GB2272667A

GB2272667A - A form for making an identity card

Info

Publication number: GB2272667A
Application number: GB9320904A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Evans
Original assignee: Kalamazoo PLC
Current assignee: Kalamazoo PLC
Priority date: 1992-11-19
Filing date: 1993-10-11
Publication date: 1994-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-11
Also published as: GB2272667B; FR2698045B1; IE75679B1; GB9224301D0; DE4338127A1; ZA936281B; GB9320904D0; FR2698045A1; IE930026A1

Abstract

An identity card is made from a form 1 having a first, card-forming region 4, and a protective transparent film 20 releasably mounted on a second, film-carrying, region 5. The form can be folded along line 650 as to superimpose the film 20 upon the first region so that in use the film adheres, by means of adhesive (22, fig. 3), to the first region. The card-forming region 4 can be removed from the body of the form by means of perforations 8, 18 and folded about line 11 so that the two parts 9, 10 can be glued together by means of adhesive (25, Fig. 2) on the rear surface thereof. The adhesive (22) covering the film 20 is protected by release paper 23 and the film releasably mounted on region 5 by means of glue 21. Region 7 can be used for record purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

2272667 1 IDENTIFICATION CARDS, MEMBERSHIP CARDS, AND THE LIKE This

invention relates to identification cards, membership cards, and the like.

Membership cards can be expensive to produce, and are often replaced every year.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a form for assembly into a card, such as an identification card, membership card, or the like, the form comprising a form body having a first region bearing, or being adapted to bear in use, information content of the card, and a protective film releasably mounted on a second region of the body, the body being adapted to be moved, for example folded, so as to superimpose the film upon the first region so that in use the f ilm adheres to the first region, and in which the first region, with the film adhering to it, is adapted to be removed from the body of the form.

Thus the user, the person who completes the card, for example by f illing in the name of the card holder, seals the first region by applying the film to it. This enables the user to personalise the card under the film - instead of above it. Having the card personalised under the film increases the security of the card since it makes it difficult to tamper with. it also enables the film to protect the personalisation. The fact that the card is made from a form enables it to be produced by small organisations, even individuals, without complicated and expensive card laminating machines.

The first region is preferably adapted to be removed from the body of the form by means of a 2 weakened peripheral region substantially surrounding the f irst region. The weakened peripheral region may comprise perforations, substantial cuts through the material of the form, the first region being held to the body by breakable webs. The f irst region may be adapted to be pressed out of the body.

The film is preferably provided with adhesive so to glue it to the first region. The adhesive preferably covers a substantial area of the film, most preferably substantially the whole area of the film which will in use be superimposed upon the first region. The adhesive is preferably covered by a protective release paper or membrane, such as silicon release paper.

The body of the form preferably has a fold line adapted to facilitate folding of the body about the axis of the fold line. The first and second regions are preferably spaced from the fold line.

The first region preferably comprises front and back face portions adapted to form the front and back of the card, the front face portion being adapted to be moved to overlie the back face portion, by for example folding upon itself after removal of the first region from the body. The rear of both of the front and back face portions preferably carry adhesive. Alternatively adhesive may only be carried by one of the portions.

The film may extend over substantially only that part of the first region which comprises the front, or back, face portion, or even over only a part of said front or back portion of the first region.

3 The form may have a record portion which the issuer keeps in a record system.

Preferably a part of the card other than the first region may bear information. The information may relate to instructions for assembly of the card.

The film may be of a tamper evident nature so that it indicates whether it has been tampered with after application to the first region. The film is preferably waterproof.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of producing a card such as a membership card, identification card, or the like, the method comprising taking a form in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and personalising the first region of the form, for example by writing on it or applying a photograph to it, manipulating the form, for example by folding, so that the film overlies the first region, gluing the film to the first region, and removing the first region and associated film from the body of the card.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a kit comprising a form in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and instructions in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fiqure 1 shows the front of a form for producing a membership card; 4 Fiqure 2 shows the back of Figure 1; the form of Fiqure 3 shows schematically a cross-section on line III-III of Figure 1; and Fiqure 4 shows schematically a cross-section through a membership card made from the form of Figure 1.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a paper f orm 1 adapted to be part of a system for producing membership cards 2 (shown in Figure 4). The form 1 has a form body 3 which has a first, card-forming, region 4, a second, filmcarrying, region 5, a fold line 6, and a record portion 7. The form may be made from a suitable material other than paper such as card or even plastic.

