DE102022203462A1 - Banknote foldable into a three-dimensional body - Google Patents

Abstract

Banknote (100) comprising a flat substrate element (120), wherein the substrate element (120) has a plurality of folds (200), so that a three-dimensional body (500) can be created when the substrate element (120) is folded along the folds (200).

Description

The invention generally relates to banknotes.

Banknotes are documents of value that embody value. They are issued by banks, especially central banks, and serve as legal tender. The invention further relates to the production of a series of banknotes in which banknotes of the same value are designed in the same way.

Banknotes are made from a flat substrate and have a graphic design, in particular printed, on both surfaces. In order to prevent counterfeiting and/or imitation or at least make it significantly more difficult, banknotes are provided with a variety of security features. These include, for example, a security print, e.g. B. in the form of one or more guilloches, or are using special printing processes, e.g. B. intaglio printing, or special printing inks, e.g. B. optically variable colors (OVI - English Optical Variable Ink), which change their color impression depending on an illumination direction and / or a viewing / detection direction.

As a rule, the composition and design of the substrate, which is referred to as banknote paper, is also a security feature, even if the substrate is often not paper in the strict sense, but a fiber or fiber composite, for example based on cotton fiber. The substrate can be one or more layers and made of different materials.

In order to make counterfeiting more difficult, the goal is to create increasingly complex security features that make banknotes distinguishable from known banknotes and counterfeits.

The invention is therefore based on the technical task of creating banknotes that have novel security features that enable good differentiation and at the same time also enable verification.

The task is solved by a banknote with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous configurations result from the subclaims.

In particular, a banknote is created comprising a flat substrate element, wherein the substrate element has a plurality of folds, so that a three-dimensional body can be created when the substrate element is folded along the folds.

Such banknotes are produced in series, i.e. H. Similar banknotes, which embody the same value, for example, are designed similarly in such a way that the formation of a three-dimensional body by means of folds leads to the same shape of the three-dimensional body.

In this context, a fold is a material taper or change that promotes and facilitates folding of the substrate element along the fold compared to folding of the substrate element elsewhere.

This creates banknotes with a flat substrate element, which enable a user to fold this substrate element for verification purposes and thereby form a three-dimensional body. If the folds are arranged in such a way that a three-dimensional body can be formed when folded along the folds, the banknote is verified as genuine.

When originally manufactured, the banknotes are flat and stackable. The plurality of folds are preferably introduced into the material of the substrate elements by pressing or embossing plates. In some embodiments, material removal may also occur when forming the folds.

In series production, the banknotes produced in series are similar in terms of the folds formed. The presence of the folds and their precise arrangement and design can also be used individually or in combination as a security feature for verification.

The production can be done in single use or multiple use.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one fold is designed to be selective in the folding direction. This means that the fold favors folding in one folding direction over another folding direction. If one looks at a flat substrate, for example a sheet of paper, from one side, it is possible to fold the sides facing the viewer onto one another along a fold, which represents one folding direction, or to fold the sides facing away from the viewer onto one another along the fold , which represents the other folding direction. A fold can now be formed in some materials such as paper in such a way that it promotes folding in one folding direction over the other folding direction or vice versa.

For forming a three-dimensional body from the flat substrate element, it may be advantageous for direction-selective folds to be formed in the substrate element for one folding direction or for both different folding directions. In some embodiments, the plurality of folds include fold direction-selective folds for both fold directions. For example, the folds can be designed for Platonic solids. These Platonic solids can only be produced by folding a flat substrate element with a rectangular base. The surface elements of the three-dimensional Platonic solid themselves have no folding edges. The three-dimensional Platonic solids are also stable without adhesives such as glue.

The parts of the substrate element that are delimited by folds and/or outer edges of the substrate element are referred to as surface elements. Surface elements that form an outer surface of the three-dimensional body are called body surface elements. Each surface element has surface portions formed on its opposing surfaces, which are portions of the opposing surfaces of the substrate element. Surface elements that do not form an outer surface of the body are referred to as stabilization surface elements.

Preferred embodiments provide that the three-dimensional body completely encloses a volume, i.e. each surface of the three-dimensional body is at least partially formed by a surface element of the substrate element.

