Multilayer identity card usable as a printing block and a method of producing it
First Claim
1. In an identity card including a main card body having a plastic surface area having at least one character or symbol thereon raised to a given height above the surrounding card surface for enabling the card body to be used as a printing block, the improvement comprising:
- said card including a raised plateau area at least underlying said character or symbol, said plateau area being raised in relief above an adjacent surface portion of the card body to provide a portion only of said given height of said character or symbol;
said plastic surface area including at least a portion corresponding with said character or symbol expandable by laser irradiation;
said at least one raised character or symbol comprising an area of said plastic surface area that is locally expanded by laser irradiation above the underlying plateau area to provide the remainder of said given height.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An identity card is provided with a character set usable as a printing block, whereby the "natural foamability" that laser action brings about in the plastic materials commonly used for identity cards, such as PVC and polycarbonate, is exploited to obtain a relief height sufficient for a clear impression of the characters. The standard total height of the embossed characters relative to the rest of the card surface is reached by an additional deformation of the card body in the embossed character area so as to form flat underlying the characters.
57 Citations
9 Claims
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1. In an identity card including a main card body having a plastic surface area having at least one character or symbol thereon raised to a given height above the surrounding card surface for enabling the card body to be used as a printing block, the improvement comprising:
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said card including a raised plateau area at least underlying said character or symbol, said plateau area being raised in relief above an adjacent surface portion of the card body to provide a portion only of said given height of said character or symbol; said plastic surface area including at least a portion corresponding with said character or symbol expandable by laser irradiation; said at least one raised character or symbol comprising an area of said plastic surface area that is locally expanded by laser irradiation above the underlying plateau area to provide the remainder of said given height. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification