SECURITY ELEMENT FOR VALUE DOCUMENTS WITH A CARRIER FILM AND AT LEAST ONE DECOR LAYER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a security element for valuable documents, wherein the security element comprises a carrier film and at least one decorative layer.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a security document with a paper substrate.

[0003] Security threads of the type described above are commonly used to increase the counterfeit protection of valuable documents or security papers, such as banknotes, identity cards, tickets, etc. Often, these security elements are partially integrated into the document or security paper and are visible through windows.

[0004] A safety element of the type mentioned at the outset is known, for example, from EP2753753A1. Safety elements according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from EP1997643A2 and WO2019 / 034398A1.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of improving the secure anchoring of the security element in the security document and simultaneously increasing the protection against forgery.

[0006] The above-mentioned problem is solved according to the invention with a safety element in that the safety element is designed according to claim 1.

[0007] In this context, the term "safety element" also includes a safety thread. The following explanations therefore also refer to a safety element in the form of a safety thread.

[0008] The solution according to the invention enables, firstly, the secure anchoring of the security element in the document, since when the security element is embedded in a substrate of the document during the manufacturing process, for example, a paper pulp, material from the substrate can penetrate the holes and thus anchor the security element in the document. Secondly, the decorative layer effectively conceals the actual shape of the embedded security element, so that the decorative layer presents a different shape to the naked eye than the actual shape of the security element, thereby creating a security feature that is difficult to counterfeit.

[0009] Areas inside and outside the decorative layer can, for example, be provided with additional security features, in particular machine-readable security features.

[0010] It has proven particularly advantageous with regard to anchoring the security element in a security substrate that the holes are designed as through holes that completely penetrate the security element.

[0011] To conceal the actual shape of the security element, it has proven particularly advantageous for the decorative layer to be a partial layer and / or to have a narrower width than the security element.

[0012] For example, it may be provided that at least one decorative layer comprises or is made from at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of aluminium, silver, copper, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or from nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, palladium or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys, and / or at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), carbon (C), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). ), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ), lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ), praseodymium oxide (Pr 6 O 11 ), samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3 ), antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ),silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se2O3), tin oxide (SnO2), tungsten trioxide (WO3) comprises or is made from at least one of these materials and / or comprises or is made from at least one printing ink, at least one ink and / or at least one varnish.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, the decorative layer may have at least two different colors and / or at least one color-shifting effect and may in particular include or be formed by color-shifting pigments, especially interference pigments, pigments with a color-shifting thin-film structure or liquid crystal pigments, and / or at least one color-shifting and / or thin-film element that produces a color impression in daylight when viewed from the front and / or through the film, and / or metals that exhibit at least two different color impressions.

[0014] The at least one decorative layer can, for example, include at least a partial layer, specifically a liquid crystal layer, in particular at least a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, to create a color-shifting effect.

[0015] Preferably, a color-shifting effect-enhancing layer, in particular a dark-colored layer and / or a layer of metal oxides such as substoichiometric aluminum oxide, is located on the side of the color-shifting layer facing away from the visible side. The color-shifting effect-enhancing layer can, for example, be applied to the liquid crystal layer or the layer of color-shifting pigments, such that the layer of color-shifting pigments or the liquid crystal layer is positioned between the color-shifting effect-enhancing layer and the carrier film. Alternatively, the color-shifting effect-enhancing layer can be positioned between the carrier film and the layer of color-shifting pigments or the at least one liquid crystal layer. Furthermore, it is also possible for the carrier film to be positioned between the color-shifting effect-enhancing layer and the layer of color-shifting pigments or the liquid crystal layer.

[0016] The at least one thin-film element of the decorative layer can have at least one absorber layer and at least one spacer layer made of at least one dielectric material, wherein the at least one absorber layer has a transmission coefficient that is between 0.1 and 0.99, in particular between 0.5 and 0.99, and most preferably between 0.7 and 0.99.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one absorber layer of the thin-film element of the decorative layer may comprise at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, palladium, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, aluminum, silver, copper and / or alloys of these materials, or be made of at least one of these materials.

