WO2005119632A1

WO2005119632A1 - A security labelling system

Info

Publication number: WO2005119632A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/050079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence Paul Le Duc
Original assignee: TOTAL LOGIC SECURITY Ltd
Current assignee: TOTAL LOGIC SECURITY Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-03
Filing date: 2005-06-02
Publication date: 2005-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-03
Also published as: GB2414722A; GB0412339D0

Abstract

A common practice used to assist the recovery of stolen goods is to mark articles with an owner's postcode using fluorescent ink which is invisible in normal light conditions but becomes visible when irradiated with ultraviolet radiation. This method is entirely ineffective in discouraging theft of marked articles, and articles must be remarked every six to twelve months as exposed ink loses its fluorescence with continual exposure to. These problems are over come by providing a label having an underside marked with fluorescent ink (5B) and an adhesive (6) for securing the underside of the label to the article so that the ink cannot be removed without damaging the article. The label includes an opaque cover sheet (1) carrying a warning message (2). This label protects the ink (5B) from exposure to light until removed following loss or theft of the article.

Description

A SECURITY LABELLING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a security labelling system for deterring the theft of portable articles and for assisting in the recovery of such articles if they are lost or stolen.

It is common practice to mark articles eg with the owner's postcode using a fluorescent ink which is invisible in normal light conditions but which fluoresces and therefore becomes visible when irradiated with ultraviolet radiation. This technique has proved very useful in allowing police forces to return lost or stolen property to its owners. A problem is that the ink loses its fluorescence after six to twelve months and so the marking needs to be repeatedly renewed. Another problem is that, although the technique is very effective for retrieving lost or stolen goods, it is entirely ineffective in discouraging theft.

This invention provides a security labelling system for portable articles comprising a label having an underside marked with fluorescent ink and an adhesive for securing the underside of the label to the article so that the ink cannot be removed without damaging the article, the label including opaque material which protects the ink from exposure to light until that material is removed following loss or theft of the article. It will be appreciated that by employing the invention it becomes possible for articles to be effectively protected against theft simply by using a strong adhesive to attach a label carrying a fluorescent marking. Because the label is made opaque, it shields the fluorescent material against light which would degrade its effectiveness; and the label can also carry a warning as a deterrent against theft. If the label (or at least the part of it carrying the visible warning) is removed, the fluorescent marking still remains. The label can thus serve both as a deterrent against theft and as an aid to recovery of lost or stolen articles.

In its simplest form the invention could take the form of a single sheet of opaque plastics material or metal carrying a warning message on its upper surface and the fluorescent message on its underside. In use, epoxy resin adhesive, applied over the fluorescent marking, would be used to attach the label to the article to be protected. Should it be stolen, the label would be difficult to remove without causing damage, and even if removed would expose the visible or invisible fluorescent marking, absorbed into any adhesive remaining on the stolen article.

It is preferred that the fluorescent ink should be applied to one side of a transparent sheet, this transparent sheet being covered by an opaque cover-sheet to which it is attached using an adhesive less strong than the first-mentioned adhesive. In this construction, if the thief does manage to remove the cover sheet, in doing so he exposes the transparent sheet and the fluorescent marking, which can then be detected by the police. Even if the transparent sheet is in some way ground away, the marking will still be retained by absorption into the adhesive and/or the material of the article. Optionally, the upper or under surface of the transparent sheet can also carry a visible non-fluorescent marking. In constructions as described in this paragraph, it is preferred that the opaque cover-sheet should overlap the edges of the transparent sheet.

The transparent sheet is preferably of polyester material having a coating of a composition conventionally used for inkjet printing of transparencies. Such coatings, which may include an ink absorbent porous polymer layer, have been found to retain the fluorescent ink without risk of smudging either the fluorescent ink or any normal ink which might also be printed on the same surface. The opposite surface of the sheet is preferably left uncoated so that it is relatively smooth. This ensures that, if a thief does manage to remove the cover sheet, the adhesive remains on the cover sheet in preference to the transparent sheet and does not unduly damage the transparency thereof.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Fig 1 is a perspective view, shown partly cut away to illustrate a cross-section, of a security label constructed in accordance with the invention and employing a cover sheet of synthetic plastics material; Figs 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate progressive steps in the application, to a portable article, of a security label similar to that of Fig 1 but employing a metal cover sheet; and

Fig 3 is a perspective view, shown partly cut away to illustrate a cross-section of a variant embodiment of a security label shown in Fig 1.

Because the illustrated article is composed of very thin layers, the drawings are not to scale, but show some of the layers with exaggerated thickness as an aid to illustration and description.

Referring firstly to Fig 1, the illustrated security label employs a cover sheet 1 of synthetic plastics material which is sufficiently flexible to fit around curved surfaces. The cover sheet 1 carries printing 2 on its upper surface typically containing a warning message, a logo, contact details of a central registry, and an identification code which allows the registry to identify the person to whom the label has been issued. The printed material is covered with a protective and decorative dome-shaped shaped layer 3 of clear synthetic plastics material.

The underside of the cover sheet 1 carries, at a central portion thereof, a thin layer 4 of contact adhesive, completely surrounded by a border region which is clear of adhesive. To this adhesive is secured a thin transparent sheet 5 of polyester inkjet transparency film having an uncoated, shiny, surface which is applied to the adhesive, and an absorbent coating on its under surface. On this under surface, two images are printed. One of these images, 5A, might typically include the word "STOLEN" and a repeat of the information on the cover sheet 1. This is printed in black and coloured inks using an inkjet printer. The image 5 A is then overprinted with the image 5B using fluorescent ink in an inkjet printer. After printing, the film is cut to size and its shiny face is applied to the sticky film 4 at the centre of the cover sheet 1.

