GB2478149A

GB2478149A - Postage indicator, e.g. postage stamp, with peelable portion to reveal hidden information, e.g. lottery

Info

Publication number: GB2478149A
Application number: GB1003255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Nicholson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2010-02-26
Publication date: 2011-08-31
Also published as: GB201003255D0

Abstract

A postage indicator, e.g. a postage stamp 2) comprises a peelably removable portion 6 which reveals previously hidden information 8. The hidden information 8 is preferably a lottery scheme and may include a bar code which can be checked to see if the indicator is winning or not. The removable layer is preferably the same size as the indicator / stamp but may be smaller. One or more further peelably removable layers may be provided.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD

This invention relates to an apparatus and method, and particularly in relation to participation in a postal lottery scheme.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, this is provided apparatus comprising a postage indicator, of which at least a portion has a removable piece which is peelably removable to reveal previously hidden information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising receiving an item which includes a postage indicator, of which at least a portion has a removable piece, peeling away said removable piece and revealing previously hidden information.

Owing to these two aspects, it is possible to provide a postage indicator by way of which a game, such as a lottery scheme can be participated in by readily peeling away the removable piece.

Advantageously, the postage indicator is an indicator of postage paid by a sender of an item, and can take the form of a postage stamp, a printed label or the like, and the information to be revealed is in the form of data, for example numbers or words or a combination thereof, to inform a recipient of such a stamp that they have won a prize or not in a postal lottery scheme. The data could also be in the form of a computer-readable code such as a barcode.

In a preferred embodiment, the postage indicator is a postage stamp in which the removable piece is a layer of material which is preferably substantially the same size as the whole stamp. In this case, the postage stamp is comprised of first and second layers of material. The first layer is a base layer having an under surface including a suitable, conventional adhesive for adhering the stamp to an envelope or the like, and an upper surface upon which the information can be printed. The second layer is advantageously a cover layer adhered to the upper surface of the base layer with a conventional suitable adhesive to cover and hide the information and contain the necessary philatelic information. The adhesive should be such that the cover layer, or at least part of it, is readily peelably removable from the base layer to reveal the information thereunder.

In order that the invention can be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a philatelic stamp having a removable piece partially peeled away from a base layer to reveal information printed on the base layer, and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the removable piece almost completely peeled away from the base layer and revealing all the information printed on the base layer.

Referring to Figure 1, a postage indicator in the form of a postage stamp 2 comprises a first layer 4 in the form of a base layer and a removable piece in the form of a second layer 6 which forms a cover layer. The base layer 4 has an underside (not seen) which has thereon a known suitable adhesive for sticking the stamp 2 to another item, such as an envelope. The base layer 4 also has an upper surface 4' upon which information 8 can be printed. The information 8 is preferably information in relation to a postal lottery scheme; whereby the information 8 informs a receiver of such a stamp 2 whether or not they have won a prize in the form of, for example, money, as shown in Figure 2. The information 8 could inform the receiver of a win situation directly, as shown, or indirectly by way of a code, such as a barcode as shown, or a random selection of characters such as numbers, which have to be checked against winning codes or characters. Such checking could be done via printed publications or electronically through the Internet and/or through an electronic telecommunications device such as a mobile telephone. In the case of a barcode, the recipient of the stamp 2 could take the stamps to an appropriate participating organisation, such as the Post Office, to see if the Stamp has won them a prize.

The cover layer 6 has an under surface 6' (upon which the or other information 8 could be printed) and an upper surface 6" which has the necessary philatelic information contained thereon in combination with a desired design. The under side 6' is arranged to contact the upper surface 4' of the base layer 4 and adhere to it with a suitable adhesive which allows the cover layer 6 to be readily peeled away from the base layer 4 in order to reveal the information 8 previously hidden. In order to facilitate the peeling away of the cover layer 6, one small area in the corner could be left without the adhesive.

