may, for example, read and decode at least one piece of information stored by the manufacturer of the electronic chip, the or at least one piece of information stored by the manufacturer of the safety card or plate and the or at least one piece of information stored by the issuing organization. The computer 107 processes information read, calculates, among other things, the number or control code represented by the last digit of the signs 27 and 61 and checks if the electronic chip, the safety card or plate, and the entire article were in effect issued by the issuing organization. As has been described above, the attempt to manipulate the electronic chip 13 and at least certain ways of attempting to open a container 1 cause locking and/or damage to the locking and/or refractory means or put the electronic chip out of service, which may be detected electrically when the electronic chip is connected to the reading device 101 and is signaled by the latter. If the computer 107 confirms, based on the information read, 204674~

that the product is authentic and intact, it signals the display device 111 information such as is represented in Figure 11 and specifies, for example, the number o~ precious stones, the quality, the total calculated weight and, especially, the alphanumeric sign represented by sign~ 27 and 61. The operator of the reading device 101 may thus verify whether displayed information corresponds, in effect, to the visible information on the article and, particularly, if the information read in the memory of the electronic chip contains signs 27 and 61 visible on the case 3 and the safety card or plate 5. It may, in addition optionally be verified by the person operating the reading device 101 and/or automatically by the computer 107 whether said sign is contained in a list of alphanumeric signs of articles placed in circulation by the issuing organization. The organization receiving the article knows then that it can pay the trade-in amount related to the daily quotations according to a fixed convention. If the examination of the article is completed, it is automatically or by a manual activation of the ejection key ejected by the guide and transport device 103. The ejection key permits, in addition, to interrupt the examina-tion procedure and to cause the article to be ejected prior to the completion of the examination or in case of malfunc-tion.

20~67~

As mentioned, the case 3 may optionally be provided with at least one sign - such as a bar code corresponding to signs 27 and 61 - which i5 invisible in daylight, but becomes visible to the human eye and/or detectable and/or legible in S artificial ultraviolet light by means of a detection and/or reading element. If the case includes this type of sign, one may also verify the presence of this sign with the eye when the case is subjected to radiation emitted by the radiation source 119 and/or detected and/or read with the help of a detection and/or reading element connected to the reading device 101.
As already described previously, the electronic chip 13 is capable to respond as a function of detecting a possible attempt at theft. If such attempt has been made and been detected by the electronic chip 13, it will also be recog-nized and signaled by the reading device 101. If the reading device confirms and signals that the electronic chip does not contain the correct information and is not coded correctly and/or is not in order otherwise and/or if other traces of a theft are present, the organization may have the article and the precious stones examined, for example, by an expert of the issuing organization prior, to paying out the trade-in amount. If it is necessary to open a container 1 to examine the precious stones and/or to place them into a new, intact 204674~

container, one may open the container by breaking it along the line of attenuation 3h intended for the rupture~ It is obvious that this method of opening the container causes much and distinct damage to the case 3, the safety card or plate 5 5 and the electronic chip 13.
The articles according to the invention are thus ap-propriate for being negotiated as objects of value such as gold bullion or by permitting to recognize easily and with a high degree of assurance whether or not an article cor-10 responds to the specifications indicated. The container 1thus comprises a housing which offers all the necessary guarantees not only in matters regarding identification of the financial value of the article, but also the possibility to negotiate the article on the basis of its published quota-15 tion.
The variant of the article represented in Figure 12comprises a container 201 whose housing comprises a case 203 and a safety card or plate 205. The article also comprises a stone carrier 207, inserts 209, and precious stones 211.
20 These elements of the article represented in Figure 12 may be similar or identical to those of the article described in reference to Figures 1 to 11 with the exception of the fact that the case 203 comprises two initially separate pieces, namely, plate 215 and a cover plate 217, the latter being 20~674~

thinner than plate 215. The plate 215 has a hole which penetrates into the plate 215 and forms the recess 215c for lodging the stone carrier 207. In order to assemble the container 201, the covering plate 217 is connected analogous-ly to the safety card or plate 205, by ultrasound welding tothe plate 215 in such a way that it cannot be separated from the plate 215 without damage and/or destruction to the latter or itself.
Stone carriers 7 and 207 could be replaced by stone carrier 407 shown in Figure 13. Stone carrier 407 has blind holes forming receptacles 407a whose shapes and dimensions are similar or identical to those of receptacles 9a of the inserts 9. Thus, one may lodge the precious stones directly, i.e., without inserts corresponding to inserts 9, in the receptacles of the one-peice stone carrier 407. The use of a stone carrier 407 permits thus to eliminate inserts 9. If, however, one desires to position a set of precious stones, whose individual sizes are relatively different, into r~ceptacles 407a, it is o~viously necessary to dimension the receptacles 407a to the largest precious stone in said set and, as a consequence, to accept that the smallest stones have relatively much play in the receptacle.
The variant of the article represented in Figure 14 includes a container whose housing includes a case 503 and a 20467~

safety card or plate 505. The case 503 is provided with a recess 503c corresponding to recess 3c of the case 3, bu~
being closer to the center of the container in recess 3c. A
stone carrier 507 drawn on a larger scale in Figure 15 and shown separately in Figure 16 is lodged in reces~ 503c of the case 503. The stone carrier 507 is dimensioned in such a way that its contour corresponds - from a perpendicular view on the safety card or plate 505 - at least appxoximately to that of recess 503c. The side of the stone carrier 507 measured perpendicularly to the safety card or plate 505 is smaller than the depth of the recess 503c. The stone carrier 507 is lodged in the recess 503c in such a way that its side adjacent to the safety card or plate is flush with the side corresponding to the case 503. Thus there is a free space in the form of a slot between the base of the recess 503c and the stone carrier 507. The latter is provided at least with one receptacle 507a and, that is to say, a plurality of, for example, ten receptacles 507a. Each receptacle 507a com-prises a hole that traverses the stone carrier. Each 20 receptacle 507a or hole has a first section 507b and a second section 507c~ The first section S07b is disposed at the side of the stone carrier which is opposite the base of recess 503c and diminishes conically toward the safety card or plate 505. The second section 507c is on the side of the 20~674~

stone carrier adjacent to the safety card or plate and is cylindrical. The diameter of the second section 507c is greater than the smallest diameter and also greater than the greatest diameter of the first section 507b. The second section 507c of the receptacle 507a thus constitutes an enlargement of the latter. The stone carrier 507 forms an annular lip 507d which encircles the first section 507b of each receptacle 507a and projects toward the axis of the corresponding receptacle. The article comprises precious stones 511 each of which constitutes a diamond cut in the shape of a brilliant and is held in one of the receptacles 507a. Since the stone carrier 507 is closer to the center of the container than the stone carrier 7 of the first article described, one may optionally displace the signs of the safety card or plate 05 which correspond to signs 31, 37, of the card and plate 5 toward the upper edge in such a way that they are visible between the upper edge of the safety card or plate 505 and the stone carrier 507.
The case 503 consist of a thermoplastic material, more precisely, methyl polymethacrylate. The case 503 is - as the other cases previously described - clear and transparent in daylight, but preferahly comprises an additive which renders the case colored under artificial ultraviolet light.
The safety card or plate 505 comprises at least one layer 20467~

