WO2007148348A1

WO2007148348A1 - Non-infringement apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007148348A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Porcelli
Original assignee: Corozite S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-06-19
Filing date: 2006-06-19
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: WO2007148182A2; WO2007148182A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-infringement apparatus for the identification of original consumer goods provided with a marker. The apparatus includes means of producing a low-intensity electromagnetic field and means of detecting the distortions caused in it by at least one metallic element and/or at least one derivative of said metallic element used in the production of the marker. The present invention relates furthermore to a marker identifiable by the apparatus.

Description

"NON-INFRINGEMENT APPARATUS"

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a non-infringement apparatus, in particular an apparatus for the recognition of non-infringement elements attachable to items of clothing, footwear, dress accessories, or any widely counterfeited product. In recent times the phenomenon of counterfeiting of, for instance, items of clothing and related accessories such as bags, belts, hats, scarves, gloves, etc., or the counterfeiting of footwear, watches, glasses, bracelets, etc., has assumed considerable proportions. The arrival on the market of such imitated goods is extremely negative for the producers and for those engaged in retailing the originals of the duplicated goods, both because of the economic damage derived (from loss of sales), and because of damage related to loss of image, since counterfeit goods generally are lower in quality than the originals. Recently, different non-infringement systems have been proposed that provide, for instance, for the attachment to the original goods of particular non-infringement labels. The non-infringement labels are applied to the product label or to an element, usually internal, of an item of clothing or an accessory or to the packaging of the product or to the product itself, using adhesives. The labels are provided with a hologram that reproduces, for instance, the logo of the firm manufacturing the commercialised goods, or a number and/or code related to the product itself or to its batch. The hologram is difficult to reproduce without using in particularly expensive equipment. Nevertheless, recently even these systems have been overcome, and labels provided with holograms are also duplicated today and counterfeited together with the product to which they refer.

Therefore, a necessity has been felt for a long time to have a system that prevents counterfeiting of goods, i.e. a system that allows an original product to be easily identified compared to the same imitated product. Furthermore, a necessity is felt to have suitable apparatus, simple in operation, inexpensive and easily managed, that permits the presence or absence of the anticipated non-infringement systems coupled to the original goods to be detected in a short time. In fact, once the original goods have been marked by the proper non-infringement system, it is also necessary to be able to detect the presence of such a system in a simple and effective way, in order to be always able to distinguish the original goods from the counterfeited imitations. Purposes of the invention The purpose of the present invention is to make a non-infringement apparatus available that allows the aforementioned drawbacks to be resolved in a simple and effective way.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to make available a non-infringement apparatus which can be associated with the non-infringement elements on the original products, that allows the original products to be discriminated without errors from counterfeited ones.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to make available a non-infringement apparatus, which can be associated with the non-infringement markers on the products, that is also simple to be used by untrained personnel. It is also a purpose of the present invention to make available non-infringement elements or "markers" that can be applied to the original products, and that can be identified unequivocally by the aforesaid apparatus, that are difficult to reproduce and that cannot be removed from the original object. Description of the invention These and other purposes are achieved by the present invention that relates to a non- infringement apparatus for the identification of original consumption goods provided with a marker, characterised by the fact that it comprises means of producing a low- intensity electromagnetic field and means of detecting the distortions caused in it by at least one metallic element and/or at least one derivative of said metallic element utilized in the production of said marker.

Advantageously, the apparatus is rapidly able to recognise the presence of the marker

- which, for instance, can be shaped as a portion of the product that is being protected

- by measuring distortions of an electromagnetic field caused by a metallic dispersion present in the composition used for making the same marker. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means of producing the electromagnetic field includes a differential-type coil. The coil includes a central activator winding and two side-windings symmetrical but on opposite sides of the central winding. Activating the central winding induces a current in the side windings. The latter are provided with polarity reversed signals and, therefore, under conditions of electromagnetic equilibrium the electrical signal detectable at the heads of the side windings is null. On the contrary, when the electromagnetic field is disturbed by the presence of the marker, the electrical signal detectable at the heads of the side windings is different from zero. Preferably, the apparatus is endowed with a control unit programmed to check its operation. The control unit supplies the differential coil with electrical impulses having default duration of, for instance, around 10 μs to generate the low-intensity electromagnetic field. When the field is stable, the control unit proceeds to interrupt the impulses. In this way, a damped oscillation of the electromagnetic field is caused. During damping of the electromagnetic field, no longer supplied with current, the control unit activates means of recognition of distortion of the same field. Such means acquires the electrical signal produced by the differential coil during such damping of the field.

