DE29924565U1 - Data carrier as card has legible data sector accessed only by sector cover removal or destruction plus card protective surfaces at sides in integrated format. - Google Patents

Abstract

The data carrier (1) preferably as credit card (2), has a data area (12) with visible data behind removable or destructible cover (13) plus a protective surface (3) covering at least one side face of the card and integral to this and between card and protective surface there is fold or alternatively in one of these two (2,3). The protective surface also has a visible data sector, the surface and card sides being equal in length and the protective surface (3) detachably joined to the card by perforated tear points (18d,18e), line (18e) in the cards as opposed to line (18d) which is on the side of the surface (3). The protective surface has a window to expose the data sector and/or the card cover and a second protective surface (4) encases the data carrier (1) as a whole and is integrated with the first protective surface (3) but is separably joined to card (2) and/or surface (3). Card and support are made of carton, pasteboard or paper.

Description

W1893 001DEUDENb
No/

Applicant:

Winter AG

D-82140 Olching

Title: "Data carrier"

The invention relates to a data carrier for visually readable data.

Data storage media in the form of memory, chip or processor cards are widely used today. On the one hand, they offer optimum mobility and, on the other hand, adequate information capacity with little space required - in pocket format, so to speak. In addition, they are an ideal advertising medium due to the usually very high print runs.

The cards known to date, preferably plastic cards, for storing data have suitable storage media, such as memory chips or microprocessors. In order to make the handling of the stored data as forgery-proof as possible, correspondingly complex machine data recognition and/or processing systems are required. If visually readable information is also printed on such memory cards, e.g. instructions for use, advertising, etc., then, in contrast to the machine-readable data, this is openly accessible to everyone - even to an unauthorized owner of the card. They cannot therefore contain "secret" visually readable information, e.g. numerical security codes or the like.

However, especially among plastic card issuers and providers, there is a need to store visually readable "secret" information on a card, protected against unauthorized access, in order to enable applications that do not require the expensive infrastructure of machine-based

You can forgo data recognition/processing - unless it is required for other reasons.

Previously known applications in which visually readable data is protected from open access generally use simple paper data carriers that are placed on the market in black printed envelopes or envelopes with "disturbing prints", such as the "sea of numbers" in PIN letters for mobile phone customers, EC cards, etc. The use of such

&iacgr;&ogr; Data storage media containing confidential, visually readable information must be stored in well-sealed and tamper-proof envelopes. In practice, the envelopes used often do not meet these requirements, so that placing these well-known paper data storage media on the market involves a not insignificant risk.

A data carrier for visually readable data, which comprises a card-like carrier element on which visually readable data is printed and in which this data is protected against unauthorized use by a cover which can only be removed by damaging or destroying the cover, is known, for example, from DE 197 33 876 A1. However, only a simple protective cover is provided here, into which a data carrier element, e.g. an information carrier, can be inserted.

GB 1 185 066 describes an improvement in the production of coupons, vouchers, etc. These are based on a carrier element that is folded along a fold. The background to this arrangement, however, is an enlargement of the carrier element and thus of the information carrier surface itself. If a perforation provided on the side is severed, the carrier element surfaces lying on top of each other remain connected to one another via the fold. This means that only a doubling of the carrier element surface is achieved, but not the formation of an easy-to-open protective cover.

The publications EP 0 088 939 A1, US 4 174 857 and US 3 900 219 deal only with sub-aspects of the present invention.

Furthermore, so-called "savings certificate variants" or so-called "aerograms" (airmail letters without an envelope, in which the letterhead is also designed as an envelope) are known in the state of the art, such as from DE 42 44 598 Al and DE 43 22 868 Al. In such letterhead/envelope combinations, however, the individual elements always remain connected to one another.

Security data carriers in an envelope are also known from US 5 029 901 and GB 2 257 657 A. A similar arrangement for lottery tickets is disclosed in US 3 900 219.

Security envelopes for confidential information are disclosed, for example, in EP 0 201 916 A1 and US 4 828 142.

The invention aims to provide a visually readable data carrier in a protective case that is secure yet easy to handle.