The card-forming region 4 is surrounded by a die-cut perforation 8 and has a front face portion 9 and a back face portion 10 adapted to form the front and back of the card 2. Another perforation line 11 divides the front and back face portion 9 and 10 and serves in use as another fold line, the use of which is described later. The front face portion 9 has a membership number 12 pre-printed on it, a security device 13 which is difficult to copy pre-printed on it, a signature region 14 which the member signs to personalise the card, and a photograph region 15 which marks where a photograph of the user should be placed to personalise the card.

There may also be a place where the issuer of the card can stamp or other otherwise mark the front, or back, face portion to validate the card. The security devi"ce 13, or indeed some other area of the f ront or z 1 back face portion, could have an anti-photocopying feature printed onto it such that the word VOID (or some other indicia) appears on photocopies of the card-forming region.

The back face portion 10 has another security device 16 and a set of rules printed upon it.

Of course any of the foregoing elements, such as the number, the security device or devices, the signature region and the photograph region may be omitted depending on the use of the card which will ultimately be made from the form.

The card-forming region 4 is spaced from the fold line 6 by a distance F.

The film-carrying region 5 comprises a central area 17 surrounded by diecut perforations 18 and a peripheral area 19 surrounding the perforations 18. The film-carrying region 5 carries a transparent protective film or laminate 20. The underside of the film 20 is held to the paper or card of the peripheral area 19 by glue 21, but is not held to the central area 17 directly. The glue 21 is present only in the peripheral area 19. The film 20 also has die-cut perforations 18 (indeed they are cut in the same operation of manufacture of the form). The central area of the film is held to the form body 3 via the tags which remain in the film between its die-cut perforations. The upper surface of the film 20 is coated with adhesive 22 (see Figure 3) which extends over substantially the entire area of the film 20. A sheet of silicon release paper 23 is provided over the adhesive 22. Another fold-line 24 of perforations is provided in the film 20 (and the paper of the form) 6 dividing the central region 17 into front and back laminating portions.

The central region 17, defined by die-cut perforations 18, is spaced by the same distance F from the fold line 6 as is the card-forming region 4, and has the same dimensions as the card-forming region 4. The central region 17 is a mirror-image of the card-forming region 4, mirrored through the fold line 6.

In a modification of the form 1 there is no need for the perforated fold line 24 of the central region 17 and it is omitted.

The record portion 7 is adapted to be completed and removed f rom the body 3, and kept by the issuer (for example in a card-index filing system, or the completed information transcribed from the record portion 7 at a later date to a permanent record system, such as a computer).

The rear of the form 1 is shown in Figure 2. The rear surf ace of the front f ace portion 9 and the back face portion 10 is coated with a layer of glue 25 which is covered with a sheet of silicon release paper 26.

In use the issuer of a membership card, for example an of f icial of the membership scheme or club, has a supply of f orms 1. The f orms 1 are supplied as continuous stationery, different forms 1 being part of a reel or separable from a continuous web of forms by tearing at dividing perforations. However the forms may simply be individual sheets. The official -can, should he wish, pass the forms either individually, or as a continuous web, through the club's own printer, 7 such as a laser printer, to add or change information on the form compared to the content of the form as originally supplied by the manufacturer. He can even print onto the card-forming region 4 if he wishes because it is not yet laminated by the protective film 20.

After detaching a form 1 the official completes it himself, or has a new applicant for membership complete it. The Applicant signs at the signature region 14 and the official takes a photograph (referenced as P in Figure 4) of the user and places it at the photograph region 15. The official may glue the photograph to the region 15 to hold it in place temporarily, but this may not be necessary. The official then peels off the release paper 23 to reveal the layer of adhesive 22 on the top surface of the protective film 20. The official then folds the body 3 of the form about fold line 6 so as to bring the film 20 on top of the region 4. The lines of the die-cut and 18 are superimposed exactly, as are the lines 11 and 24.

glued to the card-forming region 4 and laminates it. This also holds the photograph in place. The official may take care to fold the film onto the card-forming region smoothly and progressively - the parts nearer the fold line meeting first, so as to avoid air bubbles. The official presses the rear of the paper form in the area of the central region 17 so as to ensure a good seal between the film and the card-forming region 4.

card-forming Derforations 8 practically The film 20 is As an alternative to attaching the photograph to the region 15, once the release paper 23 is peeled off, the photograph can be placed face down on the layer of adhesive 22. Thus the photograph is held in place 8 without the need for extra adhesive. In order for a user to locate the photograph correctly on the film, instructions may be printed on the central area of the paper underneath the film, for example a target area over which the photograph should be placed. There may be other instructions printed on the central area of paper for example directions as to the correct orientation of the photograph.

