Dividable banknote

Abstract

The invention relates to a dividable banknote (10) comprising a flat substrate (15) which comprises a parent portion (20) and a plurality of child portions (30–70), wherein material weaknesses (80) are formed in the flat substrate (15) which form at least one predetermined separation line (81–89) for ripping the flat substrate (15), wherein the parent portion (20) and each of the child portions (30–70) each have at least one individual value indication (21–71) which indicate the value of the child portion (30–70) after it has been removed or the value of the parent portion (20) after all the child portions (30–70) have been separated, wherein each of the child portions (30–70) along one of their portion edges directly borders the parent portion (20) and the material weaknesses (80) are designed such that each of the child portions (30–70) can be removed by ripping the flat substrate (15) along the at least one predetermined separation line (81–89).

Description

[0001] Divisible banknote

[0002] The invention relates to banknotes, in particular banknotes which can be divided without thereby becoming worthless.

[0003] Banknotes are documents with security features that embody value. They are also referred to as valuable documents. Banknotes are issued by banks, usually central banks of states, and serve as a means of payment to pay for goods and services.

[0004] Banknotes have a flat substrate whose thickness is significantly less than the banknote's surface area. The substrate can be any substrate from which banknotes are typically made. The substrate can be single-layered or multi-layered and consist of one or more different materials in combination. Banknotes are often made from a fiber material, such as cotton fibers, and / or plastic polymers. A variety of security elements are incorporated into the banknote to prevent counterfeiting and / or imitation, and thus the unauthorized production of banknotes.

[0005] Banknotes in the current state of the art, when issued by the central bank, usually represent a fixed value. However, amounts less than the value of a single banknote often arise when paying for goods or services. This is especially true for high-denomination banknotes.

[0006] This problem is already addressed in DE 84 15 027.0 U1. It proposes a divisible banknote made of banknote paper, wherein the banknote, denominated in a specific value and having a specific surface area, is provided with perforations or similar weakening points that divide the banknote into smaller, individual parts and can be spatially and physically severed by the user as needed. The smaller, individual parts can thus be separated along the perforations and used as independent banknotes. Embodiments are proposed in which the banknote has a rectangular shape and the weakening points run either parallel to the short side of the banknote or parallel to the long side of the banknote.In the variant described, a banknote with a value of 100, for example, can be divided into six sections via the perforations, of which the outer, narrower sections have a value of 10 and the middle, wider sections have a value of 20. If this banknote is to be used to pay for a value of 20, the banknote must be separated along the perforations in such a way that, after the payment process, the payer is left with at least two physical units of the divided banknote after a middle section, which represents the value of 20, has been used for payment.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of improving such divisible banknotes and simplifying their handling and value determination for the user.

[0008] The invention is achieved by a banknote having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0009] The invention is based on the idea of ​​designing the banknote in such a way that it comprises a parent section and a plurality of child sections, with the child sections each adjacent to the parent section. Separation lines formed by weakened material allow the child sections to be individually separated from the parent section and the other child sections, so that, if possible, all child sections not used for the payment process remain connected to the parent section. This improves the handling of the banknote.In particular, a divisible banknote is created comprising a flat substrate which includes a mother portion and a plurality of child portions, wherein material weakenings are formed in the flat substrate which form at least one predetermined dividing line for separating the flat substrate, wherein the mother portion and each of the child portions each have at least one share value indication which indicates the value of the child portion after it has been separated or the value of the mother portion after all of the child portions have been separated, wherein each of the child portions directly borders the mother portion along one of its portion edges, wherein the material weakenings are formed such that each of the child portions can be separated by separating the substrate along the at least one predetermined dividing line. The material weakenings are preferably formed as perforations.However, they can also be formed via material tapers or any other type of physical change in the area of ​​the intended separation lines that favors splitting of the flat substrate at the respective modified location compared to other locations on the substrate. The substrate itself is preferably designed such that both the mother section and the child sections each contain several security features that prevent and / or make impossible any copying and / or falsification of the respective mother or child section. In particular, value inscriptions are formed on the individual sections that indicate the value of the individual section after separation and separation. This applies to both the mother section and the child sections.

[0010] In order to be able to trace in particular how the banknote and its sections circulate, it is provided that the parent section and the several child sections have a common identifier so that their original belonging together can be determined even after one or more child sections have been separated. This means that the common identifier is formed and stored in each of the child sections and in the parent section. This is done, for example, by printing an alphanumeric identifier that identifies the divisible banknote. Furthermore, it is advantageous if each of the sections, i.e. the parent section and each of the child sections, also has its own unique numbering. In this case, numbering is again understood to mean an alphanumeric code.

[0011] Handling is further facilitated if the original total value of the banknote can be easily removed when it is not divided. However, it should be immediately apparent to everyone that this value is no longer embodied by the banknote after it has been divided. Therefore, in one embodiment, the banknote has a main value indication formed on the flat substrate, wherein the main value indication extends over the parent section and each of the child sections. Preferably, the main value indication is indicated numerically. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible for the value indication to be indicated alphanumerically or only using alphabetic characters in words. A part of the main value indication is formed on each of the sections. In particular, a part of the main value indication, i.e. a letter or a number of the main value indication, is printed on the corresponding section.If a children's section is separated, part of the information is missing and it is clear that the remaining part of the divided banknote no longer represents the main value.

