Security label having security element and method of making same

• US 20020125714A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Security Technologies Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Technical Graphics, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Cote, Paul F., Gartner, Gerald J., Curdo, Stephen B., Wolpert, Gary R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/81
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A security label having one or more security elements is used on or in association with items, such as consumer products, that have value and are susceptible to counterfeiting. The security label is preferably used as a primary label directly affixed to the item or product. The security element(s) can be affixed to an outer or inner label surface, embedded within the label film or paper layer and/or laminated between two or more layers. One type of security element includes a security thread having indicia formed thereon that are not easily reproduced or duplicated. Another type of security element includes a machine-readable security element that provides encoded machine-readable verification data.

Claims

1. A security label for use on an item to verify the authenticity of said item, wherein said security label comprises:

(a) at least one base layer; and

(b) at least one security element disposed proximate to at least one layer of said security label, wherein said at least one security element provides verification of the authenticity of said item.

3. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein one said base layer is an outermost layer of said security label, and wherein at least one said security element is laminated to an outer surface of said outermost base layer.

4. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one said security element is at least partially embedded in at least one said base layer.

9. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one said security element is a visually detectable security element.

10. The security label of claim 9, wherein said security element comprises a substrate having verification indicia formed on at least one surface thereof, wherein said verification indicia are visible from at least one side of said security label.

11. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein said security element is a machine-detectable security element.

12. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein said security element is a machine-detectable and machine-readable security element.

13. The security label of claim 12, wherein said security element is an encoded security element comprising a substrate having verification indicia comprising encoded and non-encoded regions contained thereon.

14. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein said security label is a primary label, and wherein said item is a consumer product.

15. The security label of claims 1 or 2, wherein one said base layer is an outermost layer of said security label, and wherein an outer surface of said outermost base layer contains indicia representing information about said item.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said act of providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label includes laminating at least one security element between one said base layer and one said adhesive layer.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein one said adhesive layer is an innermost layer of said security label, and wherein said act of providing at least one said security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label includes laminating at least one said security element to an outer surface of said innermost adhesive layer.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein one said adhesive layer is an innermost layer of said security label, and wherein said method further comprises providing a release layer over said innermost adhesive layer.

2. A security label for use on an item to verify the authenticity of said item, wherein said security label comprises:

(a) at least one base layer;

(b) at least one adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of at least one said base layer, for adhering said base layer and said security label to said item; and

(c) at least one security element disposed proximate to at least one layer of said security label, wherein said at least one security element provides verification of the authenticity of said item.

5. The security label of claim 2, wherein at least one security element is laminated between one said base layer and one said adhesive layer.

6. The security label of claim 2, wherein one said adhesive layer is an innermost layer of said security label, and wherein at least one said security element is laminated to an outer surface of said innermost adhesive layer.

7. The security label of claim 2, wherein at least one said adhesive layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.

8. The security label of claim 2, wherein one said adhesive layer is an innermost layer of said security label, wherein said security label further comprises a release layer covering and protecting said innermost adhesive layer, and wherein said release layer is removed prior to adhering said security label to said item.

16. A verifiable consumer product comprising a security label affixed to a surface thereof, wherein said security label comprises:

(a) at least one base layer;

(b) at least one adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of at least one base layer, wherein an innermost adhesive layer affixes said security label to a surface of said consumer product; and

(c) at least one security element disposed proximate to at least one layer of said security label, wherein said at least one security element provides verification of the authenticity of said item.

17. A method of making a security label for use with an item to verify the authenticity of said item, wherein said method comprises the acts of:

providing at least one base layer; and

providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label.

19. The method of claims 17 or 18, wherein one said base layer is an outermost layer of said security label, and wherein said act of providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label includes laminating at least one said security element to an outer surface of said outermost base layer.

20. The method of claims 17 or 18, wherein said act of providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label includes at least partially embedding at least one said security element in at least one base layer.

24. The method of claims 17 or 18, wherein said act of providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label includes forming verification indicia on at least one surface of at least one said security element.

18. A method of making a security label for use on an item to verify the authenticity of said item, wherein said method comprises the acts of:

providing at least one base layer;

providing at least one adhesive layer on at least a portion of at least one said base layer; and

providing at least one security element proximate to at least one layer of said security label.

25. A method of authenticating an item, wherein said method comprises:

providing an item;

providing a security label comprising;

(a) at least one base layer;

(b) at least one adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of at least one said base layer, for adhering said base layer and said security label to said item; and

(c) at least one security element disposed proximate to at least one layer of said security label; and

applying said security label to said item, wherein said security element provides verification of the authenticity of said item.