[0018] The at least one spacer layer of the thin-film element of the decorative layer can be at least a low-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index of less than or equal to 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), metal fluorides, for example magnesium fluoride (MgF₂), aluminum fluoride (AlF₃), cerium fluoride (CeF₃), sodium aluminum fluorides (e.g., Na₃AlF₆ or Na₅Al₃F₁₄), neodymium fluoride (NdF₃), lanthanum fluoride (LaF₃), samarium fluoride (SmF₃), barium fluoride (BaF₂), calcium fluoride (CaF₂), lithium fluoride (LiF), low-refractive-index organic monomers and / or low-refractive-index organic polymers, or at least a high-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index greater than 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), carbon (C), indium oxide (In2O3), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5),Cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃), praseodymium oxide (Pr₆O₁₁), samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se₂O₃), tin oxide (SnO₂), tungsten trioxide (WO₃) ), comprising high-refractive-index organic monomers and / or high-refractive-index organic polymers or being made from at least one of these materials, and preferably having a layer thickness of less than 450 nm, in particular less than 350 nm, and most preferably less than 300 nm.

[0019] Furthermore, the thin-film element of the decorative layer can have at least one reflector layer, wherein the at least one spacer layer is arranged between the at least one absorber layer and the at least one reflector layer.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one reflector layer of the at least one thin-film element of the decorative layer can be made of at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, copper, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or from nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt and palladium or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys, or from at least one high-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index greater than 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), carbon (C), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄), and Iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ), lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ), praseodymium oxide (Pr 6 O 11 ),samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se₂O₃), tin oxide (SnO₂), tungsten trioxide (WO₃), high-refractive-index organic monomers and / or high-refractive-index organic polymers, or be made from at least one of these materials.

[0021] It has proven particularly advantageous that at least one carrier film is made of plastic, in particular of a translucent plastic, wherein the carrier film preferably comprises at least one of the materials from the group consisting of polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), monoaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyethyleneimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin copolymers (COC), polyoxymethylene (POM), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl fluoride ( PVF),The substrate comprises or is made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene fluoropolymer (EFEP) and / or mixtures and / or copolymers of these materials. It is particularly preferred if the substrate is recyclable or biodegradable or marine-derived and / or made from or comprises a recycled material.

[0022] It has proven particularly advantageous that the decorative layer has and / or forms at least one thread-forming zone visible in both transmitted and / or projected views. The thread-forming zone of the decorative layer, or the decorative layer itself, can preferably assume any shape that obscures the actual shape (contour) of the security element for an observer. The invention is particularly well suited for a security element that is partially embedded in a valuable document and is directly visible in a window area of ​​the document, where the substrate has a recess in the form of a window, and which extends to the surface of the valuable document. In this context, it has proven particularly advantageous that the decorative layer extends at least partially into and / or over the window area.This allows an additional security feature to be implemented in the window area through a section of the decorative layer, for example in the form of an optically variable effect, in particular caused by a color-shifting thin-film element or a layer containing color-shifting pigments.

[0023] It has proven particularly advantageous that the decorative layer and / or other security features are arranged in a register with the holes. In this context, "in a register" means that identical security features maintain a constant, fixed distance from the holes.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the holes form at least one piece of coded information. Particularly preferably, all holes form at least one piece of coded information. A variant of the invention has proven highly advantageous in this context, in which the holes of the first region and the holes of the second region each form one piece of coded information, wherein the holes of the first region form the same or different coded information as the holes of the second region, or in which the holes of the first region and the holes of the second region form information that is related to each other and / or complements each other to form a complete piece of information. For example, related information includes the specification of a currency symbol and the full name of that currency.An example of complementary information would be the inclusion of a currency symbol and a numerical value representing the value of a banknote, if the document in question is a banknote.

[0025] The counterfeit protection can be further increased by ensuring that the decorative layer has at least one motif, preferably representing at least one sign, in particular an alphanumeric sign and / or at least one icon and / or at least one geometric figure and / or at least one symbol and / or at least one portrait and / or at least one landscape and / or at least one building and / or at least one animal and / or at least one object and / or at least one person.

[0026] The counterfeit protection can be further increased by including at least one additional security feature, in particular a magnetic coding, between the at least one decorative layer and the at least one carrier film, in particular a security feature.

[0027] Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the security element to have additional layers, which may include, in particular, colored lacquers, protective lacquers, adhesives, primers and / or films, conductive layers, electromagnetic wave absorbing and / or re-emitting materials, etc.

[0028] The above-mentioned problem can also be solved according to the invention with a security document of the type mentioned at the outset by embedding a security element according to the invention at least partially in the substrate.

[0029] To better understand the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0030] They show, in a highly simplified, schematic representation: Fig. 1 a security element according to the invention; Fig. 2 a security document with the security element made of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a safety element according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a safety element according to the invention.

