TACTILE MARKINGS FOR BANKNOTES AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention is in the field of document printing and production and, in particular, relates to the production of documents, such as banknotes, having embossments therein which provide durable tactile indicia for use, for example, by persons who are blind.

Background

[0002] The denominational value or identity of banknotes and many other types of documents can be readily discerned by persons whose eyesight is not impaired but for persons who are blind it is necessary to use other means, such as a portable reader designed for the particular document in question, to determine such information. A printed braille section placed on such a document could provide a means for such identification and, advantageously, would be integral to the document and avoid the need for an auxiliary reading device. However, the broad circulation and public handling of documents such as banknotes subjects them to substantial wear and any braille printing applied to such documents in the normal manner of embossed printing would not be sufficiently durable because the embossments would soon be compressed and become non-tactile.

[0003] Known methods of trying to improve the durability of such embossments are disclosed in the following references. British Patent No. GB 565,708 A (H.E.Kallmann) dated 23 November, 1944 discloses the use of a laminate of two plastic sheets to protect indicia depressions within a document. U.S. Patent No. 1,635,032 issued 5 July, 1927 (Clark et al) discloses a paper embossed with a braille matrix, for which a mixture of glue and plaster is pressed into the braille dots. However, such a pressed-in filling material does not lend itself to production use and does not provide satisfactory durability in that it is subject to popping out. U.S. Patent No. 1,936,089 issued 21 November, 1933 (Jacquerod) discloses an embossed sheet material in which the back surface of the sheet material and the cavities of the embossments are covered with adhesive and the entire cavities of the embossments are filled with a fusable material which is subsequently set to fuse to the adhesive. Such process does not lend itself satisfactorily to production use and does not provide a desired durability.

[0004] Consequently, here is a need in the industry for a means of providing to security documents, banknotes, etc. durable (i.e. relatively permanent) tactile identifying indicia which are able to withstand the substantial wear caused by public circulation and handling and can be readily used by persons with impaired eyesight to determine the denomination or identification of such document.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In accordance with the invention there is provided a sheet material (e.g. a sheet or laminate comprising paper) having tactile indicia the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration. The sheet material has therein at least one embossment forming the indicia. A first surface and a second surface are provided by the sheet material and one of the surfaces defines a cavity in the area of the embossment. A layer of reinforcing material is provided to at least the area of that one surface which comprises the cavity as disclosed in claim 1. The reinforcing material may be selected from the group consisting of varnishes, inks, adhesives and caulking compounds. Preferably, the thickness of the sheet material is between 75 micrometers and 150 micrometers, the outer width of the embossment is between 500 micrometers and 1200 micrometers and, for varnish, the thickness of the reinforcing material is between 20 micrometers and 40 micrometers.

[0006] The indicia may comprise a plurality of embossments arranged in a predetermined pattern such that the indicia enables a sight impaired person to identify one or more predetermined characteristics of the sheet material (e.g. the denomination) by means of feel. Preferably the indicia comprise one or more spaced symbols and each symbol comprises a plurality of rows and columns of embossments (four rows and two columns being preferred) wherein the outer width of each embossment is 1000 micrometers, the embossments are spaced apart 2000 micrometers in the symbols and the symbols are spaced apart 14,500 micrometers.

[0007] Also provided in accordance with the invention is a method of making a sheet material having tactile indicia the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration. The steps of the method include embossing a sheet material comprising first and second surfaces with at least one embossment to form the indicia whereby one of the surfaces defines a cavity in the area of the embossment. A layer of a reinforcing material is applied to that one surface of the sheet material in at least the area comprising the cavity and the reinforcing material is dried and/or cured, as disclosed in claim 10.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the following drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a banknote substrate showing a single embossment therein which is reinforced in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a banknote having incorporated therein, in a pattern in the upper right-hand corner of the banknote, tactile embossed indicia comprised according to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, schematic cross-sectional view as seen at section III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows examples of three different patterns ((a), (b) and (c)) of tactile embossed indicia comprised according to that shown in Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 shows a ten dollar banknote with a preferred configuration of embossments therein.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[0009] Figure 1 of the drawings shows a cross-sectional view of a sheet material 30 in accordance with the claimed invention. In this example the sheet material 30 is a banknote 10 (see Figures 2 and 3) which has been embossed in a conventional manner by pressing the sheet between male and female dies or between a male die and compressible blanket. The sheet material may, for example, be comprised of paper or a lamination of a thermoplastic layer sandwiched by two paper layers and, alternatively, could be any of a variety of other substrates, such as plastic, which will be readily recognized by one skilled in the art. The sheet material 30 has first and second surfaces, one of which is the top surface 35 and the other of which is the bottom surface 37. In the illustrated embodiment the embossments are situated to provide raised areas on the top surface of the bank note but, if desired, an embodiment providing the embossments on the bottom surface of the bank note could instead be selected.

