Coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden and a process for accomplishment of same

Abstract

 It is provided a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden, comprising a base sheet (2) and a cover sheet (5) coupled with the base sheet (2) and provided with at least one area (6) to be removed by tearing off and disposed in register with a message reproduced on the base sheet (2). Also provided is a process for making a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unbidden, comprising a step of reproducing at least one message on a base sheet (2) and consisting in carrying out coupling between the base sheet (2) and the cover sheet (5) and arranging an area (6) in the cover sheet (5) which is disposed in register with the message and is adapted to be removed by tearing off.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden and a process for accomplishment of same.

[0002] It is known that widely spread in different activity fields are coupons, tickets, cards, printed sheets or similar elements having one or more regions carrying messages consisting of inscriptions or graphic symbols that must remain hidden, that is invisible, until the mentioned messages can be deliberately, i.e. by a precise and intentional act, unhidden and therefore revealed to the owner or beneficiary of such a coupon or similar element.

[0003] A widespread example of elements of the above described type consists of tickets or coupons for the so-called instant lotteries.

[0004] These tickets are formed of a laminar support made of paper or other material on which indications relating to possible wins are reproduced in the form of inscriptions or graphic symbols suitably concealed by one or more covering regions to be removed by rubbing, with the aid of a coin edge or other element suitable for scraping, for example. The production cycle for making tickets of this type includes several operating steps to be carried out on sheets made of paper or other material such as aluminium or plastic material.

[0005] First of all sheets are generally covered with a priming coat on which, following a sequence of steps intended for distribution of black colour and the fundamental colours, i.e. red, yellow and blue, indications relating to wins are printed, as well as other different inscriptions and images.

[0006] Subsequently, the regions or region carrying the indications relating to wins that must remain hidden at least until purchase of the tickets, are covered with a special gold or silver paint after appropriately processing said regions by application of one or more layers of substances suitable to inhibit permanent adhesion of such a covering paint.

[0007] In this way, indications relating to wins are completely invisible until removal of said paint layer by a scraping action.

[0008] Tickets of the above described type have some limits and drawbacks.

[0009] First of all, in order to ensure a complete and sure invisibility of the indications relating to wins, these indications require to be printed using neutral and very light colours, so that no shade or alteration in the uniform covering paint layer may be produced.

[0010] Practically, the graphic and aesthetic effect of the ticket and the easy reading of same are necessarily low, above all in weakly lit environments.

[0011] In addition, removal of the covering paint from the involved regions requires some time and is generally rather arduous; furthermore, the aid of an appropriate support surface is always needed.

[0012] Finally, the components of the covering paints to be removed by scraping have some toxicity and often have a tendency to deposit on the user's fingertips.

[0013] Also known are cards or envelopes each essentially consisting of a sheet folded upon itself and closed along its borders that must be torn off to enable access to the indications of possible wins or other messages printed on the inner surfaces of said sheets.

[0014] While these types of cards enable hidden inscriptions to be perfectly concealed, they involve important difficulties in accomplishment of same, which will cause an increase in the production costs because they require both folding operations for each of them once printing has been carried out, and gluing of the borders of the folded sheets.

[0015] For quickly carrying out these operations when mass-production is involved, use of special and expensive apparatus expressly planned for the purpose is required.

[0016] In addition, tearing off of the cards along their borders for opening of same produces small paper chips, spreading over of which gives rise to clear inconveniences in terms of practical use and cleanliness.

[0017] Finally, other types of cards, tickets or similar media for lotteries, surprise-competitions or other purposes are known, in which tearing off of the folded-sheet borders is avoided by arranging frangible regions on one of the two halves of said sheet, which frangible regions are adapted to be torn off for opening a corresponding sheet portion substantially having the shape of a window, so that the indications reproduced inside the folded sheet are made visible.

[0018] This technical solution however, does not reduce complexity of the above mentioned production steps for cards consisting of sheets folded upon themselves and glued after the printing steps have been carried out, so that all drawbacks relating to production costs and operating difficulties are maintained.

[0019] Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden and a process for accomplishment of same, capable of substantially obviating the above mentioned drawbacks.