[0031] It should be noted at the outset that in the differently described embodiments, identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals or component designations, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to identical parts with the same reference numerals or component designations. Furthermore, the positional designations chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refer to the figure directly described and illustrated, and these positional designations must be applied analogously to the new position if the position changes.

[0032] According to Fig. 1A security element 1 according to the invention comprises a carrier film 2 and a decorative layer 3. The security element 1 preferably has a width of 8 mm or greater, and in particular between 5 and 20 mm. Furthermore, holes 4 are arranged in the security element 1. The holes 4 are preferably designed as through-holes that completely penetrate the security element 1. The advantage of through-holes is that, when embedded in a substrate of a security document, the substrate can form columns at the locations of the holes that completely penetrate the security element 1, thereby creating a particularly good bond between the substrate and the security element 1. Preferably, the substrate of the security document is a paper substrate into which the security element 1 is embedded during the production of the security document. It is particularly advantageous if the security element 1 is incorporated into a paper pulp.Preferably, the holes 4 are produced by punching. The punching can be carried out before or after coating the carrier film 2 with the decorative layer 3. The decorative layer 3 itself can be produced by vapor deposition, for example by a PVD process, printing and / or partial demetallization, in particular by washing processes known per se, etc.

[0033] The decorative layer 3 can be a partial layer and / or have a narrower width than the security element 1. This allows the actual shape or form of the security element 1 embedded in the document to be concealed, and only the decorative layer 3 is clearly visible to the user. To the untrained eye, the shape of the decorative layer 3 appears as the shape of the security element 1. In this context, it has proven particularly advantageous if the carrier film 2 is transparent and colorless, as this significantly reduces the visibility of the carrier film 2 within the document substrate, rendering it invisible to the naked eye.

[0034] It has proven particularly advantageous that the at least one carrier film 2 is made of plastic, in particular of a translucent plastic, wherein the carrier film preferably comprises at least one of the materials from the group consisting of polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), monoaxially oriented polypropylene (MOPP), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyethyleneimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), polyester, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), cycloolefin copolymers (COC), polyoxymethylene (POM), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl fluoride ( PVF),The substrate comprises or is made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and ethylene tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene fluoropolymer (EFEP) and / or mixtures and / or copolymers of these materials. It is particularly preferred if the substrate is recyclable or biodegradable or marine-derived and / or made from or comprises a recycled material.

[0035] Furthermore, the decorative layer 3 can comprise at least one metal layer and / or at least one layer of printing ink and / or at least one layer exhibiting an optically variable effect and / or at least one thin-film element exhibiting an optically variable effect.

[0036] For example, the decorative layer 3 may comprise or be made from at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of aluminium, silver, copper, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or from nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, palladium or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys, and / or at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), carbon (C), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). ), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ), lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ), praseodymium oxide (Pr 6 O 11 ), samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3 ), antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ), silicon carbide (SiC),silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), silicon monoxide (SiO ), selenium trioxide (Se 2 O 3 ), tin oxide (SnO 2 ), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) comprises or is made from at least one of these materials and / or comprises or is made from at least one printing ink, at least one ink and / or at least one varnish.

[0037] Additionally or alternatively, the decorative layer 3 can have at least two different colors and / or at least one color-shifting effect and in particular comprise or be formed by color-shifting pigments, especially interference pigments, pigments with a color-shifting thin-film structure or liquid crystal pigments, and / or at least one color-shifting and / or thin-film element that produces a color impression in daylight when viewed from the front and / or through the film, and / or metals and / or fluorescent dyes that have at least two different color impressions.

[0038] The at least one decorative layer 3 can, for example, have at least as a partial layer to create a color-shifting effect a liquid crystal layer, in particular at least a cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

[0039] Preferably, a color-shifting effect-enhancing layer, in particular a dark-colored layer and / or a layer of metal oxides such as substoichiometric aluminum oxide, is located on the side of the color-shifting layer facing away from a visible side of the decorative layer 3. The color-shifting effect-enhancing layer can, for example, be applied to the liquid crystal layer or the layer of color-shifting pigments, such that the layer of color-shifting pigments or the liquid crystal layer is positioned between the color-shifting effect-enhancing layer and the carrier film. Alternatively, the color-shifting effect-enhancing layer can also be positioned between the carrier film and the layer of color-shifting pigments or the at least one liquid crystal layer.Furthermore, it is also possible that the carrier film is positioned between the layer that enhances the color-shifting effect and the layer of color-shifting pigments or the liquid crystal layer.