[0010] In the embodiment shown by the drawings, each embossment 20 creates a raised area in the top surface 35 of the sheet material and a cavity 25 in the bottom surface 37 of the sheet material. As shown by Figure 2, the banknote 10 is embossed with a plurality of embossments 20 forming tactile indicia which are arranged in a predetermined pattern and can be used by a sight impaired person to identify the characteristic denomination of that banknote by feeling and decoding the indicia.

[0011] For each embossment 20 the bottom surface of the sheet material in (at least) the area comprising the cavity 25 is provided with a layer of a fluid reinforcing material 40 which, when dried and/or cured, reinforces the cavity 25. This layer is applied to the surface of the sheet material by coating the surface and some of the reinforcing material is absorbed into the sheet material. The thickness of the reinforcing layer (C) specified herein means the thickness of the layer when it is applied (i.e. before some of it is absorbed into the sheet material).

[0012] This reinforcement of the embossment renders its tactility resistant to deterioration when the sheet material 30 is subjected to wear (i.e. since the walls of the embossment are strengthened the embossment is less likely to be flattened if pressure is applied to it). The reinforcing material 40 may be any suitable material whose nature and durability is such that it reinforces the embossment so as to render it more permanent and is able to bond satisfactorily to the selected sheet material and retain flexibility when dried and/or cured (i.e. without becoming brittle) such as by radiation curing, oxidation, polymerization, solvent evaporation, solvent penetration or electron beam. Preferably the reinforcing material to be selected should be compatible with the printing means used to print the banknote or other document utilizing the sheet material such that, for example, it may be applied by roller coating, blade coating, screen printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing or spray coating.

[0013] Any number of the varnishes, inks, adhesives and caulking compounds which are readily available in the marketplace may be suitable for selection as the reinforcing material 40. For banknotes comprised of sheet materials made of paper, or having a paper layer on the bottom, a satisfactory reinforcing material is varnish such as the UV overprint varnish produced by Sun Chemical of Brampton, Ontario having the product number R2708-136 which demonstrates good adhesion to paper, provides good flexibility and does not significantly change colour on aging.

[0014] Surprisingly, it has been found that the application of a relatively thin layer of such reinforcing material, as shown in Figure 1, as compared to a complete filling of the cavity 25, is more effective and preferable because in the case of the latter there is tendency for the whole of the material of a filled cavity to become detached from the walls of the cavity and pop out of the cavity when being handled (the degree of flexibility provided by the reinforcing material determining the extent of this).

[0015] Figure 1 illustrates, in cross-section, the structure of the tactile indicia (embossment 20) of a preferred embodiment of the invention. For this embodiment the thickness B of the sheet material 30 is in the range of 75 and 150 micrometers, the embossment 20 has a relief D of between 70 and 150 micrometers and an outer width A of between 500 and 1200 micrometers, and the thickness C of the reinforcing layer (varnish) 40 when it is applied is between 20 and 40 micrometers. However, since some of the varnish is absorbed into the sheet material before it dries/cures, the final thickness is less than this. The size of the relief to be selected for the embossments is dependent on the particular application and the type of sheet material to be used since some materials will allow larger reliefs to be formed (without tearing) than will others but too high and/or too thin an embossment is undesirable as these may be subject to breaking or tearing off of the sheet material. It has been found that some materials will permit a larger relief than their thickness.

[0016] In the example shown by the banknote of Figure 2 the embossments 20 are circular which is a preferred shape for use by sight impaired persons due to its simplicity and uniformity. However, any shape may be utilized for the embossments in accordance with the invention and for different applications the use of different shapes may be preferred.

[0017] The banknote 10, provided as an example, includes two spaced symbols 50 which, together, may be designated to identify the denomination of the bank note. A lesser or greater number of these symbols can be designated to identify a different denomination for the banknote. Equally, the number of embossments making up a symbol may be varied as shown by Figure 4 in which Figure 4(a) shows two symbols 50 each comprising one column of four embossments 20, Figure 4(b) shows two symbols 50 each comprising two adjacent columns of four embossments 20 (being four adjacent rows of two embossments) and Figure 4(c) shows two symbols 50 each comprising three adjacent columns of four embossments (being four adjacent rows of three embossments). It is preferred to use more than one column of embossments per symbol because there is a chance that the banknote could be damaged in such a way as to create a tactile impression therein in the area of the tactile indicia and, particularly if the symbol were to comprise only one column, such an impression could more readily be misread as a symbol by a sight impaired person.