The control unit proceeds to process the measurement signal furnished by the means of recognition of the distortions and to compare the processed signal with reference measurements in order to signal the presence or not of the marker on the basis of such comparison. In other words, the control unit is able to discriminate the electrical signals acquired by the differential coil that are indicative of the presence of the marker. The reference measurements memorised in the control unit are typical of the distortions of the electromagnetic field caused by the presence of a metallic dispersion in the marker coupled to the consumer goods to be protected. For instance, if the marker is a jacket-button made of silicon-based rubber in which 0.7% by weight iron oxide is dispersed, the control unit has memorised the signals related to the distortions of the electromagnetic field caused by the iron oxide in the anticipated quantity in the button. The apparatus, which can be portable, is activated in proximity of the button and the control unit compares the signals furnished by the differential coil with the memorised signals to verify if the electromagnetic field is being distorted by the button as would happen in the case of a marker-button. The apparatus according to the present invention permits quick and precise identification of counterfeit goods compared to original goods provided with a special marker. The apparatus can be used in different market sectors, for instance, in the sectors of clothing, of footwear, of dress accessories (glasses, belts, gloves, hats, etc.), in the textile sector, and, in general, in all sectors in which it is desired to be able to distinguish original products from counterfeits. It is in fact enough to furnish goods to be protected with a special marker and to set the apparatus to recognise such a marker. The apparatus can be used by customs employees, by the producers of the goods, by retail employees, etc., to quickly identify counterfeit goods, and therefore to differentiate them from originals.

The present invention relates furthermore to a non-infringement marker for consumer goods, based on a composition that comprises at least one first component from natural latex, silicone based rubber, polyurethane based rubber, fluorinated base rubber, solid natural rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene based rubber, butadiene styrol based rubber, nitrile based rubber, acrylic based rubber, alchidic based paint, polyurethane based paint, urea based paint, polyester based paint, a metalized paint, an enamel, or chipboard, and at least one element from the group: Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn and/or a compound derivative of said elements. Advantageously, the marker can be shaped in many different ways to be associated with a plurality of products. For instance, the marker can be a button, a pin, a screw, a label, a card, an insert, a lining, a shoelace or an equivalent portion of a dress item, footwear or dress accessories. The compound derivative of Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn can be a salt, a complex compound or an oxide of such element. For instance, said derivative compound is selected in the group: Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, SnO, InO, TiO₂, Cu₂O and ZnO. The marker can, for instance, be made from natural latex to which a dispersion of TiO₂ and/ors Fe₂O₃ is added. Alternatively, the marker can be made by combining, for instance: - silicon based rubber with a dispersion of iron oxide;

- polyurethane based rubber with a dispersion of copper oxide; fluorinated base rubber with an iron dispersion;

- solid natural rubber with a zinc dispersion; ethylene-propylene-diene based rubber with an aluminium dispersion; butadiene styrol based rubber with a dispersion of Indium oxide; - based rubber nitrile with a dispersion of titanium;

- acrylic base paint with iron oxide;

- a base alchidic paint with iron oxide;

- a base polyurethane paint with iron oxide;

- a base urea paint with iron oxide; - a base polyester paint with iron oxide; a metalized paint with different bases with aluminium; an enamel derivative of different bases with titanium; and sawdust and/or wood shavings bonded with urea glue and mixed with aluminium powder. The quantities of said first component can vary from 60% by weight to 99,9% by weight of the total weight of the composition for the first component, and from 0.1% by weight to 15% by weight of the total weight of the composition for the compound of Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn and/or the derived compound. Advantageously, the marker according to the present invention can be an object, for instance, a button or a label, a piece in pressed board or chipboard, or can be also a paint or an enamel covering the product to be marked.

The marker according to the present invention is in particular difficult to duplicate or to reproduce. The marker in fact contains, for instance, a defined quantity of compounds derivative of Fe, Al, Sn, hi, Ti, Cu and Zn that can be detected with maximum accuracy by the apparatus according to the present invention.

