MXPA00011203A - Personalised stamps - Google Patents

Abstract

Postage stamps (3) are produced which enable individual personalisation with an image chosen by a person wishing to use the postage stamp (3). Each stamp has a primary area (9) on which an official stamp image required for postal validation is applied. Each stamp (3) also has a secondary area (11) where a personalising image can be applied. The personalising image can be any image and in one example can comprise the face of a person applying the stamp (3) to a postal article. The personalising image in the secondary area (11) is applied as a second printing process to the stamp (3). Each stamp (3) is produced in a sheet of stamps and canbe separatedfrom the sheet for applying to the postal article so that the stamp contains both the primary area (9) and the secondary area (11).

Description

PERSONALIZED STAMPS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to personalized stamps and refers in particular, but not exclusively, to stamps that may have the image of the face of persons provided therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Up to now, it has been known to provide postage stamps in sheets Typically, those sheets of stamps are sold by a postal authority, postal courier or authorized establishment for it. Users can remove the stamps from the sheets and apply them to postal items. Some stamps have contained a tab that may contain information of a particular nature. Therefore, each stamp is divided into a primary area that has the official printed stamp image on it and a secondary area that may have personalized information on it. of stamps of this nature requires a special operation to print at a printing establishment authorized by the postal authority. In such cases, the stamp sheet is produced in its entirety in the establishment of printing of these official stamps as a single print even though the individual print can have separate printing stages for each colc- of a multi-stamp colors Due to the installation costs associated with such printing and the installation costs associated with producing batches of stamps with tabs on them in relatively low volumes the previous process has been costly and has not been accepted in general OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above-related problems. Therefore, according to a first broad aspect of the present invention, a method of producing a postage stamp sheet can be provided by the method that has at least the following steps 1 produce the sheet with a plurality of postage stamps therein each stamp that is separable from the sheet to be applied to a postal item being an official printed stamp image recognizable for postal validation on each stamp on a primary area of each stamp each stamp which also has a secondary area associated giving an image not necessary for postal validation can be reproduced 2 provide the sheet produced in stage 1 to a printing machine 3 capture a personalization image to be applied as an image to the secondary area 4 manipulate the image to personalization until a size that fits over the secondary area 5 reproduce the manipulation image manipulated on the sheet in a secondary area by said printing machine to provide a personalized image mail stamp on the mailing sheet Most preferably all the secondary areas are located therein relative positions relative to the associated primary series and said manipulation of the personalization image is such that it is reproduced in each secondary area during reproduction. Most preferably the secondary area is on a tab for each stamp. Most preferably, each tab is separable from the primary area. More preferably, each stamp is surrounded by perforations by means of which said sheet can be detached along the perforations. More preferably, the tongue has a connection line with the primary line which is also perforated so that the tongue can be detached. The primary area along said line Most preferably stages 2 3 4 and 5 are conducted by a postal authority or in an establishment authorized by the postal authority to provide monitoring of the personalization image to ensure that it complies with the Guides According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sheet of stamps produced by the above method. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a postage stamp having a primary area containing an official printed stamp image. reproducible for postal validation the stamp that also has a secondary area where a personalization image not necessary for postal validation is reproduced, the personalization image not necessary for the postal validation that has been reproduced by a printing step subsequent to the printing of a reproducible stamp image for postal variation and printed on the same sheet on which the stamp is printed. According to an aspect Further to the present invention, a postage stamp sheet with a plurality of postage stamps thereon is provided with each stamp that is separable from the sheet for application to a postal item, there being an official printed stamp image recognized for postal validation on each stamp. in a first area of each stamp, the sheet that also has a respective associated secondary area for association with each area where a personalization image not necessary for postal validation can be applied according to an additional elevation of the present invention provides a method of producing a postage stamp sheet, the method having at least the following steps 1 producing the sheet with a plurality of postage stamps 5 thereon, each stamp being separable from the sheet to be applied to a postal item having a recognizable official printed stamp image for postal validation on each stamp on a primary area of each stamp, the sheet also having for each stamp a respective secondary area 10 where an image not necessary for postal alloy can be reproduced, providing the sheet produced in step 1 to a printing machine, 3 capturing a personalization image that is to be applied as an image to said secondary area, 4 manipulating the personalization image to a size that fits in the secondary area, reproduce the manipulation image manipulated on the sheet in a secondary area by the printing machine to to provide a personalized postage stamp image sheet BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention can be more clearly understood, preferred examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet of stamps according to an example j ^ Figure 2 is a plan view of a sheet of stamp of a second example Figure 