Finally, an industrial strength epoxy adhesive 6 is thinly applied over the whole lower surface which is then applied to the article 7 to be protected. The whole label is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of a curved surface if so required. If a determined attempt is made to remove the label it is possible that the plastics cover sheet 1 could be torn away from the smooth upper surface of the transparent film 4, only to reveal a repeat of the warning message visible through the film. Removing this message is impossible without damaging the article 7 since it is embedded in the epoxy adhesive which becomes inseparable from the article. Even if the epoxy resin were ground off in places 5A where the message appears, the thief would not know that the invisible fluorescent message remains in other places 5B. Fig 2 shows, at A, B and C, a product similar to that of Fig 1 equivalent parts being denoted with reference numerals identical to those of Fig 1.

Referring to Fig 2 A, this security label has a cover sheet 1A made of metal but sufficiently thin to bend to the shape of a curved article. The metal sheet 1A is anodised at IB and carries printing 2 protected with clear plastic 3 as for the Fig 1 embodiment. However, unlike the Fig 1 embodiment, the whole under surface of the cover sheet carries contact adhesive 4, this being protected with a release sheets 4A(in the centre) and 4B around the edges.

The central release sheet 4 A is removed and a clear plastic film 5, identical to that of Fig 1, is pressed into the adhesive, as show on Fig 2B. Finally, epoxy resin adhesive is applied to the central portion, over the film 5 and the label is pressed onto the article 5 as shown in Fig 2C.

The Fig 2 embodiment works in a similar fashion to that of Fig 1, except that a determined effort to remove the label will result in the component parts parting along the line of the contact adhesive 4, leaving just the film 5 and its associated visible and invisible messages irremovably attached to the article.

Fig 3 illustrates a variation embodiment of Fig 1. The label comprises a cover sheet made from either synthetic plastics material or metal sheet carrying printing 2 and domed shaped layer 3. The underside of the cover sheet 1 carries, at a central portion thereof, a thin layer 4 of contact adhesive completely surrounded by a border region or well 8 which is clear of adhesive. The well 8 is itself surrounded by a border layer 9 of contact adhesive. As with the first embodiment, a thin transparent sheet 5 is secured to the central portion of contact adhesive 4. It is preferable that the dimensions of the transparent sheet

5 are at least equal to that of the central portion of contact adhesive 4. The contact adhesive of border layer 9 may be protected before use by a single release sheet which may be removed immediately before use.

Industrial strength epoxy adhesive 6 is thinly applied over the under surface of transparent sheet 5 which is then applied to the article 7 to be protected. As for the other embodiments, the whole label is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of a curved surface if so required. The well 8 holds and inhibits excess epoxy 6 from transgressing outside the edge of the plate which would otherwise look unsightly.

The border layer 9 of contact adhesive also promotes the preferential separation of the cover sheet 1 from the transparent sheet 5 rather than the transparent sheet 5 from the article 7. Although, for ease of illustration, Fig 3 shows the thickness of the border layer 9 to be greater than that of the central portion 4, in practice, these thicknesses may be the same, with any inconsistencies in the topography of the lower surface of the label caused by the application of epoxy

6 being accommodated by the flexing of the cover sheet 1. It will be appreciated that many variations to the illustrated embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, it would be possible for the clear film to carry just the fluorescent material, and no visible printing, giving the thief the false impression that he/she has removed all the incriminating evidence. Another possibility would be for both surfaces of the sheet 5 to carry coatings, so that the visible printing can be applied on the top surface, with the invisible printing on the lower surface. The visible printing could then possibly be removed by a thief, not knowing that the invisible fluorescent writing remains intact beneath.

In yet another variation the fluorescent writing might be visible so as to make a potential thief aware that there is a UV marking but unsure whether, any attempt to remove it has been completely successful.

Claims

1. A security labelling system for portable articles comprising a label having an underside marked with fluorescent ink and an adhesive for securing the underside of the label to the article so that the ink cannot be removed without damaging the article, the label including opaque material which protects the ink from exposure to light until that material is removed following loss or theft of the article.

2. A security labelling system according to Claim 1 in which the fluorescent ink is on one side of a transparent sheet and in which an opaque cover sheet is adhered over the transparent sheet with a second adhesive less strong than the first-mentioned adhesive.

3. A security labelling system according to Claim 2 in which the cover sheet is marked with warning indicia.

4. A security labelling system according to any preceding claim in which the label is flexible so that it can be applied to a curved surface.

5. A security labelling system according to Claim 2 or 3 in which the cover sheet overlaps the transparent sheet so that the overlapping parts, when applied to the article, are adhered by the second adhesive, directly to the article.

6. A security labelling system according to Claim 2, 4 or 5 in which the second adhesive is a contact adhesive.

7. A security labelling system according to claim 6 in which the second adhesive is applied onto the opaque cover sheet so as to define an enclosed region not containing adhesive, the enclosed region acting to inhibit the first adhesive from transgressing beyond the edge of the cover sheet.

8. A security labelling system according to Claim 5 when dependant on

Claim 4 in which contact adhesive on the overlapping parts are protected with a release sheet.

9. A security labelling system according to Claim in which the first adhesive is an epoxy resin

10. A security labelling system according to Claim 2 or any other Claim when dependant thereon, in which the transparent sheet is of clear polyester material carrying, on its underside, a coating suitable for inkjet printing.

11. A security labelling system substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

12. An article carrying a label as claimed in any preceding Claim

13. A security labelling system comprising articles in accordance with Claim 10, each carrying an identification code, and a central database recording a rightful owner associated with each code