POLYMER-CONTAINING COMPOSITE SECURITY ARTICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to composite articles and laminated polymeric materials, for example, paper and plastic-based materials for tokens, and can be used in the manufacture of security articles. An article comprises a disc insert of laminated plastic and an outer metal. The insert includes stacked paper sheets impregnated with a polymer binder. Surface of each sheet is covered with a polymer layer and comprises visual and/or hidden security features. The ring and the disc insert are permanently joined together. At least one of the article components has an embossing. Dimensions of the article are in conformity with the relations: 0.8≤δ2/δ1<1; D1−D2≥8; 0.3≤S1/S2<0.9; D2>16 mm; Δ≤1, where D1 is outer diameter of the metal ring, excluding edge surface, mm; D2—diameter of the disc insert, mm; S1—area of the metal ring, excluding edge surface, mm.sup.2, S2—area of the disc insert, mm.sup.2; δ1—maximum thickness of the metal ring, mm; δ2—maximum thickness of the disc insert, mm; Δ—difference between maximum and minimum protruding elements of the metal component of the article, mm. The article has an enhanced level of security and is simple both in the manufacture and in its authentication.

Claims

1. A polymer-containing composite security article, comprising an outer metal ring and an inner disc insert made of laminated plastic including stacked paper sheets impregnated with a polymer binder throughout the volume so that surface of each sheet is covered with a polymer layer, and comprising visual and/or hidden security elements, wherein at least one of the article components has an embossing, and the ring and the disc insert are permanently joined together by pressing, and wherein dimensions of the article are in conformity with the relations: 0.8≤δ2/δ1<1; D1−D2≥8; 0.3≤S1/S2<0.9; D2>16 mm; Δ≤1, where D1 is outer diameter of the metal ring, excluding an edge surface, mm; D2—diameter of the disc insert, mm; S1—area of the metal ring, excluding edge surface, mm.sup.2; S2—area of the disc insert, mm.sup.2; δ1—maximum thickness of the metal ring, mm; δ2—maximum thickness of the disc insert, mm; Δ—difference between maximum and minimum protruding elements of the metal component of the article, mm.

2. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the laminated plastic comprises reinforced fibers.

3. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal ring is made of a metal or metal alloy, in particular, produced by powder metallurgy.

4. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the embossing is made in the form of graphic markings containing geometric figures, alphanumeric symbols, constant and/or different width strokes, guilloche elements or a combination of said graphic elements.

5. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc insert comprises a printing foil and/or a security thread.

6. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert disc comprises authenticity features formed using ferromagnetic materials, IR absorbing substances, UV and IR luminescent substances.

7. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of its components is made of a material having specified conductive and/or magnetic properties.

8. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc insert includes a microchip for contactless and/or contact data reading and writing, such as an RFID tag.

9. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains information identifying the owner.

10. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the article components made of metal material and of laminated plastic are geometrically complementary items.

11. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a medal or coin, or token, or valuable document, or badge.

Description

[0063] The essence of the invention is illustrated by specific examples and illustrations given in the drawings, where:

[0064] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the article;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows view A in FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a version of appearance of the article;

[0067] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the version of the article.

[0068] The article consists of a disc insert 1 and an outer ring 2 (FIG. 3, FIG. 4). Surface of the disc insert 1 comprises a security feature 3, a denomination symbol 4 of the coin article, and a serial number 5 of the coin. Surface of the outer ring 2 comprises an engraving 6 in the form of embossed text.

Example 1

[0069] A token coin article was made from a disc insert 1 of laminated plastic (FIGS. 3, 4) and an outer ring 2 of a copper-nickel alloy (FIGS. 3, 4).

[0070] Laminated plastic was prepared from 7 paper layers impregnated with thermoplastic resin and pressed together at 200° C. At the manufacturing step, 10% of a colorless inorganic luminescent compound based on Sr.sub.4Al.sub.14O.sub.25: Eu, Dy, which exhibits a blue-green glow under UV radiation in the wavelength range of 300-370 nm, was introduced into the composition of the paper layers.

[0071] At the printing step, grids and guilloche elements 3 were offset printed on both sides of the disc insert base made of laminated plastic (FIG. 3), and a coin denomination symbol 4 was applied with color-variable paint; furthermore, on the front side the paint includes IR absorber based on blue phthalocyanine dye having selective IR absorption in the wavelength range of 700-900 nm.

[0072] An outer ring workpiece of a copper-nickel alloy having a specified electrical conductivity was made by cold stamping from sheet material.

[0073] At the final manufacturing step, the disc insert 1 (FIG. 2) and the outer metal ring 2 (FIG. 2) were joined together by pressing to provide permanent joint. Engraving in the form of an embossed text 6 was applied on surface of the metal component of the article (FIG. 3). The article had the following geometric dimensions (FIGS. 1, 2): [0074] D1—26.5 mm, [0075] D2—19 mm, [0076] S1—267.9 mm.sup.2, [0077] S2—283.4 mm.sup.2, [0078] δ1—2.0 mm, [0079] δ2—1.6 mm.