The composition of the marker can be varied in the production phase of the same marker and the apparatus can be set to recognise the new composition; for instance, the control unit of the apparatus can be re-programmed, or can work according to different pre-arranged programs which can be selected to permit the marker whose composition has been modified to be recognised correctly.

The composition of the marker can be arranged between the producer of the consumer goods and the commercial operators transporting and/or selling the goods. Advantageously, the marker can also be an integral portion of the related product not influencing aesthetics negatively. The marker of footwear can, for instance, be produced as a portion of the rubber sole with a dispersion of iron oxide, or can be produced as a tongue in natural latex comprising a dispersion of iron oxide.

The product provided with the marker is "marked" in an "invisible" way. Unlike the traditional labels endowed with holograms, the marker detectable by the apparatus according to the present invention is not distinguishable by sight. The marker can be positioned in a conventional point of the related product, or in a position arranged between the producer and selling staff. For instance, the marker could be only one of the buttons of a garment, or a paint applied to a default portion of a spare-part, or could be the strap in latex (with a dispersion of dioxide of titanium and iron oxide) of a watch. In this way, duplication of the marker by counterfeiters is made even more difficult. The apparatus and the marker give a high level of security around the origin of the monitored product. It is extremely difficult to discover the type of mixture used for the preparation of the "marker" and the exact composition of the same marker. The marker is not therefore reproducible in a simple way without the authorisation of the producer. The apparatus according to the invention is set on purpose, preferably in the production phase, to detect markers with a specific composition. Counterfeit markers, produced with compositions different from those set by the producer of the original article, are discriminated as such by the apparatus. In this way the apparatus is able to distinguish an original article from a counterfeit article. Naturally the apparatus according to the present invention, being suited to detecting counterfeit markers, is even more able to identify articles without markers and, therefore, not originals.

In practice, the apparatus according to the invention permits quick recognition of both articles without markers and articles with counterfeit markers that do not correspond to the markers used by the producer of the original goods; in both cases, therefore, it detects the presence of counterfeit products.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the description that follows, which is by way of illustration and not limiting and makes reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a scheme of an apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flow diagram related to the operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1, an apparatus 1 according to the present invention is shown schematically, provided with a differential coil 2 housed in a special housing 3. A CPU control unit controls the operation of the differential coil 2. The differential coil 2 can be fed by a battery, or through a connection with an external power supply, to produce an electromagnetic field in proximity of the same coil 2. The apparatus 1 can be a portable type or a fixed type.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the differential coil 2 includes a first central activation winding 21 and two side windings 22 and 23. The side windings 22 and 23 are identical and are symmetrical to the central winding 21, i.e. on opposite sides of this. As shown in figure 1 ([+] and [-] signs relate to the heads of the windings), the side windings are of opposite polarity.

In this configuration, when the coil 2 is activated by the CPU control unit to produce the electromagnetic field and the same field is not disturbed by the presence of metals, the electrical signals detectable at the heads of the side windings 22 and 23 are equal to zero.

When a material comprising metal or metal derivatives is present in the electromagnetic field produced by the differential coil 2, the same electromagnetic field is unbalanced, it is no longer in a condition of equilibrium and the electrical signal detectable at the heads of the side windings 22 and 23 is different from zero. By measuring such electrical signal, it is possible to recognise a marker produced in a material containing metallic particles.

Figure 1 shows a marker M in the form of a button for an item of clothing. In general, the marker M can be produced in various shapes and with different materials, but contains a metal component detectable in unequivocal way by the apparatus 1. For instance, the marker M can be a button, a pin, a label or a card, a portion of footwear or an item of clothing, a portion of dress accessory (glasses, belt, bracelet, etc.). The composition of the marker M is established by the producer of the article which is required to be differentiated from imitations of the same article. Some examples are shown below related to the composition of the marker and to its preparation. Example 1

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES WITH NATURAL LATEX

1° phase (inert preparation)

Low-ammonia latex 46,7389

Full-ammonia latex 36,3525 Potassium oleate and laurate solution 0,6543

Potassium hydrate solution 1 , 1529

Zn-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and potassium hydrate dispersion 0,9659

Sulphur dispersion 0,8777

Antioxidant dispersion 1,3970 Anti-ozone wax emulsion 0,6388

Dispersion of titanium dioxide and iron oxide 10,6513

Colouring dispersion 0,0306

Solution densifiers 0,3116

Demineralized water 0,2285 100,0000

The "inert" phase cannot be used until seven days after the day beginning preparation, to allow protein degradation of the natural latex.

