Banknote that can be folded to form a three-dimensional body

Abstract

The invention relates to a banknote comprising a flat substrate element (120) with a plurality of folds (200) such that when the substrate element is folded along the folds a three-dimensional body (500) can be created which completely encloses a volume, i.e. each face of the three-dimensional body is formed at least partially from face elements (311-316) of the substrate element, one of the face elements (311-316) having a transparent window region (701) which is formed by a transparent plastic element. The plastic element can have a light-refracting property such that information on an inner surface portion (340) within the three-dimensional body can be identified through the plastic element, which information cannot be identified on the surface portion when the flat substrate element is in the planar state. Information which can be projected onto the inner surface portion can be encoded in the plastic element. A light-deflecting optical security element (780) can be formed on the surface portion (340) opposite the window region (700).

Description

[0001] Banknote foldable into a three-dimensional body

[0002] The invention relates generally to banknotes.

[0003] Banknotes are valuable documents that embody value. They are issued by banks, especially central banks, and serve as legal tender. The invention further relates to the production of a series of banknotes in which banknotes of the same value are designed in a similar manner.

[0004] Banknotes are made from a flat substrate and feature a graphic design, particularly printed on both surfaces. To prevent counterfeiting and / or imitation, or at least to make it significantly more difficult, banknotes are provided with a variety of security features. These include, for example, security printing, e.g., in the form of one or more guilloche patterns, or are produced using special printing processes, e.g., intaglio printing, or special printing inks, e.g., optically variable inks (OVI), which change their color appearance depending on the direction of illumination and / or the viewing / detection direction.

[0005] As a rule, the composition and design of the substrate, which is referred to as banknote paper, is also a security feature, even if the substrate is often not paper in the strict sense, but rather a fiber or fiber composite, e.g., based on cotton fiber. The substrate can be single-layer or multi-layer and consist of various materials.

[0006] In order to make counterfeiting more difficult, the aim is to create increasingly complex security features that make banknotes distinguishable from known banknotes and counterfeits.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of creating banknotes that have novel security features that enable good differentiation and, at the same time, also enable verification.

[0008] This object is achieved by a banknote having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims. In particular, a banknote comprising a flat substrate element is provided, wherein the substrate element has a plurality of folds, so that a three-dimensional body can be created when the substrate element is folded along the folds.

[0009] Such banknotes are produced in series, ie banknotes of the same type, which for example represent the same value, are designed in the same way in such a way that the formation of a three-dimensional body by means of folds leads to the same shape of the three-dimensional body.

[0010] In this context, a fold is a material taper or change that favors and facilitates folding of the substrate element along the fold compared to folding the substrate element at another location.

[0011] This creates banknotes with a flat substrate element that allows a user to fold this substrate element for verification purposes, thereby forming a three-dimensional body. If the folds are arranged in such a way that a three-dimensional body can be formed when folded along the folds, the banknote is verified as authentic.

[0012] In their original manufacturing state, the banknotes are flat and stackable. The multiple folds are preferably formed into the material of the substrate elements by pressing or embossing. In some embodiments, material removal may also occur during the formation of the folds.

[0013] In serial production, the banknotes produced in series are similar in terms of the folds they have. The presence of the folds, as well as their precise arrangement and design, can thus be used individually or in combination as a security feature for verification.

[0014] Production can be done in single or multiple uses.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, at least one fold is designed to be folding-direction-selective. This means that the fold favors folding in one folding direction over another. If a flat substrate, such as a sheet of paper, is viewed from one side, it is possible to fold the sides facing the viewer toward one another along a fold that represents one folding direction, or to fold the sides facing away from the viewer toward one another along the fold that represents the other folding direction. A fold can now be designed in some materials, such as paper, in such a way that it favors folding in one folding direction over the other, or vice versa.

[0016] For forming a three-dimensional body from the flat substrate element, it may be advantageous for direction-selective folds to be formed in the substrate element for one folding direction or for both different folding directions. In some embodiments, the multiple folds comprise fold-direction-selective folds for both folding directions. For example, the folds can be formed for Platonic solids. These Platonic solids can be produced only by folding a flat substrate element with a rectangular base. The surface elements of the three-dimensional Platonic solid themselves do not have folding edges. Furthermore, the three-dimensional Platonic solids are stable without adhesives such as glue.