In order to improve verification and make replication more difficult, in some embodiments it is provided that the substrate has a security print that is designed such that a pattern continues in the three-dimensional body over a body edge that does not arise exclusively from one of the folds is. This means that the surface elements in the substrate that abut one another at the body edge are not only separated by a fold. Precise printing is therefore required. The three-dimensional body thus gives the impression as if it had been provided with the pattern from the outside in the three-dimensional state, for example printed.

Further, more complex features can be implemented and verified using embodiments in which one of the surface elements has a transparent window area. This creates the possibility of seeing into the interior of the three-dimensional body and verifying features on surface sections that are arranged in the interior of the three-dimensional body.

Transparent is an object or material through which imaging according to geometric optics is possible for at least one wavelength or a wavelength range of visible light. If transmission of light of one wavelength or a wavelength range through an object/material is possible, but the light is scattered diffusely or stochastically as it passes through, the object/material is referred to as translucent.

A transparent window area in a surface element of the substrate element can be formed, for example, by a punched out recess. However, a transparent window region is preferably formed in a surface element of the substrate element by means of a transparent element, for example a transparent plastic material. For example, a region of the substrate element can consist of a transparent plastic material or several interconnected transparent layers of plastic material. The transparent material can be colored so that imaging according to geometric optics is only possible for individual wavelengths or wavelength ranges of visible light.

In one embodiment, the window area is therefore formed by a transparent plastic element.

In addition to the possibility of looking into the interior of the three-dimensional body through the window area, the possibility is also created of illuminating the three-dimensional body from the inside through the window area.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the plastic element has a light-refractive property, for example in the form of a magnifying glass, and information can be detected on a surface section inside the three-dimensional body inside the three-dimensional body through which the plastic element can be detected, which is on the surface section in the flat state of the flat substrate element cannot be detected. This creates a hidden security feature that can only be verified without tools when the three-dimensional body is produced from the substrate element by folding it.

Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments it can be provided that information is encoded in the plastic element which, when light is irradiated onto the plastic element from outside the three-dimensional body, is transmitted to at least one internal surface chen section of one of the surface elements is projected, so that this information can be detected by the surface element from the outside or through the plastic element inside the three-dimensional body. If at least the surface element onto which the information is projected is translucent, the information can usually be observed or recorded from the outside. Verifying may be or include verifying an existence of projected information. It can also be checked whether the projection is observed on the surface element on which it was expected. However, the content of the information can also be checked against specifications that come from outside the banknote or are contained in the banknote.

In another embodiment, it is provided that a light-deflecting optical security element is formed on a surface section which is arranged in the interior of the three-dimensional body opposite the window area, which deflects the light when light is irradiated through the window area onto the security element in such a way that Light is deflected at least partially at a distance from the security element onto the one surface section or another surface section arranged inside, so that it can be perceived through the window section or from the outside through a surface element, in particular through the surface element on which the one surface section or the other surface section are formed is. This creates a security element which cannot be verified or can only be verified with great difficulty in the flat state, but can be easily verified in the folded state of the substrate element.

In Platonic solids, the substrate element can have a rectangular shape when flat. Other embodiments may include simpler folding patterns such as folding mesh as a substrate element. In these cases, the substrate element often has a polygonal, rather than square, outline shape.

In order to use, for example, square banknotes during issuing and production, in some embodiments it is provided that the banknote has a flat edge region in addition to the substrate element and the substrate element is delimited from the edge region by a material weakening, for example a perforation, so that the substrate element is separated from the edge region the edge element can be separated along the weakening of the material (for example the perforation) without any aids. Preferably, the edge element has no value without the substrate element. This means that the substrate element alone without the edge element is the fully marketable banknote.

In such embodiments but also in platonic folding bodies, the substrate element can comprise body surface elements and stabilization surface elements, with the stabilization surface elements being arranged inside the three-dimensional body in the folded three-dimensional state or partially overlapping body surface elements.

In some embodiments it can be provided that the substrate element has incisions for forming plug connections or perforations for forming such incisions.