2° phase (preparation mixtures)

Inert 97,1178 Oleate and laurate potassium solution 0,2538

Emulsion vulcanisation accelerator 0,1463

Zinc oxide dispersion 1,8752

Sulphur dispersion 0,2100

Demineralized water 0, 1438 Zn- dibutyldithiocarbamate dispersion 0,1094

Demineralized water 0,1437 100,0000

The detected dispersion is the one related to the presence of titanium dioxide and iron oxide dispersion that can, for example, be achieved according to the following formulation:

Demineralized water 39,3904

Dispersants 0,2200

Dimethylamine 0,6050

Titanium dioxide 48,0000 Iron oxide 7,0000

15% solution of dimethylamine casemate 4,7870

Silicon based anti-foamer 0,0116

100,0000

**# Example 2

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF SILICON BASED RUBBER

Silicon based rubber 99,3%

Iron oxide 0,7%

100,0%

Example 3

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF POLYURETHANE BASED RUBBER

Polyurethane based rubber 99,1%

Copper oxide 0,9% 100,0%

Example 4

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF FLOURATED BASED RUBBER

Flourated based rubber 98,8%

Iron 1,2% 100,0%

Example 5 RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF SOLID NATUAL RUBBER

Solid natural Rubber 99,2%

Zinc 0,8%

100,0% Example 6

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE BASED

RUBBER

Based rubber ethylene propylene diene 99,0%

Aluminium 1,0% 100,0%

Example 7

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF BUTADIENE STYROL BASED RUBBER

Butadiene styrol based rubber 99,5%

Indium Oxide of 0,5% 100,0%

Example 8

RECIPE FOR MIXTURES OF NITRILE BASED RUBBER

Nitrile based rubber 99,4%

Titanium 0,6% 100,0%

Example 9

RECIPE FOR ACRYLIC BASED PAINTS

Acrylic based paint 99,1%

Iron oxide 0,9% 100,0%

Example 10

RECIPE FOR ALCHIDIC BASED PAINTS

Alchidic based paint 98,9%

Iron oxide 1,1% 100,0% Example 11

RECIPE FOR POLYURETHANE BASED PAINTS Polyurethane based paint 99,3%

Iron oxide 0,7% 100,0%

Example 12

RECIPE FOR UREA BASED PAINTS Urea based paint 99,3 %

Iron oxide 0,7% 100,0%

Example 13

RECIPE FOR POLYESTER BASED PAINTS Polyester based paint 99,3%

Iron oxide 0,7% 100,0%

Example 14

RECIPE FOR METALIZED PAINT Metalized paint with different bases 99,0%

Aluminium 1,0% 100,0%

Example 15

RECIPE FOR ENAMELS

Various enamel bases 99,0% Titanium 1,0%

100,0%

Example 16

RECIPE FOR CHIPBOARD

Sawdust and wood shaving mixed with powdered aluminium (1,5%) Urea Glue Ih all the above cited examples, the percentages indicated are intended by weight. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the aforementioned compositions, suited for the preparation of the marker, are produced according to known procedures depending on the various components and additives. For instance, the marker M could be a bracelet in natural latex containing a dispersion of titanium dioxide and iron oxide, or could be paint or enamel, or a portion, a part or a whole piece in chipboard containing aluminium dust. In general the marker M is a non-infringement marker for consumer goods. The marker M is produced with a composition that comprises at least one first component from natural latex, silicone based rubber, polyurethane based rubber, fluorinated base rubber, solid natural rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene based rubber, butadiene styrol based rubber, nitrile based rubber, acrylic based rubber, alchidic based paint, polyurethane based paint, urea based paint, polyester based paint, a metalized paint, an enamel, or chipboard. As shown in the above examples, the first component is present in quantity inclusive between 60% by weight and 99,9% by weight compared to the total weight of the composition of the marker M. Preferably the first component is present in quantity inclusive between l'80% by weight and 99,3% by weight compared to the total weight of the composition. The first component is more preferably present in quantity inclusive between 98,5% by weight and 99,1% by weight compared to the total weight of the composition.

