# US 7,078,090 B2 · Decorative foil > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,078,090 B2 - Document ID: US7078090B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/450,546 - Filed: 2001-12-18 - Published: 2004-04-22 - Granted: 2006-07-18 - Earliest claimed: 2000-12-22 - Assignees: OVD Kinegram AG - Inventors: Wayne Robert Tompkin; René Staub - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7078090B2 ## CPC - B42D 25/45: Associating two or more layers - G03H 1/0011: {for security or authentication (holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032)} - B42D 25/324: Reliefs - B42D 25/328: Diffraction gratings; Holograms - B42D 25/373: Metallic materials - B42D 25/41: using electromagnetic radiation (B42D25/435 takes precedence) - G03H 1/0244: {Surface relief holograms (replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276)} - G03H 1/0256: {having specific functional layer} - B42D 25/346: Perforations - B42D 25/351: Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows - B42D 2033/04 - B42D 2033/10 - G03H 2250/34: Colour layer - G03H 2250/36: Conform enhancement layer - Y10S 428/916: Fraud or tamper detecting - Y10T 428/24355: Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] - Y10T 428/24479: including variation in thickness - Y10T 428/24628: Nonplanar uniform thickness material - Y10T 428/24802: Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] - Y10T 428/24868: Translucent outer layer - Y10T 428/24876: Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.] - Y10T 428/24909: Free metal or mineral containing - Y10T 428/24917: including metal layer - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS - G03H: HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS (holograms, e.g. point holograms, used as ordinary optical elements G02B5/32; producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00; diffraction-grating systems G02B27/44; systems using moiré fringes G02B27/60; optical logic elements G02F3/00; stereo-photography G03B35/00; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; {stereo-photographic or similar processes G03C9/00}; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D; analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements G06E3/00; authentication by radiation, of concealed information carried by holograms or diffraction gratings G06K19/16; holographic storage G11B7/0065, G11C13/04; {stereoscopic or other three dimensional effects in television systems H04N13/00}) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A decorative foil is in the form of a layer composite structure (1) and comprises at least a transparent base foil (2), a transparent cover layer (4) and a transparent dielectric layer (3) arranged between the base foil (2) and the cover layer (4). When the decorative foil serves as a lamination foil for a substrate (5) the material of the cover layer (4) is an adhesive. A reflective metallic layer (6) is arranged at least in surface portions between the dielectric layer (3) and the cover layer (4) and optionally a metal film (11) is also arranged on the side of the dielectric layer (3) facing the base foil (2). General items of information shown by the decorative foil are produced by means of modulation of the thickness (s) of the dielectric layer (3). Transparent locations (7) form individual items of information, wherein the transparent locations (7) are produced with a laser beam (19) by perforating the metal layer (6; 11). Besides being used as a lamination foil the decorative foil can also be used as a packaging foil. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A decorative foil with a layer composite structure comprising a transparent base foil, a transparent cover layer and a transparent dielectric layer arranged between the base foil and the cover layer, wherein a metallic layer is arranged between the dielectric layer and the cover layer in surface portions, wherein a transparent metal film is arranged between the dielectric layer and the base foil in regions corresponding to the surface portions of the metallic layer, and wherein a first interface in which the refractive index abruptly changes is provided between the dielectric layer and the base foil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cover layer is adapted for gluing the layer composite structure onto a substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in, claim 1 wherein the metal film comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, chromium, copper and tellurium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 3, wherein the metal in the metal film has a transparency of at least 50%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the metallic layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silver, gold, chromium and tellurium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 5, wherein the metallic layer has a layer thickness in the range of from 50 nm to 300 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the layer composite structure further comprises a transparent thermoplastic lacquer layer between the first interface and the base foil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a transparent dielectric selected from the group consisting of MgF2, ZnO, TiO2, SiO, SiO2, ZnS and a chalcogenide substance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 8, wherein the thickness of the dielectric layer is less than 300 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the dielectric layer is a function of the location of changes over the surface of the layer composite structure and wherein the thickness of the dielectric layer has a gradient of between 2 nm/cm and 250 nm/cm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 9, wherein the thickness of the dielectric layer is modulated periodically at least in a direction over the surface of the layer composite structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer in partial regions has a light diffracting, microscopically fine relief structure of a surface pattern at the first interface towards the base foil and/or at a second interface towards the cover layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A decorative foil as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least the metallic layer is perforated in a raster, in a dot and/or line pattern or in the form of alphanumeric characters and emblems, in such a way that the layer composite structure is transparent at said locations.