Booklet Stitching Inspection via Dual-Configuration Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security booklets, such as passports, are vulnerable to tampering as skilled fraudsters can extract and replace pages without easily detectable alterations in the stitching, requiring time-consuming checks by authenticators.

Innovation Solution

The booklet design features a book block with sheets stitched along a fold line, allowing the obverse and reverse sides of the stitching to be viewed without detaching it from the cover, making it difficult for fraudsters to tamper without detection, by attaching leaves to the cover member in a way that allows the booklet to be opened in two configurations, facilitating the examination of stitching integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pages are stitched into a conventional book block, then the booklet structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the stitching cannot be easily examined for tampering without detaching the book block from the cover

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-tampering capabilityVSAvoidbooklet structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The book block is designed to be dynamically openable in multiple configurations. By allowing the book block to open in two different ways (first configuration showing obverse side of stitching, second configuration showing reverse side of stitching), the patent enables authentication without requiring detachment from the cover, thus improving anti-tampering capability while maintaining relatively simple structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the dimensional aspect of booklet opening configurations. By designing the book block to reveal stitching from different dimensional perspectives (obverse and reverse sides through different opening configurations), it enables comprehensive stitching examination without complex structural additions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If fraudsters replace pages in a conventional booklet, then the tampering can be done without obvious detection, but the authentication process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication timeVSAvoidundetected tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares the book block in advance by designing it to open in two configurations that respectively expose the obverse and reverse sides of the stitching. This preliminary design enables authenticators to quickly examine stitching integrity without time-consuming detachment procedures, reducing authentication time while preventing undetected tampering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the book block is attached to the cover in a conventional manner, then manufacturing is simple, but both sides of the stitching cannot be viewed without detaching the book block

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestitching examination easeVSAvoidbooklet assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The book block is designed with dynamic opening capabilities that allow it to open in two different configurations. This dynamic design enables easy stitching examination (improving ease of operation) while maintaining conventional attachment methods to the cover (preserving ease of manufacture), as the examination capability comes from the book block's own structure rather than complex attachment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3261847B1booklet
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LTD
  • EP3261847B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3261847B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3261847B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A booklet comprises a book block (20) having at least two sheets (1 -5), secured together by stitching (50) whereby when the sheets are folded along a fold line (30) substantially parallel with the stitching (50) such that each sheet defines a pair of leaves one on each side of the fold line (30), the sheets form an innermost sheet (5) and an outermost sheet (1 ). An obverse side (51 ) of the stitching is exposed on the inner surface of the innermost sheet (5) and a reverse side (52) of the stitching is exposed on the outer surface of the outermost sheet (1 ). A cover member (10) has inner (12) and outer (11) surfaces, the inner surface defining first and second cover pages (10A, 10B) one on each side of a cover fold line (10C). The book block (24) is attached to the cover member (10) by attaching a leaf (4A) of the book block to the first cover page (10A) to define a first end page, the leaf of the book block defining the first end page being selected such that the book block can be opened in two different configurations to reveal respectively the obverse (51 ) and reverse (52) sides of the stitching without detaching the book block from the cover member.