[0012] Handling is further improved if at least one group value indication is additionally formed on the flat substrate, the formation of which extends over the parent banknote and some, but not all, of the child banknotes or over a group of the child banknotes, wherein the group value indication corresponds to the sum of the individual value indications of all the banknotes over which the at least one group value indication extends. For example, with a clever design of the banknote and suitable separation of the individual child banknotes, it is possible to make the value of the parent banknote and the remaining child banknotes easily readable for the user via such a group value indication, without having to add up the individual values ​​of the remaining banknotes.If the banknote is cleverly designed, its current value after separating one or more children's sections corresponds to the largest, completely intact group value. This is particularly easy to achieve if the children's sections each have the same uniform value. However, this is not mandatory. Furthermore, it is possible to use such group value information to indicate a combination of several non-separated children's sections. If these are separated as a group from the remaining children's sections and the parent section, such a group value information, which extends across the interconnected children's sections, can cleverly indicate their value.

[0013] According to a further aspect, divisible banknotes can also be used to make a payment at least to the institution issuing the banknotes or the corporation behind them, without the physical exchange of banknotes or parts of the banknotes. In such an embodiment, the main value differs from the sum of the individual values ​​of the individual sections. Such an embodiment provides that the main value is greater than the sum of the individual values ​​of the parent section and all child sections, and information about the main value and the sum of the individual values ​​of the different banknotes is preferably stored on the parent section. The payment is effected by dividing the banknote during the payment process. This devalues ​​the banknote by the difference between the main value and the sum of the individual value details.This difference in value is collected by the issuing entity, for example the state that maintains the central bank. This can occur at a time when the master section is returned to the central bank. This makes it possible, for example, to effect payment of fines, for example in traffic violations, without the risk of funds obtained by corrupt police officers being embezzled. No physical means of payment is exchanged; instead, the banknote is merely severed, which can occur in full view of the police and leads to the devaluation of the divisible banknote. The individual sections can then be divided and used according to their respective value, as described above. As long as the banknote remains undivided, it retains the value of the main denomination printed on it.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Herein:

[0015] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a divisible banknote in the undivided state;

[0016] Fig. 2 shows the banknote according to Fig. 1, in a state in which a child's section is separated;

[0017] Fig. 3 is a further schematic representation of a divisible banknote in which a child section comprises a network of a three-dimensional, completely closed body with stabilizing surfaces; and

[0018] Fig. 4 shows another schematic view of the divisible banknote, where the main value indication is greater than the sum of the individual value indications in the section.

[0019] Fig. 1 schematically shows a banknote 10. This comprises a mother portion 20 and child portions 30-70. The banknote 10 is formed from a flat substrate 15. The flat substrate 15 has material weakenings 80 along predetermined separation lines 81-89, which are formed, for example, by perforations. When the substrate 15 is separated along the predetermined separation lines 81-89, the individual child portions 30-70 can be separated individually from the mother portion 20 and the remaining child portions 30-70.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a state in which the child portion 70 in the lower right corner 13 is separated from the rest of the banknote 10, i.e., from the mother portion 20 and the remaining child portions 30-60. Identical technical features are identified by identical reference numerals in all figures.

[0021] Each of the sections 20 - 70 has an individual value, which is printed as individual value indications 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71. These indicate the corresponding individual value of the section 20 - 70 when separated from the other sections 20 - 70. The parent section 20 has an individual value of 5, the child sections 30 - 70 each have an individual value of 1. In the embodiment shown, the main value of banknote 10 is “10”, which corresponds to the sum of the individual values ​​of the sections 20 - 70. The main value indication 100 is designed in letters “ten” so that the print extends over all sections, i.e. the parent section 20 and all child sections 30 - 70. If one of the child sections 30-70 is separated from the mother section 20, the lettering "Ten" is damaged. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.It is easy for the user to see that the remaining part of the banknote, which only comprises the parent section 20 and the child sections 30-60, no longer has the value corresponding to the main value indication 100 of the undivided banknote. Additionally, a group value indication "Nine" 110 is formed on the banknote, which extends over the parent section 20 and the child sections 30-60. This is, as can be seen in Fig. 2, still undamaged and indicates the value of the remaining portion of the banknote after the child section 70 has been separated, as shown in Fig. 2. Additionally, a further group value indication "Two" 130 is formed in the banknote 10, which extends over the child sections 30, 40 at the bottom left.If the children's sections 30 and 40 are removed together from the banknote 10 without the nominal separation line 82 being cut, a double section 140 remains, which embodies the value "two", which is expressed by the group value 120.

