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(11) | EP 3 400 826 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | PASSPORT COVER FOR SECURELY COVERING A PASSPORT |
| (57) The present invention relates to a passport cover for securely covering a passport.
The passport comprises a first cover part with a first inner wall and a second cover
part with a second inner wall. The first inner wall and/or the second inner wall comprises
a transparent area to display a first type of information and an opaque area to conceal
a second type of information. An inlet allows placing of the passport into the passport
cover. A sealing unit is provided to close the inlet, and the sealing unit is configured
to be held in a closed sealing position by a tamper evident seal. A retaining unit
is provided to block movement of the passport out of the passport cover between the
first inner wall and the second inner wall. The retaining unit comprises a locking
member to block movement of the retaining unit out of its position.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a passport cover for securely covering a passport, which cannot be unnoticeably removed and which indicates if it has been tempered with.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Identify fraud and theft is a serious type of criminality that is gaining more attention. Personal data is stolen by criminals and may be abused for financial gain. For example, goods may be purchased by criminals under someone else's name. In order to decrease the likelihood of becoming victim of this type of fraud, it is advised to be cautious in exchanging personal data with third persons.
[0003] At holidays and business trips it is often necessary to identify oneself. Hotels for example often want to copy ones identification documents, such as a passport. However, for identification it is not necessary to share the most elementary information such as the citizen service number (CSN) and the document number, even though this is provided in a passport. It is desirable to protect this sensitive information and prevent it from being distributed to third persons.
[0004] To prevent identity fraud, passport covers have been developed to conceal sensitive information, such as CSN and document numbers, but still allow for display of necessary information to identify oneself.
[0005] A problem with the aforementioned passport covers is that they may easily be removed from the passport. A person with malicious intent could unnoticeably remove the passport cover, and next make a copy. If the passport is then replaced inside the passport cover again, the owner will not know that the passport has been removed from the cover and illegitimate copies were made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It would be desirable to provide an alternative passport cover to securely cover a passport, in particular a passport cover which cannot be removed unnoticeably and which indicates if it has been tampered with. It would also be desirable to provide a passport cover, which electromagnetically shields the RFID chip inside the passport.
[0007] To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a passport cover is provided. The passport cover for securely covering a passport comprises:
- a first cover part to receive a first passport part of the passport between a first outer wall and a first inner wall of the first cover part,
- a second cover part to receive a second passport part of the passport between a second outer wall and a second inner wall of the second cover part,
- a pivot part connecting the first cover part to the second cover part and allowing
the first cover part and the second cover part to pivot relative to each other from
a closed position, wherein the first inner wall and the second inner wall are in contact
with each other, into an open position, wherein the first inner wall and the second
inner wall are located at a distance from each other, and vice versa, wherein;
-- the first inner wall and/or the second inner wall comprises at least one transparent area to display a first type of information of the passport and at least one opaque area to conceal a second type of information of the passport,
-- the first cover part comprises a first upper edge, a first lower edge and a first side edge,
-- the second cover part comprises a second upper edge, a second lower edge and a second side edge,
-- the first outer wall is attached to the first inner wall at the first upper edge, the first lower edge and the first side edge,
-- the second outer wall is attached to the second inner wall at the second upper edge, and the second lower edge,
-- the cover comprises an inlet at the second side edge, which inlet allows placing of the first passport part into the first cover part and placing of the second passport part into the second cover part,
-- a sealing unit is provided at the second side edge to close the inlet,
-- the sealing unit is configured to be held in a closed sealing position by a tamper evident seal,
-- a retaining unit is provided between the first inner wall and the second inner wall, which retaining unit is configured to block movement of the passport out of the passport cover by moving the complete passport between the first inner wall and the second inner wall when the passport is in the open position,
-- the retaining unit is attached to the first inner wall and extends from the pivot part towards the second inner wall and along the second inner wall,
-- the retaining unit extends between the second inner wall and the second outer wall, and
-- the retaining unit comprises a locking member configured to block movement of the retaining unit out of its position between the second inner wall and the second outer wall when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position and the passport cover is in the open position.
[0008] The passport cover according to the invention allows for securely covering a passport. Firstly, it allows for concealing a first type of information, such as a citizen service number. Secondly, the passport cannot be removed from the cover without the tamper evident seal indicating that it has been tampered with.
[0009] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the retaining unit is configured to move relative to the second inner wall when the first cover part and the second cover part are pivoted relative to each other.
[0010] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the locking member is configured to engage the second inner wall when the distance between the first inner wall and the second inner wall is increased by pivoting the first cover part and the second cover part relative to each other.
[0011] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- the second inner wall comprises a second pivot wall edge located at the pivot part and an opposite second side wall edge located at the inlet,
- the retaining unit comprises a retaining member extending from a pivot retaining side at which the retaining member is connected to the first inner wall until an opposite side retaining edge,
- the locking member is provided at the side retaining edge of the retaining unit,
- the locking member is at least partly located between the second side wall edge of the second inner wall and the second side edge of the second cover part when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position.
[0012] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- the locking member extends from the side retaining edge of the retaining member towards the pivot part, and
- the second side wall edge of the second inner wall is located between the retaining member and the locking member when the distance between the first inner wall and the second inner wall is increased by pivoting the first cover part and the second cover part relative to each other.
[0013] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- the sealing unit comprises a first sealing member extending from the second side edge of the second cover part towards the pivot part and along at least part of the second inner wall when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position.
[0014] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- at least part of the second inner wall is located between the first sealing member and the retaining unit when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position.
[0015] In an embodiment of the passport cover, at least part of the second inner wall is located between the first sealing member and the retaining member when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position.