The removable piece of the stamp 2 does not have to be substantially the size of the stamp, but could be a small area on the stamp (or other postage indicator) or, for example, be attached to an edge of the stamp or other postage indicator.

There could also be one or more further layers (not shown) between the base layer 4 and the cover layer 6, and also being readily peelable away from each other, depending upon the nature and complexity of the game or competition the stamp 2 is being used for.

In order to improve security for the recipient of the stamp 2 against theft, the upper surface 4' of the base layer 4 or the under surface 6' of the cover layer 6 could include some tamper-evident means which, for example, could change colour upon exposure to atmospheric air. Such tamper-evident means could also be in the form of a particular printing ink used for the design on the upper surface 6", which could break-up if someone who is not the recipient tried to see if the stamp 2 was a winning stamp, and thus leaving a telltale sign of violation. The adhesive between the upper surface 4' of the base layer 4, and the under surface 6' of the cover panel 6 would need to be strong enough to assist in the break-up of the ink on the upper surface 6", when peeled away. It may also be necessary to adjust the thickness of the printing ink on the upper surface 6" to enable an optimum tamper-evident effect.

If someone other than the intended recipient made an attempt to dishonestly discover a winning stamp 2, then they would dispose of the non-winning stamps 2 showing evidence of tampering. It this was the case, then owing to the possibility of large numbers of undelivered post, it would not be long before suspicions arose, leading to investigation by the appropriate authority. Having some form of tamper-evident means offers a sufficient deterrent for anybody willing to peel back the cover layer 6 to have a look, prior to being received by the intended recipient.

Alternatively, the tamper-evident means could take the form of separate sub-panels within the cover panel 6 that tear and remain on the base layer 4 if the cover, panel 6 is peeled off. Special paper with micro-text could also be used in a similar way to security features used on bank notes to stop forgeries. In addition, such sub-panels would also prevent re-use of a cover layer 6 as another stamp in the event that post-marking ink is not present on the stamp.

Additional security options would be to limit cash winnings paid "over-the-counter" and the recipient providing at least one form of identification, for example, a Utility bill, along with the winning Stamp 2 affixed to the received envelope with it's post-marj( ink (or other method of proving it had been through the postal system).

For larger winning amounts, the recipient could obtain a photocopy of the winning stamp 2 remaining affixed on the envelope with the original being sent-off for checking. The recipient would obtain some form of receipt when the bar code, for instance, is scanned on the upper surface 4' of the base layer 4. A simple form could be filled in containing a birth date for security. After the necessary checks, the recipient would receive the winning amount.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus comprising a postage indicator, of which at least a portion has a removable piece which is peelably removable to reveal previously hidden information.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said postage indicator is a postage stamp.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said information is in the form of numbers or words or a combination thereof.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said information is in the form of a computer-readable code.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said computer-readable code is a barcode. (\J
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said removable If) 15 piece is a layer of material which is substantially the same size as (\J said indicator.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicator comprises first and second layers of material, the first layer being a base layer having an under surface including an adhesive and an upper surface upon which said information is printed, the second layer being a cover layer adhered to the upper surface of the base layer to substantially cover and hide said information.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one small area in a corner region of the second layer is without the adhesive between the first and second layers.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or to claim 7 as appended to claims 1 to 5, wherein the removable piece is a small area on said indicator.
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, and further comprising one or more further layers between the first layer and the second layer, and also being peelably removable from each other.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising tamper-evident means.
12. A method comprising receiving an item which includes a postage indicator, of which at least a portion has a removable piece, peeling away said removable piece and revealing previously hidden information.
13. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising informing a (\J Q recipient of said item whether or not they have won a prize.

If) 15
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the information directly (\J informs the recipient of a win situation.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the information indirectly informs the recipient of a win situation by way of a code.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said code is in the form of a barcode, the method further comprising taking said item to an appropriate participating organisation, and checking for a win situation by scanning said barcode.
17. Apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A method as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. (\J L() (\J