WO2008008203A2

WO2008008203A2 - Protective sleeve

Info

Publication number: WO2008008203A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/015133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dave Prager; Walt Augustinowicz; Robert Brady; Eric Buffkin; Jeff Nichols
Original assignee: Identity Stronghold, Llc
Priority date: 2006-07-03
Filing date: 2007-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: MY153019A; WO2008008203A3; CA2655853A1; EP2036419A4; EP2036419A2; MX2008016365A

Abstract

A device for shielding a contactless smartcard from intrusive reading and a method of manufacturing the same. The sleeve is sized and shaped to removably receive and hold the contactless smartcard The device is a sleeve formed by folding a laminated paper to form first, second and third flaps, where the first and second flaps are opposite to each other and connected to the third flap to define the sleeve. The laminated paper includes a shielding material and a paper product, and the shielding material prevents reading of the contactless smartcard when substantially surrounded by the sleeve. The device can include a fourth flap for sealing a contactless smartcard within the sleeve. The laminated paper can also include a first polyethylene layer and a second polyethylene layer, wherein the shielding material is positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers.

Description

PROTECTIVE SLEEVE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application is related to, and claims priority in, co-pending U.S. Provisional application No. 60/806,509 filed on July 3, 2006 and co-pending U.S. Provisional application No. 60/827,962 filed on October 3, 2006, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also related to co-pending and commonly owned U.S. Patent Application entitled "Device for Shielding Reading of a Contactless Smartcard" filed concurrently herewith, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is directed to electromagnetically opaque or reflective sleeves that are used to shield devices that emit electromagnetic radiation. More particularly, the invention is directed to electromagnetically opaque or reflective sleeves that are used to shield radio frequency identification (RFID) cards, contactless smartcards or other contactless readable cards from electromagnetic radiation or other reading sources in order to prevent unauthorized wireless access to data stored on these devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Contactless smartcard systems and RFID smartcard systems are employed in a wide range of applications. Contactless smartcards are credit card sized devices having an embedded microchip that stores data including financial data, health data, and other data. RFID smartcards are credit card sized devices having an RFID chip that stores data including financial data, health data, and other data. Contactless smartcards communicate information wirelessly with a reader using magnetic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, microwave, light, and/or ultraviolet radiation. For contactless smartcards that use magnetic radiation, RF radiation, or microwave radiation, the smartcards may be read from a owner's pocket, wallet, purse or other carrier that is located remote from the reader. RFID smartcards communicate information wirelessly with a reader using radio frequency radiation that may be read from a owner's pocket, wallet, purse or other carrier that is located remote from the reader. As a result, data carried by contactless smartcards and/or RFID smartcards may be accessed and read without an owner's awareness.

[0004] Commercially available smartcard readers and/or RFID smartcard readers are designed to read from an industry standard range of 1 meter. However, readers may be designed with greater magnetic field strength in order to increase an effective range for reading smartcards and/or RFID smartcards. While software encryption technology is available to protect data that is stored on contactless smartcards and/or RFD smartcards, it is possible to compromise the various software encryption techniques. Other drawbacks exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]The embodiments herein presented are provided only for purposes of illustration and as an introduction to the detailed disclosure of the present application. They are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, a device for preventing intrusive reading of a contactless smartcard is provided. The device comprises a flexible sleeve having closed and open ends opposite each other. The sleeve may be sized and shaped to removably receive and hold a contactless smartcard. The sleeve may be formed by a process of folding a laminated paper to form first, second and third flaps, wherein the first and second flaps are opposite to each other and connected to the third flap to define the open end. The laminated paper comprises a shielding material and a paper product, and the shielding material prevents reading of the contactless smartcard when the smartcard is at least substantially surrounded by the sleeve.

[0007] In another exemplary embodiment, a device for preventing intrusive reading of a contactless smartcard is provided. The device comprises a sleeve having closed and open ends opposite to each other. The sleeve may be sized and shaped to removably receive and hold the contactless smartcard. The sleeve may be formed by a process of folding a laminated paper to form first, second and third flaps, wherein the first and second flaps are opposite to each other and connected to the third flap to define the sleeve. The laminated paper comprising a shielding material, a paper product, a first polyethylene layer and a second polyethylene layer. The shielding material is positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers and the shielding material prevents reading of the contactless smartcard when the smartcard is substantially surrounded by the sleeve. The sleeve may also comprise a fourth flap, where the fourth flap may be folded over and connected to the sleeve in order to seal the contactless smartcard within the sleeve.