3 is a perspective view of a stamp sheet in a third example, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a stamp sheet of a fourth example 10 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to Figure 1 can be seen that a sheet 1 of postage stamps 3 is provided In the example there are twelve stamps 3 provided on sheet 1 although sheet 15 may contain other numbers of stamps with twelve being a good common number which is seen as acceptable for the Each of the stamps 3 is separable from the sheet 1 by separation along the lines of perforations 5 and mutually perpendicular lines of perforations 7 The stamp sheet 1 is produced from a sheet that does not contain phosphorus and preferably it does not have optical brighteners in the paper coating The back of the paper is coated with glue so that it can perm the adhesion to a postal item Each of the stamps 3 contains a primary area 9 and ur secondary area 11 The area Primary 9 is provided with an official printed stamp image which may be for a particular stamp use. This official image is the image used for postal validation by the postal authority or postal courier. Therefore, each of the 5 primary series 9 will be printed with an official stamp image and preferably this stamp image will be identical in each of the areas 9 Secondary areas 11 will be left blank or alternatively may have a peripheral edge Figure 1 clearly shows additional lines of perforation 13 separating each primary area 9 from each secondary area 11 The purpose of this will be explained at the proper time During the printing of the stamp sheet 1 each of the stamp images can be marked with phosphor according to the techniques described in the Australian patent number 66 740 in the name of Austra an Postal Corporation and SNP Cambec Pty Ltd Only the primary area 9 is marked with phosphorus and the secondary area 9 is not marked with phosphorus although it does not exclude the possibility of marking the secondary area 11 It should be noted that the sheet 1 of stamps 3 this printed with the stamp images in the primary areas 9 with blank areas in the secondary areas 11 and after the printing of the sheet 1 is processed to provide the perforation lines 5 7 and 13 As shown in Figure 1 the Sheet 1 has a perimeter 15 which is usually white without printing It can be seen therefore that the sheet 1 has a plurality of stamp images therein in the primary areas 9 and a plurality of associated secondary areas 11 where an image is not necessary for postal validation which can be • 5 appear subsequently All secondary areas 11 are located in the same relative positions in relation to the primary associated areas 3 The leaves 1 without any personalized image in secondary areas 11 are maintained in a retail branch suitable such as a postal authority or postal courier or an authorized establishment for it Clients can approach the courier or establishment authority for stamps to be customized Typically personalization can be by means of placing photos or artistic works required to be placed in the secondary areas 11 In one situation the image to be provided in the secondary area 11 may be a photograph or the image of the face of the persons or of the whole body or the like taken by the authority or establishment thereto. person In another situation can be a corporate logo Other possibilities exist and the personalization image is an image selected by a person who requires stamps. The messaging service authority or digital establishment of that personalization image so that it can be applied as a stamp image to each secondary area 11 Once the image of personalization is digital, it can be manipulated to a size that fits over the secondary area 11 The manipulation can also arrange the reproduction of the image so that it will be reproduced in each of the secondary areas 11 over the stamps 3 on sheet 1 during the printing of the personalization image Typically the software computer assisted is used for image capture and manipulation Computer output can be to any suitable digital image reproduction machine that can be monochromatic or color A suitable digital image reproduction machine can comprise 1 A laser printer 2 A printer inkjet 3 A dot matrix printer 4 Any other suitable printer 5 A photocopying repro- ductive device that can receive digital input signals and provide a required image output Commonly the digitization of images provided by customers such as those from photos or similar can be achieved through s of the authority courier service or establishment by digital camera or digital scanner Alternatively the personalization image can be provided to the authority messaging service or establishment in a digital file so that digitization is not necessary The image reproducer will print on the sheets of stamps previously perforated and printed 1 as a base stock and will provide the personalization image on the secondary areas 11 It is desirable that the personalization image be • 5 provided on sheet 1 by a postal authority, courier service or authorized establishment rather than by an end user directly, as this allows the monitoring of the personalized image to ensure that it complies with the guidelines of the postal authority, service courier or authorized establishment necessary and standards of public morality In addition, the client may require the execution of Forms of Request that declare the property for copyright in any work that will be reproduced In this way the responsibility for the violation of registered rights can be avoided for the postal authority, courier service or authorized establishment When personalized stamps 3 are produced and delivered to a customer, the customer can separate individual stamps 3 from sheet 1 by detaching along the line separation defined by perforation lines 5 and 7 as necessary. If required, the customer may choose to peel along a perforation line 13 to provide only the stamp image in the primary area 9 without the secondary area 11. If the client requires that all the stamp 3 that comprises the primary area 9 and the secondary area 11, can Separate from sheet 1 and apply to a postal item This can be detected by the process of detecting the postal authority or the courier service by observing the phosphor labeling After use as a postal item the 5 stamp can be recovered of the postal item and if desired for a philatelicist may choose to retain the stamp 3 in its entirety in the primary area 9 and the secondary area 11 or alternatively for the primary area 9 of the secondary area 11 detaching along the