[0016] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the first sealing member is attached to the second outer wall at the second side edge.
[0017] In an embodiment of the passport cover, wherein at least part of the locking member is located between the first sealing member and the second inner wall when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position and the distance between the first inner wall and the second inner wall is increased by pivoting the first cover part and the second cover part relative to each other.
[0018] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the tamper evident seal is an adhesive security label, such as an adhesive non-residue security label, configured to hold the sealing unit in the closed sealing position.
[0019] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the adhesive security label is configured to attach the first sealing member in the closed sealing position to the second inner wall.
[0020] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- the sealing unit comprises a second sealing member extending from the second upper edge or the second lower edge and away from the second cover part,
- the second sealing member comprises a sealing opening to receive the tamper evident seal,
- the retaining unit comprises a retaining member extending from a pivot retaining side at which the retaining member is connected to the first inner wall until an opposite side retaining edge,
- the retaining member comprises an upper retaining edge and an opposite lower retaining edge,
- the locking member extends from the upper retaining edge or the lower retaining edge, respectively, and away from the retaining member,
- the locking member comprises a locking opening to receive the tamper evident seal,
- the locking opening overlaps the sealing opening at least partly when the sealing unit is in the closed sealing position.
[0021] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the second sealing member is attached to the first sealing member.
[0022] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the second sealing member is attached to the second outer wall.
[0023] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- the second sealing member comprises a first member part having a first part opening and a second member part having a second part opening,
- the first part opening and the second part opening at least partly overlap to form the sealing opening of the second sealing member,
- the first member part is attached to the first sealing member, and
- the second member part is attached to the second outer wall.
[0024] In an embodiment of the passport cover, a sealing width of the sealing opening is smaller than a locking width of the locking opening, and the locking opening is configured to allow movement of the retaining unit relative to the second inner wall when the tamper evident seal is received in the sealing opening and the locking opening and the first cover part and the second cover part are pivoted relative to each other.
[0025] In an embodiment of the passport cover;
- first edge members attach the first outer wall to the first inner wall at the first upper edge, the first lower edge and the first side edge, and
- second edge members attach the second outer wall to the second inner wall at the second upper edge, and the second lower edge.
[0026] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the second edge member at the second upper edge or the second lower edge, respectively, are configured to allow movement of the locking member relative to the second sealing member when the first cover part and the second cover part are pivoted relative to each other.
[0027] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the tamper evident seal comprises an elongate part and a sealing part to lock the elongate part in a sealing position in which the elongate part and the sealing part create an endless configuration.
[0028] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the sealing opening of the second sealing member and the locking opening of the locking member are configured to receive the elongate part of the tamper evident seal.
[0029] In an embodiment of the passport cover, a conductive layer capable to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip in the passport from electromagnetic fields is provided at the first cover part and/or at the second cover part.
[0030] In an embodiment of the passport cover, at least one of the first inner wall, the first outer wall, the second inner wall and the second outer wall comprises the conductive layer capable to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip in the passport from electromagnetic fields.
[0031] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the conductive layer is provided on a separate shielding member configured to be positioned in the first cover part and/or the second cover part.
[0032] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the shielding member comprises an adhesive to adhere to the passport.
[0033] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the second inner wall comprises at least one transparent area to display the first type of information and the retaining unit also comprises at least one retaining transparent area which at least partly overlaps the transparent area of the second inner wall when the passport cover is in the open position.
[0034] In an embodiment of the passport cover, the second type of information comprises a personal identification reference, such as a citizen service number.
[0035] In a second aspect of the invention, a kit of parts is provided. The kit of parts comprises a passport cover according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one tamper evident seal configured to seal the sealing unit of the passport cover.
[0036] Besides personal data displayed on the personal identification items, many personal identification items, such as a passport, are nowadays also equipped with passive RFID chips for electronic identification. It is well known that RFID chips can be illegitimately read out.
[0037] There is a need to prevent this. This is achieved by the security label according to the invention. Therefore, in a third aspect of the invention, a security label for a personal identification item, such as a passport or personal identification card, is provided. The security label comprises an adhesive tamper evident seal label having a conductive layer to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip of the personal identification item.
[0038] In an embodiment of the security label, the adhesive tamper evident seal label comprises at least one opaque area to conceal a second type of information of the personal identification item.
[0039] In an embodiment of the security label, the adhesive tamper evident seal label comprises at least one transparent area to display a first type of information of the personal identification item.
[0040] In an embodiment of the security label, the second type of information comprises a personal identification reference, such as a citizen service number.
[0041] In an embodiment of the security label, the adhesive tamper evident seal label is a non-residue security label.
