CZ20013300A3 - Confidential information carrier with distinct indication of unauthorized handling such carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, there is disclosed a tamper-evident form including a transparent upper laminate (10C); a lower laminate (14C) and a scrambling pattern (15C) being associated with the lower laminate (14C). Said upper laminate (10C) having a texture lower surface and adapted to receive confidential information (11C) on its upper surface; said lower laminate (14C) having a complementary texture upper surface such that the upper laminate (10C) appears transparent and such that the upper laminate (10C) appears noticeably less transparent when it is separated from the lower laminate (14C) and the complementary texture surfaces are expose. This provides a tamper-evident mechanism for indicating separation of the laminates.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to an improvement of a confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering described in International Patent Application PCT / AU98 / 00787 filed September 18, 1998 and claiming priority from Australian Patent Application PP0273 filed November 7, 1997. Description of International Patent Application PCT / AU98 / 00787 is incorporated herein by reference and a complete understanding of the invention requires reading the above document.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

International patent application PCT / AU98 / 00787 discloses a carrier for securely carrying confidential information with a clear indication of tampering with the carrier. Confidential information may be printed on the carrier by a impactless printer, such as a laser or inkjet printer, and the carrier does not require any further processing, such as folding or coating, etc., after printing the confidential information to secure confidential information printed on the carrier against unauthorized reading of this information. This represents a substantial improvement over the prior art carriers for securely carrying confidential information.

Several preferred embodiments described in patent application PCT / AU98 / 00787 include a multilayer construction comprising a transparent laminate and a underlying mat that carries a masking pattern that is visible through the transparent laminate so that the information printed on the transparent laminate cannot be read or detected until transparent. the laminate and the masking pattern pad are not physically separated from each other.

In some embodiments, either in the backing or in the transparent laminate, incomplete notches are made by the die cutter, leaving the brittle joining members, wherein a portion of the backing or a portion of the laminate is removable from the remaining portion of the backing, respectively. laminate to make confidential information visible on the transparent laminate.

For the indication of tampering with the confidential information carrier, these embodiments rely on fragile connecting links in the backing or laminate. That is, tamper detection is based on detecting breakage of the frangible links. The disadvantage of these embodiments is that the entire laminate can be removed from the backing without breaking said brittle fasteners, and then the entire laminate can be repositioned on the backing without later removing and repositioning the entire laminate in any way detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention consists of a carrier of confidential information with a clear indication of tampering with the carrier, comprising:

a top transparent laminate having a structured bottom surface and adapted to receive confidential information on the top surface; and a bottom laminate having a complementary structured top surface such that the top transparent laminate appears distinctly less transparent when separated from the bottom

4

444 4 4 4 4 laminate and complementary structured surfaces are exposed.

According to a second aspect, the invention consists in a carrier of confidential information with a clear indication of tampering with the carrier, comprising:

a top transparent laminate adapted to receive confidential information; and a bottom laminate, wherein the top surface of the bottom laminate and the bottom surface of the top laminate are complementary in shape so that separating the top transparent laminate and the bottom laminate from one another exposes these complementary surfaces and reduces the transparency of at least the top transparent laminate.

According to a third aspect, the invention resides in a carrier of confidential information with a clear indication of tampering with the carrier, comprising:

the top laminate bonded to the bottom laminate, the arrangement being such that when the top laminate is bonded to the bottom laminate, the top laminate and bottom laminate assembly appears transparent, while, when the top laminate and the bottom laminate are separated from each other, both separate laminates appear to be clearly less transparent.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention is a method of indicating the separation of a first transparent laminate and a second transparent laminate, wherein the first transparent laminate is adapted to receive confidential information and the second laminate comprises an associated masking pattern that prevents confidential information from being readily formed. structured surfaces on the interfaces of the first transparent laminate and the second laminate, wherein the separation of the two laminates is one from the " to ", " 9 " The second exposes these complementary structured surfaces and changes the optical properties of at least the first transparent laminate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a first embodiment of a confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of a confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a third embodiment of a confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering. Fig. 5 shows the appearance of a portion of a plurality of confidential information carriers which have been tampered with and a portion of one carrier that has not been tampered with aci.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Giant. 1 illustrates an arrangement in which the top transparent laminate 10A, made e.g. of polystyrene, is 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