The composition of the marker M includes, furthermore, at least one element selected from: Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn or a coumpound derivative of said element, for instance, a salt, a complex compound or an oxide of such elements. Preferably the first component is mixed with a mixture selected from Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, SnO, InO, TiO₂, Cu₂O and ZnO, if necessary in the form of a dispersion. The compound derivative of Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn is present in the composition of the marker M in quantity inclusive between 0.1% by weight and 15% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition. Preferably the derived compound is present in quantity inclusive between 0.6% by weight and 8% by weight and more preferably in quantity inclusive between 0.9% by weight and 2% by weight compared to the total weight of the composition of the marker M. The figure 2 is a flow diagram that summarises the operation of the apparatus 1. The CPU control unit activates the differential coil 2 with a train of impulses. Preferably each impulse has a minimum duration, for instance, equal to around 10 (μs). Consequently the electromagnetic field produced by the apparatus 1 is low-intensity. At the end of the train of impulses, the coil 2 is no longer excited and the electromagnetic field suffers damped oscillation, i.e. its intensity is reduced in an oscillatory way. In this phase, the electrical signal at the heads of the side windings 22 and 23 is measured to detect or indicate the presence or not of the marker M on the basis of the distortions that the same marker M causes in the damping electromagnetic field.

In practice, the apparatus 1 is positioned in proximity of an article of which it is desired to verify the origin. If the apparatus 1 detects the presence of the marker M (for instance a button) produced on the basis of a composition established by the producer of the article (for instance a jacket), where necessary in collaboration with the producer of the button or, if necessary, also produced according to a "standard" composition, then the article is original. If the apparatus 1 doesn't detect the presence of the marker M, then the article is counterfeit. Counterfeiting can also be detected in the case in which the apparatus according to the present invention detects the presence of the marker M in a condition (concentration of the metal, characteristics of the same) different from that established by the producer of the article and/or by the producer of the marker M, if these are different subjects. In this case, the apparatus according to the invention is able to detect both the absence of the marker M or the presence of a marker in itself counterfeit. When the electromagnetic field is damping, the control unit activates a means of recognition 3 of the distortions of the same electromagnetic field. The means of recognition effects a sampling of the residue electrical signal at the heads of the windings 21-23 of the differential coil 2. Preferably, the sampling provides for the acquisition of the electrical signal every 5 millionths of a second for 5 times. This operation is repeated 32 times displacing the temporal position of measurement by 1 millionth of a second every time. The CPU control unit processes the 160 samples of the signal so acquired, for instance, by calculating a weighted and/or arithmetic average on 12 complete cycles of sampling performed.

The electrical signal acquired is indicative of the presence of the marker M in the electromagnetic field produced by the differential coil 2. The metallic derivative compound of a selected element in the group Fe, Al, Sn, Ih, Ti, Cu and Zn and present in the composition of the marker M upsets the damping electromagnetic field.

The CPU control unit compares the processed electrical signal with pre-planned reference data. The reference data is related to the electromagnetic field distorted by the marker M produced according to the specifications of the producer of the article that it is desired to protect against counterfeiting. Comparing the processed signal with such data, the CPU control unit is therefore able to discriminate an object similar to the marker M from an original marker M. In this way, i.e. equipping the article to be protected with at least one marker M and using the apparatus 1 to detect it, it is possible to minimize the risks that the same article can be counterfeited.

When the marker M is recognized, the apparatus 1 signals its presence to the operator, for instance, a customs employee or an employee selling the article.

Compared to the traditional labels fitted with holograms, the marker M and the apparatus 1 allow articles to be protected against counterfeiting in an invisible way.

The marker M, in fact, can be shaped as a component or a part of the related article, or can even be paint or enamel used as a finish.

The composition of the marker M is decided by the producer of the article and can be agreed with the employees checking with apparatus 1, or with the operators of the production of the markers, if these are different. According to the composition selected for the marker M, the CPU control unit memorises the corresponding data, i.e. the values of the corresponding electrical signal on the coil 2.

The CPU control unit could have information memorised relating to more markers

M, for instance, for checking different articles. The marker M is extremely difficult to duplicate without authorisation. To discover the exact composition of the marker is not simple. Counterfeit markers, produced with compositions different from those decided by the producer of the original article, are, as already stated, discriminated by apparatus 1 as such, in as much as they don't produce the expected distortions for the electromagnetic field produced by the coil 2.