[0042] In a fourth aspect of the invention, an assembly comprising the security label according to the invention and a personal identification item is provided. The assembly comprises a personal identification item having a first type of information and a second type of information and an RFID chip and a security label according to the invention, wherein the security label is adhered to the personal identification item such that it conceals the second type of information and shields the RFID chip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] The previous and other features and advantages of the passport cover will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached schematic drawings. In these drawings, corresponding reference numerals refer to corresponding parts, and in which:
Figure 1a schematically shows a front view of a first embodiment of a passport cover according to the invention in open position,
Figure 1b schematically shows a side view of the passport cover of Fig. 1a,
Figure 1c schematically shows a side view of the locking member of Figure 1B in detail on a larger scale,
Figure 1d schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 1a,
Figure 1e schematically shows another perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 1a,
Figure 1f schematically shows another perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 1a,
Figure 1g schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover of Fig. 1a,
Figure 2a schematically shows a perspective view of the passport cover of Fig. 1 in a half-open position,
Figure 2b schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover in the half-open position of Fig. 2a,
Figure 2c schematically shows a side view of the passport cover of Fig. 2a,
Figure 2d schematically shows a side view of the locking member of Fig. 2c in detail on a larger scale,
Figure 3a schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 1 in the closed position,
Figure 3b schematically shows a side view of the passport cover of Fig. 3a,
Figure 4a schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 1a with the sealing unit held in the closed sealing position by a tamper evident seal and the passport cover in the open position,
Figure 4b schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover of Fig. 4a,
Figure 4c schematically shows a front view of the passport cover of Fig. 4a,
Figure 4d schematically shows a front view of the passport cover of Fig. 4a with a tamper evident seal that has been tampered with,
Figure 4e schematically shows another perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 4a,
Figure 4f schematically shows another perspective view of the back of the passport cover of Fig. 4a,
Figure 4g schematically shows a front view of a passport with a first type of information and a second type of information,
Figure 4h schematically shows a front view of the passport cover of Fig. 4a comprising a passport,
Figure 4i schematically shows a front view of the passport cover of Fig. 1 comprising a first passport part of in the passport in the second cover part,
Figure 4j schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover of Fig. 4a comprising a passport with the sealing unit in the closed sealing position,
Figure 4k schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover comprising a first passport part of the passport in the second cover part,
Figure 5a schematically shows a front view of a second embodiment of a passport cover according to the invention in the open position,
Figure 5b schematically shows a front view of the locking member and the second sealing member of Fig. 5a in detail on a larger scale,
Figure 5c schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 5a,
Figure 5d schematically shows a perspective view of the back of the passport cover of Fig. 5a,
Figure 6a schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 5 in the half-open position,
Figure 6b schematically shows a front view of the locking member and the second sealing member of Fig. 6a in detail on a larger scale,
Figure 7a schematically shows a perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 5 with the sealing unit held in the closed sealing position by a tamper evident seal and the passport cover,
Figure 7b schematically shows another perspective view of the front of the passport cover of Fig. 7a,
Figure 8a schematically shows a front view of an embodiment of a security label according to the invention,
Figure 8b schematically shows a front view of the security label of Fig. 8a adhered to a personal identification item.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0044] Fig. 1a-1g schematically show a first embodiment of a passport cover 1 according to the invention for securely covering a passport 2, with the passport cover 1 being in the open position 13, from various perspectives. A drawing of a passport 2 is schematically shown in Fig. 4g. From Fig. 1a it can be seen that the passport cover 1 comprises a first cover part 3 to receive a first passport part 4 of the passport 2 between a first outer wall 5 and a first inner wall 6 of the first cover part 3. It further comprises a second cover part 7 to receive a second passport part 8 of the passport 2 between a second outer wall 9 and a second inner wall 10 of the second cover part 7.
[0045] The first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 comprise a transparent area 14 to display a first type of information 15 of the passport 2 and at least one opaque area 16 to conceal a second type of information 17 of the passport 2. The first type of information 15 may comprise information such as full name, date of birth, and/or a passport photo. The second type of information 17 may comprise a personal identification reference 56 such as a citizen service number 57. Fig. 4h shows the passport cover 1 concealing a second type of information 17 and displaying a first type of information 15 of a passport 2 as presented in Fig. 4g.
[0046] The first cover part 3 comprises a first upper edge 18, a first lower edge 19 and a first side edge 20, and the second cover part 7 comprises a second upper edge 21, a second lower edge 22 and a second side edge 23. The edges 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 of the passport cover 1 can also be seen in Fig. 1d-1f. As can be seen from these drawings, the first outer wall 5 is attached to the first inner wall 6 at the first upper edge 18, the first lower edge 19 and the first side edge 20. Furthermore, the second outer wall 9 is attached to the second inner wall 10 at the second upper edge 21, and the second lower edge 22.
[0047] The first outer wall 5 is attached to the first inner wall 6 at the first upper edge 18, the first lower edge 19 and the first side edge 20. The second outer wall 9 is attached to the second inner wall 10 at the second upper edge 21 and the second lower edge 22.
[0048] As Fig. 1b shows, the passport cover 1 comprises an inlet 24 at the second side edge 23. The inlet 24 allows placing of the first passport part 4 into the first cover part 3 and placing of the second passport part 8 into the second cover part 7. Furthermore, a sealing unit 25 is provided at the second side edge 23 to close the inlet 24. The sealing unit 25 is configured to be held in a closed sealing position 26 by a tamper evident seal 27. Fig. 4a and 4e show the sealing unit 25 being held in the closed sealing position 26 by the tamper evident seal 27.
[0049] The passport cover 1 comprises a pivot part 11 connecting the first cover part 3 to the second cover part 7 and allowing the first cover part 3 and second cover part 7 to pivot relative to each other from a closed position 12 (Figure 3b and 3b) into an open position 13 (Figure 1a-1g) and vice versa. Figure 3a and 3b show that in the closed position 12 the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 are in contact with each other. In the open position 13 the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 are located at a distance from each other. The first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 are not connected to each other at the pivot part 11 to allow easy pivoting. The first outer wall 5 and the second outer wall 9 are connected to each other at the pivot part 11, thereby connecting the first cover part 3 to the second cover part 7, as can be seen in Fig 1b and 1g.