[0017] Surface elements are those parts of the substrate element that are delimited by folds and / or outer edges of the substrate element. Surface elements that form an outer surface of the three-dimensional body are called body surface elements.

[0018] Each surface element has surface sections formed on its opposite surfaces, which are portions of the opposing surfaces of the substrate element. Surface elements that do not form an outer surface of the body are referred to as stabilizing surface elements.

[0019] Preferred embodiments provide that the three-dimensional body completely encloses a volume, ie each surface of the three-dimensional body is at least partially formed by a surface element of the substrate element.

[0020] To improve verification and make replication more difficult, some embodiments provide for the substrate to have a security print designed such that a pattern continues in the three-dimensional body across a body edge that does not arise exclusively from one of the folds. This means that the surface elements in the substrate that abut at the body edge are not separated only by a fold. Precise formation of the print is therefore required. The three-dimensional body thus creates the impression that it has been provided with the pattern from the outside, for example, printed, in the three-dimensional state.

[0021] More complex features can be realized and verified in embodiments where one of the surface elements has a transparent window area. This makes it possible to view the interior of the three-dimensional body and to verify features on surface sections located within the interior of the three-dimensional body.

[0022] An object or material is considered transparent if it allows an image to be projected through it according to geometric optics for at least one wavelength or wavelength range of visible light. If light of one wavelength or wavelength range can be transmitted through an object / material, but the light is diffusely or stochastically scattered upon passing through, the object / material is referred to as translucent.

[0023] A transparent window region in a surface element of the substrate element can be formed, for example, by a punched-out recess. However, a transparent window region in a surface element of the substrate element is preferably formed using a transparent element, for example, a transparent plastic material. For example, a region of the substrate element can consist of a transparent plastic material or several interconnected transparent layers of plastic material. The transparent material can be colored so that imaging according to geometric optics is only possible for individual wavelengths or wavelength ranges of visible light.

[0024] In one embodiment, the window area is therefore formed by a transparent plastic element.

[0025] In addition to the possibility of looking into the interior of the three-dimensional body through the window area, it is also possible to illuminate the three-dimensional body from the inside through the window area. In a preferred embodiment, the plastic element has a light-refracting property, for example in the form of a magnifying glass, and information can be detected on an interior surface section of the three-dimensional body through which the plastic element lies, but which cannot be detected on the surface section in the planar state of the flat substrate element. This creates a hidden security feature which can only be verified without aids if the three-dimensional body is produced from the substrate element by folding.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments it can be provided that information is encoded in the plastic element which, when light is irradiated onto the plastic element from outside the three-dimensional body, is projected onto at least one inner surface section of one of the surface elements, such that this information can be detected by the surface element from the outside or by the plastic element inside the three-dimensional body. If at least the surface element onto which the information is projected is translucent, the information can generally be observed or detected from the outside. Verification can be or include checking for the existence of projected information. In this case, it can also be checked whether the projection is observed on the surface element on which it was expected.However, the content of the information can also be checked against specifications that originate from outside the banknote or are contained in the banknote.

[0027] In another embodiment, a light-deflecting optical security element is formed on a surface section which is arranged in the interior of the three-dimensional body opposite the window region, which light deflects the light when light is irradiated through the window region onto the security element in such a way that the light is deflected at least partially at a distance from the security element onto one surface section or another surface section arranged in the interior, so that it can be perceived through the window section or from the outside through a surface element, in particular through the surface element on which one surface section or the other surface section is formed. This creates a security element which cannot be verified or can only be verified with great difficulty in the flat state, but can be easily verified when the substrate element is folded.

[0028] In Platonic solids, the substrate element can have a rectangular shape in its flat state. Other embodiments can feature simpler folding patterns, such as a folded net, as the substrate element. In these cases, the substrate element often has a polygonal outline rather than a square one.

[0029] In order to still use square banknotes, for example, during issuance and production, some embodiments provide for the banknote to have a flat edge region in addition to the substrate element, and for the substrate element to be separated from the edge region by a material weakening, for example, a perforation, so that the substrate element can be separated from the edge element along the material weakening (for example, the perforation) without any aids. Preferably, the edge element without the substrate element has no value. This means that the substrate element alone, without the edge element, is the fully marketable banknote.