The user then presses out what is effectively a card blank from the folded form. The card-forming region 4 and its associated protective film 20 is pressed out of the body, the tags between the perforations 8 and 18 breaking. The official presses on the rear of the f orm in the region of the central area 17. There will be the central area of paper 17 pressed out with the card-forming region 4, but this will just drop away from the laminated card-forming portion since it is not bonded to that part of the film 20 which is bonded to the card-forming portion.

In an alternative version the perforations 18 extend through the film 20, but not the paper beneath, the paper beneath is then not pressed out with the blank for the card.

The official now has a laminated card-forming region with the silicon release paper 26 still attached to the rear surface of the front face portion 9 and the back face portion 10. The official peels off the release paper 26 and folds the card-forming region about fold line 11, gluing the front face portion 9 to the rear face portion 10. The finished card is illustrated in Figure 4.

1 9 The invention thus allows a card to be personalised to any desired extent before the protective laminate is applied to seal in the contents of the card. once the card has been sealed by the laminate it is difficult to add information or markings to the card in a way which cannot easily be altered.

The finished card is protected against tampering (once removed the laminate cannot easily be re-applied), against wear (the plastics laminate wears better than paper), and is substantially water proof.

It may be arranged for the die cut of the film 20 to be slightly outside the plan area of the die cut of the region 4 so that when the region 4 is f olded about line 11 the edges of the film 20 seal on other edges of the film, fully enclosing the very edge part of the card-forming region 4.

It may be necessary for the manufacturer of the forms to stamp the diecut perforations 8 and 18 in the same stamping operation, using effectively the same die, so that there is no possibility of the position of the perforations 8 and 18 moving relative to each other. The fold line 6 may also be made in this single operation, as may the lines 11 and 24. In order to be able to cope with the different thicknesses of material through which the die has to cut the die may have a stepped configuration (the part of the die over the film-carrying region 5 has to cut through the paper of the form and the film, whereas that part over the cardforming region has only to cut through the paper of the form).

It will be appreciated that, not all of the film 20 need be transparent. It may have one or more transparent window portions which in use overlie areas of the card- forming region which bear information which is to be seen (such as a photograph). The film 20 need not, necessarily, extend over the whole of the front or back face portions of the card-forming region, but this may reduce the protection against wear and water.

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Claims

1. A form for assembly into a card, such as an identification card, membership card, or the like, the form comprising a form body having a first region bearing, or being adapted to bear in use, information content of the card, and a protective film releasably mounted on a second region of the body, the body being adapted to be moved, for example folded, so as to superimpose the film upon the first region so that in use the film adheres to the first region, and in which the first region, with the film adhering to it, is adapted to be removed from the body of the form.

2. A form according to claim 1 in which the first region is adapted to be removed f rom the body of the form by means of a weakened peripheral region substantially surrounding the first region.

3. A f orm according to claim 2 in which the weakened peripheral region comprises perforations, or cuts through the material of the form, the first region being held to the body by breakable webs.

4. A f orm according to any preceding claim in which the f irst region is adapted to be pressed out of the body.

5. A form according to any preceding claim in which the f ilm is provided with adhesive so as to glue it to the first region.

6. A form according to claim 5 in which the adhesive covers a substantial area of the film.

12

7. A form according to claim 6 in which the adhesive covers substantially the whole area of the film which will in use be superimposed upon the first region.

8. A form according to any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the adhesive is covered by a protective release paper or membrane, such as silicon release paper.

9. A form according to any preceding claim in which the body of the form has a fold line adapted to facilitate folding of the body about the axis of the fold line.

10. A form according to claim 9 in which the first and second regions are spaced from the fold line.

11. A form according to any preceding claim in which the first region has front and back face portions adapted to f orm the f ront and back of the card, the front face portion being adapted to be moved to overlie the back face portion, by for example folding upon itself after removal of the first region from the body.

12. A form according to claim 11 in which at least one of the front or back face portions carry adhesive.

13. A f orm according to any preceding claim in which the film extends over at least a part of said front or back portion of the first region. 1

14. A form according to any preceding claim which has a record portion which is adapted to be kept by the issuer of the card.

i 13

15. A form according to any preceding claim in which a part of the card other than the first region bears information.

16. A f orm according to any preceding claim in which there is a tamper evident f ilm which indicates whether it has been tampered with after application to the first region.

17. A f orm according to any preceding claim which is waterproof.

18. A form substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of producing a card such as a membership card, identification card, or the like, the method comprising taking a form in accordance with any one of claim 1 to 18 and personalising the first region of the form, for example by writing on it or applying a photograph to it, manipulating the form, for example by folding, so that the film overlies the first region, gluing the film to the first region, and removing the first region and associated film from the body of the form.

20. A method of producing a card substantially as described herein.

21. A kit comprising a form in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18 and instructions in accordance with claim 20 or claim 21.