Claims

1. Non-infringement apparatus (1) for the identification of original consumer goods provided with a marker (M), characterized in that comprising means (2) to produce a low-intensity electromagnetic field and means (3) to detect the distortions caused in it by at least one metallic element and/or at least one derivative of said metallic element used in the production of said marker (M).

2. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said means (2) for producing an electromagnetic field comprise a differential type coil.

3. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 2, characterised by comprising, furthermore, a control unit (CPU) programmed to perform the following phases:

- feed the coil (2) with electrical impulses of default duration to produce said electromagnetic field;

- interrupt the impulses to damp said electromagnetic field and activate said means (3) to detect its distortions, during the damping;

- process the measurement signal furnished by said means for detecting the distortions and compare the processed signal with reference measurements; - signal the presence or not of said marker (M) on the basis of said comparison.

4. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that said impulses have a duration equal to lOμs.

5. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterised by the fact that said control unit activates said means (3) for detecting the cycle distortions of

5μs for 5 times, said cycles being repeated 32 times with a temporal displacement between every cycle equal to lμs.

6. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 5, characterised in that said control unit ^• (CPU) processes the measurement signals produced at every activation of said means for recognition of the distortions in order to calculate their arithmetic average.

7. Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding Claims from 2 to 6, characterised in that said differential coil (2) comprises a central winding (21) of activation and two side windings (22, 23) symmetrical and on opposite sides of said central winding (21), said side windings (22, 23) being opposite in polarity, one compared to the other.

8. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 7, characterised in that the electrical signal detectable at the heads of said side windings (22, 23), activated by said central winding (21), is null when said electromagnetic field is not altered by the presence of said marker (M) and is different from zero when said electromagnetic field is altered by the presence of said marker (M).

9. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 8, characterised in that said means (3) for detecting the distortions of said electromagnetic field measure the electrical signal at the heads of said side windings (22, 23).

10. Non-infringement marker (M) for consumer goods, based on a composition that comprises at least one first component selected from natural latex, silicone based rubber, polyurethane based rubber, fluorinated base rubber, solid natural rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene based rubber, butadiene styrol based rubber, nitrile based rubber, acrylic based rubber, alchidic based paint, polyurethane based paint, urea based paint, polyester based paint, a metalized paint, an enamel, or chipboard, and at least one element selected from the group: Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn and/or a derivative compound of said elements.

11. Marker (M) according to Claim 10, characterised by said derivative compound of Fe, Al, Sn, In, Ti, Cu and Zn is a salt, a complex compound or an oxide of said element.

12. Marker (M) according to Claim 11, characterised by said derivative compound is selected from the group: Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, SnO, InO, TiO₂, Cu₂O and ZnO.

13. Marker (M) according to one any of Claims 10-12, characterised by being produced in natural latex comprising a dispersion OfTiO₂ and/or Fe₂O₃.

14. Marker (M) according to any of the preceding Claims 10-13, characterised by said first component is present in an amount comprised between 60% by weight and 99,9% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

15. Marker (M) according to Claim 14, characterised by said first component is present in an amount comprised between 80% by weight and 99,3% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

16. Marker (M) according to Claim 15, characterised by said first component is present in an amountcomprised between 98,5% by weight and 99,1% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

17. Marker (M) according to one any of the claims 10-16, characterised by said element, and/or said derivative compound of said element, is present in an amount comprised between 0.1% by weight and 15% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

18. Marker (M) according to Claim 17, characterised by said element, and/or said derivative compound of said element, is present in an amount comprised between 0.6% by weight and 8% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

19. Marker (M) according to Claim 18, characterised by said element, and/or said derivative compound of said element, is present in an amount comprised between 0.9% by weight and 2% by weight compared to the total weight of said composition.

20. Marker (M) according to any of the preceding Claims 10-19, selected from a button, a pin, a screw, a label, a card, an insert, a lining, a lace or an equivalent portion of an item of clothing, footwear or accessory of clothing.

21. Use of the marker (M) according to one any of the Claims 10-20 to complete and/or to finish consumer goods.

22. Use of the apparatus (1) according to one any of the Claims 1-9 for the identification of the marker (M) according to Claims 10-20.

23. Consumer goods produced provided with at least one marker (M) according to Claims from 10 to 20.