• 1 eine Banknote mit einem Randelement und einem Substratelement;
• 2 eine schematische Ansicht des zum dreidimensionalen Körper gefalteten Substratelements der Banknote nach 1;
• 3 eine weitere Banknote im flachen Zustand ohne Randelement;
• 4 eine schematische Ansicht des zum dreidimensionalen Körper gefalteten Substratelements der Banknote nach 3;
• 5 eine weitere Banknote im flachen Zustand;
• 6 eine schematische Ansicht des zum dreidimensionalen Körper gefalteten Substratelements der Banknote nach 5;
• 7 eine schematische Ansicht einer Banknote mit den Falzen zum Ausbilden eines Tetraeders als platonischer Körper;
• 8 eine schematische Ansicht nach 7 der Banknote im dreidimensional gefalteten Zustand
• 9 bis 18 weitere Banknoten abwechselnd zunächst im flachen (ungerade Figuren) und anschließend im zugehörigen dreidimensionalen Zustand (gerade Figuren).

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Here show:

• 1 a banknote with a border element and a substrate element;
• 2 a schematic view of the substrate element of the banknote folded into a three-dimensional body 1 ;
• 3 another banknote in a flat state without an edge element;
• 4 a schematic view of the substrate element of the banknote folded into a three-dimensional body 3 ;
• 5 another banknote in a flat state;
• 6 a schematic view of the substrate element of the banknote folded into a three-dimensional body 5 ;
• 7 a schematic view of a banknote with the folds to form a tetrahedron as a Platonic solid;
• 8th a schematic view 7 the banknote in a three-dimensional folded state
• 9 until 18 further banknotes alternately first in the flat state (odd figures) and then in the corresponding three-dimensional state (even figures).

In 1 A banknote 100 is shown schematically. The banknote 100 has an edge region 110 and a substrate element 120. Both are flat. This means that a material thickness perpendicular to the plane of the drawing is significantly smaller than the extent in the plane of the drawing. The edge region 110 and the substrate element 120 are preferably made from the same substrate material. This can be any be the material from which banknotes are usually made. For example, this can be banknote paper based on cotton fibers. It is also possible for the substrate material to be a composite made up of several layers.

The banknote 100 is preferably provided with a security print from a top side 101 and a bottom side 102, which correspond to the top and bottom sides 111, 121, 112, 122 of the edge region 110 and substrate element 120. In addition, the banknote has a plurality of security elements, as are common in banknotes. For reasons of simplicity, these are neither shown nor explicitly described. However, for the expert it turns out that these are in the banknote 100 as in 1 is shown, as well as the other banknotes 100 described here can be designed in any combination. In particular, optically variable colors, security prints, various printing techniques, watermarks, hologram patches, transparent elements, etc. can be implemented in the banknote.

In the banknote 100 shown, the substrate element 120 is delimited from the edge region 110 by a material weakening in the form of a perforation 130, which is formed all around the substrate element 120. The perforation 130 can be designed in any shape, as long as it makes it possible to separate the substrate element 120 from the edge region 110 without further aids. In the embodiment shown, the perforation is shown by a dotted line.

The substrate element 120 also has folds 200, which facilitate buckling of the substrate element 120, in particular after the substrate element 120 has been separated from the edge region 110, along the folds 200. In order to be able to refer to individual folds 200, these are numbered 201-212 in the illustrated embodiment.

The folds 200 and the outline edges 140 of the substrate element 120 jointly delimit surface elements 300. Some of these form body surface elements 310, which form surfaces of a three-dimensional body 500, which is in 2 is shown schematically. Others of the surface elements 300 form stabilization surface elements 320, which are generally arranged inside the three-dimensional body 500 after folding.

The folds 200 are generally designed to be selective in the direction of folding. A fold 200, which is shown by a dashed line, favors a folding direction or folding in which the surface sections facing away from an observer are folded towards one another. This is also referred to here as outward folding.

Folds, which are indicated by a solid line, promote a folding direction or folding in which the surface sections 430 facing the viewer are folded onto one another. This is also known as inward folding.

In 1 The outer surface sections 430 of the body surface elements 310 can be seen. Schematically, a security print 600 comprising a triangle is formed on the surface sections 430, which ends at an upper outline edge 141 of the outer surface section 431 and continues from the fold 212 into the outer surface section 434.

In the three-dimensional folded state of the banknote or the substrate element 120, this banknote / this substrate element 120 is a three-dimensional body 500 with the shape of a cube 501. This folded three-dimensional state is in 2 shown schematically.

The same technical features are provided with the same reference numbers in all figures.

The outer surface section 431 of the body surface element 311 borders directly on the surface section 434 of the body surface element 314, so that the security print 600 appears to continue seamlessly over the front upper edge 511 of the cube 501.

