(54) MAGNETICALLY READABLE PLASTICS CARDS(71) We, DATA CARD (U.K.)LIMITED, (formerly RAPID DATA SYSTEMSINTERNATIONAL LIMITED), a British Company of New Lane, Havant, Hampshire,P09 2NR, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:This invention relates to plastics cards which are particularly suitable for use in security procedures.
Such cards are known which comprise an opaque plastics material, usually white polyvinyl chloride (PVC), on which any desired static information is pre-printed on either or both faces. The information may be printed over a security background design and ultra-violet light reflective inks may be used.
The above-described cards have the disadvantage that fraudulent copies could be made by a suitably skilled man with suitable equipment.
In accordance with the one feature of the present invention, there is provided a plastics card for use in security procedures, comprising two layers of plastics material, the inner surface of one or both layers having thereon magnetisable material which can be magnetised to provide a magnetically readable identification, the plastics layers having been bonded together to form a homogeneous mass shrouding the magnetisable material.
The magnetic material may be located on the surface of the plastics layer by printing with magnetic ink, or by hot stamping or by laying a portion of magnetic tape on that surface.
The identification may be an alpha, numeric or coded pattern and provides the equivalent of a watermark which, when the layers of plastics material are bonded together, is integral with the card.
In accordance with another feature of the invention there is provided a method of producing a plastics card for use in security procedures, comprising the steps of applying a magnetisable material to one surface of a flat piece of plastics material, and bonding that surface to a surface of another flat piece of plastics material to form a homogeneous mass shrouding the magnetisable material.
The presence of the magnetisable material is preferably obscure from vision by overprinting the portion of the card at which the magnetisable material is located.
The identification can be read by magnetic viewing or reading devices, but it cannot be tampered with or removed without damaging the card because of its integral construction.
Preferably, two layers of transparent plastics material are bonded one on each side of the two-layer part. The construction is heated and under pressure to provide a homogeneous mass.
'Ie identification is preferably an indication of the origin of manufacture and cannot be readily copied by others.
One form of card and its method of construction, in accordance with the invention, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an exploded perspective view ot the components ot the card.
The card is formed of four layers of plastics, preferably PVC, material, the outer layers 1, 2 being transparent and providing protection for the inner core which is formed from two opaque layers 3,4, usually white.
Any desired information 6 is printed on the outer surfaces of the inner core layers 3, 4, for example details of the card issuer, and in addition a security background design may be provided. Ultra-violet light reflective inks may be used to provide additional security.
On the inner surface of one or both of the core layers 3, 4 there is provided a strip 5 of magnetisable material which can carry a desired identification mark. The material may be magnetic ink, for example ink having a ferrite oxide binder, applied by any suitable printing process, or the magnetisable material may be applied by hot stamping or by laying a portion of magnetic tape on the surface of the layer. The total thickness of the core layers may vary to provide a total card thickness of from .012" to .040" thick.
When the printing operation has been completed and the or each magnetisable strip 5 has been positioned the four layers of the card are bonded together using heat and pressure to provide an homogeneous mass so that the layers cannot then be separated to change the information on the inner core encased in the card.
The magnetic strip is then magnetised to store any desired identification information and thereafter can read by magnetic viewing or other reading devices, but it cannot be tampered with or removed without damaging the card.
The identification on the magnetic strip may be alpha, numeric or other coded pattern or patterns to suit any particular security requirement. In order to ensure that the strip is not visible to the human eye, the outer surfaces of the core layers 3,4 may be over printed in a position corresponding to the magnetic strip or coded data.
If desired, the outer face of the finished card may be provided with a polished, inked panel for engraving a pictire of the card holder from a suitable photograph, as is already known, and may be provided with signature panels having ultra-violet light reflecting inks.
The two-layered core 3, 4 could be used on its own without the outer layers 1, 2, but the outer layers provided protection for the core and reduce the possibility of the card being tampered with.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS:1. A plastics card for use in security procedures, comprising two layers of plastics material the inner surface of one or both layers having thereon magnetisable material which can be magnetised to provide a magnetically readable identification, the plastics layers having been bonded together to form a homogeneous mass shrouding the magnetisable material.
2. A plastics card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is magnetic ink applied by printing.
3. A plastics card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is a portion of magnetic tape.
4. A plastics card according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein two further layers of plastics material are bonded to the outer surface of the first-mentioned layers, said further layers being transparent.
5. A plastics card according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the layers of material have been heated together under pressure to provide the homogeneous mass.
6. A plastics card according to any of claims 1 io 5, wherein the outer surfaces of the laminate are overprinted in an area overlying the magnetic material the overprinting obscuring the magnetic material from vision.
7. A method of producing a plastics card for use in security procedures, comprising the steps of applying a magnetisable material to one surface of a flat piece of plastics material, and bonding that surface to a surface of another flat piece of plastics material to form a homogeneous mass shrouding the magnetisable material.
8. A method according to claim 7, including the step of magnetising the magnetisable material to provide a predetermined coded identification in the magnetisable material.
9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, including the step of overprinting the outer surfaces of the pieces of plastics material in the regions overlying the magnetisable material to obscure the magnetisable material from view.
10. A method according to any of claims 7 to 9, including the step of bonding two layers of transparent plastics material one on each outer surface of said plastics pieces.
11. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said magnetisable material is magnetic ink printed on to said one surface.
12. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said magnetisable material is a magnetic tape.
13. A plastics card constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
14. A method of producing a plastics card, according to claim 7 and substantially as herein described.
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