The invention achieves this object by the subject matter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The invention then provides a data carrier for visually readable data, comprising: a card-like carrier element which has at least one data area on which visually readable data is applied, a cover arranged on the or each data area, which can be removed without damaging or destroying the cover, a first protective surface which at least partially covers a side surface of the carrier element, wherein the first protective surface is coupled to the carrier element via a first fold, a second protective surface which at least partially covers the other side surface of the carrier element, wherein the second protective surface is coupled to the first protective surface via a second fold, and wherein for the formation of _a protective _layer , corresponding, close

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end sections of the second protective surface and of the carrier element located at the first fold are connected to one another, wherein the carrier element can be separated simultaneously from the first and second protective surfaces by means of superimposed predetermined separation points of the first protective surface, the second protective surface and the carrier element.

According to the invention, the data carrier itself is protected against unauthorized access to the visually readable data

&iacgr;&ogr; protected. For this purpose, the visually readable information on the data carrier is covered by a read protection that is protected against manipulation, which only releases the underlying data if the read protection is damaged/destroyed, i.e. it cannot be restored after the data has been read.

Any unauthorized access to the covered data can therefore be detected at any time by the authorized owner of the data carrier. The data carrier according to the invention is a reliable and manipulation-proof carrier of visually readable security data for public transport and is just as advantageous and versatile for certain applications as, for example, known chip cards - without, however, requiring a complex data recognition and processing system.

Additional protection is achieved by the protective surface that at least partially covers the side surface of the carrier element. The protective surface advantageously covers the entire side surface or the majority of the side surface. It is particularly advantageous if the protective surface has an opening that at least partially exposes a data area and/or the cover of the carrier element, and otherwise completely covers the side surface of the carrier element.

According to the invention, the protective surface and the carrier element are (initially) coupled to one another, in particular in such a way that the carrier element can be pivoted relative to the protective surface, or vice versa. It is particularly advantageous if the covering of the side surface of the carrier element by the protective surface is achieved by pivoting the protective surface and/or the carrier element.

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is achieved: For example, the carrier element and the protective surface initially lie next to each other in the same plane. After pivoting the protective surface or the carrier element by 180°, the protective surface then lies directly above the carrier element and covers its side surface.

For pivotable coupling, an edge of the carrier element can be connected to a side surface of the protective surface. Alternatively, an edge of the protective surface can also be coupled to the side surface of the carrier element. It is particularly advantageous according to the invention to couple the edge of the side surface to the edge of the carrier element.

The coupling can be achieved particularly advantageously by the carrier element and the protective surface being integral, i.e. made in one piece. The carrier element and the protective surface are preferably made of the same material. This leads to a significant reduction in manufacturing costs. Alternatively, the carrier element and the protective surface can also be coupled in another way.

For example, the side surface (or a section of the side surface) of the carrier element can be glued to the side surface of the protective surface. It is also conceivable to connect the protective surface via one or more connecting elements, e.g.

to couple one or more glue strips, adhesive tapes, etc. to the carrier element.

The pivotable coupling between the carrier element (or between a section of the carrier element) and the protective surface (or a section of the protective surface) is achieved by providing a fold on the carrier element and/or on the protective surface and/or between the carrier element and the protective surface. The pivoting of the protective surface and/or the carrier element (or the corresponding carrier element and/or protective surface sections) is then achieved by folding or bending along the fold. It is particularly advantageous if the fold is located exactly on the border between the carrier element and the protective surface. The entire carrier element can then pivot relative to the entire protective surface.

Particularly preferably, the protective surface is detachably connected to the carrier element. This is advantageously achieved by a predetermined separation point of the carrier element, in particular a perforation, and/or by a predetermined separation point of the protective surface, in particular a perforation of the protective surface. A predetermined separation point can be achieved not only by perforation but also, for example, by a horizontal or vertical material thinning and/or material recess in the

&iacgr;&ogr; carrier element and/or the protective surface. In the case of the adhesive connection between the carrier element and the protective surface, which is an alternative option as mentioned above, a predetermined separation point can be achieved, for example, by using an easily removable adhesive, appropriate glue traces or easily tearable connecting elements (e.g. perforated adhesive tapes), etc.

According to the invention, the carrier element separation point is/are provided in the side surface of the carrier element and/or the protective surface separation point is/are provided in a side surface of the protective surface. The carrier element separation point and the

Protective surface separation points lie directly above one another and particularly preferably run parallel to one another. Each section of the carrier element separation point then directly borders on a corresponding protective surface separation point section. This makes it easy to separate both the carrier element separation point and the protective surface separation point at the same time.

The structure and dimensions of the card-like carrier element and the protective surface depend on the desired application of the data carrier. The mobility and usability - and also the acceptance by the end user - is particularly high when the carrier element and/or the protective surface is/are designed like a credit card. The length of the carrier element is advantageously less than 11 cm, particularly preferably less than 9 cm. The carrier element in particular has a width of 0 less than 9.. _# «ni, ₍ besQndars _# ..fcßvoraugit ..less than 7 cm.

