STRUCTURE FOR SECURE CONTAINMENT OF INFORMATION

Abstract

A structure for secure containment of information (SSCI) that is in the form of a laminate which includes at least two layers. The laminate is constructed to contain information such as a code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or personal identification number (PIN). The information is located between the layer of the laminate such that the code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key, or PIN is not detectable from outside the laminate. The SSCI is configured to provide access and expose the code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key, or PIN by delaminating at least one layer, thereby indicating that tampering has occurred to the laminate. The SSCI can also function as a public key or private key for a blockchain, to provide access to a physical lock or to provide account access to claim financial value.

Claims

1. A structure for secure containment of information, comprising: a laminate comprising multiple layers of material, wherein: the laminate comprises information disposed between at least two of the layers of material such that the information is not visible or detectable from outside the laminate; the laminate is configured to be de-laminated to irreversibly separate at least a portion of at least two of the layers of material to expose the information; and the de-lamination causes irreversible damage to layers of material on either side of the information.

2. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the irreversible damage caused comprises multiple anti-counterfeiting features being broken.

3. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the de-lamination comprises peeling at least a portion of the at least two of the layers of material apart from one another.

4. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the irreversible damage comprises one or more of the group comprising: turning a metal layer into flakes, turning a metal layer into powder, folding or creasing the laminate, breaking of one or more print layers, breaking of one or more security threads, oxidation of one or more layers of the laminate, separation of one or more print layers into distinct surfaces, intentional tearing of one or more layers of the laminate, a color change of an adhesive, and a de-metallization of a hologram.

5. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: at least some of the multiple layers of the laminate comprise one or more selected from the group comprising: plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, paper, and sheets of fibrous material.

6. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the information comprises at least one of a code, a serial number, an information feature, an encryption key, and a personal identification number (PIN).

7. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the information comprises a pattern incorporated into at least one of the layers of the laminate.

8. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the layers of the laminate comprises one or more selected from the group comprising: a pattern of electrically charged material with the pattern exhibiting at least a portion of the information, a pattern of chemically altered material with the pattern exhibiting at least a portion of the information, the information displayed as at least two visible colors.

9. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: the multiple layers of the laminate include a blocking layer that restricts radiation and other interrogation methods, a decoy layer that contains patterns that do not exhibit the information, or both a blocking layer and a decoy layer.

10. The structure for secure containment of information of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the multiple layers of the laminate comprises at least a portion of the information instantiated by magnetic domains.

11. A method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information, comprising: providing a plurality of layers of material; instantiating information onto at least one of the plurality of layers of material; and securing the plurality of layers of material together to form a laminate such that the information is disposed between at least two of the layers of material to ensure that the information is not visible or detectable from outside the laminate, wherein: the laminate is configured to be de-laminated to irreversibly separate at least a portion of at least two of the layers of material to expose the information; and the de-lamination causes irreversible damage to layers of material on either side of the information.

12. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: instantiating the information comprises one or more of the group comprising: placing additional material on one of the plurality of layers such that the additional material exhibits the information, placing additional material on one of the plurality of layers and removing a portion of the additional material such that a remaining portion of the additional material exhibits the information, placing an adhesive material on one of the plurality of layers such that the adhesive material exhibits the information, placing release material on one of the plurality of layers such that the release material exhibits the information, and utilizing magnetic domains.

13. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: securing the plurality of layers of material together comprises vacuum depositing a metallic layer on a surface of a plastic layer.

14. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: securing the plurality of layers of material together comprises a patterned laminating adhesive between two metallic layers.

15. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 14, wherein: the patterned laminating adhesive is formed by applying a patterned release material to a laminating adhesive.

16. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: securing the plurality of layers of material together comprises applying a layer of patterned adhesive material to one of the plurality of layers; and the layer of patterned adhesive material comprises areas of low adhesion.

17. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: the laminate comprises multiple metallic layers and multiple plastic layers.

18. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 17, wherein: de-lamination of the laminate causes irreversible damage to at least one of the metallic layers.

19. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: securing the plurality of layers of material together comprises securing a blocking layer outward of the information.

20. The method of manufacturing a structure for secure containment of information of claim 11, wherein: outermost layers of the laminate comprise plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a five-layer design of a structure for secure containment of information.

[0039] FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of a six-layer design of the structure for secure containment of information.

[0040] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the five-layer design of the structure for secure containment of information.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0041] The best mode for carrying out the invention is disclosed in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment with multiple structural configurations and methods for manufacture of a structure for secure containment of information (SSCI 10). In many types of currency, and in particular blockchains, security features are placed on bills or coins. Examples of security features are a holographic sticker and a scratch-off material. Other security features, such as security printing, serial numbers, color shift thread, etc. might be printed on the surface of the bill, but are not affected by tampering or legitimate removal of the hologram sticker or scratch-off material. These, and other, security features are utilized to cover or otherwise mask information located beneath a sticker or scratch-off material.

