Plastic safety case for ensuring the authenticity and condition of a gold coin, precious stone, pearl or the like

• US 5,033,774 A
• Filed: 10/17/1988
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arysearch Arylan AG
• Original Assignee: Arysearch Arylan AG
• Inventors: Benardelli, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US07/258,786
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 206/0.8, 206/0.81, 206/0.82, 206/0.83, 206/0.84, 206/807, 283/108
• US Class Current: 283/108
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/0025 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof

Abstract

A case of plastic material for at least one marketable valuable piece as a coin, a medal, a precious stone, a pearl, a stamp or the like, including two superimposed elements, at least one of which is transparent and formed with a shell to lodge the piece. The elements are connected at least along their edges, and between the upper and lower elements which enclose the piece with certification data, a tamperproof seal is provided against counterfeiting and against forced opening. The seal includes a delaminable security printing pattern in the form of a hologram or of a multi-ink layer which is discontinuously adhered so as to be visibly and irreparably lacerated upon an opening attempt being imparted to the case.

Claims

1. A safety case for the containment and ensuring of the authenticity and condition of at least one valuable object, comprising in combination:

a first transparent sheet-like plastic element;

a second transparent sheet-like plastic element;

at least one of said elements including at least one housing forming a shell for the object, said first element bearing an indelible graphic pattern on a surface thereof facing towards said second element which is visible by transparency and consists of images and data informative of the identification and certification of the object;

an imprinted decorative multi-ink layer on a surface of said second element facing said first element, said imprinted decorative multi-ink layer including a security printing pattern and being anchored only to portions of the surface of said second element, a transfer primer on the remaining portions of said surface on said second element to inhibit local adherence of said ink layer to said surface portions; and

an adhesive on said multi-ink layer in regions thereof encompassing said at least one housing and graphic pattern of said first element, whereby superposition of said second element on said first element causes said adhesive to form an adhesive bond therebetween providing a sealed containment for an object an in which delamination of said first element to form a visible irreparable laceration of the security pattern indicative of a tampering condition.

2. A safety case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said security printing pattern in said imprinted decorative multi-ink layer comprises a figure, a sign, a writing, a letter, a number or the like, singly or in combination with each other, or in random sequence.

3. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said case has the shape of a credit card.

4. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second elements are each made of a material selected form the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyethylene.

5. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adhesive is transparent.

6. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decorative layer representing the delaminable security printing pattern is associated with an optical code with an ink which is invisible in white light but readable in ultraviolet light.

7. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one housing for the object comprises two complementary shells, respectively formed in the first and second elements such that the bulk and the shape of the at least one object is fitted into the shells.

8. A safety case as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said housings each adapted to contain a single object, each said housing being protected by an encompassing imprinted decorative layer forming a seal against counterfeiting.