and, for example, a plurality of layers of polyvinyl chloride and, at least on the side adjacent to the case 503 and the stone carrier 507, a layer of methyl polymethacrylate. The stone carrier 507 consists of a thermoplastic material, for example, a mixture of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene.
The stone carrier 507 is otherwise opaque and colored like the other stone carriers previously described. Case 503 is rendered solid with the safety card or plate 505 all around the stone carrier 507 by means of an adhesive connection.
This connection is established during the manufacturing of the container with the help of an adhesive comprising a monomer having a methyl methacrylate base capable of polymerizing with the substances forming the adjacent faces of the case 503d and the safety card or plate 505. Stone lS carrier 507 may also be joined to the safety card or plate 5Q5 and optionally, in addition, also with the case 503 by means of gluing. Since the case 503 and the stone carrier 507 are joined to the safety card or plate by gluing rather than by ultrasound welding as case 3 and stone carrier 7, 20 case 503 and the stone carrier 507 do not require the ribs corresponding to ribs 3e, 3f, 3g, and 7d of case 3 and stone carrier 7.
Each lip 507d encircling and bordering the first conical section S07b of a receptacle 507a is flexible and resilient.

20467~5 If a receptacle 507a is free from precious stones, the lip 507d projects radially toward the axis of the receptacle concerned, as is visible in Figur0 16. If a precious stone 511 constituted of a diamond in the form of a brilliant is lodged in a receptacle 507a, the table 511a of the diamond touches the base of the recess 503c. The crown 511b of the diamond i5 thus disposed at least substantially at the exterior of the recess 507a in the space between the base of the recess 503c and the stone carrier 507, while the pavilion 511c of the diamond is disposéd at least substantially in the receptacle 507a, and rests with one portion on the lip ~07d which is elastically deformed, more precisely, curved toward the safety card or plate 505. The lip 507d thus clamps the diamond lightly against the base of the recess 503c and holds the diamond substantially immobile. The stone carrier 507 is dimensioned in such a way that it may hold the diamonds having different sizes in the manner described; the lips 507d of the stone carrier 507 are thus - depending on the size of the diamonds - more or less strongly curved. Since the lips 20 507d clamp the precious stones 511 formed by the diamonds against the base of the recess, they push the stone carrier 507 in the same way against the safety card or plate 505.
One could thus optionally position the stone carrier 507 in 20~67~5 the recess 503c without gluing the same to the safety card or plate 505.
The article described with reference to Figures-14 to 16 and the use of this article may, furthermore - that is to say, inasmuch as no other has been described previously - be similar or identical to the article and the use of the article described with reference to Fiqures 1 to 11.
The articles may be modified in other ways as well. One may, for example, lodge in the containers described with reference to the drawing a number of precious stones which is lower than the number of holes of the stone carrier. A
container may thus contain a number of stones having any value between one and ten. Of course, one may also vary the number and the holes of the stone carriers intended for lodging a precious stone by means of an insert or directly.
The contour of the container may also be varied. The container may, for example, have the form of a polygonal plate having any number of angles or of a circular, ellipti-cal or oval plate. In place of a case being transparent everywhere, one could furnish the article with a case whose housing or wall, covering the sides of the precious stones intended to be looked at, is transparent while the rest of the case is in part or altogether opaque. The stone carriers and inserts may, of course, have any kind of color in place 20~745 of the blue color mentioned. Optionally one could even do without a separate stone carrier and replace rece~ses 3c and 215c of the case 3 and the plate 215, respectivelyr by a number of receptacles each of which is designed to lodge and hold in place a precious ~tone directly.
Moreover, there may be provided an outer housing or shell that encloses those parts of the containers that are represen-ted in the various figures. This outer housing or shell may be formed by two pieces that consist of one of the materials spe-cified for the case 3 and that are connected with each otherand with the case and/or with the safety card or plate by welding and/or gluing. The part of the outer housing or shell contiguous to the outer siede of the safety card or plate has at least one hole and for instance two oblong holes enabling access to the two rows of electric contacts of the electronic chip. The outer housing or shell is preferably perfectly trans-parent and clear in daylight, but changes its color - i.e. obtains a color - under an irradiation with artificial ultraviolet light. If someone cuts open the outer housing or shell and closes it again, the boundaries resulting thereof will also be clearly visible under ultraviolet light.
The cases 3 and 503 may be provided with at least one additional recess being parallel to the recess 3c and 503c, respectively, and opening into the surface facing the safety 20~67~

card or plate. Moreover, the lateral portions of the stone carrier 507 may be made thinner than in Figure 15 and similar to a bellow so that the entire stone carrier is somewhat resilient and pushes the precious stones away from the safety card or plate.

