US193221A - Improvement in bank-checks - Google Patents

Description

F. W. lsRooKs.4v BANK CHECKS, &c.

Nb. 193,221. Patented Ju1y17,1s77.

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, UNITED FRANKLIN W. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM FULLERTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BANK-CHECKS, ac.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent hlm-193,221, dated July 17, 1877; application filed JunelS, 1877. l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN W. BROOKS, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bank-Checks and other Commercial Paper, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in blanks for bankchecks and other commercial paper, protected in peculiar manner against counterfeiting, and in a novel and superior method of treatin gl such commercial paper so as to prevent surreptitiously altering it or raising the value thereof, as hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 of the accompanyingdrawings is a face view of a partially-finished bank-check blank illustrating this invention. Fig. 2 is a face view of the same at a subsequent stage of its manufacture. Eig. 3 is a face view of the check as it appears after being` filled up Vand severed. Fig. 4 represents a perspective rear view of a magnified portion of the check as it would appear if divided longitudinally on the line 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a face view of an improved draft-blank, and Fig. 6, a face view of a severed bank-coupon illustrating certainmodiflcations. Fig. 7 illustrates, by a face view, a detached protection-stamp -of a kind that may be manufactured and sold ready for use on checks of common form. Fig. 7 X is a back view of the same. Fig. 7 fx is a side view thereof. Fig. 8 is a view of a protection-stamp of modified construction for the same purpose. Figs. 9 and 9x are, respectively, a front and rear view of another modication in stamps for the same purpose. Figs. l0 and 10 are a front and rear view of another modification. Fig. 11 is another modiflcation. Fig. l1x is a rear perspective view of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The illustrative check-blank B, Figs. 1 and l 2, has two coupons, C C2, and is provided, in

addition to the ordinary number a, with a detective number, b, which isduplicated on thesecond coupon, C2, and concealed on the check-blank by a covering flap or seal, s. rlhe d ordinary number a is duplicated on both coupons, and is thus asseciated with the detective number b on'the-checkblank B and the.

coupon U22 The latter is termed the bankcoupon,77 and is intended to be retained by the bank which issues the check-blank. The coupon O is the ordinary stub-coupon, to which the check-blank remains attached until it' is used. The detective number remains concealed upon thecheck-blank until the checkis presented at the bank for payment.

4The number is then exposed, and compared with the number upon the coupon G2, Whose ordinary number, a, corresponds with that of .the check. If the detective numbers are alike,

and the signature appears to be that of the depositor to whom the correspondingly-number-ed blank was issued, the check may, very safely, be taken as genuine, for no one outside of the bank is .supposed to know of the detective numbers belonging to the checks of any particular depositor, and this knowledge may be confined to the payingteller; and it would be practically impossible to duplicate the blank of a destroyed check in a sufficiently short time to use it without detection. Any ydiscrepancy in the order of th-e reception ofthe check, or any indication of tampering or counterfeiting on its face would of course stop its payment.

The seal s is securely cemented down by -adhesive gum, made, as nearly as possible, in-

soluble in Water or steam. To facilitate exposing the detective number by destroying the seal, an ungummed removable portion of the latter is defined by perforation, and one end is provided with an ungummed crease or fold, c, Fig. 4, which is so formed that the lines in Fig. 1. To insure the detection of I any' tampering with the seal on any check, a picture or design, c, is printed over and upon the seal and the adjoining surface; and, to still further increase the security, this picture or design is printed in a fugitive ink, which will dissolve or soften very quickly upon the application of the least degree of moisture, so as to penetrate the perforations in the seal, and smear when touched, thus insuring .the defacement of the seal or check, or both, if -any attempt is made to ascertain in this way what is the detective number.

The mode of manufacture illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3 is as follows: Sheets of .any preferred size, and lof ordinary or other approved paper, are first printed with the stars d, and,

if desired, with any other matter for the backs of a sheet of checks. The black lettering, &c.. on the face of the checks and coupons may then be printed, the ornamental border and the vignettes or other pictures or designs with which the checks are to be embellished being omitted. The ordinary numbers a a a are next printed by means of a numbering-machine. The detective numbers b b are also printed at this stage, and preferably with a light-colored ink, so as to facilitate hiding them completely. The starsd will show through enough to locate the numbers on the checks. Flaps of proper size are next cut from stock provided between the checks B and the coupons (J2, and it may be simultaneously.- These iiaps are perforated, as shown. The coupons C2 and the scrap-paper may also be completely sevvered on the lines j' f2 at the same operation. The flaps are next creased and gummed to form the seals s, which brings the whole to the condition represented in Fig. l. The seals s are next folded over the detective numbers b, and cemented down, and the sheets go to the press again. The ordinary vignette or other design g andthe ornamental border h are now printed on the face of each checkblank, the borders crossing the seals s, so as to present a uniform appearance. This completes the blanks to the extent illustrated in Fig. 2. While the blanks are still in the sheet, preferably, they are passed through the press once more, and the safety picture or design e, Fig. 3, is printed in a fugitive ink, as aforesaid, over and upon such seal. The coupons G2 being now or previously severed,l are bound in books with their check-numbers a as paging, and the check-blanks B, with their attached coupons G, are likewise bound, as heretofore.