[0050] A retaining unit 28 is provided between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10. The retaining unit 28 can be seen from various angles in Figure 1a, 1b, 1d-1f. It is attached to the first inner wall 6 and extends from the pivot part 11 towards the second inner wall 10 and along the second inner wall 10. Furthermore, it extends between the second inner wall 10 and the second outer wall 9. The retaining unit 28 is configured to block movement of the passport 2 out of the passport cover 1 by moving the complete passport 2 between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 when the passport 2 is in the open position 13. Without the retaining unit 28, the passport 2 could be pulled out of the passport cover 1 at the pivot part 11. This is because, as mentioned before, the first inner wall 6 and second inner wall 10 are not connected to each other to allow easy pivoting, and thus leaving a gap between the first cover part 3 and the second cover part 7 at the front side of the passport cover 1.
[0051] From Figure 1a, it can be seen that the second inner wall 10 comprises a second pivot wall edge 30 located at the pivot part 11 and an opposite second side wall edge 31 located at the inlet 24. The retaining unit 28 comprises a retaining member 32 which is connected to the first inner wall 6 at a pivot retaining side 33. The retaining member 32 extends from the pivot retaining side 33 until an opposite side retaining edge 34.
[0052] To prevent the retaining unit 28 from moving out of its position, it comprises a locking member 29. The locking member 29 is configured to block movement of the retaining unit 28 out of its position between the second inner wall 10 and the second outer wall 9 when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26 and the passport cover 1 is in the open position 13. At the side retaining edge 34, the locking member 29 of the retaining unit 28 is provided, which is also clear from Figure 1d-1f. The locking member 29 is at least partly located between the second side wall edge 31 of the second inner wall 10 and the second side edge 23 of the second cover part 7 when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26.
[0053] Furthermore, the retaining unit 28 is configured to move relative to the second inner wall 10 when the first cover part 3 and the second cover part 7 are pivoted relative to each other. This again allows for easy pivoting of the passport cover 1. If the retaining unit 28 would be rigidly fixed to the second inner wall 10, it would block the pivot movement of the passport cover 1.
[0054] As the passport cover 1 is pivoted the locking member 29, which is a part of the retaining unit 28, also moves relatively to the second inner wall 10. As can be seen from Figures 1a-1f, the locking member 29 extends from the side retaining edge 34 of the retaining member 32 towards the pivot part 11. Fig. 1c shows that the second side wall edge 31 of the second inner wall 10 is located between the retaining member 32 and the locking member 29 when the distance between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 is increased by pivoting the first cover part 3 and the second cover 7 part relative to each other.
[0055] The locking member 29 is configured to engage the second inner wall 10, when the distance between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 is increased. The distance between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 is increased by pivoting the first cover part 3 and the second cover part 7 relative to each other. When the passport cover 1 is in the open position 13, as shown in Fig. 1b, the locking member 29 engages the second inner wall 10 as shown in Figure 1c.
[0056] In Figure 2a-2d, the passport cover 1 is in a half-open position, and so the distance between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 is decreased. So if the passport cover 1 is pivoted from the open position 13 according to Fig. 1 to the half-open position according to Fig. 2, the locking member 29 will move relatively to the second inner wall 10. Fig. 1c and Fig. 2d show that distance between the side retaining edge 34 and the second side wall edge 31 has increased.
[0057] Figure 4a-4c and 4e-4f show the sealing unit 25 being in the closed sealing position 26. The sealing unit 25 comprises a first sealing member 35, which extends from the second side edge 23 of the second cover part 7. As Figure 1b shows, the first sealing member 35 is attached to the second outer wall 9 at the second side edge 23. When the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26, the first sealing member 35 extends towards the pivot part 11 and along at least part of the second inner wall 10. Fig. 4a shows that at least part of the second inner wall 10 is located between the first sealing member 35 and the retaining unit 28 when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26. Furthermore, it can be seen that at least part of the second inner wall 10 is located between the first sealing member 35 and the retaining member 32 when the sealing unit 35 is in the closed sealing position 26.
[0058] Figure 4a shows, among others, that in this embodiment of the passport cover 1 at least part of the locking member 29 is located between the first sealing member 35 and the second inner wall 10 when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26 and the distance between the first inner wall 6 and the second inner wall 10 is increased by pivoting the first cover part 3 and the second cover part 7 relative to each other.
[0059] Figure 4a, 4c, and 4e show that the sealing unit 25 is held in the closed sealing position 26 by a tamper evident seal 27. In this embodiment, the tamper evident seal 27 is an adhesive non-residue security label 37, configured to hold the sealing unit 25 in the closed position 26. In an alternative embodiment, a different type of adhesive security label 36 may be used. As shown, the adhesive non-residue security label 37 is configured to attach the first sealing member 35 in the closed sealing position 26 to the second inner wall 10. The adhesive non-residue security label 37 functions as a sticker with an tamper evident function. Fig. 4d shows an adhesive non-residue security label 37 that has been tampered with. The adhesive non-residue security label 37 thus indicates to the owner of the passport cover 1 that someone has tampered with the adhesive non-residue security label 37.
[0060] The passport 2 can be inserted at the inlet 24 of the passport cover 1 when the sealing unit 25 is in an open sealing position (Figure 1b). As shown in Fig. 4i and 4k, the first passport part 4 is first inserted. Next, the second passport part 8 is inserted such that the first passport part 4 slides into the first cover part 3 and the second passport part 8 into the second cover part 7. After the passport 2 is fully inserted in the passport cover 1, the sealing unit 25 can be put in the closed sealing position 26 and be held there by a security label 36 (Figure 4h and 4j). As shown in Fig. 4h, the passport cover 1 conceals the second type of information 17 of the passport 2, and it displays the first type of information 15. The passport 2 cannot be removed from the passport cover 1 without damaging the cover 1, or removing the security label 36.