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Advantageously, the dimensions of the protective surface essentially correspond to those of the carrier element, or are slightly larger.

In contrast to conventional credit cards, the carrier element is preferably made of paper, cardboard or carton. Alternatively, the carrier element can also be made of plastic, like a conventional credit card. The protective surface is also preferably made of paper, cardboard or carton, and alternatively, for example, of plastic. It is particularly advantageous if the protective surface and the carrier element are made of the same material.

In a further preferred variant, at least one data area is additionally provided on the carrier element of the data carrier, on which machine-readable data, e.g. in the form of magnetic strips, memory chips or microprocessors, are present. The invention thus provides a combined data carrier for both access-protected machine-readable data and access-protected visually readable data, thereby opening up new areas of application for such data carriers, in particular as credit card or credit card-like versions.

Various cover variants are proposed as read protection for the visually readable data stored on the data carrier according to the invention: ?

In a preferred variant, the cover is a label that is glued or sealed onto the data area on which the visually readable data is applied, and that can only be removed from the data area by destroying or damaging the label, which then tears or irreversibly deforms - at least to an extent that exposes the visually readable data present there. In the simplest case, the label is made of a homogeneous, opaque material. In order to meet special security requirements, the label is preferably made of a transparent material and has a scratch-off,

coated with a scratch-off and/or peelable top layer, particularly a paint layer.

Alternatively, such labels are preferably provided with a metallized surface, in particular a hologram surface, so that they can also be removed only "destructively", at least with visible damage to the surface, in order to expose at least the area of the visually readable data area.

In a further preferred variant of the cover according to the invention, a scratch-off cover layer is applied directly to the visually readable data area of the carrier, particularly preferably in the form of a scratch-off, a scrapable and/or removable colored, (heat-sealed and/or cured) adhesive or metallic layer. These cover layers can additionally be covered by a peelable transparent film.

What all these variants have in common is that, on the one hand, the cover can be easily and quickly removed by the authorized owner of the data carrier by rubbing, scratching or peeling it off, revealing the underlying security data; on the other hand, however, an unauthorized person can only gain access to the security data by visibly damaging/destroying the original cover.

As a further feature of special security, the previously described labels and/or the cover layers themselves are preferably provided with additional perforations so that the labels and cover layers immediately tear or are visibly damaged if attempts are made to remove them. The security standard of the data storage media is further increased by the fact that the labels preferably have interference prints on their surface. These are intended to prevent the visually readable "secret" information underneath from being recognized by their relief or by shining through the cover.

After implementing one of the described cover variants, or even a combination of them, the data carrier according to the invention also meets the highest security standards for storing secret information. It is almost impossible to make the secret information on the data carrier visible using normal means and to reverse this process after viewing it in such a way that it would not be recognizable as manipulation.

The data carrier according to the invention therefore represents an easy-to-use and particularly cost-effective solution for storing information which, on the one hand, circulates in public traffic and, on the other hand, represents a secret worthy of protection for the authorized owner.

These can be, for example, numerical security codes, access codes, etc. for a wide variety of applications. These can be used, for example, for lottery tickets, prize draws, and the like. The use of the data carrier according to the invention as a value unit carrier, so-called "prepaid card", "value card" or "calling card", in telecommunications systems is particularly advantageous. The visually readable information protected from unauthorized access with the help of the cover according to the invention is a numerical code that represents a monetary access authorization for telephone units managed by the card issuer, e.g. a mobile phone provider. For both the card issuer and the card purchaser or holder, a card-shaped value unit carrier represents a solution for the public handling of such data that is particularly practical in organizational terms and also meets high security requirements. The high security standard of the value unit carrier according to the invention is all the more important in the present area of application as misuse would be possible on the basis of the security code "read" at some point without actually possessing the value unit carrier. The protective surface also particularly preferably has at least one data area on which visually readable data of the type mentioned above is applied.

It is advantageous if, according to the invention, in addition to the protective surface, a further protective surface is provided which at least partially covers the other side surface of the carrier element - i.e. the side surface which is not (or not completely) covered by the (first) protective surface. The further protective surface advantageously covers the entire other side surface, or the majority of the other side surface of the carrier element. The further protective surface can also have an opening which at least partially exposes the carrier element. Apart from this, the further side surface advantageously covers the carrier element completely.