[0022] It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that, in addition to the group value indications 110 and 120 shown here, further group value indications can be created, indicating the value of the child sections removed together or the remaining value of the parent section with the remaining child sections. With skillful design, the largest undamaged group value indication indicates the value of the interconnected sections 20 - 70. In case of doubt, the value can be determined using the sum of the individual values.

[0023] The parent section 20 and the child sections 30-70 each have a common identifier 150, "A7" in the present embodiment. This can be implemented in any desired manner in the corresponding sections 20-70. Preferably, the common identifier 152-157 is printed on the individual sections.

[0024] Additionally, each of the sections 20-70 has an individual serial number 162-167 that individually identifies the individual section. In the illustrated embodiment, the serial number, which is preferably alphanumeric, is C. The parent section 20 has the serial number 162 "C1," and the child sections 30-70 have the serial numbers 163-167 "02" to "06," respectively. This simple common identifier 150; 152-157, as well as the simple design of the serial numbers 160; 162-167, is chosen here for reasons of simplification. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more complex identifiers and serial numbers can be selected.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which a child section 30 is inserted into the mother section 20 via a material weakening 80 formed as a perforation, which forms a predetermined separation line 81. In this embodiment, the child section 30 has the shape of a cube net 91 with the six side surfaces 92 and stabilizing surfaces 93, wherein edges 94 of the cube net 91 can be formed as folds, so that after the child section 30 has been separated, this child section 30 can be easily folded into a three-dimensional body.

[0026] In yet another embodiment according to Fig. 4, the difference is that the banknote 10 has a main value "20" which is different from the sum of the individual values ​​5+1+1+1+1+1=10. With such a banknote 10, payment transactions can be made without a physical exchange between the holder of the banknote 10 and the issuer of the banknote 10. The moment the banknote 10 is split, i.e. one of the child sections 30 - 70 is separated from the parent section 20, the total value changes by the amount of the difference between the stated main value "20" and the sum of the individual values ​​"10" of all sections 20 - 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the value is halved. Thus, a payment to the issuer in the amount of the difference "10" can be effected by dividing the banknote 10.When returning individual coupons, the issuer is only required to refund their individual values, so the difference "10" between the original principal value according to the principal value 100 "20" and the individual values ​​5+1+1+1+1+1=10 does not need to be refunded. If the 10 banknote is returned undivided, the value according to the principal value 100 "20" is refunded. Information 130 is provided on the master coupon, indicating the difference "A10" between the principal value 100 "20" and the sum of the final values ​​21 - 71 "10".

[0027] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the banknote as a whole and each of its sections may have a variety of security features, such as a guilloche pattern, a security thread, a watermark, a hologram, etc., to prevent counterfeiting of the banknote as a whole and its individual sections. These are not shown here for reasons of clarity.

[0028] List of reference symbols

[0029] 10 banknotes

[0030] 13 corners

[0031] 15 flat substrate

[0032] 20 mother section

[0033] 30 - 70 children's sections

[0034] 80 Material weakening

[0035] 81 - 89 dividing lines

[0036] 91 Cube Net

[0037] 92 side surfaces

[0038] 93 support surfaces

[0039] 94 edges (folds)

[0040] 100 Main value indication

[0041] 110 Group value information

[0042] 120 Group value information

[0043] 130 Information

[0044] 140 section group

[0045] 150; 152-157 common identifier

[0046] 160; 162-167 serial numbers

Claims

Patent claims 1. Divisible banknote (10) comprising a flat substrate (15) which includes a master section (20) and a plurality of child sections (30-70), wherein the flat substrate (15) has material weakenings (80) which form at least one predetermined separation line (81-89) for separating the flat substrate (15), wherein the master section (20) and each of the child sections (30-70) each have at least one individual value indication (21-71) which indicates the value of the child section (30-70) after its separation or division.specify the value of the mother section (20) after separating all child sections (30 - 70), characterized in that each of the child sections (30 - 70) is directly adjacent to the mother section (20) along one of its section edges and the material weakenings (80) are designed such that each of the child sections (30 - 70) can be separated by separating the flat substrate (15) along the at least one predetermined separation line (81 - 89).

2. Divisible banknote (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the master section (20) and the several child sections (30 - 70) have a common identifier (150; 152 - 157) so that their original belonging together can be determined even after the child sections (30 - 70) have been separated.

3. Divisible banknote (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a principal value indication (100) of the banknote (10) is formed on or in the flat substrate (15), wherein the principal value indication (100) extends over the parent section (20) as well as each of the child sections (30 - 70).

4. Divisible banknote (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one group value indication (110, 120) is formed on the flat substrate (15), the formation of which extends over the parent section (20) and some, but not all, of the majority of the child sections (30-70) or over a group (140) of the majority of the child sections (30-70), wherein the group value indication (110, 120) of the The sum of the individual value information (21-71) of all sections (20-70) over which the at least one group value information (110, 120) extends. Divisible banknote (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the principal value information (100) is greater than the sum of the individual value information (21-71) of the parent section (20) and all child sections (30-70), and that information (130) about the principal value information (100) and the sum of the individual value information (21-71) of the undivided banknote (10) is stored on the parent section (20).

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