[0061] The passport cover 1 for securely covering a passport 2 is provided with a conductive layer 53 at the first cover part 3 and/or second cover part capable 7 to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip 54 in the passport 2 from electromagnetic fields. This prevents the RFID chip 54 in the passport 2 (Fig. 4g) from being illegitimately read out.
[0062] Alternatively, the conductive layer 53 is provided on a separate shielding member configured to be positioned in the first cover part 3 and/or the second cover part 7. This again prevents the RFID chip 54 from being illegitimately read out. The shielding member can comprise an adhesive to adhere to the passport 2.
[0063] The conductive layer 53 may also be comprised in at least one of the first inner wall 6, the first outer wall 5, the second inner wall and 10 the second outer wall 9 to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip 54 in the passport 2 from electromagnetic fields. If the conductive layer 53 is provided all throughout the passport cover 1, a cage of Faraday may be provided that prevents any electromagnetic fields from leaking in or out of the passport cover 1. In Fig. 1g, Fig. 3a, Fig. 4b, Fig. 4f, and Fig. 5d, it is shown that the conductive layer 53 is provided at the first outer wall 5 of the passport cover 1.
[0064] The second inner wall 10 of the passport cover 1 comprises at least one transparent area 14 to display the first type of information 15. The retaining unit 28 also comprises at least one retaining transparent area 55, which at least partly overlaps the transparent area 14 of the second inner wall 10 when the passport cover is in the open position 13. This is shown in Fig. 4h, wherein the first type of information 15 is visible in the second cover part 7 through the second inner wall 10 and the retaining unit 28.
[0065] The second type of information 17 may comprise a personal identification reference 56, such as a citizen service number 57. The citizen service number 57 is often not necessary to be distributed to identify oneself. However, it is sensitive information that may be abused for identity fraud. Therefore, the opaque areas 16 and transparent areas 14 of the passport cover 1 may be configured to conceal the citizen service number 57in the passport 2 and still allow identification with the passport 2.
[0067] Fig. 5a-5d show a second embodiment of a passport cover 1 according to the invention in open position 13 from various perspectives. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it comprises a different locking member 29. Therefore, the sealing unit 25 and the retaining unit 28 are adjusted.
[0068] This embodiment has a sealing unit 25 that comprises a second sealing member 38. The second sealing member 38 extends from the second upper edge 21 and away from the second cover part 7 as is shown in Figures 5a. In an alternative embodiment, the second sealing member 38 extends from the second lower edge 22. Fig. 5d shows that the second sealing member 38 is attached to the first sealing member 35, and that the second sealing member 38 is attached to the second outer wall 9. The second sealing member 38 comprises a sealing opening 39 to receive the tamper evident seal 27. The retaining unit 28 comprises a retaining member 32 which is connected to the first inner wall 6 at a pivot retaining side 33. The retaining member 32 extends from the pivot retaining side 33 until an opposite side retaining edge 34. The retaining member 32 comprises an upper retaining edge 40 and an opposite lower retaining edge 41.
[0069] As shown in Fig. 5a and 5c, the locking member 29 extends from the upper retaining edge 40 or lower retaining edge 41, respectively, and away from the retaining member 32. The locking member 29 comprises a locking opening 42 to receive the tamper evident seal 27, and it overlaps the sealing opening 39 at least partly when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26 (Fig. 5b).
[0070] Fig. 5d also shows that the second sealing member 38 comprises a first member part 43, which has a first part opening 44, and a second member part 45, which has second part opening 46. The first member part 43 is attached to the first sealing member 35, and the second member part 45 is attached to the second outer wall 9. The first part opening 44and the second part opening 46 at least partly overlap to form the sealing opening 39 of the second sealing member 38, when the sealing unit 25 is in the closed sealing position 26.
[0071] Fig. 5b shows that a sealing width 47 of the sealing opening 39 is smaller than a locking width 48 of the locking opening 42. The locking opening 42 is configured to allow movement of the retaining unit 28 relative to the second inner wall 10 when the tamper evident seal 27 is received in the sealing opening 39 (Fig. 7a and 7b) and the first cover part 3 and second cover part 7 are pivoted relative to each other. Therefore, the locking opening 42 may be configured as a slit.
[0072] In Fig. 6a and 6b the passport cover 1 is in a half-open position. If the passport cover 1 is pivoted from the open position 13 into the half-open position, it can be seen from Fig. 5b and Fig. 6b that the locking opening 42 has moved relatively to the sealing opening 39.
[0073] First edge members 18, 19, 20 of the passport cover attach the first outer wall 5 to the first inner wall 6. Second edge members 21, 22 of the passport cover attach the second outer wall 9 to the second inner wall 10. When the retaining unit 28 moves relative to the second inner wall 10, the locking member 29 of the retaining unit 28 should not be blocked by one of the second edge members 21, 22. The second upper edge 21 is therefore configured to allow movement of the locking member 29 relative to the second sealing member 38 when the first cover part 3 and the second cover part 7 are pivoted relative to each other.
[0074] Fig. 7a and 7b show the sealing unit 25 being held in the closed sealing position 26 by a tamper evident seal 27. The tamper evident seal 27 comprises an elongate part 49 and a sealing part 50. This way the elongate part 49 may be locked by the sealing part 50 in a sealing position 51 in which the elongate part 49 and the sealing part 50 create and endless configuration 52. The sealing opening 39 of the second sealing member 38 and the locking opening 42 of the locking member 29 are configured to receive the elongate part 49 of the tamper evident seal 27.