One may also modify the information indicated on the safety card or plate as well as the safety features of the latter. One could, for example, provide as safety feature a hologram as well, at least one magnetic support carrying the information in the form of digital data recorded magneti-cally and/or a support for digital data recorded similarly as on an optical data disk and/or a compact disk and optically readable with the help of a beam produced by a laser.
As has been described previously, the locking and/or refractory means of the electronic chip are made in such a way that the attempt to modify the stored information or data or to read the information or data without sending the identifying signal or signals may cause an irreversihle lock and/or irreversible damage. One could, however, make the electronic chip so that certain locks my be cancelled with the aid of a special device and by sending at least one identification signal and/or at least one piece of instruc-tion which is, for example, only known to the manufacturer of the electronic chip. Possible damage to the locking and/or refractory means or malfunctioning of the electronic chip i5 practically always irreversible.
The information device of a safety card may naturally comprise more than one electronic chip. On could optionally even use electronic chips which in place of the electric contacts have electromagnetic or opto-electronic coupling means permitting to establish a connection by means of electromagnetic or optical induction, respectively, and therefore, without contacts. The information processing devices could optionally even comprise, in addition to or in place of an electronic circuit, electromagnetic and/or magnetic and/or opto-electronic and/or optical means as well for storing and/or processing digital data and for executing, for example, logical operations.
The diamonds could, in place of the brilliant cut, have any other cut. In place of diamonds one could encase, in addition, other precious stones, for example, emeralds, sapphires or rubies, in the containers of the type represented in the drawing. If the articles are prepared with diamonds or other precious stones which are not cut like a brilliant, the contours and dimensions of the receptacles intended to lodge a precious stone may, of course, be adopted to the contours and dimensions of the precious stones for holding the latter in an intended position and, in any case, in such a way that they always present the same ~ide to a person who looks through the section of the container provided.
It is understood that the features of the different variants of the articles described may be combined in dif-ferent ways. One may, for example, render the case and the stone carrier integral with the safety card or plate by a combined glued and welded connection.
The reading device could also be equipped with at least one opto-electronic detector connected electronically to the computer and adapted to detect the alphanumeric sign 61 and at least one of the luminescent signs 87. The computer could also verify whether the visible alphanumeric sign 61 and the information stored in the electronic chip 13 which must represent this sign, in effect, correspond and whether the safety card or plate 5 in effect comprises at least one luminescent sign 87.

,

Claims

1. Article including a container (1, 201, 501) containing at least one precious stone (11, 211, 511), characterized in that the container (1, 201, 501) encloses one or each precious stone (11, 211, 511), respectively, in such a way that it cannot be removed without damage to the container (1, 201, 501) and in that said container presents at least one safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) solidly joined with another part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) in such a way that it cannot be detached from said other part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) without damage to said other part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) and/or to itself.

2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) is solidly joined at least along its entire periphery with said other part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501), for example, by means of a glued and/or welded connection.

3. Article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing of the container (1, 201, 501) is at least substantially - for example, with the exception of a possible elastic deformability - rigid and comprises, preferably, at least in general - for example, with the exception of an electronic chip (13) and/or a magnetic carrier optionally belonging to it - at least one synthetic substance, for example, a thermoplastic at least semi-hard or hard sub-stance such as methyl polymethacrylate and/or polyvinyl chloride, the container (1, 201, 501) having preferably the form of a plane plate having a contour at least, in general, rectangular and having, for example, the standard length and width of a credit card.