[0030] In such embodiments, but also in the case of Platonic folding bodies, the substrate element can comprise body surface elements and stabilizing surface elements, wherein the stabilizing surface elements are arranged in the folded three-dimensional state in the interior of the three-dimensional body or partially overlap body surface elements.

[0031] In some embodiments, it may be provided that the substrate element has incisions for forming plug connections or perforations for forming such incisions.

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Herein:

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a banknote with an edge element and a substrate element;

[0034] Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the substrate element of the banknote according to Fig. 1 folded into a three-dimensional body; Fig. 3 is another banknote in the flat state without the edge element;

[0035] Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the folded three-dimensional body

[0036] Substrate element of the banknote according to Fig. 3;

[0037] Fig. 5 another banknote in the flat state;

[0038] Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the substrate element of the banknote according to Fig. 5 folded into the three-dimensional body;

[0039] Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a banknote with the folds for forming a tetrahedron as a Platonic solid;

[0040] Fig. 8 is a schematic view according to Fig. 7 of the banknote in the three-dimensional folded state

[0041] Fig. 9 to 18 further banknotes alternately first in the flat state (odd figures) and then in the corresponding three-dimensional state (even figures).

[0042] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a banknote 100. Banknote 100 has an edge region 110 and a substrate element 120. Both are flat. This means that a material thickness perpendicular to the drawing plane is significantly less than the extent in the drawing plane. Edge region 110 and substrate element 120 are preferably made of the same substrate material. This can be any material from which banknotes are typically made. For example, this can be banknote paper based on cotton fibers. It is also possible for the substrate material to be a composite material composed of multiple layers.

[0043] The banknote 100 is preferably provided with a security print on a top side 101 and a bottom side 102, which correspond to the top and bottom sides 111, 121, 112, 122 of the edge region 110 and the substrate element 120. Furthermore, the banknote has a plurality of security elements, as are customary in banknotes. For the sake of simplicity, these are neither illustrated nor explicitly described. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that these can be implemented in any desired combination in the banknote 100 as shown in Figure 1, as well as in the other banknotes 100 described here. In particular, optically variable colors, security prints, various printing techniques, watermarks, hologram patches, see-through elements, etc., can be implemented in the banknote.In the illustrated banknote 100, the substrate element 120 is separated from the edge region 110 by a material weakening in the form of a perforation 130, which is formed circumferentially around the substrate element 120. The perforation 130 can be formed in any desired shape, as long as it allows the substrate element 120 to be separated from the edge region 110 without additional aids. In the illustrated embodiment, the perforation is represented by a dotted line.

[0044] The substrate element 120 further includes folds 200 that facilitate folding of the substrate element 120 along the folds 200, particularly after separating the substrate element 120 from the edge region 110. To facilitate reference to individual folds 200, these are numbered 201-212 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0045] The folds 200 and the contour edges 140 of the substrate element 120 together delimit surface elements 300. Some of these form body surface elements 310, which form surfaces of a three-dimensional body 500, which is schematically illustrated in Figure 2. Other surface elements 300 form stabilizing surface elements 320, which are generally arranged inside the three-dimensional body 500 after folding.

[0046] The folds 200 are generally designed to be selective in the folding direction. A fold 200, represented by a dashed line, favors a folding direction or fold in which the surface sections facing away from the viewer are folded toward each other. This is also referred to here as outward folding.

[0047] Folds indicated by a solid line promote a folding direction or fold in which the surface sections 430 facing the viewer are folded onto one another. This is also referred to as inward folding.

[0048] In Figure 1, the outer surface sections of the body surface elements 310 are

[0049] 430 can be seen. Schematically, a security print 600 comprising a triangle is formed on the surface sections 430, which ends at an upper contour edge 141 of the outer surface section 431 and continues from the fold 212 into the outer surface section 434.

[0050] In the three-dimensional folded state of the banknote or substrate element 120, this banknote / substrate element 120 is a three-dimensional body 500 in the shape of a cube 501. This folded three-dimensional state is schematically illustrated in Figure 2.

