A device for use in lotteries, promotions, gaming, amusement, education and the like

Abstract

 A novelty, lottery or game ticket is disclosed which is manufactured ideally from a single sheet of cut and creased sheet material. The sheet is divided into three panels along fold lines in one direction parallel to one pair of the sheet edges, and has lateral frangible lines extending transversally across the sheet from said pair of sheet edges and substantially perpendicular to said fold lines. The fold lines divide the sheet into three panels which are folded together so that an intermediate panel is trapped between the two others. The frangible lines allow respective end portions of the ticket to be removed, and the intermediate panel is provided with a central portion frangibly connected to end portions of said intermediate panel. The act of folding and gluing the end portions of the various panels traps the intermediate panel central portion within the ticket in apertures provided in the remaining two panels, and the act of breaking the ticket along the frangible lines releases the end portions which can be slid without the ticket, said intermediate panel central portion remaining trapped within the ticket. The intermediate panel central portion can then be turned to provide the ticket with the novelty feature. The ticket described thus needs no rivets to secure the intermediate panel central portion within said ticket.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for use in a number of activities such as lotteries, promotions, gaming, amusement, education and so on. The device is one which is in the nature of a hand held ticket, which the user has to break a sealing arrangement in an irreversible manner, which shows that the ticket has either been used, or has been tampered with.

[0002] Following the breaking open of the ticket, the user then is able to view otherwise hidden information.

[0003] Devices such as this are known, and one such device is set forth in UK patent No. 2324477B, wherein the device comprises a sheet material carrier located between front and rear cover sheets. The carrier is adapted to be slid when an end of the device is broken away from the reminder, the carrier sheet being attached to that end. When the end is so broken away, it can be pulled away from the remainder of the device, so that the carrier slides relative to the front and rear sheets, and previously hidden material comes into alignment with windows in the front and or rear sheets, enabling it to be viewed.

[0004] A problem with this arrangement is that the amount of information which can be viewed is limited to the extent to which the carrier can slide, and also the carrier can be pulled completely out of the remainder of the device, and can become lost. This may not matter in some applications, but in others, it could be a serious disadvantage.

[0005] In an alternative device, a disc of paper or card material may be riveted to a substrate using a metal rivet which allows the disc to rotate thereabout. However, the rivet dramatically increases the cost of production of the device, and additionally where the device is to be included in packaged food products, the introduction of metal is entirely unacceptable and can present a health risk to consumers. Additionally, the time taken to manufacture riveted devices is relatively slow compared with the manufacture of devices without said rivets.

[0006] The present invention is for a device of this nature, but wherein the above disadvantages, at least in preferred forms of the invention, are obviated or mitigated.

[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a lottery, game or novelty or the like ticket comprising a number of panels of sheet material superimposed one on another, the ticket having an irreversibly removable or displaceable portion, which, when removed or displaced by the user of the ticket, enables an intermediate panel portion otherwise trapped within the ticket to be turned to enable otherwise hidden material such as indicia on the intermediate panel to be viewed.

[0008] Preferably, the intermediate panel portion is circular, and is trapped between a front panel portion and a rear panel portion, in that edge regions of the circular panel portion project from the sides of the tickets through slots in fold edges joining the front and rear panel portions, said slots being of less length than the diameter of the circular intermediate panel portion. Such an arrangement allows the circular panel portion to be rotated about its centre, without there being any fixed point providing an axis of rotation, as is normally provided in cards and lottery and the like tickets.

[0009] Such an arrangement enables the viewing of a large number of indicia arranged on the circular portion to be viewed in turn, and also, the circular portion is prevented from falling from or being pulled out (without destroying the ticket) from the remainder of the ticket.

[0010] A removable portion preferably is provided and comprises three sections, a front section, an intermediate section and a rear section, respectively forming parts of the front, intermediate and rear panels, which are irreversibly connected to the front, intermediate and rear panel portions by tear lines or other frangible means.