9 99 9 999

9 9 9 9 9

999 999 · 9 9 9 9 99 9 coated on the lower surface with a transparent coating 12A, made eg of a water-based acrylic polymer. The transparent coating 12A is bonded to the top transparent laminate 10A, and its bottom surface has been subjected to a surface treatment to form a matt or textured coating 12A, as shown in the undulating line.

The bottom laminate 14a, made, for example, of acrylate or polyurethane, is preferably cast in liquid form directly onto the structured lower surface of the transparent coating 12A and cured at this point. As a result, the top surface of the bottom laminate 14A has a shape complementary to that of a matt or textured bottom surface of the transparent coating 12A. After curing, the transparent coating 12A and the lower laminate 14A are mechanically bonded to each other due to the intimate contact between their complementary structured surfaces.

While the textured lower surface of the transparent coating 12A has refractive properties such that the combination of the upper transparent laminate 10A with the transparent coating 12A would appear dull or translucent, the fact that the upper surface of the lower laminate 14a has a structure complementary to the lower surface structure of the transparent coating and both of these surfaces are in close contact, causing the top transparent laminate 10A and the transparent coating 12A to appear to be transparent! or transparent pantry than translucent or dull.

In this specific embodiment, the bottom laminate 14A is also transparent and has a masking pattern 15A printed on the bottom surface. In another embodiment, the masking sample could be encapsulated within the lower laminate or alternatively form a complementary structured upper surface of the lower laminate (9 / -2200). 9 9

9

99 999

laminate.

The masking pattern 15A is visible from above the top transparent laminate 10A through the top transparent laminate 10A, the transparent coating 12A and the bottom laminate 14A, it being understood that the top transparent laminate 10A, the transparent coating 12A and the bottom laminate 14A are transparent. The camouflage pattern 15A may be a mass of overprinted alphanumeric characters as known in the art, or may simply be a dark background.

It is to be understood that the presence of any confidential information 11A printed on the top surface of the top laminate 10A e.g. by a laser printer or a jet printer cannot be detected due to the fact that the printed confidential information 11A is masked by the underlying masking pattern 15A.

Any laminate 10A separating the top transparent and transparent coating assembly 12A from the bottom laminate 14A results in a change in the optical properties of the top transparent laminate assembly 10A and the transparent coating. The same granular optical properties occur in the lower laminate 14A.

The above change in the optical properties of the top transparent laminate 10A and the transparent coating 12A assembly is that the assembly acquires a dull or translucent appearance to expose the matt or textured finish of the unexposed bottom surface of the transparent coating 12A. Similarly, the lower laminate 14A becomes dull or translucent, which makes the underlying masking pattern 15A less visible than before the assembly is separated from the lower laminate 14A. Obviously, the dull or translucent appearance obtained after said separation is dependent on the refractive properties of it.

9 9 * 9 * 9 * 9 * 9 * 4 * 9 * 9 * 4 * 9 * 4 * 9 * 4 * 4 structured surfaces. Thus, it should be noted that the separation causes a change from a transparent or transparent appearance to a translucent or dull appearance, which is readily observable by the observer.

It should be noted that the change from transparent appearance to translucent due to physical separation is irreversible. In addition, since the bond between the top transparent laminate 10A and transparent coating 12A assembly and the bottom laminate 14A is of a mechanical nature, i.e. based on tight engagement of the respective complementary surfaces, the transparent coating 12A and the bottom laminate 14A cannot be separated together.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment similar to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that, like the first embodiment, it comprises a top transparent laminate 10B, a transparent coating 12B and a bottom transparent laminate 14B. Similarly, the transparent coating 12B has a structured surface on which the lower transparent laminate 14B is cast in liquid form, as a result of which the upper surface of the lower transparent laminate 14B adopts a structured surface complementary to the structured surface treatment of the transparent coating 12B.