[0040] If the decorative layer 3 comprises a thin-film element, this can comprise at least one absorber layer and at least one spacer layer made of at least one dielectric material, wherein the at least one absorber layer has a transmission coefficient that is between 0.1 and 0.99, in particular between 0.5 and 0.99, and most preferably between 0.7 and 0.99.

[0041] According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one absorber layer of the thin-film element of the decorative layer 3 can comprise at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, palladium, iron, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, aluminum, silver, copper and / or alloys of these materials, or be made of at least one of these materials.

[0042] The at least one spacer layer of the thin-film element of the decorative layer 3 can be at least a low-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index less than or equal to 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), metal fluorides, for example magnesium fluoride (MgF₂), aluminum fluoride (AlF₃), cerium fluoride (CeF₃), sodium aluminum fluorides (e.g., Na₃AlF₆ or Na₅Al₃F₁₄), neodymium fluoride (NdF₃), lanthanum fluoride (LaF₃), samarium fluoride (SmF₃), barium fluoride (BaF₂), calcium fluoride (CaF₂), lithium fluoride (LiF), low-refractive-index organic monomers and / or low-refractive-index organic polymers, or at least a high-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index greater than 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), carbon (C), indium oxide (In2O3), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5),Cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄) and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃), praseodymium oxide (Pr₆O₁₁), samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se₂O₃), tin oxide (SnO₂), tungsten trioxide (WO₃) ), comprising high-refractive-index organic monomers and / or high-refractive-index organic polymers or being made from at least one of these materials, and preferably having a layer thickness of less than 450 nm, in particular less than 350 nm, and most preferably less than 300 nm.

[0043] Furthermore, the thin-film element of the decorative layer 3 can have at least one reflector layer, wherein the at least one spacer layer is arranged between the at least one absorber layer and the at least one reflector layer.

[0044] Preferably, the at least one reflector layer of the at least one thin-film element of the decorative layer 3 can be at least one metallic material, in particular selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, copper, gold, platinum, niobium, tin, or from nickel, titanium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt and palladium or alloys of these materials, in particular cobalt-nickel alloys, or from at least one high-refractive-index dielectric material with a refractive index greater than 1.65, in particular selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide (ZnS), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), carbon (C), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium tin oxide (ITO), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), cerium oxide (CeO₂), yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), europium oxide (Eu₂O₃), iron oxides such as (II) iron(III) oxide (Fe₃O₄). ) and iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), hafnium nitride (HfN), hafnium carbide (HfC), hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ), lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ), magnesium oxide (MgO), neodymium oxide (Nd 2 O 3 ), praseodymium oxide (Pr 6 O 11 ),samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃), antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon monoxide (SiO), selenium trioxide (Se₂O₃), tin oxide (SnO₂), tungsten trioxide (WO₃), high-refractive-index organic monomers and / or high-refractive-index organic polymers, or be made from at least one of these materials.

[0045] As from Fig. 1As can be further seen, the security element 1, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the security element 1, can have at least two holes 4 in a first region 5 and also at least two holes 4 in a second region 6. Between the first region 5 and the second region 6 is a continuous unperforated window region 7. Preferably, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the security element 1, the length of the window region 7 is greater than the shortest distance between two immediately adjacent holes 4 of the first region 5 and between two immediately adjacent holes 4 of the second region 6.

[0046] As in Fig. 2As shown, when the security element 1 is embedded in a substrate of a security document 8, areas 5 and 6 are located within the substrate of the security document 8. However, window area 7 is uncovered by the substrate of the security document 8 on at least one side. Preferably, window area 7 is uncovered by the substrate of the security document 8 on both surfaces. Thus, a window is also formed in the security document 8 itself at the location of window area 7.

[0047] Preferably, the decorative layer 3 extends in and / or over the window area 7. Particularly preferably, a portion of the decorative layer 3 producing an optically variable effect is arranged in the window area 7. It should be noted that the decorative layer 3 can be designed as either a continuous or a partial layer. Furthermore, the decorative layer 3 can have the same structure along its entire length. Alternatively, the structure of the decorative layer 3 can vary along its length. For example, the decorative layer 3 can be formed by a metal layer in area 5, while in the window area 7 it can have a color-shifting structure, for example, in the form of a thin-film element and / or a color layer containing color-shifting pigments and / or a liquid crystal layer and a reinforcing layer.In area 6, the decorative layer 3 can, for example, consist of a metal layer or a printing ink. Basically, all variations of different sub-areas of decorative layer 3 are possible.