The additional protective area is advantageous according to the above.

(first) protective surface and coupled to it in a corresponding manner, as explained above with reference to the coupling between (first) protective surface and carrier element. In particular, the further protective surface is coupled to the (first) protective surface in such a way that they can be pivoted against each other. It is particularly advantageous if the covering of the other side surface of the carrier element by the further protective surface is achieved by pivoting the further protective surface: For example, the carrier element, the (first) protective surface and the further protective surface - in exactly this order - initially lie one behind the other in the same plane. After pivoting the (first) protective surface or the carrier element by 180°, the carrier element then lies under the (first) protective surface, as explained above. The further protective surface can then be pivoted by 180° relative to the (first) protective surface - and thus also relative to the carrier element - so that it covers the other side surface of the carrier element (the further protective surface is then directly under the carrier element).

To form the pivotable coupling between the (first) protective surface and the further protective surface, an edge of the further protective surface can be connected to a side surface of the (first) protective surface. Alternatively, an edge of the (first) protective surface can also be connected to the side surface of the further

Protective surface. It is particularly advantageous according to the invention to couple the edge of the protective surface with the edge of the further protective surface.

The coupling can advantageously be achieved by the further protective surface and the (first) protective surface being integral, i.e. one-piece. These are preferably made of the same material. This leads to a further reduction in manufacturing costs. Alternatively, the

The (first) protective surface and the further protective surface can also be coupled in another way. For example, the side surface or a section of the side surface of the further protective surface can be glued to the side surface of the (first) protective surface. It is also conceivable to couple the further protective surface to the (first) protective surface via one or more connecting elements, e.g. one or more glue strips, adhesive tapes, etc.

The pivotable coupling between the first protective surface (or between a section of the first protective surface) and the further protective surface (or a section of the further protective surface) can also be achieved by providing a fold on the (first) protective surface and/or on the further protective surface and/or between the (first) protective surface and the further protective surface. The pivoting of the (first) protective surface and/or the further protective surface (or the corresponding protective surface sections) is then achieved by folding or bending along the fold. It is particularly advantageous if the fold is located exactly on the border between the (first) protective surface and the further protective surface. The entire (first) protective surface can then pivot relative to the entire further protective surface.

After pivoting the (first) protective surface relative to the carrier element by 180° as described above and subsequently pivoting the further protective surface relative to the (first) protective surface and the carrier element by 180°, the further protective surface is then preferably detachably connected to the carrier element and/or alternatively to the (first) protective surface.

The (first) S®iiut>ziläah&. and the white protective surface form

then a protective cover surrounding the carrier element. This can protect the visual data on the carrier element
apart from the data exposed through the openings in the protective surfaces - cover them, ie make them "invisible" from the outside. Likewise, the visual data on the protective surfaces can also be located inside the protective cover they form and thus no longer be openly accessible.

&iacgr;&ogr; To separate the further protective surface from the carrier element and/or from the (first) protective surface, preferably the carrier element intended separation point and/or a further carrier element intended separation point and/or a intended separation point of the further protective surface and/or the

Protective surface intended separation point. A intended separation point is preferably designed as a perforation. A predetermined breaking point can also be, for example, a horizontal or vertical
Material dilution and/or material recess.

Particularly preferably, the intended separation point of the further protective surface is provided in a side surface of the further protective surface, and/or the further carrier element intended separation point is provided in a side surface of the carrier element. Advantageously, the further carrier element intended separation point and/or the carrier element intended separation point and/or the intended separation point of the further protective surface lie one above the other, and particularly preferably run parallel to one another.

The structure and dimensions of the additional protective surface essentially correspond to those of the (first) protective surface. Advantageously, the dimensions of the additional protective surface also essentially correspond to those of the carrier element, or are slightly larger. The additional protective surface preferably consists of paper, cardboard or carton, and can alternatively be made of plastic, for example. It is particularly advantageous if the additional protective surface consists of the same material as the (first) protective surface and/or as the carrier element.

According to the present invention, the carrier element, ;··.<^&iacgr;« ₍ (eret&)» ₍ ^SckutZtfuachs... and. _# the further

Protective surface is provided via an endless carrier, in particular an endless paper carrier. In this case, the carrier element of a first data carrier to be produced is preferably located next to the (first) protective surface of this data carrier, which is located next to its further protective surface. This further protective surface of the first data carrier is located next to the carrier element of a second data carrier to be produced, which is located next to its (first) protective surface, which in turn is located next to the further protective surface of the second data element, etc. This makes it possible to further reduce the manufacturing costs for the data carriers and to increase the manufacturing speed.