[0008] The paper product may be at least one of paper, spunbond, meltblown, bonded carded web, metal sheets or foils, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminates, spunbond-film laminates, and combinations thereof. The paper product may be a spunbonded olefin.

[0009]The open end of the device may have a cut-out to leave a portion of the contactless smartcard exposed for removal from the sleeve. The shielding material may be aluminum, stainless steel, a nickel-iron alloy having a high magnetic permeability, a metalized polyethylene terephthalate plastic and any combinations thereof. [0010]The laminated paper may comprise a polyethylene layer. The laminated paper may comprise first and second polyethylene layers with the shielding material positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers. The first and second flaps may be connected to the third flap by adhesive, thermal bonding, heat striking, or combinations thereof. The first and second flaps may have a greater length than the third, flap. The first and second flaps are of substantially the same size.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, a method of manufacturing a shielding device for preventing intrusive reading of a contactless srnartcard is provided. The method of manufacture comprises laminating a paper product with an electromagnetic shielding material to form a laminated paper; folding the laminated paper along three sides to form first, second and third flaps; and connecting the first and second flaps to the third flap to define an open end for insertion of the contectless smartcard. The method may also include folding the laminated paper along a fourth side to form a fourth flap, wherein the fourth flap may be connected to the sleeve in order to seal a contactless smartcard within the sleeve.

[0012]The method may also comprise cutting a portion of the laminated paper in proximity to the open end to define a cut-out to facilitate removal of the contactless smartcard. The method may also comprise forming the electromagnetic shielding material from a material chosen from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, a nickel-iron alloy having a high magnetic permeability, a metalized polyethylene terephthalate plastic and any combinations thereof.

[0013]The method may also comprise laminating the paper product and the electromagnetic shielding material with a polyethylene layer. The paper product may be laminated to the electromagnetic shielding material with first and second polyethylene layers. The electromagnetic shielding material may be positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a paper product that is electrically opaque and includes a printed image, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0015] Figures 2 illustrate the back of a sleeve that is shaped to receive a card shaped device, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Figure 3 illustrate the front of the sleeve illustrated in Figure 2.

[0017] Figure 4 illustrates a laminated paper having multiple layers according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 5 illustrates an unfolded, pre-cut laminated paper for making a sleeve having a portrait orientation, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Figure 6 illustrates an unfolded, pre-cut laminated paper for making a sealable sleeve having a portrait orientation, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figure 7 illustrates an unfolded, pre-cut laminated paper for making a sleeve having a landscape orientation, according to one embodiment of the invention. [0021] Figure 8 illustrates an unfolded, pre-cut laminated paper for making a sealable sleeve having a landscape orientation, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the device, method, and other embodiments will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present method and system are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments of the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the embodiment herein. The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term "plurality," as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term "another," as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including" and "having," as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).

[0024] The invention provides electromagnetic shielding for radio frequency RFID smartcards and/or contactless smartcards. Such shielding can be used to prevent wireless communications with the smartcards, such as in order to prevent unauthorized wireless access to data stored on the smartcards. The present disclosure describes a sleeve used to shield a RFID smartcards disposed therein. It should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates sleeves for shielding of other types of electronic devices that are remotely accessible via electromagnetic energy such as RFID tags, as well as shielding of other portable contactless devices, such as e-passports. Accordingly, as used herein "contactless smartcards" and "smartcards" include electronic devices that are remotely accessible for reading of data therein such as via electromagnetic energy including, but not limited to, minicards, fobs, credit cards, security identification cards, such as RFID passports, ATM cards, payment cards, such as those used for public transit, public phones, and electronic toll collection, and other portable contactless devices.