[0020] Within the scope of this technical task, it is an important aim of the invention to devise a coupon or similar element that not only enables messages to be perfectly hidden, which messages consist of inscriptions and graphic symbols reproduced in colours of any visual prominence and therefore of easy reading and the aesthetic level of which is not subjected to colour limitations, but also allows the operations for making said messages visible to be made easy and immediate without requiring the presence of any support surface on which the coupon must bear.

[0021] Another important aim of the invention is to devise a coupon or similar element and a process for accomplishment of same enabling reproduction thereof at low costs with the use of common equipment, such as silk-screen, lithographic, rotogravure, flexographic printing machineries, for example.

[0022] A further aim of the invention is to devise a coupon or similar element that does not produce chips or debris to be spread over after uncovering of the message and does not give rise to toxic deposits on the user's fingers.

[0023] The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a coupon or similar element which is characterized in that it comprises at least one cover sheet having an inner mating face coupled with said base sheet and provided with at least one removable area disposed in register with said message and adapted to be detached from the base sheet by tearing off along predefined portions of the contour line of said area, so as to make the message visible.

[0024] The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are also achieved by a process for producing a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden, comprising step of reproducing at least one message on the surface of a base sheet, which process is characterized in that it consists in carrying out coupling of said surface of the base sheet carrying said message with at least one cover sheet, and in that it performs arrangement, in said cover sheet, of at least one removable area disposed in register with said message and adapted to be detached by tearing off along predefined portions of the contour line of said area, so as to make said message visible.

[0025] The description of some preferred embodiments of a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden is now given hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the present invention, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 shows the base sheet and the cover sheet constituting the coupon in accordance with the invention before they are coupled together;
• Fig. 2 is a view of the coupon in Fig. 1 showing the uncovering operation of the message reproduced on the base sheet.

[0026] With reference to the drawings, the coupon in accordance with the invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.

[0027] It comprises a base sheet 2 having a surface 3 carrying at least one region 4 for messages consisting of inscriptions or graphic symbols reproduced by impression on the surface 3 itself.

[0028] The base sheet 2 can be made of paper, plastic material, aluminium or any other material considered as appropriate and does not require to be covered with a priming coat except optionally only limitedly to region 4 where the preestablished message is expected to be reproduced by printing.

[0029] The whole surface 3 of the base sheet 2 is hot- or cold-coupled, by gluing for example, with an inner mating face 5a of a cover sheet 5, preferably of plastic material.

[0030] The cover sheet 5 is provided with at least one removable area 6 suitably disposed in register with the message region 4 ad is adapted to be detached from the base sheet 2 by tearing off along predefined portions 7 of the contour line of the area itself, so as to make the underlying message visible (see Fig. 2).

[0031] In addition, the cover sheet 5 has an outer face 5b adapted to be printed, before or after coupling with the base sheet 2, by usual techniques adopting one or more colours so as to give the desired overall graphic appearance to coupon 1. During this printing step the regions corresponding to the underlying message regions 4 of the base sheet 2 can be advantageously marked on the outer face 5b of the cover sheet 5.

[0032] To make the removable area 6 detachable from the base sheet 2, methodologies may be provided which can be differentiated not only depending on the coupling process utilized for joining the cover sheet 5 to the base sheet 2, but also inside the same process type.

[0033] For example, if the base sheet and the cover sheet are hot-coupled without use of any adhesive, provision must be made for adhesion-inhibiting means interposed between the sheets themselves limitedly to the removable area 6 of the second sheet corresponding to the message region 4 of the first one. Said inhibiting means may consist of one or more layers of known and conventional substances such as UV paints, waxes or silicone-based substances, for example.

[0034] A first mode of applying the adhesion-inhibiting means may consist for example in applying said means exclusively to the base sheet at the message region 4.

[0035] Alternatively, the inhibiting means may be applied to the inner mating face 5a of the cover sheet 5 at the removable area 6.

[0036] In another possible alternative solution, coupling between the base sheet and cover sheet is obtained by interposing an adhesive or technically equivalent material between the contact surfaces of said sheets, except for the removable area 6 or the message region 4. The adhesive material can be spread over the base sheet and/or the cover sheet by a silk-screen process for example or another appropriate process of known type.

[0037] The predefined portions 7 of the contour line of the removable area 6 are advantageously identified by frangible cuts extending in a substantially U-shaped open line so as to form an untearable attachment portion 8 enabling the removable area 6 to be kept in engagement with the cover sheet 5 also after uncovering of the hidden messages (see Fig. 2).