[0042] A problem exists in that these external security features are susceptible to tampering and counterfeiting. It is not difficult to use a hypodermic syringe to inject a solvent under a sticker, remove the sticker to expose the information, and then to replace the sticker. This is just one example. Some stickers can simply be peeled off and then replaced without any noticeable indication. Still other stickers may be heated, breaking the adhesive bond, and then reattached without damaging the sticker substrate. Scratch-off material is also at risk of tampering and counterfeiting. The SSCI 10 addresses these problems by providing an effective solution of embedding a private code or key within a currency bill, rather than on an exterior surface. The SSCI's 10 construction is designed for hiding codes, keys or other information instead of utilizing an add-on item to the exterior surface or packaging of an enclosed separate item.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the SSCI 10 is comprised of a laminate 12 having at least one plastic layer 14 and at least one metal layer 16. Preferably, there are multiple plastic and metal layers comprising the laminate 12. While plastic and metal are the two most effective materials for the layers, other material such as glass, ceramic, paper or sheets of fibrous material can also be utilized. The laminate 12 is constructed to contain information 22 including a code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or pin number. The information 22 is located between the laminate layer such that the code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or pin number is not visible from outside the laminate. To access and expose the information 22, the laminate 12 is delaminated, thereby indicating that tampering has occurred to the laminate 12.

[0044] The information 22 is preferably a physical pattern 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is instantiated into at least one of the layers 14,16. There are multiple ways of instantiating the information into the layer(s), including but not limited to: placing material 26 on the layer and then removing material 26 from the layer such that the remaining material 26 exhibits the information 22, placing material 26 on the layer such that the material 26 exhibits the information 22, placing adhesive 28 material on the layer such that the adhesive 28 material exhibits the information 22, or placing release material 30 on the layer such that the release material 30 exhibits the information 22.

[0045] At least one of the layers 14,16 can contain information 22 instantiated by magnetic domains 34, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, at least one of the layers 14,16 can retain a pattern of electrically charged material 36, and/or contain a pattern of chemically altered material 38, as also shown in FIG. 3. The information 22 can be displayed as at least two visible colors which are comprised of colored material(s) 42, as shown in FIG. 2, that have similar chemical structures. At least one of the colored materials 42 laterally surrounds the other colored material 42.

[0046] The code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or pin number provides access to open a physical or an informational lock. The access is provided by a device such as a computer, scanning device, wireless phone, wireless device, digital watch, digital glasses or digital camera. Additionally, the code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or pin number provides account access to claim financial value, and/or provides access to a financial account 50 such as a physical commodity, a bank account or a brokerage account. It should be noted that exposing the code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key or pin number can constitute the execution of a contract.

[0047] To increase the functionality and security capabilities of the SSCI 10, the plastic layer(s) 14 can include at least one decoy layer 52, as shown in FIG. 3, which contains patterns that do not exhibit the information 22. The code, serial number, informational feature, encryption key, or pin number can be utilized as a public key 46, as shown in FIG. 3, or a private key 48, as also shown in FIG. 3, or to value stored in a blockchain. The SSCI 10 can also include at least one blocking layer 54, as shown in FIG. 3, that restricts radiation and other interrogation methods. The blocking layer 54 can be made of a material including a metal, an ink, a dye or a pigment. When a pigment is used, the pigment may be comprised of carbon.

[0048] The SSCI 10 can consist of various structure designs and the method can include steps for producing a structure having multiple layers. A five-layer design 58, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, has layers comprising in order: a first plastic layer 14 that is transparent and includes indicia, a first layer of metal 16, a layer of patterned adhesive material 40, as shown in FIG. 2, with areas of low adhesion, a second layer of metal, and a second transparent plastic layer. The method of assembling the SSCI 10 comprises: the first metal layer is vacuum deposited on the first plastic layer, the second metal layer is vacuum deposited on the second plastic layer, patterned release material is applied to laminating adhesive and the thus patterned laminating adhesive is applied between the two metal layers with the metal surfaces of the first and second metal layers in contact with the patterned adhesive, thereby leaving the plastic surfaces of the two plastic and metal laminated layers exposed.

[0049] A six-layer design 60, as shown in FIG. 2, has layers comprising in order: a first plastic layer 14 that is transparent and includes indicia, a first layer of metal 16, a printed layer of plastic 14, an applied release material layer 30, a second layer of metal 16, and a second transparent plastic layer 14. The method of assembling the SSCI 10 comprises: the first metal layer is vacuum deposited on the first plastic layer, the second metal layer is vacuum deposited on the second plastic layer, areas of release material are applied to the printed plastic layer, the printed plastic layer with the release material is laminated between the two metal layers with the metal surfaces of the first and second metal layers in contact with the printed plastic layer, thereby leaving the plastic surfaces of the two plastic and metal laminated layers exposed.

[0050] In the case of a metallic version of the SSCI 10, the center section could be made as a three-dimensionally structured metallic film with the deposition performed such that only metal rather than printing would be visible.

[0051] While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.