4. Article according to one of claims 1 to 3, charac-terized in that the container (1, 201, 501) comprises means (7, 9, 207, 209, 407, 507) presenting at least one receptacle (9a, 407a, 507a) lodging a precious stone (11, 211, 511), the container (1, 201, 501) containing, preferably, a plurality of precious stones (11, 211, 511) of which each is arranged in a separate receptacle (9a, 407a, 507a), the receptacle or each receptacle (9a, 407a, 507a) respectively, being open toward a section of the housing formed by the container (1, 201, 501) being at least diaphanous and, preferably, clear and transparent, the precious stone or each precious stone (11, 211, 511) being held in place in the receptacle or one receptacle (9a, 407a, 507a), respectively, in such a manner that it always presents the same side to said section of housing.

5. Article according to claim 4, characterized in that said other part of the container (1, 201, 501) solidly joined with the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) comprises a case (3, 203, 503) having the contour of a plate and being provided with a recess (3c, 215c, 503c) whose opening is covered by the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) and which contains a stone carrier (7, 207, 407, 507), having for the precious stone or each precious stone (11, 211, 511), a hole (7c) which contains an insert (9, 209) forming the receptacle (9a) or one of the receptacles (9a), respectively, or itself forms the receptacle (407a, 507a) or one of the receptacles (407a, 507a) respectively, said case (3, 203, 503) being at least in general at least diaphanous and, preferably, clear and transparent in daylight and comprising, preferably, an additive rendering the case (3, 203, 503) colored under artificial electromagnetic radiation, in particular, artifi-cial ultraviolet radiation, the case (3, 203, 503) optionally comprising at least one sign invisible to the human eye in daylight and becoming visible to the eye and/or detectable by means of a detection element under artificial electromag-netic radiation in daylight, in particular under artificial ultraviolet radiation, and the stone carrier (7, 207, 407, 507) as well as - if necessary - the insert or each insert (9, 209), respectively, preferably being opaque.

6. Article according to claim 5, characterized in that the case (3, 503) is made of one single piece.

7. Article according to claim 5, characterized in that the case (203) comprises a plate (215) and a cover plate (217) connected to plate (215) in such a way that it cannot be detached from the plate (215) without destruction of the latter or of itself, the plate (215) being penetrated by a covered hole on the side opposite from the safety card or plate (205) of plate (215) by means of the cover plate (217) and forming with the latter said recess (215c).

8. Article according to one of claims 1 to 7, charac-terized in that the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) includes an information processing device serving to store and process data, the device comprising, preferably, at least one electronic chip (13) and/or optionally electromagnetic and/or magnetic and/or opto-electronic and/or optical means, the information processing device being preferably con-stituted and/or programmed in such a way as to store at least one piece of information legible only after at least one identifying signal is sent and to make electrically apparent an attempt to modify said at least one piece of information and/or to read the latter without sending the correct identifying signal, and/or a crease or a fracture of the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) in the section of the information processing device, the container (1, 201, 501) comprising, for example, at least one line of attenuation (3h, 93) extending in a rectangular projection to the surfaces (5a, 5b) of the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) toward the section of the information processing device or even in this section, the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) presenting an optional magnetic carrier for magnetically recorded data and/or an optional carrier for optically readable digital data.

9. Article according to one of claims 1 to 8, charac-terized in that the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) comprises at least one luminescent sign (87) and, in par-ticular, a fluorescent sign, invisible in daylight.

10. Article according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) forms and/or comprises at least one support for a safety feature, preferably at least one support for a visible safety feature, so that, for example, at least one guilloche (71, 73) and/or one graphic characteristic and/or a sign or a graphic representation (75, 77) for making recognizable an electrographic copy and/or a sign of opacity (81) and/or a latent image (83) and/or a hologram.

11. Article according to one of claims 1 to 10, charac-terized in that the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) comprises at least one data carrier for at least one piece of information (31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61) visible to the human eye from the exterior of the container and serving, for example, to specify the issuing organization of the article and/or the number and/or the type and/or the mass and/or the weight of the precious stone (11, 211) or of all the precious stones (11, 211) belonging to the article and/or a measure for the exchange value of the article and/or for designating an individual article.

