Security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks

US9708773B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Crane & Co., Inc. · US
• CRANE SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US
• Crane AB · SE

Inventors

• William Blake · Tulsa, US
• Jeffrey Boody · Dalton, US
• Kraig M. Brigham · Lenox, US
• James Callahan · Greenwich, US
• Paul F. Cote · Barnstead, US
• Michael Darroch · Dalton, US
• Manish Jain · Pittsfield, US
• Karin Mörck Hamilton · Stockholm, SE
• Giles D. Prett · Dalton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 2014
• Grant date: Jul 18, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 11, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D21H21/48
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

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.