In addition, the above-mentioned simple design of a single data carrier allows various technologies to be used for applying the visually readable security data in the data area of the carrier element (so-called personalization or coding of the data carrier). The following are preferred for this: thermal transfer printing, laser printing, inkjet or laser engraving, whereby the security data is covered after the personalization process, as described above.

As is well known, the distribution of card-shaped data carriers also includes the production of cover letters, their personalization and the comparison of data between the card and the cover letter. The present method makes it possible in a rational way for related organizational tasks to be carried out with the continuous carrier in one operation while processing the data carrier itself. This applies in particular to the "simultaneous" production of information carriers, such as cover letters for the recipient of the data carrier, advertising or instructions for use or bar code labels, but also the production of an envelope for the cover letter including the data carrier glued on.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments. In the description, reference is made to the attached schematic drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a data carrier according to the invention with a carrier element, a protective surface and a further protective surface before folding and gluing;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a data carrier according to Fig.

1 after folding and gluing, whereby the

further protective surface of the data carrier faces upwards &iacgr;&ogr;;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the data carrier shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the carrier element according to

Removing the protective surfaces; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a data carrier according to the invention according to a further preferred embodiment.

The embodiments described below relate to a data carrier in credit card format used as a value unit carrier for visually readable security data which represents a numerically coded value unit - hereinafter referred to as "value card". For the sake of simplicity, the same or corresponding features are identified with the same reference numerals in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the front of such a value card 1 before folding and gluing. The value card 1 is made of paper, cardboard or paperboard. It consists of a carrier element 2, a protective surface 3 and a further protective surface 4. The carrier element 2, the protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4 are integrally formed and are each approximately 7-8 cm wide and 11-12 cm long. The protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4 are the same width and slightly wider than the carrier element 2. An upper end section 5 of the carrier element 2 borders on a lower end section £»«» _# d®«· S^e-hu&zf«lacke . 3. ..Ebans®.· gseiazjfc an upper

End section 7 of the protective surface 3 to a lower end section 8 of the further protective surface 4. As indicated in Figure 1 by a section 9, the front of the carrier element 2 is printed with visually readable advertising and information notices, e.g. instructions for use. In a similar way, the front of the further protective surface 4 is provided with visually readable advertising and information notices, here an (unprotected) open serial number 10 together with a barcode bar 11. In alternative embodiments (not shown), such information and advertising notices are alternatively or additionally printed on the back of the carrier element 2 and/or the protective surface 3 and/or the further protective surface 4. In a high-quality version of the present value card, the value card 1 is covered with a transparent film after printing, so that the printed advertising and/or information notices are protected against abrasion and manipulation.

On the front, the carrier element 2 of the value card 1 has a section or a data area 12 for visually readable security data in an area at the bottom left. The data area 12 is covered with a rectangular, elongated adhesive label 13. The above-mentioned

Security data is applied in the data area 12, e.g. using thermal transfer printing, laser printing, ink jet or laser engraving processes. After this process, the so-called

To personalize the value card 1, the data area 12 is covered with the self-adhesive label 13.

The adhesive label 13 shown in Fig. 1 consists of a transparent carrier film with a hardenable adhesive layer, which is coated with an (opaque) rub-off silvery color layer. The color layer is also printed with a so-called "disturbance print", i.e. with irregular black sections, so that the surface of the adhesive label 13 has an irregular black-gray shade. The carrier film of the adhesive label 13 is also provided with several arrow-shaped punched-outs 14, which are lined up along the carrier film with alternating orientation (recognizable in Fig. 1 as "dark light" lines)." . . .

This design of the adhesive label 13 makes manipulation, i.e. unauthorized reading of the security data, almost impossible without the manipulation remaining undetectable. The security data can only be exposed by at least partially scratching or rubbing off the color layer of the adhesive label 13 and the carrier film of the adhesive label 13. In both cases, the cover of the data area 12 becomes visible.

&iacgr;&ogr; damaged or destroyed. Once rubbed off, the color layer cannot be restored using simple means. Even if the adhesive label is removed, the carrier film itself will tear due to the punched holes 14, which will remain visible in any case if an attempt is made to restore the cover. As a further security feature, the "disturbance print" on the adhesive label 13 prevents the underlying security data from shining through when the adhesive label 13 is stuck on or from being recognized by its relief, which may be reproduced on the surface of the adhesive label 13.