This feature can be used to verify whether it is a real banknote 100 or not.

In the surface element 300, which forms the body surface element 312 in the cube 501 and forms the rear side facing away from the viewer, a transparent window area 700 is formed by means of a transparent window element 701. This can be made, for example, from a transparent, clear plastic. In the embodiment shown here, the transparent window element 701 contains a volume transmission hologram 711, which, for example, diffracts light of a narrow wavelength range of visible light, for example in the green wavelength range, in such a way that information stored in the volume transmission hologram 711 is in Shape of the lettering 721 “HOLO” is projected onto the inner surface section 444 of the body surface element 314 when white light 800 is irradiated through the window element 701. The project The function is carried out in such a way that when you look at the projection through the window element 701, you see the lettering in a mirror image. However, the material of the substrate layer element 120 in the area of the body surface element 314 is translucent, so that the lettering “HOLO” 721 can be perceived from the outside as green lettering. This feature can also be used to verify banknote 100.

In another embodiment, the window element 701 is formed by a lens formed in a plastic film, which enables information (not shown) to be printed on the inner surface section 444 of the body surface element 314 opposite the window element 701, for example as microwriting, through the window element 701 Magnifying lens of the window element 701 to detect. The fact that this microwriting becomes readable and/or the fact that the microwriting is present and/or content encoded therein can be used to make verification decisions.

In 3 and 4 is another version of a 100 banknote, once in the unfolded flat form ( 3 ) and shown once in the three-dimensional folded state. In this embodiment, the banknote 100 does not include any edge area. For reasons of clarity, not all features have been given reference numbers again. However, these can be analogous to 1 and 2 except for the changes mentioned.

This embodiment also differs from the embodiment according to 1 and 2 in that this embodiment has further stabilizing surface elements 371-377 and further folds 213-219. Furthermore, cuts 271-277 are made in the folds 212, 208, 201, 211, 204, 205, 210, through which the further stabilizing elements 371-377 are received in the folded state.

Furthermore, on the inner surface section 441 of the finished folded cube facing away from the viewer, an optical element 780 is formed, which deflects light 800 inside the cube 501 irradiated by the window element 701, which is formed from a transparent clear film, in such a way that the incident light cones 810 is deflected into two reflected light cones 791,792, which strike the inner surface sections 441 and 446 and can be detected as bright circles from the outside by the corresponding body surface elements 311 and 315 on the outer surface sections 431 and 436.

In 5 and 6 a flat state and a folded state of another banknote 100 are shown, the three-dimensional body of which has the shape of a tetrahedron. In this the other characteristics that are related to the 1-4 or are explained elsewhere in the description, can be implemented in any combination.

• (1) Die rechte untere Ecke (N, T und U) wird eingeschlagen.
• (2) Dann wird die rechte Viertelseite (von O bis T) nach innen geschlagen.
• (3) Nun wird auch die linke Seite (von A bis H) nach innen eingeschlagen.
• (4) Nun werden die beiden schmalen Seiten zusammengeführt, dabei entsteht die Grobform des Tetraeders. Auf der rechten Seite wird S auf P gelegt und der obere Zipfel O zwischen T und U gesteckt und gut festgekniffen.
• (5) Auf der linken Seite wird G auf D gelegt und der untere Zipfel H zwischen B und C gesteckt. Anschließend wird noch die von A und I gebildete Lasche unter das Dreieck M gesteckt.

In 7 and 8th A banknote 100 is shown in the flat state and in the folded state, with the folds 200 of the banknote 100, which are in 7 are shown, make it possible to fold a so-called Platonic solid, which also has the shape of a tetrahedron. The letters A to U shown in the surface elements 300 serve to identify the surface elements for the folding instructions given below. In order to fold this 100 banknote into a tetrahedron, the following steps are necessary:

• (1) The bottom right corner (N, T and U) is hammered in.
• (2) Then the right quarter side (from O to T) is folded inwards.
• (3) Now the left side (from A to H) is also folded inwards.
• (4) Now the two narrow sides are brought together, creating the rough shape of the tetrahedron. On the right side, S is placed on P and the upper corner O is inserted between T and U and pinched firmly.
• (5) On the left side, G is placed on top of D and the lower tip H is inserted between B and C. Then the tab formed by A and I is placed under triangle M.