[0025]As used herein, "paper product" is used to refer to materials provided in a sheet and refers to sheets of material whether or not the sheet contains cellulose fibers characteristic of paper. A "paper product" may be completely free of any cellulose based fibers. Thus, paper products can be sheets of any form including, but not limited to, paper, spunbond, meltblown, bonded carded webs, metal sheets, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, and layered combinations thereof, for example, laminates such as spuπbond-meltblown-spunbond and spunbond-film. As used herein, "laminate paper" refers to two or more paper products joined together, either directly or indirectly, for example, by lamination.

[0026] The term "shielding" is not intended to be limiting and includes all interaction between the sleeve device and the electromagnetic radiation that prevents reading of the smartcard. Thus, shielding can include a sufficient reduction of the electromagnetic radiation that reaches the antenna of the smartcard to prevent a readable transmission of data from the smartcard. For example, "shielding" includes both attenuation and reflection so long as there is a sufficient reduction of the electromagnetic radiation that reaches the antenna of the smartcard to prevent a readable transmission of data from the smartcard.

[0027]The invention provides electromagnetically opaque sleeves that shield radio frequency RFlD smartcards and/or contactless smartcards from electromagnetic radiation in order to prevent unauthorized wireless access to data stored on these devices. Figure 1 illustrates a laminated paper 10 having design 12 printed thereon prior to assembling the laminate paper 10 into a sleeve. The laminated paper 10 is electromagnetically opaque. Laminated paper 10 may be cut, folded and glued, or otherwise connected, to create a sleeve of any desired shape. According to another embodiment of the invention, laminated paper 10 may be made in a tube shape, then flattened out and cut.

[0028]According to one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention may include a sleeve 20 that is shaped to receive RFID smartcards, contactless smartcards, and/or other card-shaped devices having electromagnetic data exchanging capabilities. According to one embodiment of the invention, the card shaped sleeves 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be sized to receive credit cards. In this regard, sleeve 20 may measure approximately 85.6 mm x 53.98 x 0.76 mm. According to another embodiment, the invention may include sleeves 20 that are shaped and sized to receive RFID passports and/or other passports having electromagnetic data exchanging capabilities. In this regard, sleeve 20 may measure approximately 3.4 in. x 4.9 in. x 0.1 in.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that smartcards having other sizes and configurations are intended to be encompassed by the invention. Regardless of the size and configuration of the smartcard, the shielding device can be dimensioned to securely receive the smartcard. According to one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 20 may include visually translucent portions, visually transparent portions, or both for viewing a surface of an RFID smartcard and/or contactless smartcard provided therein. [003O]As illustrated in FIG. 2, sleeve 20 may include a plurality of flaps (22, 24 and 26) that may be folded and affixed to form sleeve 20. For example, flaps 22, 24 and 26 may be affixed using hot, cold and/or physical fastening, such as glue, heat sealing, heat staking, sonic welding, Velcro^® and/or other fasteners. Sleeve 20 may be configured without any sharp edges that may damage items, such as clothing, wallets, purses, or other items. Sleeve 20 may also be designed to receive commercially available accessories, such as lanyards and/or other accessories.

[0031] Accord ing to one embodiment, sleeve 20 shields RFID smartcards, contactless smartcards, RFID passports and/or other wireless devices from magnetic and/or electric fields. According to another embodiment of the invention, sleeve 20 protects wireless devices from electromagnetic radiation including magnetic, radio frequency, infrared, microwave, light, ultraviolet and/or other electromagnetic radiation.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a top portion 25 of sleeve 20 may include a sealing mechanism, such as a zip lock seal or other sealing mechanism. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a fourth flap 27 may be included in a top portion 25 of sleeve 20. The fourth flap 27, or any other flap 22, 24, 26, may be secured using a securing mechanism 29 including, but not limited to, Velcro^®, double-sided tape, readherable adhesive, glue, or other securing mechanism.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 may be formed from multiple paper product portions or layers. According to one embodiment of the invention, the multiple layers may be arranged to include a paper product layer 32, a polyethylene layer 34, an electromagnetically opaque layer 36, and a second polyethylene layer 38, among other layers. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque layer 36 preferably includes at least one of aluminum, stainless steel, MuMetal^®, toppan paper, foil, another electromagnetically opaque or reflective material, or a combination thereof. According to another embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 may include any magnetic or electric type material that is laminated to the paper product layer, for instance a Tyvek^® layer. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 may or may not include the polyethylene layers 34, 38. According to another embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 may be configured to reduce scratching of a surface of RFID smartcards and/or contactless smartcards placed therein. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 is water-resistant and may or may not be waterproof.