12. Article according to one of claims 1 to 11, charac-terized in that the precious stone or each precious stone (11, 211, 511) respectively, is provided with a sign or with information (97), inscribed and legible, for example, with the help of laser emission.

13. Article according to one of claims 1 to 12, charac-terized in that the container (1, 201, 501) contains a plurality of precious stones (11, 211, 511) constituted of diamonds which have individual colors belonging to a zone extending over several grades of color - preferably over at most five and, for example, over three or four grades of adjacent colors - of the color grades according the nomencla-ture of the Gemological Institute of America, and which have individual clarities belonging to a zone extending over several grades of clarity - preferably over at most five and, for example, three or four grades of adjacent clarity of the gradation of clarity according to the nomenclature of the Gemological Institute of America, the color zone extend-ing, for example, over the color grades D, E, F or G, H, I, J and the zone of clarity extending, for example, over the grades of clarity FL, IF, VVS1, VVS2, or VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2.

14. Article according to one of claims 1 to 13, charac-terized in that the container (1, 201, 501) contains a plurality of precious stones (11, 211, 511) whose individual masses are at least 50 % and at most 170 % of the average mass of precious stones (11, 211, 511) preferably between 70 % and 150 % of said average mass, the number of precious stones (11, 211, 511) being, for example, ten, the individual masses being for example or or or or and the total mass of precious stones (11, 211, 511) being advantageously ap-proximately equal to one of the total calculated masses of 0.2 g, 0.4 g, 0.6 g, 0.8 g, 1 g and being, preferably at least 100 % and at most 105 % and, for example, between 100.3 % and 100.55 % of one of these total calculated masses.

15. Safety card or plate 5 for an article according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises at least one information processing device serving to store and process data and in that it forms a carrier for at least one piece of information (31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61) visible to the human eye and for at least one safety feature (71, 73, 77, 81, 83, 87) visible or being able to be made visible.

16. Safety card or plate according to claim 15, charac-terized in that the information processing device comprises at least one electronic chip (13) and/or electromagnetic and/or magnetic and/or opto-electronic and/or optic means.

17. Reading device for use in cooperation with an article according to claim 8, characterized in that the reading device comprises a coupling element (103) adapted to establish a connection with the information processing device and is adapted to read and decode at least one piece of information stored and/or represented by the information processing device.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that it is adapted for sending to the information processing device at least one identification signal giving access to a zone in the memory of the information processing device containing said information and for recognizing and signaling an attempt to modify said information and/or an attempt to read said information without sending the correct iden-tification signal and/or electrical and/or mechanical and/or thermal damage to the information processing device.

19. Device according to claim 17 or 18 for use in cooperation with an article according to claim 9, charac-terized in that it comprises radiation source (119) for irradiating the article, for example, by means of electromag-netic radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, for example, to make appear and/or temporarily change the color of one part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) and/or to make visible, at least one luminescent sign (87) and, for example fluorescent sign, of the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) and/or for making visible to the eye and/or detectable by a detection element at least one sign from another part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501), this last sign being invisible in daylight.

20. Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, charac-terized in that it is adapted to react as a function of at least one of the parameters below:
- examination by the issuing organization of the article and/or of the origin of the safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) and/or the origin of the information processing device;
- detection of a possible attempt at theft of the information processing device and/or the article itself;

- display of the authorization to pay the exchange value of the financial instrument constituted by the container (1, 201, 501) with the precious stone or each precious stone (11, 211, 511) that it contains by all organizations recognizing the issuing organization of the article, this being, for example, on the basis of published quotations.

21. Process for the production of an article according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the precious stone or each precious stone (11, 211, 511), respectively, is enclosed in the container (1, 211, 511 [sic]) in such a way that it cannot be removed without damage to the container (1, 201, 501) and in that at least one safety card or plate (5, 205, 505) is solidly joined with another part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) in such a way that it cannot be detached from said part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) without damage to said other part (3, 203, 503) of the container (1, 201, 501) and/or itself.