[0018] The preferred arrangement of embossments on banknotes to enable sight impaired persons to identify their denomination is shown by Figure 5 in which each symbol 50 is comprised of two columns of four embossments 20, with each embossment having a relief D of 140 micrometers and an outer width A of 1000 micrometers, and the thicknesses B and C of the sheet material 30 and reinforcing layer 40 when applied are 125 and 20 micrometers, respectively. Further, in this preferred arrangement the edge to edge distance E between each embossment 20 within each symbol 50 is 2000 micrometers and the distance of the spacing F between each symbol 50 is 14.5 millimeters (14,500 micrometers). The embossments 20 are preferably spaced about 3 millimeters (3000 micrometers) from the top and side edges of the bank note. This arrangement has been shown to provide the optimal combination of tactile indicia to result in successful detection of the denomination of a banknote when subject to the wear of circulation.

[0019] If desired, the selected reinforcing material 40 may include additives such as optically variable pigments, coloured pigments, phosphors, fluorescors, or any taggants which can be activated by a specific energy wavelength so as to emit in response detectable energy in a specific but different wavelength, in order to provide to the banknote a covert security feature within the tactile indicia.

[0020] A further aspect of the invention (not illustrated) utilizes a sheet material comprising thermoplastic, specifically a laminate of outer paper sheets and an inner thermoplastic sheet as described above, to mold tactile indicia into the sheet material. According to this aspect of the invention a sheet material comprising a thermoplastic layer is embossed with a plurality of embossments so as to form tactile indicia therein in such a manner that heat is applied to the sheet material, in at least the area in which the embossments are to be formed, at the same time that the embossments are formed or immediately prior thereto. Thereafter, the sheet material is cooled. Accordingly, the thermoplastic layer of sheet material in the area of the embossments is caused to soften and harden into the form of the embossments and a reinforcing layer of varnish or other suitable material is applied to the embossed laminate, as described above, to provide durable tactile indicia.

Claims

1. A sheet material (30) comprising tactile indicia the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration wherein said indicia comprises at least one embossment (20) in said sheet material, each said embossment comprising a raised area in one surface (35) of said sheet material and a corresponding cavity (25) in the opposite surface (37) of said sheet material, wherein a layer of reinforcing material (40) covers said opposite surface in and immediately surrounding the area(s) thereof comprising said cavity(ies), said reinforcing material having been applied to said opposite surface after said embossment(s) were formed in said sheet material and said reinforcing material having a substantially uniform thickness (C), said thickness being substantially less than the relief (D) of said cavity.

2. A sheet material according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing material (40) is selected from the group consisting of varnishes, inks, adhesives and caulking compounds.

3. A sheet material according to claim 2 wherein said sheet material (30) comprises paper and said reinforcing material is varnish.

4. A sheet material according to claim 3 wherein the thickness (B) of said sheet material (30) is between 75 micrometers and 150 micrometers, the outer width (A) of said embossment (20) is between 500 micrometers and 1200 micrometers and the thickness (C) of said varnish (40) is between 20 micrometers and 40 micrometers.

5. A sheet material according to claim 1, wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of said embossments (20) arranged in a predetermined pattern, said indicia enabling a sight impaired person to identify one or more predetermined characteristics of said sheet material by means of feel.

6. A banknote comprising a sheet material according to claim 5 wherein said characteristic identified by said indicia is the denomination of said banknote.

7. A banknote according to claim 6 wherein said indicia comprise one or more spaced symbols (50) and each said symbol comprises a plurality of said embossments (20) wherein the outer width (A) of said embossments is 1000 micrometers, said embossments are spaced apart (E) 2000 micrometers in said symbols and said symbols are spaced apart (F) 14,500 micrometers.

8. A banknote according to claim 7 wherein each said symbol (50) comprises a plurality of rows and columns of said embossments.

9. A banknote according to claim 8 wherein the number rows of said symbols (50) is four, the number of columns of said symbols is two.