Example 2

[0080] A token coin article was made from laminated plastic in the form of a disc insert 1 (FIG. 3) and an outer ring formed by powder metallurgy from a pure metal or metal alloy 2 (FIG. 3).

[0081] The laminated plastic was composed of 5 paper layers impregnated with thermosetting resin and pressed together at 200° C. At the manufacturing step, 2% of a colorless luminescent compound based on a chelate complex of europium, which exhibits a red glow under UV radiation in the wavelength range of 300-370 nm, was introduced into composition of the paper layers.

[0082] At the papermaking step, a holographic foil was applied onto the outer layer on the face of the laminated plastic base.

[0083] At the printing step, grids and guilloche elements 3 were offset printed on both sides of the disc insert base made of laminated plastic (FIG. 3), and a sight alignment element was formed on the front and back sides for authentication in transmitted light.

[0084] The ring workpiece with specified electrical conductivity and/or magnetic properties was made by powder metallurgy from a pure metal or metal alloy.

[0085] At the final manufacturing step, the plastic disc insert 1 (FIG. 4) and the outer metal ring 2 (FIG. 4) were joined together by pressing to provide permanent joint. Engraving in the form of a embossed text 5 was applied on surface of the metal component of the article (FIG. 3). The article had the following geometric dimensions (FIGS. 1, 2): [0086] D1—39 mm, [0087] D2—28 mm, [0088] S1—578.6 mm.sup.2, [0089] S2—615.4 mm.sup.2, [0090] δ1—2.8 mm, [0091] δ2—1.5 mm.

Example 3

[0092] A token coin article was made from a disc insert 1 of laminated plastic (FIG. 3) and an outer ring 2 of a copper-zinc alloy (FIG. 3).

[0093] Laminated plastic was prepared from 6 paper layers impregnated with thermoplastic resin and pressed together at 200° C. At the manufacturing step, 5% of a colorless inorganic luminescent compound based on Sr4Al14O25: Eu, Dy, which exhibits a blue-green glow under UV radiation in the wavelength range of 300-370 nm, was introduced into composition of the paper layers.

[0094] At the printing step, grids and guilloche elements 3 were offset printed on both sides of the base of the disc insert made of laminated plastic (FIG. 3).

[0095] In addition, at the printing step, an individual serial number of the coin 6 was applied onto the plastic base by inkjet printing (FIG. 3).

[0096] The outer ring workpiece with a specified electrical conductivity was made by cold stamping from sheet material.

[0097] At the final manufacturing step, the disc insert 1 (FIG. 4) and the outer metal ring 2 (FIG. 4) were joined together by pressing to provide permanent joint. Engraving in the form of microtext 6 was applied onto the surface of the metal component of the article (FIG. 3). The article had the following geometric dimensions (FIGS. 1, 2): [0098] D1—31 mm, [0099] D2—22 mm, [0100] S1—374.5 mm.sup.2, [0101] S2—379.9 mm.sup.2, [0102] δ1—2.2 mm, [0103] δ2—1.8 mm.

Example 4

[0104] A token coin article with user's personal data 3 (FIG. 3) was made from a disc insert 1 of laminated plastic 1 (FIG. 3) and an outer ring 2 of tin bronze (FIG. 3), and an RFID was embedded therein for contactless room access verification.

[0105] Laminated plastic was prepared from 9 paper layers impregnated with thermosetting resin and pressed together at 200° C. At the manufacturing step, 20% of a colorless inorganic luminescent compound based on Sr.sub.4Al.sub.14O.sub.25: Eu, Dy, which exhibits a blue-green glow under UV radiation in the wavelength range of 300-370 nm, was introduced into composition of the paper layers.

[0106] At the printing step, grids and guilloche elements 3 were offset printed on both sides of the base of the disc insert made of laminated plastic (FIG. 3).

[0107] Additionally, at the printing step, an individual serial number and/or personal data of the user of the medal 5 was applied by inkjet printing onto the plastic base of the disc insert (FIG. 3).

[0108] The outer ring workpiece of tin bronze with a specified electrical conductivity was made by cold stamping from sheet material.

[0109] At the final manufacturing step, the disc insert 1 (FIG. 4) and the outer metal ring 2 (FIG. 4) were joined together by pressing to provide permanent joint. Engraving in the form of embossed text 6 was applied onto the surface of the metal component of the article (FIG. 3). The article had the following geometric dimensions (FIG. 1, 2): [0110] D1—33 mm, [0111] D2—24 mm, [0112] S1—402.7 mm.sup.2, [0113] S2—452.2 mm.sup.2, [0114] δ1—2.6 mm, [0115] δ2—2.2 mm.

[0116] As apparent from the above examples, a composite identification article has been designed, which can be manufactured by simple methods, has an enhanced level of security and can be easily verified for its authenticity.