Security document

• US 4,889,366 A
• Filed: 06/29/1987
• Issued: 12/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruno Fabbiani
• Original Assignee: Bruno Fabbiani
• Inventors: Fabbiani, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US07/067,934
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 281/1, 283/1 R, 283/1 A, 283/62, 283/77, 283/86, 283/87, 283/112, 283/904, 283/83
• US Class Current: 283/86
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/351 Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/364 Liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/425 by deformation, e.g. embossing
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/47 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0256 having specific functional layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/52 Integrated surface relief hologram without forming layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/54 Recording material filed in recessed substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/904 Credit card

Abstract

A security document comprising a flat support; one or more portions having identification codes; and a hologram; which hologram presents reference means along the edge, and a protective coating for preventing the hologram from being removed or damaged.

Claims

1. A security document comprising a support, at least one identification code, at least one hologram secured to said support, one or more protective coatings (10) applied at least on the surface of said hologram (5) having an edge (8), and optically readable reference marking means (9, 20, 21, 22) on said holograph visible to an external source (5) for allowing the positioning of the hologram in a reading device.

2. A security document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said hologram (5) comprises at least one reference code (23, 24) for identifying said document (1).

3. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said hologram (5) is a reflection type hologram.

4. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said hologram (5) is a transmission type holograph.

5. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fat that the said support (2) comprises a recess (11) for the said hologram (5), said recess being at least as deep as the thickness of the hologram (5).

6. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the upper surface (4) of the said support (2) is embossed at least on the portion (14) to which the said hologram (5) is secured.

7. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said protective coating (10) is at least transparent to electromagnetic radiation of a given wave length, and is flexible and capable of withstanding abrasion.

8. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said protective coating (10) fully covers at least one face of the said document (1).

9. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said protective coating (10) is of uniform thickness.

10. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said protective coating (10) presents a given optical profile.

11. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that a first portion (10a) of the said protective coating (10) covers the said upper surface (4) of the said support (2) with the exception of the said holograph (5);

a second portion (10b) of the said protective coating (10) covering at least the said hologram (5).

12. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said reference means (9, 21, 22 23, 24) are located on the edge (8) of the said hologram (5).

13. A document as claimed in claim 12, characterized by the fact that the said edge (8) presents referencing means (9) for enabling the positioning in a reading of device the holographic image, which is in the center portion (7).

14. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said reference means (9) are marks which diffract light.

15. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said reference means (9) comprise at least one resolving sight with diffraction gratings having groups of spaced lines for resolution control of the document.

16. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one plate (15) to which the said hologram (5) is secured.

17. A document as claimed in claim 16, characterized by the fact that the said plate (15) presents a given optical profile and comprises positioning marks.

18. A document as claimed in claim 16, characterised by the fact that the said plate is secured to the said support (2) by adhesive means.

19. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said hologram (5) is arranged between two said plates (15a, 15b) having respective openings (16a, 16b) facing each other;

the said support (2) having a recess (11a) for the said plates (15a, 15b), said recess (11a) having an opening (17) facing the said openings (16a, 16b) in the said plates (15a, 15b).

20. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises further means of avoiding forgery in combination with the said hologram (5).

21. A document as claimed in claim 20, characterised by the fact that the said further forgeproofing means comprise a selectively-chromatic liquid crystal display (18) placed under the said hologram (5).

22. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises mechanical locating means designed to cooperate with positioning means on a reading device.

23. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said reference means (9) comprises at least one resolving sight having laminar structure for reinforcing the diffraction waves and shifting the reflected peak.

24. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said reference means (9) comprises at least one resolving sight having a step structure for reinforcing the diffraction waves and shifting the reflected peak.

25. A document as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said reference means (9) comprise at least one resolving sight having a preferentially reflecting structure for reinforcing the diffraction waves and shifting the reflected peak.