This is illustrated again in Fig. 4. This shows the carrier element 2 after the upper end section 5 shown in Fig. 1 has been separated, together with the protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4, and after a right end section 5' and a left end section 5 ¹ ' of the carrier element 2 have been separated. Fig. 4 shows the carrier element 2 with partially exposed security data, in this case a numeric code 15. The carrier film of the adhesive label 13 has been partially rubbed off from the left; in addition, the color layer on the carrier film of the adhesive label 13 has also been partially rubbed off. The numeric code 15 is now (partially) recognizable - with the original cover being visibly and irreversibly destroyed at the same time.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the front of the further protective surface 4 of the value card 1 has a cutout 16 in an area at the bottom left. The cutout 16 is located at a location that corresponds to the location on the carrier element 2 where the data area 12 is provided. The

Cutout 16 has a shape corresponding to the data area 12, or is slightly larger.

In one embodiment, several value cards of the type described above are processed together on a multi-use continuous paper carrier. The continuous paper carrier has a width that corresponds to the width of the value card 1 shown in Fig. 1 (or the length of the carrier element 2, the protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4). First, visually readable advertising and information notes such as barcodes, serial numbers, etc. are printed on the continuous paper carrier. In a next step, the security data is applied in the data area 12 of the carrier element 2 according to the method described above, and then the data area 12 is covered with the self-adhesive label 13 as explained above. Next, cutouts 16 of the type mentioned above are punched out of the continuous paper carrier at regular intervals. To later protect the data area 12, a transparent film can then be attached to the underside of the further protective surface 4 under the cutout 16 (not shown). This prevents the carrier film of the adhesive label 13 together with the ink layer on the carrier film of the adhesive label 13 from being rubbed off through the punched-out 16 after production.

The further transport of the endless paper carrier during the various production steps can be achieved, for example, by means of two guide hole edges arranged on the sides, which are later cut off.

Finally, the value card 1 is cut out of the paper endless carrier by cutting through the paper endless carrier along a lower interface 16' and an upper interface 16'', and thus separated from further value cards to be produced.

Then, on the underside of the carrier element 2 in the area of its right end section 5 ' and its left end section 5.' '.,.'AndZod^sr^on .the .underside .of .the .protective .surface

3, namely in the area of a right end section 6' of the protective surface 3 and a left end section 6'' of the protective surface 3, an adhesive is applied. Then, according to an arrow A, the carrier element 2 is folded along a lower fold 17a between the upper end section 5 of the carrier element 2 and the lower end section 6 of the protective surface 3 - downwards in Fig. 1 - until the underside of the right end section 5' of the carrier element 2 meets the underside of the right end section 6' of the protective surface 3, and the underside

Î of the left end section 5'' of the carrier element 2 touches the underside of the left end section ⁶¹¹ of the protective surface 3. This simultaneously achieves bonding of the underside of the right end section 5' of the carrier element 2 and the underside of the right end section 6' of the protective surface 3, as well as the underside of the left end section 5'' of the carrier element 2 and the underside of the left end section ⁶¹¹ of the protective surface 3.

Next, an adhesive is applied to the underside of the further protective surface 4, specifically in the region of an upper end section 8a of the further protective surface 4, and/or to the now downward-facing front side of the carrier element 2, in the region of its upper end section 5. In addition, an adhesive is also applied to the underside of the further protective surface 4, specifically in the region of a right end section 8' of the further protective surface 4 and a left end section 8'' of the further protective surface 4, and/or to the now downward-facing front side of the carrier element 2 in the region of its right end section 5' and its left end section 5''. The further protective surface 4 is then folded according to an arrow B along an upper fold 17b between the upper end section 7 of the protective surface 3 and the lower end section 8 of the further protective surface 4 - downwards in Fig. 1. As a result, the front side of the right end section 5' of the carrier element 2, which is now directed downwards, finally touches the underside of the right end section 8' of the further protective surface 4, and the front side of the left end section 5" of the carrier element 2, which is now directed downwards, touches the underside of the left end section 8" of the further protective surface 4". In addition, the front side

of the upper end section 5 of the carrier element 2 the underside of the upper end section 8a of the further protective surface 4. As a result, the now downward-facing front side of the right end section 5' of the carrier element 2 and the underside of the right end section 8 ¹ of the further protective surface 4, the now downward-facing front side of the left end section 5'' of the carrier element 2 and the underside of the left end section 8'' of the further protective surface 4, as well as the now downward-facing front side of the upper end section 5 of the carrier element 2 and the underside of the upper end section 8a of the further protective surface 4 are simultaneously glued. The protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4 thus form a protective cover for the carrier element 2.