In 8th the schematic shape of the finished folded three-dimensional body 500 is shown. Here too, as a security feature, for example, a pattern of a security print 600 that is continued over the body edges is formed, which is formed, for example, on the backs of the inner surface sections marked with the letters K and M, that is, facing away from the plane of the drawing and, so to speak, over the folded edges KD MG continues. The border of the pattern on the side facing away from the viewer is indicated by a dash-dot line.

In 9-18 Further banknotes 100 are shown schematically, once in the flat state and once in the folded three-dimensional state.

In preferred embodiments, the resulting three-dimensional shapes differ in a series of banknotes with the values of the individual banknotes. The value of the banknote is therefore linked to a geometric shape of the three-dimensionally folded banknote or the substrate element of the banknote. For example, dice have a value of ten and tetrahedrons have a value of five.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that only exemplary embodiments are described here. Also those in the 3-18 The banknotes shown can have an edge region in the flat design, from which the substrate layer element shown in the figures is delimited by means of a perforation.

Those related to 3 In one embodiment, the cuts 271-276 mentioned can be preformed as perforations, which are then converted into the cuts when the three-dimensional body is folded.

Reference symbol list

100

Banknote

101

Top

102

bottom

110

Edge area

111

Top

112

bottom

120

Substrate element

121

Top

122

bottom

130

perforation

140

outline edges,

141

top outline edge

200, 201-212

folds

271-276

cuts

300

Surface elements

310, 311-316

Body surface elements

320

Stabilization surface elements

431-436

outer surface sections

441-446

inner surface sections

371-376

Stabilization surface elements

500

three-dimensional body

501

cube

511

body edge

600

Security printing

700

Window area

701

Window element

711

Volume transmission hologram

721

Lettering (“HOLO”)

780

optical element

791, 792

reflected beams of light

800

Light

810

cone of light

A-U

Identification of the surface elements

Claims (10)

Banknote (100) comprising a flat substrate element (120), characterized in that the substrate element (120) has a plurality of folds (200; 201-212), so that when the substrate element (120) is folded along the folds (200; 201-212) 212) a three-dimensional body (500) can be created. Banknote (100). Claim 1 , characterized in that the three-dimensional body (500) completely encloses a volume, ie each surface of the three-dimensional body is at least partially formed by surface elements (311-316) of the substrate element (120). Banknote (100). Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the substrate element (120) has a security print (600) which is designed such that a pattern continues in the three-dimensional body (500) over a body edge (511) which does not consist exclusively of one of the folds (200 ; 201-212). Banknote (100) after one of the Claims 2 or 3 , characterized in that one of the surface elements (311-316) has a transparent window area (701). Banknote (100). Claim 4 , characterized in that the transparent window area (701) is formed by a transparent plastic element. Banknote (100). Claim 5 , characterized in that the plastic element has light-refractive properties and information on a surface section (340) located inside the three-dimensional body (500) inside the three-dimensional body (500) can be detected through the plastic element, which cannot be detected on the surface section (340) in the flat state of the flat substrate element. Banknote (100) after one of the Claims 5 or 6 , characterized in that information is encoded in the plastic element which, when light (800) is irradiated onto the plastic element from outside the three-dimensional body (500), is transmitted to at least one internal surface section (340) of one of the surface elements (311-316). Information is projected so that this information can be detected by the surface element (311-316) from the outside or by the plastic element inside the three-dimensional body (500). Banknote (100) after one of the Claims 5 - 7 , characterized in that on a surface section (340) which is arranged in the three-dimensional body inside opposite the window area (700), a light-deflecting optical security element (780) is formed, which when light (800) is irradiated through the window area ( 700) on the light-deflecting optical security element (780) deflects the light (800) in such a way that the light (800) is at least partially spaced from the security element (780) on one surface section (340) and / or another internally arranged surface section ( 340) is deflected so that this deflected light can be perceived from the outside through the window section (701) or from the outside through the surface element (311-316) on which one surface section (340) or the other surface section (340) are formed . Banknote (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the banknote (100) additionally has a flat edge region (110) and the substrate element (120) is delimited from the edge region (110) via a perforation (130), so that the substrate element can be separated from the edge element along the perforation (130) without any aids. Banknote (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate element (120) has incisions (271-276) for forming plug connections or perforations for forming such incisions, which are in particular along a section of a fold (200; 201 -212) are trained.

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