As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the top transparent laminate 10B, the transparent coating 12B, and the bottom transparent laminate 14B are transparent or transparent. However, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the camouflage pattern 15B is printed on the top surface of the paper support 17B. The bottom transparent laminate 14B is adhered by the transparent adhesive 16B to the substrate 18B and a notch cut is made from the back of the confidential information carrier »4»

• ·

4 * 4 • 4 »4 4 4 4 4

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20Β, so that a portion of the paper backing 18B together with a portion of the lower transparent laminate 14B is removable from the remaining portions of the confidential information carrier.

When using a confidential information carrier, the confidential information 11B is printed on the top surface of the top transparent laminate 10B, e.g., a laser printer or a jet printer. The top surface of the top transparent laminate 10B has a slight matt finish to increase the bond strength between the attached toner of the printer and the top transparent laminate 10B and reduce the sharpness of light reflections that might otherwise allow confidential information to be read. It is to be understood that the confidential information 11B cannot be read in this state because of the underlying masking pattern 15B that is printed on the paper substrate 18B and which is clearly visible through the top transparent laminate 10B, the transparent coating 12B, the bottom transparent laminate 12B and the transparent adhesive 16B.

It should be noted that a slight matte finish of the top surface of the top transparent laminate 10B to increase the bond strength between the toner and the top transparencies of the laminate must not affect the overall transparency of the laminate structure, as this would change the functionality of the underlying masking pattern 15B.

Access to confidential information 11B is achieved by manually removing a portion of the paper backing 18B and the lower transparent laminate 14B between the notches 20B. This removal makes the confidential information 11B visible and also breaks the mechanical connection between the transparent coating 12B and the lower transparent laminate 14B, and also exposes the respective complementary structured finishes of the transparent coating 12B and the lower transparent laminate 14B, thereby

make both the transparent coating 12B and the transparent backsheet 14B translucent or milky.

If an attempt is made to remove the top transparent laminate 10B and the transparent coating 12B from the front of the confidential information carrier to gain unauthorized access to the confidential information 11B, the structured surfaces of the transparent coating 12B and the lower transparent laminate 14B are again exposed, causing a change in appearance the transparent coating 12B and the lower transparent laminate 14B, which indicates tampering with the confidential information carrier. In addition, it is preferred that the top transparent laminate 10B and transparent coating 12B assembly cannot be reattached to the bottom transparent laminate 14B, since when the tight mechanical bond between the transparent coating 12B and the bottom transparent laminate 14B is broken, the assembly can no longer adhere to the bottom transparent laminate 14B. a transparent laminate 14B. Giant. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the confidential information carrier that is free of the transparent coating 12 and the structured finish has been applied directly to the lower surface of the top transparent laminate 10. This can be achieved, for example, by chemical etching or mechanical abrasion, or simply by selecting a suitably finished matt polyester film.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the lower transparent laminate 14C is directly cast onto the upper transparent laminate 10C to form an optically clear double laminate structure. Also in this embodiment, the physical separation of the top transparent laminate 10C and the bottom transparent laminate 14C will expose corresponding complementary structured surfaces and cause both the top transparent laminate 10C and the bottom transparent laminate 14C to obtain a translucent or dull appearance that it is clearly distinguishable from the previous transparent appearance. In addition, the top transparent laminate 10C and the bottom transparent laminate 14C cannot re-adhere to each other after breaking the mechanical joint. In this embodiment, the camouflage pattern 15C is printed on the bottom surface of the bottom transparent laminate 14C.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the double laminate structure shown in Figure 3 is adhered by a transparent adhesive 16D to the paper substrate 18D. In this embodiment, the camouflage pattern 15D is printed on the top surface of the paper substrate 18D. The notches 20D made by the die cutter from the back of the confidential information carrier allow removal of a portion of the paper backing 18D and the lower transparent laminate 14D. Also in this embodiment, the physical separation of the top transparent laminate 10D and the bottom transparent laminate 14D leads to an irreversible visual indication of tampering with the confidential information carrier. In addition, the tight mechanical joint between the top transparent laminate 10D and the bottom transparent laminate 14D cannot be recreated.