[0034] Accord ing to one embodiment of the invention, electromagnetically opaque laminated paper 10 may include electromagnetically opaque materials on one side of a Tyvek^® layer 32 or on both sides of a Tyvek^® layer 32. According to another embodiment of the invention, paper product layer 32 may be rigid or flexible. Although Tyvek^®, a polyolefin spundbond, is an exemplary paper product layer 32, the paper product layer 32 may comprise one or more other materials including, but not limited to, paper, spunbond material, meltblown material, bonded carded webs, metal sheets, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, and layered combinations thereof, for example laminates such as spunbond-meltblown- spunbond and spunbond-film. According to another embodiment of the invention, the multiple layers may be arranged to include a polyethylene layer 34, an electrically opaque layer 36, and a second polyethylene layer 38, among other layers, without a Tyvek^® layer 32.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetically opaque layer 36 may be constructed from metallized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or another metallized moldable plastic. Another useful electromagnetically opaque layer 36 may include EMI shielding material manufactured by Chomerics (a division of Parker Hannifin Corp.), such as the "Premier" and "Win-Shield" shielding materials. The shielding material can be embedded in a thermoplastic compound, for example, a thermoplastic matrix that includes one or more of a shielding material such as carbon fiber, stainless steel fiber or nickel- coated carbon fiber. Although, the present disclosure contemplates various processes for providing the sleeve with the shielding material.

[0036]The sleeve 20 of the present invention may be formed from a die cut piece of laminated paper 10. FIG. 5 shows a die cut laminated paper 10 prior to folding the laminated paper to form a sleeve 20. The laminated paper 10 includes a first flap 22, a second flap 24, a third flap 26, and a connecting mechanism 28. The connecting mechanism 28 can include, but is not limited to, glue, adhesive, Velcro^® and/or other fasteners. The connecting mechanism 28 may include a process of heat sealing, heat staking, and/or sonic welding. Combinations of any of these or other mechanisms and/or processes can also be used for assembly of the sleeve 20. The connecting mechanism 28 may be double sided tape. The connecting mechanism 28 can also be double sided tape with a removable strip for peel and stick assembly. To make the sleeve 20 using the die cut laminated paper 10, third flap 26 can be folded followed by folding of first flap 22 and second flap 24. First flap 22 and second flap 24 would be connected to third flap 26 to complete assembly of the sleeve 20.

[0037] The laminated paper can include creases 50 or other indentures to facilitate assembly of the sleeve 20. Various processes can be used to form the creases 50. Third flap 26 can have a length so that the third flap extends in proximity to the open end of the sleeve 20 when in a folded position. The size and shape of third flap 26 facilitates insertion of the smartcard into the sleeve 20 by positioning the edge of the third flap so that the smartcard is less likely to catch it upon insertion.

[0038]As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the first flap 22 and second flap 24 may be substantially the same size. For example, the area of first flap 22 and the area of the second flap 24 may differ by less than 30% and preferably less than 15%. Thus, although there is a cut away in the first flap 22, it is still substantially the same size as the second flap 24.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the laminated paper 10 may also include a fourth flap 27 and a connecting mechanism 29. ₀ After the sleeve is assembled, a contactless smartcard may be inserted into the sleeve 20. The fourth flap 27 may be folded over and connected to the sleeve 20 using the connecting mechanism 29, such as, for example, double sided tape with a removable strip and being re-adherable on one side. After connecting the fourth flap 27 to the sleeve 20, the smartcard may be sealed within the sleeve 20. This embodiment may be useful for preventing intrusive reading when transporting the enclosed smartcard from one location to another.

[004O]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate sleeves having a portrait orientation. In other embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sleeve may be designed so that the smartcard is inserted along the width of the smart card, i.e., in a landscape orientation. The securing mechanisms in the above-described embodiments may also be applied directly to the flaps, to the flap landing areas, or to both. Although FIGS. 6 and 8 illustrate fourth flap 27 with a portion cut away, another embodiment can include a fourth flap 27 without any portion cut away.

