Knitted structure designed to be incorporated in a sheet material

A knitted structure configured to be incorporated at least partly within a sheet material, the structure being in the form of a strip and comprising at least two yarns made of different materials and at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, wherein the authenticating and/or identifying element comprises at least one of the following elements:

• a falsification-evident element;
• an element producing a variable optical effect by interference and/or diffraction or iridescence or by liquid crystals;
• a magnetic or crystalline coating;
• magnetic fibers;
• tracers detectable by magnetic resonance;
• tracers detectable by X-ray florescence;
• biomarkers;
• a varnish or ink;
• luminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent tracers;
• and
• photochromic, thermochromic, electroluminescent and/or piezochromic compounds and/or compounds that change color on contact with one or more predetermined products;
• the knitted structure being at least partly embedded in a fibrous layer of the sheet material and having stitches large enough to allow fibers of the fibrous layer to penetrate through the stitches;
• wherein:
• the stitches of the structure form voids having an area of at least 0.1 mm2 when the structure is flat and observed from above;
• the knitted structure exhibits, before incorporation into the sheet material, an elongation of between about 1% and about 5%, in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structure;
• and
• the structure comprises at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, carried by at least one yarn of the knitted structure.

A sheet material, made of paper, comprising at least one knitted structure comprising at least two yarns differing in size and/or shape and/or optical, physical or chemical properties, the knitted structure exhibiting, before being incorporated in the sheet material, an elongation of at least approximately 3% in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structure,

• the knitted structure being at least partly embedded in a fibrous layer of the sheet material and having stitches large enough to allow fibers of the fibrous layer to penetrate through the stitches;
• wherein:
• the stitches of the structure form voids having an area of at least 0.1 mm2 when the structure is flat and observed from above;
• and
• the structure comprises at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, carried by at least one yarn of the knitted structure.

A sheet material, made of paper, incorporating at least one knitted structure made with at least two different forms of loop, the structure comprising at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, the knitted structure being at least partly embedded in a fibrous layer of the sheet material and having stitches large enough to allow fibers of the fibrous layer to penetrate through the stitches;

• wherein:
• the stitches of the structure form voids having an area of at least 0.1 mm2 when the structure is flat and observed from above;
• the knitted structure exhibits, before incorporation into the sheet material, an elongation of between about 1% and about 5%, in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structure;
• and
• the structure comprises at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, carried by at least one yarn of the knitted structure.

A sheet material, made of paper, incorporating at least one knitted structure extending across the whole area of the sheet material, the structure being knit in such a way as to form at least one design and comprising at least two yarns made of different materials, the knitted structure being at least partly embedded in a fibrous layer of the sheet material and having stitches large enough to allow fibers of the fibrous layer to penetrate through the stitches;

• wherein:
• the stitches of the structure form voids having an area of at least 0.1 mm2 when the structure is flat and observed from above;
• the knitted structure exhibits, before incorporation into the sheet material, an elongation of between about 1% and about 5%, in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structure;
• and
• the structure comprises at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, carried by at least one yarn of the knitted structure.

A sheet material of substantially rectangular shape, made of paper, incorporating at least one knitted structure extending along one large side of the sheet and comprising at least two yarns made of different materials, the knitted structure being at least partly embedded in a fibrous layer of the sheet material and having stitches large enough to allow fibers of the fibrous layer to penetrate through the stitches;

• wherein:
• the stitches of the structure form voids having an area of at least 0.1 mm2 when the structure is flat and observed from above;
• the knitted structure exhibits, before incorporation into the sheet material, an elongation of between about 1% and about 5%, in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the structure;
• and
• the structure comprises at least one authenticating and/or identifying element, carried by at least one yarn of the knitted structure.