10. A method of making a sheet material comprising tactile indicia the tactility of which is resistant to deterioration wherein said indicia comprises at least one embossment (20) in said sheet material (30), said method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming said at least one embossment (20) in said sheet material (30) whereby each said embossment comprises a raised area in one surface (35) of said sheet material and a corresponding cavity (25) in the opposite surface (37) of said sheet material;

(b) subsequent to said forming step, applying to said opposite surface (37) of said sheet material (30) in and immediately surrounding the area(s) thereof comprising said cavity(ies) (25) a layer of a fluid reinforcing material (40); and,

(c) drying and/or curing said layer of reinforcing material;

   whereby said cured layer of reinforcing material has a substantially uniform thickness (C) and said thickness is substantially less than the relief (D) of said cavity.

11. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 10 wherein said reinforcing material (40) is selected from the group consisting of varnishes, inks, adhesives and caulking compounds.

12. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 11 wherein said sheet material (30) comprises paper and said reinforcing material is varnish.

13. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 12 wherein the thickness (B) of said sheet material (30) is between 75 micrometers and 150 micrometers, the outer width (A) of said embossment (20) is between 500 micrometers and 1200 micrometers and the thickness (C) of said varnish (40) is between 20 micrometers and 40 micrometers.

14. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 13 wherein said sheet material (30) is embossed with a plurality of said embossments (20) arranged as indicia in a predetermined pattern, said indicia enabling a sight impaired person to identify one or more predetermined characteristics of said sheet material by means of feel.

15. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 14 wherein said sheet material (30) is a banknote and said characteristic identified by said indicia is the denomination of said banknote, whereby said indicia comprises one or more spaced symbols (50) and each said symbol comprises a plurality of said embossments (20), the outer width (A) of said embossments being 1000 micrometers, said embossments being spaced apart (E) 2000 micrometers in said symbols and said symbols being spaced apart (F) 14,500 micrometers.

16. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 15 wherein each said symbol (50) comprises a plurality of rows and columns of said embossments (20).

17. A method of making a sheet material according to claim 16 wherein the number rows of said symbols (50) is four and the number of columns of said symbols is two.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Blattmaterial (30), das ertastbare Markierungen aufweist, deren Ertastbarkeit beständig gegen Verschlechterung ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Markierung mindestens eine Prägung (20) in dem Blattmaterial enthält, jede Prägung einen erhöhten Bereich auf einer Oberfläche (35) des Blattmaterials und eine entsprechende Vertiefung (25) in der gegenüberliegenden Oberfläche (37) des Blattmaterials aufweist, wobei eine Schicht Verstärkungsmaterial (40) die gegenüberliegende Oberfläche bedeckt in den/dem die Vertiefung(en) aufweisenden Bereich(en) und den/dem diese unmittelbar umgebenden Bereich(en), das Verstärkungsmaterial auf die gegenüberliegende Oberfläche aufgebracht wurde, nachdem die Prägung(en) in das Blattmaterial eingeformt wurde(n) und das Verstärkungsmaterial eine im wesentlichen gleichmäßige Dicke (C) aufweist und diese Dicke wesentlich geringer ist als die Tiefe (D) der Vertiefung.

2. Ein Blattmaterial nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Verstärkungsmaterial (40) aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Lacken, Tinten, Klebstoffen und Verbundmaterialien zum Abdichten ausgewählt ist.

3. Ein Blattmaterial nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Blattmaterial (30) Papier enthält und das Verstärkungsmaterial Lack ist.

4. Ein Blattmaterial nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Dicke (B) des Blattmaterials (30) zwischen 75 Mikrometer und 150 Mikrometer beträgt, die äußere Weite (A) der Prägung (20) zwischen 500 Mikrometer und 1200 Mikrometer beträgt und die Dicke (C) des Lacks (40) zwischen 20 Mikrometer und 40 Mikrometer beträgt.

5. Ein Blattmaterial nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Markierung eine Mehrzahl von Prägungen (20) enthält, die in einem festgelegten Muster angeordnet sind, wobei die Markierungen es einer sehbehinderten Person ermöglichen, ein oder mehrere festgelegte(s) Merkmal(e) des Blattmaterials durch Ertasten zu erkennen.

6. Eine Banknote, die ein Blattmaterial gemäß Anspruch 5 enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das durch die Markierung dargestellte Merkmal der Nennbetrag der Banknote ist.

7. Eine Banknote nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Markierungen eine oder mehrere beabstandete Symbole (50) enthalten und jedes Symbol eine Mehrzahl der Prägungen (20) enthält, wobei die äußere Weite (A) der Prägungen 1000 Mikrometer beträgt, die Prägungen in den Symbolen eine Entfernung (E) von 2000 Mikrometer zueinander aufweisen und die Symbole eine Entfernung (F) von 14.500 Mikrometer zueinander aurweisen.

