A tactile security feature for a banknote

Abstract

A tactile security feature for a banknote and a method for its production using in-line on a web-based process are disclosed. The security feature comprises a printed indicia layer including a design element and a printed enhanced tactility layer, which has at least a first enhanced tactility area overlapping the design element, such that the design element appears to have tactility due to the overlap with the enhanced tactility area. Preferably the tactile layer contains tactile particles. In addition, a banknote produced by the above method, a banknote having a single-ink system, and a coating for banknotes including a tactile security feature are disclosed.

1 . A tactile security feature for a banknote having a printed indicia layer including a design element and a printed enhanced tactility layer, which has at least a first enhanced tactility area overlapping the design element, such that the design element appears to have tactility due to the overlapping first enhanced tactility area, the design element and the first enhanced tactility area together forming the security feature. 
     
     
         2 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a lateral extent of the first enhanced tactility area substantially corresponds to a lateral extent of the design element. 
     
     
         3 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced tactility layer contains tactile particles. 
     
     
         4 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the tactile particles have at least one dimension which has an average size of 5 to 70 microns. 
     
     
         5 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the tactile particles have an average diameter of substantially 20 microns and, further preferably, are spherical. 
     
     
         6 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the tactile particles are 5 to 35 microns in at least one dimension 
     
     
         7 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the tactile particles have an aspect ratio between substantially 1 and 5. 
     
     
         8 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the tactile particles, at least on average, have a dimension in at least one direction which is greater than 150% of the smallest dimension 
     
     
         9 . A tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the enhanced tactility layer is applied at a first thickness in first regions and a second thickness in second regions. 
     
     
         10 . A tactile security feature for a banknote including a printed design layer having a print depth of 5 microns or less, a printed tactile layer, having tactile particles, printed over the design layer, the tactile layer giving apparent tactility to the design layer. 
     
     
         11 . A banknote as claimed having a tactile security feature as claimed in  claim 1 .