In the case of blank checks like those represented, or checks furnished to private parties by printers, the check-books and detective coupon-books may be sold together, the latter to be left with `the bank in which the owner may be for the time being a depositor. Ordinarily the check-books will be issued by the banks to which the checks are addressed, and the detective coupons will be retained by the banks, as before stated.

The application of a detective number, b2, to drafts and other commercial paper besides bank-checks, is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this ease the number b2 is repeated on the stub coupon G3, and may be communicated by letter or otherwise to the drawee; but the device in this modification is designed chiey for the safety of `the drawer. tective number may be applied to a bankcheck blank for this same purpose in connection with one for the safety of the bank.

Fig. 5 illustrates also certain modifications in the form of the seal s2, by which the detective number is concealed, and in the means for readily exposing the detective number.

The seal in this case is in the form of a stamp wholly attached by. cement, which is confined to three edges, and it is provided with a strip or ribbon or tape, i, projecting at the open end, so that by means of it the ungummed portion of the seal can be quickly removed. The inner end of the strip i is held by the gum which attaches the seal. In the stamp form the seal may be made of very thin and easilysoiled paper or other material. The opening strip is not confined to this form of seal,but is equally applicable to the Hap form.`

'lo provide for using the same numbers repeatedly, the books of checks or drafts and coupons may be numbered or lettered in series, and other supplemental matter may be added to the coupons, if` desired, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

A detective letter or device may be ernployed in lieu of a detective number, if desired, and any other dark or opaque figure may take the place of the black star d.

To prevent altering or raising the value of a check or other paper, the device is a picture or design, j, Fig. 3, which may be of the most simple form, printed over and upon the Words or figures to be protected, after the latter are written, and in a fugitive ink, rwhich will dissolve or soften so as to run and smear upon the least application o'f moisture. This forms at once a surface on which it is impossible to write, and a means for detecting any attempt to remove the ink of the original writing.

The design j will be printed by a handstamp, and the safety picture or design e may be printed in the saine way in some instances, as in the case of private drafts.

Figs. 7 to l1, inclusive, illustrate various modes of embodying the invention in the form of detached detective-stamps, which may be sold by Stationers ready for application to checks or drafts. [n Figs. 7, 7 and 7 x x, which are dierent views of one and the same stamp, k k1 are two flaps or leaves of a singlefolded piece of paper, and k2 a coupon or stub bearing a detective number or character corresponding with that on the main stamp k, (as, for example, 80,) and also a serial number corresponding with that of the check or draft with which it is to be used. The particular detective numbers or characters for the respective and successive checks having been determined by the depositor, he aflixes corresponding numbers or characters to the coupon k2, and the latter are deposited with the banker, who keeps them in a book or in other conven- A supplemental de- Y ient way for use in proving the genuineness ofthe checks as they come in. The various detachable stamps are provided with the dark marks d, to prevent the discovery of the detective number by looking through the paper, and also with characters k3, in fugitive ink, to prevent or detect any surreptitions attempt to remove the stamps, or these marks in fugitive ink may be stamped on after the detectivestamp is applied.

Perforations are formed, as shown, around the portion of the flap k1, which is to be removed When the check is presented for payment.

Fig. 8 represents a similar stamp with a protectingshield, k, of impervious paper, which covers the fugitive ink character k3, so as to prevent the defacement of the latter While sticking the stamp or in previous handling.v This impervious covering is stripped o directly after the stamp is applied.

Figs. 9 and 9x are front and rear views of a detachable stamp, to carry on its inner face the amount of a check, so as to prevent raising. The amount being Written on the under face, the stamp, by cement around its margin, is stuckon the face of the check, from Which itis readily torn by the paying-teller for inspection. The stamp has a device, 7c3, in fugitive ink, stamped on its face to prevent tampering, and 'has the impervious shield k4 to A protect the same.

In both Figs. 8 and 9 the impervious shield is shown as if partly torn away.

Figs. 10 and 10X show a stamp slightlyr modied in form from that shown in Figs. 9 and 9".

Figs. 11 and 1lx show the front and rear of a more simple stamp, having the amount in a concealed ap, 765, on the back, and the fugitive ink protective character k3 on the face.

The following is what I claim. as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, namely:

1. A blank for bank-checks or other commercial paper, provided with a detective number, letter, or device, concealed by a seal flap or cover, having a portion above the number defined by perforations, and provided with an open crease or fold at one end to facilitate its removal.

2. A blank for bank-checks or other commercial paper, provided with a seal covering a detective number, letter, or device, and with a star or other ligure printed on the back of the check to render it opaque at the point where the detective number is applied, and assist in concealing the same. K

3. A blank for bank-checks or other commercial paper, having a cemented seal flap or .cover concealing a detective number, letter,

or device, and provided with a superimposed picture or design, in fugitive ink, to expose any tampering therewith.

4. A bankcheck or other commercial paper, having a concealed detective number, letter, or device for determining its genuineness, and provided with pictures or designs, printed in fugitive ink, over and upon the seal which covers said number, letter, or device, and the adjoining surface, and also over and upon the words or figures necessary to be protected to prevent altering said paper to increase its value.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

JAs. L. EWIN, IsIDoR GRAYHEAD.

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