Methods of creating a tamper resistant informational article

Details Methods of creating a tamper resistant informational article Methods of creating a tamper resistant informational article

2001-05-17

2003-12-02

Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 1775)

Printed matter

Having revealable concealed information, fraud preventer or...

Utilizing electromagnetic radiation

C283S072000, C283S111000, C283S109000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06655719

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for creating tamper resistant informational articles and the resultant product and includes various embodiments of holograms formed within a metal layer or within a resinous plastic layer with the information to be protected being placed on or adjacent to the hologram as by printing, for example, and additional material protectively overlying the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known for many purposes to provide means to protect informational articles from counterfeiting and alteration. For example, with respect to paper currency, it has been known to use special inks, graphic designs, codes and materials to make it more difficult for counterfeiters to copy the currency. It has also been known to protect cards, such as credit cards, identification cards, debit cards, membership cards and other cards from deterioration, reproduction and alteration by encasing them between a pair of laminated plastic sheets, at least one of which is transparent. See generally, U.S. Pat No. 3,582,439. Such systems may encapsulate the information to be protected between multiple sheets of resinous plastic, such as PVC, for example, joined using heat.
It has also been known to employ holograms in credit cards and the like so as to inhibit unauthorized reproduction of the same.
U.S. Pat No. 4,631,222 discloses a hot embossing foil which includes a magnetic layer and a layer which has a structure producing a diffraction effects such as a hologram. Adhesive means may be employed to secure the element to a substrate. The backing foil is adapted to be released from a transfer layer. See U.S. Pat No. 3,582,439.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,392 discloses a laminate which is said to extend the life of a photograph. A plurality of films are adhesively bonded in a protective relationship with respect to a photograph.
U.S. Pat No. 4,897,533 discloses providing credit cards with magnetic tapes with the card being provided with a transparent film which may take the form of an ultraviolet curable varnish.
U.S. Pat No. 5,248,544 discloses the use of holograms on paper articles.
U.S. Pat No. 4,684,795 discloses the use of a security tape which contains an embossed holographic image on a clear polyester carrier which is then coated with ferrous oxide to form a magnetic strip with an optically viewable holographic image thereon.
U.S. Pat No. 4,856,857 discloses the use of a transparent hologram which may be provided with an overlying removable support layer and an underlying adhesive for securement of the hologram to an article.
U.S. Pat No. 4,971,646 discloses a holographic film product wherein a film or plastic adhesive is employed to secure a hologram film and metallized coating which underlies a printed layer and a protective layer of clear film.
U.S. Pat No. 4,429,015 discloses a laminated identification card wherein efforts to delaminate the card result in fibers of uniaxially oriented polyethylene or polypropylene layers being torn to thereby provide a visual indication of tampering.
My U.S. Pat No. 5,243,641 discloses protecting from undesired alteration articles having information added after creation of a form. This is accomplished by providing a zone of distinct appearance, such as a hologram, placing the added information thereover, and covering the added information and at least a portion of the distinctive zone with a write resistant material. In this manner, accurate photocopying of the document, so as to permit alteration, is resisted as is writing over the inserted information.
My U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,763 and 5,595,624 discloses methods of making tamper evident and counterfeit resisting informational articles. A hologram is applied to the article, the information is inserted over the hologram and a transparent tape is applied thereover with a write resistant coating, such as silicone resin, being applied thereover. A particular end use disclosed is in connection with creating a temporary vehicle or registration.
My U.S. Pat No. 5,948,555 discloses a tamper resistant vehicular validation tab of the type frequently inserted into a recess in a vehicular license plate. As a result of differential adhesive properties provided between layers of the article, an effort to separate the same results in destruction of the integrity of the information provided therein. A further embodiment usable in connection with vehicle windows is disclosed in my U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/854,717.
U.S. Pat No. 5,044,707 discloses discontinuous reflective holograms. It has also been known to form holograms in clear plastic film with metallizing enhancing visibility of surface of the relief patterns therein. See generally U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,707; 5,071,597; 5,083,850; 5,085,514; 5,116,548; and 5,142,383.
U.S. Pat No. 5,128,779 discloses the use of reflective aluminum dots positioned across a surface relief pattern with the spacing being such that the text or graphics on the substrate may be viewed through the hologram. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,145,212 and 5,411,296.
U.S. Pat No. 5,838,466 discloses a film which resists viewing of the hologram as a result of matching refractory indices resisting such viewing until the film has been separated.
In spite of the foregoing, there remains a very real and substantial need for providing articles which have information which may be standard information employed on all of the articles and, in some instances, additional information which is variable perhaps identifying the user or a corporate identity or the like. This is accomplished in such a manner that the information is readily visible by the naked eye or machine readable while photocopying and access to the same for alteration or counterfeiting are effectively resisted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a plurality of embodiments, each of which is adapted to provide the desired information, whether it be variable or standard information, and whether it be readable by the human eye or machine readable and stored on magnetic media. The information is physically encased within protective materials thereby precluding direct access for alteration. It also contains means which resist undesired photocopying.
The methods of the present invention reduce the number of layers and vendor supplied components required and reduce cost through streamlining the method. The methods also provide the option of full manufacture of the article at a central manufacturing facility or providing a partially fabricated article which can be completed in a simple operation at a retail store or other location.
In one method of the invention, a hologram is formed in a metal foil layer after which the desired information is created on the metal foil, at least partially over the hologram, and the information and hologram-containing metal foil are encapsulated within a resinous plastic material. The encapsulation is preferably effected by extrusion of the resinous plastic material over the foil. In the alternative, the foil may also be encapsulated by injection molding. The items may be formed in an elongated continuous strip with individual cards or other unitary articles being separate therefrom.
The method also contemplates creating a base having an upper surface and a lower surface by passing an elongated metal core through an extruder. The extruder encapsulates the metal core with a resinous plastic material, securing a magnetic media storage element to the base. A lens is created by providing an elongated transparent plastic layer and forming a hologram in the lower surface thereof with information to be protected being applied to the hologram as by printing, for example. The upper surface of the base is then secured to the lower surface of the lens. In a preferred embodiment, the securement of the lens and base is effected within a sufficient time after extrusion that the resinous plastic is at an elevated temperature from the extrusion process.
If desired, small glass beads or metallic particles may be inserted into the

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