8. Eine Banknote nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes Symbol (50) eine Mehrzahl von Reihen und Spalten der Prägungen enthält.

9. Eine Banknote nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anzahl der Reihen der Symbole (50) vier beträgt, die Anzahl der Spalten der Symbole zwei.

10. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials, das ertastbare Markierungen aufweist, deren Ertastbarkeit beständig gegen Verschlechterung ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Markierung mindestens eine Prägung (20) in dem Blattmaterial (30) enthält, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:

(a) Formen mindestens einer Prägung (20) in das Blattmaterial (30), wobei jede Prägung einen erhöhten Bereich in einer Oberfläche (35) des Blattmaterials und eine entsprechende Vertiefung (25) in der gegenüberliegenden Oberfläche (37) des Blattmaterials enthält;

(b) nach dem Schritt des Formens eine Schicht eines flüssigen Verstärkungsmaterials (40) auf die gegenüberliegende Oberfläche (37) des Blattmaterials (30) in den/dem die Vertiefung(en) (25) aufweisenden Bereich(en) und den/dem diese unmittelbar umgebenden Bereich(en) aufgebracht wird; und

(c) Trocknen und/oder Aushärten der Schicht Verstärkungsmaterial;

wobei die ausgehärtete Schicht Verstärkungsmaterial eine im wesentlichen gleichmäßige Dicke (C) aufweist und diese Dicke wesentlich geringer ist, als die Tiefe (D) der Vertiefung.

11. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Verstärkungsmaterial (40) aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Lacken, Tinten, Klebstoffen und Verbundmaterialien zum Abdichten ausgewählt wird.

12. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Blattmaterial (30) Papier enthält und das Verstärkungsmaterial Lack ist.

13. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Dicke (B) des Blattmaterials (30) zwischen 75 Mikrometer und 150 Mikrometer beträgt, die äußere Weite (A) der Prägung (20) zwischen 500 Mikrometer und 1200 Mikrometer beträgt und die Dicke (C) des Lacks (40) zwischen 20 Mikrometer und 40 Mikrometer beträgt.

14. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Blattmaterial (30) mit einer Mehrzahl der Prägungen (20) geprägt ist, die als Markierungen in einem festgelegten Muster angeordnet sind, wobei die Markierungen es einer sehbehinderten Person ermöglichen, ein oder mehrere festgelegte(s) Merkmal(e) des Blattmaterials durch Ertasten zu erkennen.

15. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Blattmaterial (30) eine Banknote ist und das von den Markierungen dargestellte Merkmal der Nennbetrag der Banknote ist, wobei die Markierung ein oder mehrere beabstandete Symbole (50) enthält und jedes Symbol eine Mehrzahl von Prägungen (20) enthält, die äußere Weite (A) der Prägungen 1000 Mikrometer beträgt, die Prägungen in den Symbolen eine Entfernung (E) von 2000 Mikrometern zueinander aufweisen und die Symbole eine Entfernung (F) von 14.500 Mikrometern zueinander aufweisen.

16. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes Symbol (50) eine Mehrzahl von Reihen und Spalten der Prägungen (20) enthält.

17. Ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Blattmaterials nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anzahl der Reihen der Symbole (50) vier beträgt, die Anzahl der Spalten der Symbole zwei.

Revendications

1. Une matière en feuille (30) comprenant un indice tactile, dont la tactilité est résistante à la détérioration, moyennant quoi ledit indice comprend au moins un bosselage (20) dans ladite matière en feuille, chaque dit bosselage comprenant une zone en relief dans une surface (35) de ladite matière en feuille et une cavité correspondante (25) dans la surface opposée (37) de ladite matière en feuille, moyennant quoi une couche de matière de renforcement 40) couvre ladite surface opposée dans et directement dans les environs de la zone et/ou des zones comprenant ladite/lesdites cavité(s), ladite matière de renforcement ayant été appliquée à ladite surface opposée après que ledit/lesdits bosselages aient été formés dans ladite matière en feuille et ladite matière de renforcement, ayant une épaisseur tout à fait uniforme (C), ladite épaisseur étant beaucoup plus faible que le relief (D) de ladite cavité.

2. Une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 1, moyennant quoi ladite matière de renforcement (40) est choisie à partir du groupe comprenant vernis, encres, adhésifs et composés de calfeutrement.