[0075] An embodiment of a security label 100 according to the invention for a personal identification item 101, such as a passport 1 or personal identification card 102, is shown in Fig. 8a. The security label 100 comprises an adhesive tamper evident seal label 103 having a conductive layer 104 to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip 105 of the personal identification item 101. This security label 100 can be adhered to an area of the personal identification item 101 which comprises the RFID chip 105. As a result, it is not possible anymore to read out the RFID chip 105. Furthermore, if one removes the security label 100 this will be noticed by the passport owner due to the tamper evident function of security label 100.
[0076] The adhesive tamper evident seal label 103 comprises an opaque area 110 to conceal a second type of information 108 of the personal identification item 101. In an alternative embodiment, the adhesive tamper evident seal label 103 may comprise at least one transparent area to display a first type of information 107 of the personal identification item 101.
[0077] As shown in Fig. 8b, the security label 100 is adhered on a personal identification card 102. The second type of information 108 is now concealed by the opaque area of the security label, unless the adhesive tamper evident seal 103 is removed, which will be noticed by the passport owner due to the tamper evident function of the tamper evident seal 103.
[0078] In an alternative embodiment, the adhesive tamper evident seal label 103 is a non-residue security label 109. In this way, even after a multiple use of security labels 100 the passport 2 will not get stained or polluted.
[0079] The second type of information may comprise a personal identification reference 56, such as a citizen service number 57. The citizen service number 57 is often not necessary to be distributed to identify oneself. However, it is sensitive information that may be abused for identity fraud. Therefore, the security label 100 is able to conceal the citizen service number 57 in the passport 2 and still allow identification with the passport 2.
[0080] An assembly comprising the security label 100 according to the invention and a personal identification item is shown in Fig. 8b. The assembly comprises a personal identification item having a first type of information 107 and a second type of information 108 and an RFID chip 105 and the security label 100, wherein the security label 100 is adhered to the personal identification item 101 such that it conceals the second type of information 108 and shields the RFID chip 105.
[0081] The present invention relates to a passport cover for securely covering a passport. The passport comprises a first cover part with a first inner wall and a second cover part with a second inner wall. The first inner wall and/or the second inner wall comprises a transparent area to display a first type of information and an opaque area to conceal a second type of information. An inlet allows placing of the passport into the passport cover. A sealing unit is provided to close the inlet, and the sealing unit is configured to be held in a closed sealing position by a tamper evident seal. A retaining unit is provided to block movement of the passport out of the passport cover between the first inner wall and the second inner wall. The retaining unit comprises a locking member to block movement of the retaining unit out of its position.
[0082] The invention further relates to any one of the following clauses 1-34.
- 1. Passport cover (1) for securely covering a passport (2) comprising;
- a first cover part (3) to receive a first passport part (4) of the passport (2) between a first outer wall (5) and a first inner wall (6) of the first cover part (3),
- a second cover part (7) to receive a second passport part (8) of the passport (2) between a second outer wall (9) and a second inner wall (10) of the second cover part (7),
- a pivot part (11) connecting the first cover part (3) to the second cover part (7)
and allowing the first cover part (3) and the second cover (7) part to pivot relative
to each other from a closed position (12), wherein the first inner wall (6) and the
second inner wall (10) are in contact with each other, into an open position (13),
wherein the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) are located at a distance
from each other, and vice versa, wherein;
-- the first inner wall (6) and/or the second inner wall (10) comprises at least one transparent area (14) to display a first type of information (15) of the passport and at least one opaque area (16) to conceal a second type of information (17) of the passport (2),
-- the first cover part (3) comprises a first upper edge (18), a first lower edge (19) and a first side edge (20),
-- the second cover part (7) comprises a second upper edge (21), a second lower edge (22) and a second side edge (23),
-- the first outer wall (5) is attached to the first inner wall (6) at the first upper edge (18), the first lower edge (19) and the first side edge (20),
-- the second outer wall (9) is attached to the second inner wall (10) at the second upper edge (21), and the second lower edge (22),
-- the cover (1) comprises an inlet (24) at the second side edge (23), which inlet (24) allows placing of the first passport part (4) into the first cover part (3) and placing of the second passport part (8) into the second cover part (7),
-- a sealing unit (25) is provided at the second side edge (23) to close the inlet (24),
-- the sealing unit (25) is configured to be held in a closed sealing position (26) by a tamper evident seal (27),
-- a retaining unit (28) is provided between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10), which retaining unit (28) is configured to block movement of the passport (2) out of the passport cover (1) by moving the complete passport (2) between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) when the passport (2) is in the open position (13),
-- the retaining unit (28) is attached to the first inner wall (6) and extends from the pivot part (11) towards the second inner wall (10) and along the second inner wall (10),
-- the retaining unit (28) extends between the second inner wall (10) and the second outer wall (9), and
-- the retaining unit (28) comprises a locking member (29) configured to block movement of the retaining unit (28) out of its position between the second inner wall (10) and the second outer wall (9) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26) and the passport cover (1) is in the open position (13).
- 2. Passport cover (1) according to clause 1, wherein the retaining unit (28) is configured to move relative to the second inner wall (10) when the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) are pivoted relative to each other.
- 3. Passport cover (1) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the locking member (29) is configured to engage the second inner wall (10) when the distance between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) is increased by pivoting the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) relative to each other.