[0051] The same technical features are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0052] The outer surface portion 431 of the body surface element 311 directly adjoins the surface portion 434 of the body surface element 314, so that the security print 600 appears to continue seamlessly over the front upper edge 511 of the cube 501. This feature can be used to verify whether the banknote 100 is genuine or not.

[0053] In the surface element 300, which forms the body surface element 312 in the cube 501 and forms the rear side facing away from the viewer, a transparent window region 700 is formed by means of a transparent window element 701. This can be made, for example, from a transparent, clear plastic. In the embodiment shown here, the transparent window element 701 contains a volume transmission hologram 711, which, for example, diffracts light from a narrowly defined wavelength range of visible light, for example in the green wavelength range, in such a way that information stored in the volume transmission hologram 711 in the form of the lettering 721 "HOLO" is projected onto the inner surface section 444 of the body surface element 314 when white light 800 is irradiated through the window element 701.The projection is performed in such a way that, when viewed through window element 701, the lettering appears as a mirror image. However, the material of substrate layer element 120 in the region of body surface element 314 is translucent, so that the lettering "HOLO" 721 is visible from the outside as green lettering. This feature can also be used to verify banknote 100. In another embodiment, window element 701 is formed by a lens formed in a plastic film, which allows information (not shown) formed, for example, as microprinting on the inner surface section 444 of body surface element 314 opposite window element 701 to be captured through the lens of window element 701, which acts as a magnifying glass.The fact that this microwriting becomes readable and / or the fact that the microwriting is present and / or content encoded in it can be used to make a verification decision.

[0054] Figures 3 and 4 show another embodiment of a banknote 100, once in the unfolded, flat form (Figure 3) and once in the three-dimensional folded state. In this embodiment, the banknote 100 does not include an edge region. For reasons of clarity, not all features have been provided with reference numerals again. However, these can be transferred analogously to Figures 1 and 2, except for the aforementioned changes.

[0055] This embodiment further differs from the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 in that this embodiment has additional stabilizing surface elements 371-377 and additional folds 213-219. Furthermore, cuts 271-277 are made in the folds 212, 208, 201, 211, 204, 205, 210, through which the additional stabilizing elements 371-377 are accommodated in the folded state.

[0056] Furthermore, an optical element 780 is formed on the inner surface section 441 facing away from the viewer in the finished folded cube, which deflects light 800 radiated through the window element 701, which is formed from a transparent clear film, into the interior of the cube 501 in such a way that the incident light cone 810 is deflected into two reflected light cones 791, 792, which impinge on the inner surface sections 441 and 446 and can be detected from the outside as bright circles by the corresponding body surface elements 311 and 315 on the outer surface sections 431 and 436.

[0057] Figures 5 and 6 depict a flat state and a folded state of another banknote 100, whose three-dimensional body has the shape of a tetrahedron. The other features explained in connection with Figures 1-4 or elsewhere in the description can be implemented in any combination.

[0058] Figs. 7 and 8 show a banknote 100 in a flat and folded state. The folds 200 of the banknote 100, shown in Fig. 7, allow for the folding of a so-called Platonic solid, which also has the shape of a tetrahedron. The letters A to U shown in the surface elements 300 serve to identify the surface elements for the folding instructions given below. To fold this banknote 100 into a tetrahedron, the following steps are necessary:

[0059] (1) The lower right corner (N, T and U) is folded in.

[0060] (2) Then the right quarter side (from O to T) is folded inwards.

[0061] (3) Now the left side (from A to H) is also folded inwards.

[0062] (4) Now the two narrow sides are brought together, creating the rough shape of the tetrahedron. On the right side, S is placed on P and the upper lobe O is placed between

[0063] T and U inserted and pinched tightly.

[0064] (5) On the left side, G is placed on D and the lower corner H is tucked between B and C. Then the flap formed by A and I is tucked under the triangle M.

[0065] Figure 8 shows the schematic shape of the finished, folded three-dimensional body 500. Here, too, a security feature is formed, for example, by a pattern of a security print 600 that extends beyond the body edges. This pattern is formed, for example, on the reverse sides of the inner surface sections marked with the letters K and M, i.e., facing away from the plane of the drawing, and essentially continues beyond the folded edges KD and MG. The border of the pattern on the side facing away from the viewer is indicated by a dash-dot line.