In the illustration according to Fig. 2, the carrier element-protective cover combination resulting from this folding and gluing is rotated so that the further protective surface 4 points upwards. The carrier element-protective cover combination is then perforated as follows: A first, right perforation 18a is punched out between a middle section 8''' of the further protective surface 4 and its right end section 8 ■. Likewise, a second, left perforation 18b is punched out between the middle section 8 ¹ '' and the left end section 8 ¹¹ of the further protective surface 4, and an upper, third perforation 18c is punched out between the middle section 8''' and the upper end section 8a of the further protective surface 4. When the perforations of the further protective surface 4 are punched out, corresponding points on the carrier element 2, which is now located under the further protective surface 4, and on the protective surface 3, which is now located under it, are punched out at the same time. This results in perforations in the carrier element 2 and the protective surface 3 which correspond to those of the further protective surface 4.

According to Fig. 1, this results in a fourth perforation 18d corresponding to the third perforation 18c between a middle section 6''' and the lower end section 6 of the protective surface 3*..uKwi a ..fifth perforation.. 18e .between a

Middle section 5''' of the carrier element 2 and its upper end section 5. The first, right perforation 18a also extends from the further protective surface 4 to the protective surface 3, and is located there between the middle section 6''' of the protective surface 3, and its right end section 6'. From there, the first, right perforation 18a extends further to the carrier element 2, and is formed there between the middle section 5 ¹ '' of the carrier element 2, and its right end section 5'. In a similar way,

‘ the second, left perforation 18b extends from the further protective surface 4 to the protective surface 3, and is located there between the middle section 6' ¹ ' and the left end section 6 ¹ '. From there, the second, left perforation 18b extends further to the carrier element 2, and is formed there between the middle section 5'' ■ and the left end section 5''.

Alternatively, the above-mentioned perforations 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d and 18e can be applied before the value card 1 is folded and glued, namely at the same time as, immediately before or shortly after the above-mentioned printing of the value card 1 or the application of the adhesive label 13. In this exemplary embodiment, the security data in the data area 12, the serial number 11 and the barcode bar 11 are also printed at the same time. Instead of the value card 1 shown in Fig. 1, the value card 1' shown in Fig. 5 can also be used. This corresponds in structure and dimensions to the value card 1 shown above with reference to Figs. 1-4. However, a lower end section of the middle section 5''' of the carrier element 2 borders on an additional, first information area 2'. This borders on a second information surface 2 '' , which in turn borders on a third information surface 2 '''. Additional advertising and information notices of the above type are printed on the information surfaces 2', 2'' and 2' ¹ '. The first information surface 2' and the carrier element 2 are integrally formed, as are the three information surfaces 2' , 2 '' and 2 '''. The length and width of the middle section 5 ''' of the carrier element 2 correspond to those of the information surfaces 2', 2 ¹¹ and 2 ¹ ' ¹ , or are slightly larger.

Between the Tcäoeicelament 2, and the..ejrstan. In,fQrraationsf lache

&bull;&diams; · · t

21

2'' (and/or between corresponding consecutive information areas 2', 2 ¹¹ and 2 ¹¹ ) perforations 18f, 18g, 18h are provided.

In contrast to the above-mentioned value card 1 according to Figs. 1-4, in the alternative value card I ¹ shown in Fig. 5, individual value cards are placed side by side on the continuous paper carrier. This means that by cutting through the continuous paper carrier along a left-hand interface 16''' and a right-hand interface 16''', the value card 1' can be cut out of the continuous paper carrier and thus separated from other value cards to be produced. The information areas 2 ¹ , 2' ¹ , 2 ¹¹ ' are then punched so that they have the above-mentioned dimensions.

Then, the third information surface 2''' is folded along the perforation 18h according to an arrow C - downwards in Fig. 5 - until the underside of the third information surface 2 ¹¹¹ touches the underside of the second information surface 2 ¹¹ .

Next, the second information surface 2' is folded downwards together with the third information surface 2''' according to an arrow D in Fig. 5 until the front of the third information surface 2''' touches the underside of the first information surface 2'. Accordingly, the first, second and third information surfaces 2', 2'' and 2''' are then folded downwards together according to an arrow E in Fig. 5. The front of the second information surface 2 ^' then touches the underside of the central section 5''' of the carrier element 2. The remaining folding steps correspond to those described above with reference to Figs. 1-4.