[0038] The invention puts into practice a new process being an integral part of the present patent as well.

[0039] First of all, it comprises a step of reproducing at least one message on the upper face of a base sheet 2.

[0040] Subsequently the process involves carrying out coupling between the base sheet 2 and a cover sheet 5 by suitably arranging a removable area 6 in said cover sheet 5 which matches with the message region 4 of the base sheet and has the fundamental feature of being susceptible of detachment by tearing off along predefined portions of its contour lines so that the underlying messages can be made visible.

[0041] The arrangement step of the removable area 6 in the cover sheet may be achieved following different alternative techniques.

[0042] One of these techniques involves interposition of adhesion-inhibiting means between the base sheet and the cover sheet, at the removable area and therefore the message region of the base sheet, which adhesion-inhibiting means may for example consist of one or more layers of UV paint, waxes, silicone-based substances.

[0043] Application of this means can be carried out on the base sheet at the region carrying the messages and/or the cover sheet at the removable area on the inner face thereof to be turned towards the base sheet.

[0044] Alternatively, coupling between the base sheet and cover sheet is carried out by interposition of an adhesive material by applying it to the base sheet and/or the cover sheet, whereas the removable area is made suitable for detachment by omitting application of said adhesive material at the message region and/or the removable area.

[0045] Before coupling between the base sheet and the cover sheet, a die cutting operation is carried out on said removable area in order to create the predefined tearing portions of its contour line.

[0046] Finally, before or after coupling between the base sheet and cover sheet, a printing step may be provided to be executed on the outer face of said cover sheet.

[0047] All the above mentioned process steps can be performed by machines and equipment selected from those already currently in use in printing works, i.e. adapted to carry out printing processes of the silk-screen, lithographic, rotogravure or flexographic type.

[0048] Within the scope of the production process, accomplishment of a plurality of coupons or similar elements joined together in the form of a ribbon may be provided, said ribbon being continuously drawn from a feed roller and subsequently cut into sheets or cards in turn die cut to give rise to the individual coupons or tickets.

[0049] The coupons or similar elements described above mainly as regards structure can be used in many ways and in very differentiated application fields.

[0050] As a matter of fact, such coupons, by a quick and easy intervention to be carried out without any equipment or additional element, practically enable at least two well differentiated sequential states in a predetermined sequential order and which are not present simultaneously to be distinguished, wherein the second state or possibly the subsequent states can be activated only by a deliberate human intervention.

[0051] The above mentioned features can be usefully employed not only in the above described instant lotteries wherein passage from the first state in which win messages are concealed, to the second state, merely signifies uncovering of the hidden win messages, but also in all cases in which any information or any message must be revealed by changing the situation of the product or object with which the coupon is associated.

[0052] The following uses can be taken into account by way of example only and without involving any limitation.

[0053] For instance, in the case of pieces or objects to be tested, evidence that testing has been carried out, that is passage from the "untested" state to the "tested" state, can be signalled by making the tasting message appear by raising of the removable area of the cover sheet, which operation can only be deliberately carried out by an operator.

[0054] Alternatively, for assistance or guarantee services, to be used only for a limited number of times, the coupons of the invention included in, or annexed to the booklet establishing rules for these services, once the removable area has been raised can certify that enjoyment of a service has occurred.

[0055] Also in the case of complimentary copies of books or products not for sale, the state of unsalability can be highlighted by making the relative message appear by detachment of the removable area.

[0056] Yet another application can be mentioned in the field of entry tickets or other functions or events to be cancelled when they are really used so that they cannot be utilized subsequently.

[0057] The invention achieves important advantages.

[0058] It is to point out first of all that the covering capability of the cover sheet of the coupon in accordance with the invention makes it possible to print the indications relating to the messages reproduced on the base sheet by any combination of even very bright colours, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the ticket even when these indications have been uncovered by the user.

[0059] In addition, due to the possibility of using bright and marked colours, the coupons can be read mire easily, so that reading problems present in the known art above all in case of weak lighting are eliminated. Furthermore, the manual action of uncovering the messages is much more practical, quick and simple, above all if it is facilitated by arranging frangible lines along the contour of the removable region, as compared with scraping to be exerted on coupons and/or tickets of known type, and can be carried out also in the absence of any support surface.