3. Une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 2, moyennant quoi ladite matière en feuille (30) comprend du papier et ladite matière de renforcement est du vernis.

4. Une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 3, moyennant quoi l'épaisseur (B) de ladite matière en feuille (30) est comprise entre 75 et 150 micromètres, la largeur extérieure (A) dudit bosselage (20) est comprise entre 500 et 1200 micromètres et l'épaisseur (C) dudit vernis (40) est comprise entre 20 et 40 micromètres.

5. Une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 1, moyennant quoi ledit indice comprend une majorité desdits bosselages (20), disposés dans un schéma prédéterminé, ledit indice permettant à une personne malvoyante d'identifier une ou plusieurs caractéristiques prédéterminées de ladite matière en feuille par le toucher.

6. Un billet de banque comprenant une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 5, moyennant quoi ladite caractéristique identifiée par ledit indice est la dénomination dudit billet de banque.

7. Un billet de banque conformément à la revendication 6, moyennant quoi ledit indice comprend un ou plusieurs symboles espacés (50) et chaque dit symbole comprend une majorité desdits bosselages (20), moyennant quoi la largeur extérieure (A) desdits bosselages est de 1000 micromètres, lesdits bosselages sont espacés (E) de 2000 micromètres dans lesdits symboles et lesdits symboles sont espacés (F) de 14 500 micromètres.

8. Un billet de banque conformément à la revendication 7, moyennant quoi chaque dit symbole (50) comprend une majorité de rangées et de colonnes desdits bosselages.

9. Un billet de banque conformément à la revendication 8, moyennant quoi le nombre de rangées desdits symboles (50) est quatre et le nombre de colonnes desdits symboles est deux.

10. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille comprenant un indice tactile, dont la tactilité est résistante à la détérioration, moyennant quoi ledit indice comprend au mois un bosselage (20) dans ladite matière en feuille (30), ladite méthode comprenant les étapes suivantes :

(a) formation au moins d'un bosselage (20) dans ladite matière en feuille (30), moyennant quoi chaque dit bosselage comprend une zone en relief dans une surface (35) de ladite matière en feuille et une cavité correspondante (25) dans la surface opposée (37) de ladite matière en feuille ;

(b) à la suite de ladite étape de formation, application à ladite surface opposée (37) de ladite matière en feuille (30) dans et directement dans les environs de la zone et/ou des zones comprenant ladite/lesdites cavité(s) (25) une couche de matière de renforcement fluide (40) ; et,

(c) séchage et/ou conservation de ladite couche de matière de renforcement ;

moyennant quoi ladite couche conservée de matière de renforcement a une épaisseur tout à fait uniforme (C) et ladite épaisseur est beaucoup plus faible que le relief (D) de ladite cavité.

11. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 10, moyennant quoi ladite matière de renforcement (40) est choisie à partir du groupe comprenant vernis, encres, adhésifs et composés de calfeutrement.

12. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 11, moyennant quoi ladite matière en feuille (30) comprend du papier et ladite matière de renforcement est du vernis.

13. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 12, moyennant quoi l'épaisseur (B) de ladite matière en feuille (30) est comprise entre 75 et 150 micromètres, la largeur extérieure (A) dudit bosselage (20) est comprise entre 500 et 1200 micromètres et l'épaisseur (C) dudit vernis (40) est comprise entre 20 et 40 micromètres.

14. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 13, moyennant quoi ladite matière en feuille (30) est bosselée avec une majorité desdits bosselages (20), disposés comme indice dans un schéma prédéterminé, ledit indice permettant à une personne malvoyante d'identifier une ou plusieurs caractéristiques prédéterminées de ladite matière en feuille par le toucher.

15. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 14, moyennant quoi ladite matière en feuille (30) est un billet de banque et ladite caractéristique identifiée par ledit indice est la dénomination dudit billet de banque, moyennant quoi ledit indice comprend un ou plusieurs symbole espacés (50) et chaque dit symbole comprend une majorité desdits bosselages (20), la largeur extérieure (A) desdits bosselages étant de 1000 micromètres, lesdits bosselages étant espacés (E) de 2000 micromètres dans lesdits symboles et lesdits symboles étant espacés (F) de 14 500 micromètres.

16. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 15, moyennant quoi chaque dit symbole (50) comprend une majorité de rangées et de colonnes desdits bosselages (20).

17. Une méthode de réalisation d'une matière en feuille conformément à la revendication 16, moyennant quoi le nombre de rangées desdits symboles (50) est quatre et le nombre de colonnes desdits symboles est deux.

Drawing