[0066] Figures 9-18 schematically depict additional banknotes 100, once in a flat state and once in a folded three-dimensional state. In preferred embodiments, the resulting three-dimensional shapes in a banknote series differ according to the values ​​of the individual banknotes. Thus, the value of the banknote is linked to a geometric shape of the three-dimensionally folded banknote or the substrate element of the banknote. For example, cubes have a value of ten and tetrahedrons a value of five.

[0067] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that only exemplary embodiments are described here. The banknotes shown in Figures 3-18, in the flat configuration, can also have an edge region from which the substrate layer element shown in the figures is delimited by a perforation.

[0068] The cuts 271-276 mentioned in connection with Figure 3 can, in one embodiment, be preformed as perforations, which are then converted into the cuts when the three-dimensional body is folded.

[0069] List of reference symbols

[0070] 100 banknotes

[0071] 101 Top

[0072] 102 subpage

[0073] 110 Edge area

[0074] 111 Top

[0075] 112 subpage

[0076] 120 substrate element

[0077] 121 top

[0078] 122 subpage

[0079] 130 perforation

[0080] 140 outline edges,

[0081] 141 upper outline edge

[0082] 200, 201-212 folds

[0083] 271-276 cuts

[0084] 300 surface elements

[0085] 310, 311-316 Body surface elements

[0086] 320 stabilization surface elements

[0087] 431-436 outer surface sections

[0088] 441-446 inner surface sections

[0089] 371-376 Stabilization surface elements

[0090] 500 three-dimensional bodies

[0091] 501 cubes

[0092] 511 Body edge

[0093] 600 security printing

[0094] 700 window area

[0095] 701 window element

[0096] 711 Volume transmission hologram

[0097] 721 lettering (“HOLO”)

[0098] 780 optical element

[0099] 791 , 792 reflected light cones

[0100] 800 light

[0101] 810 light cone

[0102] A - U Identifications of the surface elements

Claims

Patent claims 1. Banknote (100) comprising a flat substrate element (120), characterized in that the substrate element (120) has several folds (200; 201-212) such that when the substrate element (120) is folded along the folds (200; 201-212) a three-dimensional body (500) can be created.

2. Banknote (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the three-dimensional body (500) completely encloses a volume, i.e. each surface of the three-dimensional body is at least partially formed by surface elements (311- 316) of the substrate element (120).

3. Banknote (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate element (120) has a security print (600) which is designed such that a pattern continues in the three-dimensional body (500) over a body edge (511) which does not originate exclusively from one of the folds (200; 201-212).

4. Banknote (100) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that one of the surface elements (311-316) has a transparent window area (701).

5. Banknote (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the transparent window area (701) is formed by a transparent plastic element.

6. Banknote (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the plastic element has light-refracting properties and information on a surface section (340) located inside the three-dimensional body (500) can be detected through the plastic element, which is not detectable on the surface section (340) in the flat state of the flat substrate element.

7. Banknote (100) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that information is encoded in the plastic element which, when light (800) is irradiated onto the plastic element from outside the three-dimensional body (500) the information is projected onto at least one internal surface section (340) of one of the surface elements (311-316) that this information can be detected by the surface element (311-316) from the outside or by the plastic element inside the three-dimensional body (500).Banknote (100) according to one of claims 5-7, characterized in that a light-deflecting optical security element (780) is formed on a surface section (340) which is arranged in the three-dimensional body opposite the window area (700) inside, which, when light (800) is irradiated through the window area (700) onto the light-deflecting optical security element (780), deflects the light (800) in such a way that the light (800) is deflected at least partially at a distance from the security element (780) onto one surface section (340) and / or another surface section (340) arranged inside, so that this deflected light is perceptible from the outside through the window section (701) or from the outside through the surface element (311-316) on which one surface section (340) or the other surface section (340) is formed.A banknote (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the banknote (100) additionally has a flat edge region (110) and the substrate element (120) is separated from the edge region (110) by a perforation (130), such that the substrate element can be separated from the edge element along the perforation (130) without tools. A banknote (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the substrate element (120) has incisions (271-276) for forming plug connections or perforations for forming such incisions, which are in particular each formed along a partial section of a fold (200; 201-212).

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