[0048] Furthermore, the decorative layer 3 can have at least one motif, wherein the at least one motif preferably represents at least one character, in particular an alphanumeric character, and / or at least one icon, and / or at least one geometric figure, and / or at least one symbol, and / or at least one portrait, and / or at least one landscape, and / or at least one building, and / or at least one animal, and / or at least one object, and / or at least one person. The motif in the decorative layer 3 can be produced, for example, by partial demetallization or by partial printing.

[0049] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the safety element 1 has additional layers, which may include, in particular, colored lacquers, protective lacquers, adhesives, primers and / or films, conductive layers, electromagnetic wave absorbing and / or re-emitting materials, etc.

[0050] It has proven particularly advantageous if the decorative layer 3 and / or other security features of the security element 1 are arranged in register with the holes 4.

[0051] It has also proven particularly advantageous if the decorative layer 3 has or forms a thread-forming zone that is visible to the naked eye in both through- and / or top-down views. The thread-forming zone creates the impression of a security thread, but deviates from the outline of the security element and conceals it. To an observer, the thread-forming zone of decorative layer 3, or decorative layer 3 itself, conveys the impression of a thread embedded in the security document, with the shape of the thread-forming zone or decorative layer 3. Since the shape of the thread "perceived" by the observer differs from that of the entire security element, counterfeit protection is further increased. Decorative layer 3 can have a single thread-forming zone and, for example, as in Fig. 1, 2 or 4 shown, in stripes or, as in Fig. 3The decorative layer 3 is depicted as having a meandering shape. A striped or meandering shape of the decorative layer 3 is very effective at concealing the actual shape of the security element 1, although any shape that deviates from the outline of the security element 1 and conceals it from the viewer is also suitable.

[0052] According to Fig. 4The holes 4 can form coded information. Preferably, all holes 4 form coded information. The holes 4 of the first area 5 and the holes 4 of the second area 6 can each form coded information. The holes 4 of the first area 5 can form the same or different coded information as the holes 4 of the second area 6. The holes of the first area 5 and the holes of the second area 6 can form related and / or complementary information. Related information includes, for example, the specification of a currency symbol and the full name of that currency. An example of complementary information would be the specification of a currency symbol and a numerical value representing the value of a banknote, if the document in question is a banknote.The information encoded by the holes 4 can be visible in transmitted light and / or perceptible by touch. In an embodiment where the holes 4 are clearly visible in transmitted light, the decorative layer 3 can, for example, be formed by a metal layer 3 that is interrupted in the area of ​​the holes 4.

[0053] Furthermore, the security element 1 may also have other security features, in particular a security feature arranged between the decorative layer 3 and the carrier film 2, especially a magnetic coding and / or fluorescent security features.

[0054] Finally, for the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, for a better understanding of the structure, some elements have been shown not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. Reference numeral list

[0055] 1 Security element 2 Carrier film 3 Decorative layer 4 Hole 5 Area 6 Area 7 Window area 8 Valuable document

Claims

1. A security element (1) for value documents, wherein the security element comprises a carrier film (2) and at least one decorative layer (3), wherein the security element has holes (4), wherein the at least one decorative layer (3) comprises at least one metal layer and / or at least one layer of a printing ink and / or at least one layer having an optically variable effect and / or at least one thin-layer element having an optically variable effect and / or at least one layer with at least one fluorescent dye, characterized in that the security element (1), as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the security element (1), has at least two holes (4) in a first region (5) and also at least two holes (4) in a second region (6), wherein a continuous unperforated window region (7) is arranged between the first region (5) and the second region (6), wherein a length of the window region (7), as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the security element (1), is greater than a shortest distance between two directly adjacent holes (4) of the first region (5) and between two directly adjacent holes (4) of the second region (6).

2. The security element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holes (4) are configured as through-holes passing completely through the security element (1).

3. The security element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the decorative layer (3) is a partial layer and / or has a smaller width than the carrier film (2).

4. The security element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the decorative layer (3) has and / or forms at least one thread-forming zone that is visible when viewed through and / or from above.

5. The security element according to claim 4, characterized in that the decorative layer (3) extends at least in sections into and / or over the window area (7).

6. The security element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least a part of the holes (4) forms at least one coded information.

7. The security element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the decorative layer (3) has at least one motive, wherein the at least one motive preferably represents at least one character, in particular an alphanumeric character and / or at least one icon and / or at least one geometric figure and / or at least one symbol and / or at least one portrait and / or at least one landscape and / or at least one building and / or at least one animal and / or at least one object and / or at least one person.

8. A value document (8) with a substrate made of paper, characterized in that a security element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 is at least partially embedded in the substrate.