(19)
(11) EP 4 461 556 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
20.11.2024 Bulletin 2024/47

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.11.2024 Bulletin 2024/46

(21) Application number: 24185956.0

(22) Date of filing: 02.12.2014
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G07D 7/00(2016.01)
B42D 25/333(2014.01)
B42D 25/351(2014.01)
B42D 25/36(2014.01)
B42D 25/373(2014.01)
B42D 25/382(2014.01)
 B42D 25/29(2014.01)
B42D 25/324(2014.01)
B42D 25/355(2014.01)
B42D 25/369(2014.01)
B42D 25/378(2014.01)
B42D 25/387(2014.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
B42D 25/36; B42D 25/369; B42D 25/324; B42D 25/351; B42D 25/333; B42D 25/355; B42D 25/382; B42D 25/387; B42D 25/378; B42D 25/373
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 03.12.2013 US 201361911141 P
04.12.2013 US 201361911885 P
04.12.2013 US 201361911831 P
06.01.2014 US 201461924000 P

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
22210172.7 / 4163888
19219466.0 / 3690829
18154768.8 / 3333812
14821361.4 / 3078005

(71) Applicants:
  • Crane & Co., Inc.
    Boston, MA 02108 (US)
  • Crane Security Technologies, Inc.
    Nashua, NH 03063 (US)
  • Crane AB
    14782 Tumba (SE)

(72) Inventors:
  • BLAKE, William
    Great Barrington (US)
  • BOODY, Jeffrey
    Dalton (US)
  • BRIGHAM, Kraig, M.
    Lenox (US)
  • CALLAHAN, James
    Dalton (US)
  • COTE, Paul, F.
    Hollis (US)
  • DARROCH, Michael
    Dalton (US)
  • JAIN, Manish
    Pittsfield (US)
  • MÖRCK HAMILTON, Karin
    Stockholm (SE)
  • PRETT, Giles, D.
    Dalton (US)

(74) Representative: Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB 
Leopoldstraße 4
80802 München
80802 München (DE)

   


(54) A SECURITY SHEET OR DOCUMENT HAVING ONE OR MORE ENHANCED WATERMARKS


(57) The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission. As will be readily appreciated, the inventive security sheet or document offers greatly improved counterfeit-resistance.







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Search report