[0041] Accord ing to one embodiment of the invention, sleeve 20 may be configured to block all frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, sleeve 20 may be configured to block selective frequencies or ranges of frequencies, such as 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, and/or other frequencies.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, sleeve 20 may be configured to block all frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from accessing RFID smartcards, contactless smartcards, RFID passports and/or other wireless devices that are placed in a range of from 5 meters from a reader to direct contact with a reader. According to another embodiment of the invention, sleeve 20 may be configured to block selective frequencies or ranges of frequencies, such as 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, and/or other frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from accessing RFID smartcards, contactless smartcards, RFID passports and/or other wireless devices that are placed in a range of from 5 meters from a reader to direct contact with a reader.

[0043]While preferred forms of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made that will achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention will be determined solely by claims that will be added.

Claims

We claim:

1. A device for shielding a contactless smartcard from intrusive reading, the device comprising: a sleeve being flexible and having closed and open ends opposite to each other, the sleeve being sized and shaped to removably receive and hold a contactless smartcard, the sleeve being formed by a process of folding a laminated paper to form first, second and third flaps, wherein the first and second flaps are opposite to each other and connected to the third flap to define the open end, wherein the laminated paper comprises a shielding material and a paper product, and wherein the shielding material prevents reading of the contactless smartcard when at least substantially surrounded by the sleeve.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the paper product comprises at least one of paper, spunbond material, meltblown material, bonded carded web, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, spunbond- meltblown-spunbond laminates, and spunbond-film laminates.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the paper product is a spunbonded olefin.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the open end has a cut-out to leave a portion of the contactless smartcard exposed for removal from the sleeve.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shielding material is chosen from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, stainless steel, a nickel-iron alloy having a high magnetic permeability, a metalized polyethylene terephthalate plastic and any combinations thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the laminated paper further comprises first and second polyethylene layers, and wherein the shielding material is positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flaps are connected to the third flap by adhesive, thermal bonding, heat staking, or a combination thereof.

8. A device for shielding a contactless smartcard from intrusive reading, the device comprising: a sleeve having closed and open ends opposite to each other, the sleeve being sized and shaped to removably receive and hold a contactless smartcard, the sleeve being formed by a process of folding a laminated paper to form first, second and third flaps, wherein the first and second flaps are opposite to each other and connected to the third flap to define the sleeve, wherein the laminated paper comprises a shielding material, paper product, a first polyethylene layer and a second polyethylene layer, wherein the shielding material is positioned between the first and second polyethylene layers, and wherein the shielding material prevents reading of the contactless smartcard when at least substantially surrounded by the sleeve.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the paper product comprises at least one of paper, spunbond material, meltblown material, bonded carded web, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, spunbond- meltblown-spunbond laminates, and spunbond-film laminates.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the paper product is a spunbonded olefin.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the open end has a cut-out to leave a portion of the contactless smartcard exposed for removal from the sleeve.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the shielding material is chosen from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, stainless steel, a nickel-iron alloy having a high magnetic permeability, a metalized polyethylene terephthalate plastic and any combinations thereof.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second flaps are connected to the third flap by adhesive, thermal bonding, heat staking, or combinations thereof.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second flaps have a greater length than the third flap, and wherein the first and second flaps are of substantially the same size.

15. The device of claim 8, further comprising a fourth flap in proximity to the open end, wherein the fourth flap is foldable over the open end to seal the contactless smartcard in the sleeve.

16. A method of manufacturing a shielding device for a contactless smartcard, the method comprising:

laminating a paper product with an electromagnetic shielding material to form a laminated paper, the laminated paper being flexible; folding the laminated paper along three sides to form first, second and third flaps; and connecting the first and second flaps to the third flap to define an open end for insertion of the contectless smartcard.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the paper product from at least one of paper, spunbond material, meltblown material, bonded carded web, films, hydroentangled materials, woven materials, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminates, and spunbond-film laminates;

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the electromagnetic shielding material from a material chosen from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, stainless steel, a nickel-iron alloy haying a high magnetic permeability, a metalized polyethylene terephthalate plastic and any combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising laminating the paper product and the electromagnetic shielding material with a polyethylene layer.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: folding the laminated paper along a fourth side to form a fourth flap to seal the contactless smartcard within the sleeve.