- 4. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein;
- the second inner wall (10) comprises a second pivot wall edge (30) located at the pivot part (11) and an opposite second side wall edge (31) located at the inlet (24),
- the retaining unit (28) comprises a retaining member (32) extending from a pivot retaining side (33) at which the retaining member (32) is connected to the first inner wall (6) until an opposite side retaining edge (34),
- the locking member (29) is provided at the side retaining edge (34) of the retaining unit (28),
- the locking member (29) is at least partly located between the second side wall edge (31) of the second inner wall (10) and the second side edge (23) of the second cover part (7) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- 5. Passport cover (1) according to clause 4, wherein;
- the locking member (29) extends from the side retaining edge (34) of the retaining member (32) towards the pivot part (11), and
- the second side wall edge (31) of the second inner wall (10) is located between the retaining member (32) and the locking member (29) when the distance between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) is increased by pivoting the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) relative to each other.
- 6. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein;
- the sealing unit (25) comprises a first sealing member (35) extending from the second side edge (23) of the second cover part (7) towards the pivot part (11) and along at least part of the second inner wall (10) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- 7. Passport cover (1) according to clause 6, wherein;
- at least part of the second inner wall (10) is located between the first sealing member (35) and the retaining unit (28) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- 8. Passport cover (1) according to clause 6 or 7, wherein at least part of the second inner wall (10) is located between the first sealing member (35) and the retaining member (32) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- 9. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 6-8, wherein the first sealing member (35) is attached to the second outer wall (9) at the second side edge (23).
- 10. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 6-9, wherein at least part of the locking member (29) is located between the first sealing member (35) and the second inner wall (10) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26) and the distance between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) is increased by pivoting the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) relative to each other.
- 11. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the tamper evident seal (27) is an adhesive security label (36), such as an adhesive non-residue security label (37), configured to hold the sealing unit (25) in the closed sealing position (26).
- 12. Passport cover (1) according to clause 11, wherein the adhesive security label (36) is configured to attach the first sealing member (35) in the closed sealing position (26) to the second inner wall (10).
- 13. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, and
12 wherein;
- the sealing unit (25) comprises a second sealing member (38) extending from the second upper edge (21) or the second lower edge (22) and away from the second cover part (7),
- the second sealing member (38) comprises a sealing opening (39) to receive the tamper evident seal (27),
- the retaining unit (28) comprises a retaining member (32) extending from a pivot retaining side (33) at which the retaining member (32) is connected to the first inner wall (6) until an opposite side retaining edge (34),
- the retaining member (32) comprises an upper retaining edge (40) and an opposite lower retaining edge (41),
- the locking member (29) extends from the upper retaining edge (40) or the lower retaining edge (41), respectively, and away from the retaining member (32),
- the locking member (29) comprises a locking opening (42) to receive the tamper evident seal (27),
- the locking opening (42) overlaps the sealing opening (39) at least partly when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- 14. Passport cover (1) according to clause 13, wherein the second sealing member (38) is attached to the first sealing member (35).
- 15. Passport cover (1) according to clause 13 or 14, wherein the second sealing member (38) is attached to the second outer wall (9).
- 16. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 13 to 15, wherein;
- the second sealing member (38) comprises a first member part (43) having a first part opening (44) and a second member part (45) having a second part opening (46),
- the first part opening (44) and the second part opening (46) at least partly overlap to form the sealing opening (39) of the second sealing member (38),
- the first member part (43) is attached to the first sealing member (35), and
- the second member part (45) is attached to the second outer wall (9).
- 17. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 13-16, wherein a sealing width (47) of the sealing opening (39) is smaller than a locking width (48) of the locking opening (42), and the locking opening (42) is configured to allow movement of the retaining unit (28) relative to the second inner wall (10) when the tamper evident seal (27) is received in the sealing opening (39) and the locking opening (42) and the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) are pivoted relative to each other.
- 18. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein;
- first edge members attach the first outer wall (5) to the first inner wall (6) at the first upper edge (18), the first lower edge (19) and the first side edge (20), and
- second edge members attach the second outer wall (9) to the second inner wall (10) at the second upper edge (21), and the second lower edge (22).
- 19. Passport cover (1) according to clause 18, wherein the second edge members at the second upper edge (21) or the second lower edge (22), respectively, are configured to allow movement of the locking member (29) relative to the second sealing member (38) when the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) are pivoted relative to each other.
- 20. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the clauses 13-19, wherein the tamper evident seal (27) comprises an elongate part (49) and a sealing part (50) to lock the elongate part (49) in a sealing position (51) in which the elongate part (49) and the sealing part (50) create an endless configuration (52).
- 21. Passport cover according (1) to clause 20, wherein the sealing opening (39) of the second sealing member (38) and the locking opening (42) of the locking member (29) are configured to receive the elongate part (49) of the tamper evident seal (27).
- 22. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein a conductive layer (53) capable to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip (54) in the passport (2) from electromagnetic fields is provided at the first cover part (3) and/or at the second cover part (7).
- 23. Passport cover (1) according to clause 22, wherein at least one of the first inner wall (6), the first outer wall (5), the second inner wall (10) and the second outer wall (9) comprises the conductive layer (53) capable to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip (54) in the passport (2) from electromagnetic fields.
- 24. Passport cover (1) according to clause 22, wherein in the conductive layer (53) is provided on a separate shielding member configured to be positioned in the first cover part (3) and/or the second cover part (7).
- 25. Passport cover (1) according to clause 24, wherein the shielding member comprises an adhesive to adhere to the passport (2).
- 26. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the second inner wall (10) comprises at least one transparent area (14) to display the first type of information (15) and the retaining unit (28) also comprises at least one retaining transparent area (55) which at least partly overlaps the transparent area (14) of the second inner wall (10) when the passport cover (1) is in the open position (13).
- 27. Passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the second type of information (17) comprises a personal identification reference (56), such as a citizen service number (57).