defined separation line by perforation line 13 • It can be observed therefore that the secondary area 11 can be attached to a tongue attached to a stamp image produced on the primary area 9 While the stamp sheet 1 has been described in FIG. relation to a glued stamp paper the concept can be applied to other types of stamps such as release and adhesion stamps that are produced in sheets or strips or in wallets and the term sheets is widely considered to cover these and other variations where occur on a plot Furthermore, while the preferred example shows the secondary stamp image 11 on a tab this could be an integral part of the primary area 9 For example, an area can be provided within the official stamp image to allow customization 25 Referring now Figure 2 shows a second example of a stamp sheet according to the present invention In this example the sheet of stamps 1 is similar to the sheet of stamps previously described in the international patent application PCT / CA95 / 00017 (International Publication No • 5 Wo / 95/20807) in the name of Canada Post Corporation In that patent specification sheet a sheet of stamps that can be customized by the user is described The difference between the description in that patent application and in the present example is that in the patent application the personalization images are predetermined by the postal authority mail service or f establishment authorized in advance and are not truly personalized images according to the wishes of the user In the patent application the personalization images are shown to be all different A user you can select which of the personalization images to be applied in association with the official printed stamp image In the present example, however, the personalization image is produced as a second printing operation for the official printed stamp image. the present invention the The personalization image can be a true personalization image decided by the customer or user of the stamps. In the patent application, those personalization images are predetermined by the postal authority or authorized establishment courier service as described above. this example sheet 1 can be similar to that in relation to the first embodiment. However, it is particularly preferred that it forms part of a leaf of release and adhesion stamps. In such a structure it can be a glaze support sheet (not shown) and sheet 1 is applied on the part of the support sheet and adhered to it by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material. In this way the support sheet is temporarily and specifically attached to the support sheet In use each of the stamps 3 is properly cut with a separation line to define the perimeter on the stamps 3 Thus by separating a corner of the stamp 3 from the support sheet 1 then the stamp 3 can be removed of the support and applied to a postal item The cut of the stamp 3 on the sheet 1 is such that the cut does not cut the support sheet A particular system for cutting is described in the international patent application no PCT91 / 00200 publication no Wo91 / 18378 This patent application is intended to provide simulated perforations on detachment and adhesion stamp. By observing Figure 2 it can be seen that each stamp 3 has a primary area 9 on which an official printed stamp image is reproduced. It also shows that the areas secondary stamps 11 are printed separately from the official images of stamps 3 It is also shown that each stamp 3 t It has an area 17 that defines a portion in which to apply a secondary area 11 In the examples shown area 17 is contained completely within the primary area 9 In one variation, the area 17 may overlap with the primary area 9 or may be completely separated from the primary area 9 Each of the personalization images 11 is • reproduced according to the techniques described in the first embodiment as a second printing process for the official printed stamp image recognizable for postal validation. Therefore, a person who wishes to personalize a stamp 3 for use with a postal item, would separate the stamp 3 of sheet 1, around the separation line and apply it to the postal item • The personalization image in the secondary areas 11 can be separated from the sheet 1 around the separation line 19 for each of the secondary areas 11 The secondary areas 11 can be applied over the area 17 to personalize the stamps 3 A resulting stamp 3 therefore has a thickness equal to twice the thickness of the sheet material 1 Therefore it can be seen that each respective area 17 defining a position in which to apply a respective secondary area 11 includes at least a part of the secondary area 9 in the examples shown, and that the respective secondary area 11 is completely within the respective primary area 9 Each of the secondary areas 11 is in the same relative position of the sheet 1 for an associated primary area and preferably there is the same number of secondary areas 11 that of primary areas 9 Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a third example of the present invention which is similar to the example shown in Figure 2, except that in this embodiment the sheet of stamp 1 is in the form of a strip wound on a roll The above processes lead to many ways of marketing the sheets 1 For example there may be several postal authorities postal courier services or establishments authorized to contact the customer in order to obtain the stamp sheets 1 These could conveniently be stamp retailers In Another proposal the sheets can be marketed only from a central post office In each of the above cases sheet 1 with the personalized images 11 can be produced locally in that establishment In another scenario the digital image formation can be processed in those establishments and sent through any suitable data transfer means to a remote site where the sheets 1 with the personalized image in the secondary area 11 are produced. The sheets 1 can be returned to the establishment for the subsequent step towards the consumer. an additional example sheet 1 pu It is provided with a photo-sensitive area for the secondary area 11 so that a conventional photographic image can be provided therein and reproduced in one or more of the secondary areas 11 on the sheet 1 and then developed photographically to produce the required images. In this scenario, the term imaging machine will be inclusive to encompass the necessary photographic development machinery. These and other modifications can be made without depart from the scope of the invention the nature of which is determined from the above description

Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS 1 A method of producing a postage stamp sheet the method having at least the following steps 1 produce the sheet with a plurality of postage stamps therein each stamp that is separable from the sheet for application to a postal item existing an official printed recognizable stamp image for postal validation on each stamp a primary area of each stamp each of the stamps that also has an associated secondary area giving an image not necessary for postal validation can be reproduced 2 provide the sheet produced in the stage 1 to a printing machine 3 capturing a personalization image to be applied as an image to the secondary area 4 manipulating the personalization image to a size that fits over the secondary area 5 reproducing the manipulation image manipulated on the sheet in an area secondary through the printing machine to provide a stable Customized picture mail sheet on the postal stamp sheet 2 A method according to claim 1 characterized in that all the associated secondary areas are located in the same relative positions relative to the primary areas and the manipulation of the personalization image is such that it is reproduced in each secondary area during playback A method according to claim 1, characterized in that each secondary area is on a tab of each stamp 4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that each tab is separable from each primary area. claim 1, characterized in that each stamp is surrounded by perforations by means of which it can be detached from the sheet along said perforations. 6. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the tongue has a connection line with the primary area. which is also perforated so that the tongue can be detached from the opposite area along said line 7 A method according to claim 1, characterized in that steps 2, 3 - and 5 are conducted by a postal authority or a established by the postal authority, which provides monitoring of the image of the a stamp to ensure that it complies with the guidelines of the issuing authority 8 A stamp sheet coined through the method of claim 1 9 A postage stamp _._ = has a primary area containing an image of printed official stamp reproduced recognizable for postal validation the stamp that also has an associated secondary area where an image of personalization not necessary for postal validation is reproduced the image of personalization not necessary for postal validation that has been reproduced through a printing step subsequent to printing of the recognizable stamp image for postal validation printed on the same sheet on which the stamp 10 is printed A stamp according to claim 9 characterized in that the secondary area is a tab for the stamp 11 A stamp according to the claim 10 characterized in that the tongue has a line of separation with the primary area that will allow the primary area to the stamp to be removably removed from the secondary area 12 A stamp in accordance with the claim 11 characterized in that the separation line is defined by perforations 13 A stamp in accordance with claim 9 characterized in that the secondary area is applied on the upper part of the primary area within an area defining a position in which to apply the secondary area of so that the thickness of the stamp in the secondary area is at least equal to twice the thickness of the sheet of material in which the official stamp image is reproduced and the personalization image 1 A postage stamp sheet with a plurality of postage stamps therein, each stamp that is separable from the sheet for application in a postal item, there being an official printed stamp image recognizable for postal validation on each stamp in a primary area of each stamp, the sheet which also has a respective associated secondary area for association with each primary area where a personalization image not necessary for postal validation may be applied. A sheet according to claim 14, wherein all the secondary areas are located in the same relative positions with respect to the primary areas 16 A sheet according to claim 14, characterized in that the secondary areas are separable from the sheet so that they can be applied to a postal item in association with a stamp having a primary area 17 sheet according to claim 14, car acterizada because each stamp includes an area defining a position in which to apply the secondary area 18 A sheet according to claim 17, characterized in that each respective area defining a position in which to apply the associated secondary area includes at least one part of the primary area 19 A compliance sheet with claim 18 characterized in that each respective secondary area is completely within the respective primary area 20 A method of producing a postage stamp sheet the method having at least the following steps 1 producing the sheet with a plurality of stamps • 5 postcards in the same each stamp that is separable from the sheet for application to a postal item existing an official printed stamp image recognizable for postal validation on each stamp in a primary area of each stamp the sheet that also has for each stamp a respective secondary area 10 where an image not necessary for postal validation can be reproduced 2 provide the sheet produced in step 1 to a printing machine 3 capture a personalization image that is to be applied as an image to the secondary area 4 manipulate the image of customization to a size that fits over the secondary area 5 to reproduce the personalization image manipulated on the sheet in a secondary area by the printing machine 20 to provide a personalized postage stamp image sheet 21 The method according to claim 20 which in order to provide a personalized postage stamp has the additional steps of removing a ppma-ia area oroducida in step 1 for provide a stamp, 7 remove a secondary area reproduced with a Personalization Image in stage 5 and 8 apply the primary area removed to a postal item • 5 in association with the application of the secondary area removed to the postal item, so that the postal item has the appearance of having a personalized stamp. 22. A method according to claim 20, characterized in that the stamp includes an area defining a position in which the secondary area is applied. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the area defining a position in which to apply the secondary area includes at least a part of the primary area.
2. 2 A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the secondary area is completely within the primary area.