Again referring to Fig. 2, in a further alternative embodiment, the security data can only now be applied to the data area 12 of the carrier element 2, namely through the cutout 16 of the further protective surface 4. Only now is the data area 12 covered with the self-adhesive label 13. The application and covering is only possible after gluing and folding, because then the cutout 16 of the further protective surface 4 covers the data area 3.2 of the carrier element.

2 is exposed. To protect the data area, a protective film can then be attached to the further protective surface 4 above the cutout 16 and the data area 12 (not shown).
5

The cross-sectional view of the value card 1 shown in Fig. 3 shows that after provision, the carrier element 2 lies between the protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4, which together form a protective cover for the carrier element 2.

‘ the punched-out 16 exposes the data area 12 of the carrier element 2. When using the value card 1, for example, the third perforation 18c, the fourth perforation 18d and the fifth perforation 18e are first separated. Then, for example, according to Fig. 2, the right perforation 18a and the left perforation 18b are separated. This results in the middle section 5 ¹¹¹ of the carrier element 2 - ie the carrier element 2 without its left, right and upper end sections 5 ¹ , 5 ¹¹ and 5 - being separated from the protective cover formed by the protective surface 3 and the further protective surface 4. The middle section 5 ¹¹¹ , like the middle sections 6 ¹¹¹ and 8 ¹ ' ■ of the protective surfaces 3 and 4 according to Fig. 1, has a length of approximately 9-10 cm and a width of approximately 5-6 cm. After being torn out, the middle section 5''' of the carrier element 2 is separated from the middle sections 6''' and 8''' of the protective surfaces 3 and 4 - which are still connected to one another via the upper fold 17b. In the middle section 5 ¹ '' of the carrier element 2, the carrier film of the adhesive label 13 can now be rubbed off together with the color layer on the carrier film of the adhesive label 13 according to Fig. 4, so that the numerical code 15 becomes visible.

Claims (12)

1. Data carrier ( 1 ) for human-readable data, comprising: - a card-like carrier element ( 2 ) having at least one data area ( 12 ) on which visually readable data ( 15 ) are applied, - a cover ( 13 ) arranged on the or each data area ( 12 ) which can be removed without damaging or destroying the cover ( 13 ), - a first protective surface ( 3 ) which at least partially covers a side surface of the carrier element ( 2 ), wherein the first protective surface ( 3 ) is coupled to the carrier element ( 2 ) via a first fold ( 17 a), - a second protective surface ( 4 ) which at least partially covers the other side surface of the carrier element ( 2 ), wherein the second protective surface ( 4 ) is coupled to the first protective surface ( 3 ) via a second fold ( 17b ), and wherein corresponding end sections ( 5 , 8a ) of the second protective surface ( 4 ) and of the carrier element ( 2 ) which are located close to the first fold ( 17a ) are connected to one another to form a protective cover, - whereby the carrier element ( 2 ) can be separated simultaneously from the first and the second protective surface ( 3 , 4 ) by means of superimposed predetermined separation points ( 18c , 18d , 18e ) of the first protective surface ( 3 ), the second protective surface ( 4 ) and the carrier element ( 2 ). 2. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element ( 2 ) and the protective surface ( 3 ) are formed in one piece. 3. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the carrier element ( 2 ) is designed in the manner of a credit card. 4. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the carrier element ( 2 ) and the first protective surface ( 3 ) are made of paper, cardboard or carton. 5. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first protective surface ( 3 ) has at least one data area on which visually readable data is applied. 6. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the surface of the carrier element ( 2 ) and the first protective surface ( 3 ) have substantially the same dimensions. 7. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the predetermined separation points ( 18c , 18d , 18e ) are designed as perforations. 8. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second protective surface ( 4 ) has an opening which at least partially exposes a data area and/or the cover of the carrier element ( 2 ). 9. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first protective surface ( 3 ) and the second protective surface ( 4 ) are formed in one piece. 10. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the carrier element ( 2 ) also comprises at least one data area on which machine-readable data is stored. 11. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover ( 13 ) is a removable glued or sealed label which tears or irreversibly deforms when removed. 12. Data carrier ( 1 ) according to claim 11, wherein the label is made of transparent material and is coated with a rub-off, scratch-off and/or peelable cover layer, in particular a color layer.