- 28. Kit of parts comprising a passport cover (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses and at least one tamper evident seal (27) configured to seal the sealing unit (25) of the passport cover (2).
- 29. Security label (100) for a personal identification item (101), such as a passport (1) or personal identification card (102), comprising an adhesive tamper evident seal label (103) having a conductive layer (104) to electromagnetically shield an RFID chip (105) of the personal identification item (101).
- 30. Security label (100) according to clause 29, wherein the adhesive tamper evident seal label (103) comprises at least one opaque area (110) to conceal a second type of information (108) of the personal identification item (101).
- 31. Security label (100) according to clause 30, wherein the adhesive tamper evident seal label (103) comprises at least one transparent area to display a first type of information (107) of the personal identification item (101).
- 32. Security label (100) according to any one of the clauses 29-31, wherein the second type of information (108) comprises a personal identification reference, such as a citizen service number.
- 33. Security label (100) according to any one of clauses 29-32, wherein the adhesive tamper evident seal label (103) is a non-residue security label (109).
- 34. Assembly comprising a personal identification item (101) having a first type of information (107) and a second type of information (108), an RFID chip (105) and a security label (100) according to any one of the clauses of 29-33, wherein the security label (100) is adhered to the personal identification item (101) such that it conceals the second type of information (108) and shields the RFID chip (105).
[0083] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
[0084] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.
- a first cover part (3) to receive a first passport part (4) of the passport (2) between a first outer wall (5) and a first inner wall (6) of the first cover part (3),
- a second cover part (7) to receive a second passport part (8) of the passport (2) between a second outer wall (9) and a second inner wall (10) of the second cover part (7),
- a pivot part (11) connecting the first cover part (3) to the second cover part (7) and allowing the first cover part (3) and the second cover (7) part to pivot relative to each other from a closed position (12), wherein the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) are in contact with each other, into an open position (13), wherein the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) are located at a distance from each other, and vice versa, wherein;
-- the first inner wall (6) and/or the second inner wall (10) comprises at least one transparent area (14) to display a first type of information (15) of the passport and at least one opaque area (16) to conceal a second type of information (17) of the passport (2),
-- the first cover part (3) comprises a first upper edge (18), a first lower edge (19) and a first side edge (20),
-- the second cover part (7) comprises a second upper edge (21), a second lower edge (22) and a second side edge (23),
-- the first outer wall (5) is attached to the first inner wall (6) at the first upper edge (18), the first lower edge (19) and the first side edge (20),
-- the second outer wall (9) is attached to the second inner wall (10) at the second upper edge (21), and the second lower edge (22),
-- the cover (1) comprises an inlet (24) at the second side edge (23), which inlet (24) allows placing of the first passport part (4) into the first cover part (3) and placing of the second passport part (8) into the second cover part (7),
-- a sealing unit (25) is provided at the second side edge (23) to close the inlet (24),
-- the sealing unit (25) is configured to be held in a closed sealing position (26) by a tamper evident seal (27),
-- a retaining unit (28) is provided between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10), which retaining unit (28) is configured to block movement of the passport (2) out of the passport cover (1) by moving the complete passport (2) between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) when the passport (2) is in the open position (13),
-- the retaining unit (28) is attached to the first inner wall (6) and extends from the pivot part (11) towards the second inner wall (10) and along the second inner wall (10),
-- the retaining unit (28) extends between the second inner wall (10) and the second outer wall (9), and
-- the retaining unit (28) comprises a locking member (29) configured to block movement of the retaining unit (28) out of its position between the second inner wall (10) and the second outer wall (9) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26) and the passport cover (1) is in the open position (13).
- the second inner wall (10) comprises a second pivot wall edge (30) located at the pivot part (11) and an opposite second side wall edge (31) located at the inlet (24),
- the retaining unit (28) comprises a retaining member (32) extending from a pivot retaining side (33) at which the retaining member (32) is connected to the first inner wall (6) until an opposite side retaining edge (34),
- the locking member (29) is provided at the side retaining edge (34) of the retaining unit (28),
- the locking member (29) is at least partly located between the second side wall edge (31) of the second inner wall (10) and the second side edge (23) of the second cover part (7) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- the locking member (29) extends from the side retaining edge (34) of the retaining member (32) towards the pivot part (11), and
- the second side wall edge (31) of the second inner wall (10) is located between the retaining member (32) and the locking member (29) when the distance between the first inner wall (6) and the second inner wall (10) is increased by pivoting the first cover part (3) and the second cover part (7) relative to each other.
- the sealing unit (25) comprises a first sealing member (35) extending from the second side edge (23) of the second cover part (7) towards the pivot part (11) and along at least part of the second inner wall (10) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- at least part of the second inner wall (10) is located between the first sealing member (35) and the retaining unit (28) when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).
- the sealing unit (25) comprises a second sealing member (38) extending from the second upper edge (21) or the second lower edge (22) and away from the second cover part (7),
- the second sealing member (38) comprises a sealing opening (39) to receive the tamper evident seal (27),
- the retaining unit (28) comprises a retaining member (32) extending from a pivot retaining side (33) at which the retaining member (32) is connected to the first inner wall (6) until an opposite side retaining edge (34),
- the retaining member (32) comprises an upper retaining edge (40) and an opposite lower retaining edge (41),
- the locking member (29) extends from the upper retaining edge (40) or the lower retaining edge (41), respectively, and away from the retaining member (32),
- the locking member (29) comprises a locking opening (42) to receive the tamper evident seal (27),
- the locking opening (42) overlaps the sealing opening (39) at least partly when the sealing unit (25) is in the closed sealing position (26).