Giant. 5 illustrates several examples of indications of tampering with the confidential information carrier obtainable in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The slits made by the cutter from the back of the confidential information carrier are generally shown in the form of an oval line in FIG.

In the upper right example, the portion of the backing and the lower transparent laminate bounded by the oval notch was removed from the back of the confidential information carrier, resulting in an indication of the separation within the oval shape that was left even though the portion removed

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In the lower two examples, an attempt was made to lift up a portion of the top transparent laminate that tore as a result. In preferred embodiments, the top transparent laminate 10 is intentionally scored, preferably in a crisscross pattern, such that the top transparent laminate tears when an attempt is made to lift the top transparent laminate together, e.g., with an adhesive tape.

In conclusion, International Patent Application PCT / AU98 / 00787 discloses a confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering with the carrier, which confidential information can only be read if the confidential information laminate and the underlying masking carrier are read. physically separates each other. This application discloses an improved confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering, wherein any physical separation of the laminate carrying the confidential information and the underlying masking pattern carrier is irreversibly indicated.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described above are merely exemplary of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It goes without saying that other modifications and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (9)

PATENT CLAIMS A confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering, comprising a top transparent laminate having a structured bottom surface and adapted to receive confidential information on the top surface and a bottom laminate having a complementarily structured top surface, thus, the top transparent laminate appears to be transparent and the top transparent laminate appears to be significantly less transparent when separated from the bottom laminate and the complementary structured surfaces are exposed. A confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering, comprising an upper transparent laminate adapted to receive confidential information and a lower laminate, characterized in that the upper surface of the lower laminate and the lower surface of the upper laminate are complementary in shape so that the upper transparent laminate is separated and the bottom transparent laminate will expose these complementary surfaces and reduce the transparency of at least the top transparent laminate. The carrier of claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier further comprises a camouflage pattern associated with the bottom laminate and visible through the top transparent laminate, such that confidential information printed on the top transparent laminate cannot be read until the top transparent laminate and the bottom laminate are separated. one from the other. • ············································· · · · The carrier of claim 3, wherein the backsheet is transparent and the masking pattern is imprinted on the backsheet of the backsheet. 5. The carrier of claim 3 wherein the backsheet is transparent and adhered to the substrate, wherein the camouflage pattern is printed on the substrate. 6. The support of claim 1 or 2, wherein the structured bottom surface of the top transparent laminate is formed by applying a coating transparent laminate. on lower Surface vrchního Carrier according to claim 1 or 2, v y brand e n ý t that the bottom laminate is cast directly on structured bottom the surface of the top laminate. 8. The support of claim 6 wherein the backsheet is cast directly onto said coating. 9. A confidential information carrier with a clear indication of tampering comprising the top laminate associated with the bottom laminate, wherein the arrangement is such that when the top laminate is associated with the bottom laminate, the top laminate and bottom laminate assemblies are transparent. and when the top laminate is separated from the bottom laminate, the separated laminates are clearly less transparent. 10. A method of indicating the separation of a first transparent laminate and a second laminate from one another, wherein the first transparent laminate is adapted to receive confidential information and the second laminate comprises an associated masking pattern that prevents reading confidential information by forming complementary structured surfaces on contacting the first transparent laminate and the second laminate, wherein separating the first transparent laminate and the second laminate from one another exposes complementary structured surfaces and alters the optical properties of at least the first transparent laminate.