[0060] It is also to note that tearing of the removable area only along part of its contour line in any case keeps the removable region linked to the coupon after raising of same, thereby eliminating an undesired production of chips.

[0061] Since covering paints are eliminated, problems of toxicity connected with removal of said paints do not exist any longer, these problems being on the contrary present in the known art.

[0062] In particular it is herein emphasized that the process for making coupons or similar elements in accordance with the invention enables use of ordinary equipment and machines, and consequently high production rates can be obtained at lower costs than in at least some types of processes of the known art which, on the contrary, need expressly dedicated machines and equipment.

Claims

1. A coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden, comprising a base sheet (2) having a surface (3) carrying at least one said message, characterized in that it comprises at least one cover sheet (5) having an inner mating face (5a) coupled with said base sheet (2) and provided with at least one removable area (6) disposed in register with said message and adapted to be detached from the base sheet (2) by tearing off along predefined portions (7) of the contour line of said area, so as to make the message visible.

2. A coupon as claimed in claim 1, wherein at said removable area (6) of the cover sheet (5) adhesion-inhibiting means is provided which is interposed between the cover sheet (5) and the base sheet (2).

3. A coupon as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adhesion-inhibiting means comprises one or more layers of substances selected from UV paints, waxes, silicone-based substances.

4. A coupon as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adhesion-inhibiting means is applied to the base sheet (2) at the region (4) carrying said message.

5. A coupon as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adhesion-inhibiting means is applied to said cover sheet (5) at said removable area (6) on said inner mating face (5a) turned towards the base sheet (2).

6. A coupon as claimed in claim 1, wherein between said base sheet (2) and cover sheet (5) there is interposition of at least one layer of adhesive material adapted to perform coupling between said sheets, said adhesive material being applied to the contact surface of said base and cover sheets, except said removable area (6).

7. A coupon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover sheet (5) has frangible cuts forming said predefined portions (7) in the contour line of said removable area (6).

8. A coupon as claimed in claim 7, wherein said frangible cuts extend in an open line adapted to define an untearable portion (8) on said contour line for keeping said removable area (6) connected to the cover sheet (5).

9. A coupon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover sheet (5) has an outer face (5b) adapted to be printed with inscriptions and/or graphic symbols in one or more colours.

10. A coupon as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover sheet (5) is made of plastic material.

11. A process for making a coupon or similar element arranged to conceal one message to be deliberately unhidden, comprising a step of reproducing at least one message on a surface (3) of a base sheet (2), characterized in that it consists in carrying out coupling of said surface (3) of the base sheet (2) carrying said message with at least one cover sheet (5), and in that it performs arrangement, in said cover sheet (5), of at least one removable area (6) disposed in register with said message and adapted to be detached by tearing off along predefined portions (7) of the contour line of said area, so as to make said message visible.

12. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein said arrangement in the cover sheet (5) of said removable area (6) consists of an interposition, between the cover sheet (5) and the base sheet (2), of means inhibiting adhesion of said sheets at said removable area (6).

13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said interposition of adhesion-inhibiting means comprises application between said covering (5) and base (2) sheets of one or more layers of substances selected from UV paints, waxes, silicone-based substances.

14. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein application of said adhesion-inhibiting means is carried out on the base sheet (2) at the region (4) carrying said message.

15. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein application of said adhesion-inhibiting means is carried out on the cover sheet (5) at said removable area (6) on the inner face of said cover sheet turned towards the base sheet (2).

16. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coupling between the base (2) and cover (5) sheets is carried out by interposition of adhesive and wherein said arrangement of said removable area (6) is obtained by omitting application of adhesive at said removable area (6).

17. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein before coupling between said base sheet (2) and cover sheet (5), a die cutting step to be carried out on the cover sheet (5) is provided which is adapted to obtain said predefined portions (7) of the contour line of the removable area (6).

18. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein a printing step involving inscriptions and/or graphic symbols is provided on the outer face (5b) of the cover sheet (5), to be carried out optionally either before or after said coupling step.

19. A process as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that at least said steps of: reproducing one message on the base sheet (2) and printing said cover sheet (5), arranging said removable area (6) on said cover sheet (5), and coupling the two sheets, are carried out by machines and equipment selected from those adapted to carry out silk-screen, lithographic, rotogravure or flexographic print processes.

Drawing