[0011] Preferably the intermediate panels of the removable portions are irreversibly connected to the intermediate portion which is held in place between the front and rear panels of the device, said intermediate panels of said removable portions being encased within the front and rear panels of the device until being torn or broken away therefrom to reveal tab portions which are preferably printed with further game indicia. The removable portions may incorporate tab portions formed from the intermediate section which are initially concealed by the front and rear sections by which become visible when the removable portions are removed. Said tab members could be used in combination to form game pieces or the like.

[0012] Preferably, a scratch-off coating is applied to either or both of the tab portions and/or the circular panel portion disposed within the device. In this manner the device can also function as a secure lottery ticket as well as a novelty device.

[0013] As long as the removable portion has not been removed (by being torn away), the circular panel portion cannot be turned, and the integrity of the ticket is preserved, but to use the ticket the user tears away the removable portion, and as a result the circular intermediate panel portion becomes rotatable in the ticket.

[0014] If one of the front and rear panel portions or both is provided with one or more viewing windows, when the circular panel portion is turned, the indicia thereon can be made to come into register (and thus be viewable) with the window or windows. If scratch-off material is applied to the circular panel portion it may be scratch away through the said windows of the device.

[0015] Because the ticket must be irreversibly broken open and a part torn away, the ticket provides a degree of tamper evidence. However, it should be mentioned that unscrupulous persons wishing to open the ticket would be able to do so and subsequently re-seal the ticket thereafter without significant difficulty. In instances where the ticket is adapted to offer the possibility of winning prizes of value as opposed to simply providing information through the said windows in a novel manner, then it is proposed that a secure scratch-off or other like security measure be additionally applied to the blank of the material prior to the formation of the device. In this manner the ticket may perform the function of both a novelty device and a lottery ticket.

[0016] The use of the ticket will be understood from the above, but briefly the use comprises the tearing away by the user of the removable portion, followed by the turning of the intermediate panel portion until the user has identified all of the indicia of the ticket to appreciate whether or not the user has won a prize or discount, of has answered a question or questions correctly, or the like.

[0017] It is preferred that the ticket be generally of rectangular configuration, and that the removable portion is located at one end. Preferably, there will be two removable portions, one at each end of the ticket.

[0018] Preferably, the ticket is made from a one piece blank of cut and creased sheet material such as cardboard or plastics.

[0019] A particular use of the device according to the invention may be in the presentation of currency exchange rate information, in which case the rotation of the intermediate portion within the device results in the presentation of currency exchange rate information in one or more of the windows provided in the front and rear sections of the device.

[0020] Preferably the blank from which the device is made is provided with a glossy or waterproof covering. The method of forming the device by folding respective sections of the blank ensures that the external surface of the completed device, with the exception of the reverse sides of the edge portions of the intermediate section which protrude through the slots between the front and rear sections, is provided by a single surface of the blank. This facilitates the printing of promotional material on a single side of the blank which is advantageous.

[0021] It should also be mentioned that the blank from which the ticket is formed may be printed on both sides, and windows may also be provided in both sides such that the ticket offers the possibility of offering two games, one on either face of the completed ticket.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein;-

Fig. 1 is a plan of a blank of cardboard according to and erectible into a ticket according to the present invention;

Figs. 2 to 4 show the steps involved in erecting the blank of Fig. 1 into a ticket according to the invention; and

Fig. 5 shows how the ticket according to Fig. 4 is used.

[0023] Referring to the drawings, the blank shown in Fig. 1 comprises three panels 10, 12 and 14 which are generally rectangular and are hingedly connected by crease lines 16, and 20. Hinged to the other side of panel 10 along a hinge line 22 is a glue flap 24. Panel 10 is a rear panel, panel 14 is an intermediate panel, and the panel 12 along with the glue flap 24, which, as explained hereinafter, is glued to panel 12, form a front panel.

[0024] Extending from side to side of the blank at top 26 and bottom 28 are two tear lines 30 and 32.

[0025] In the fold lines 22 and 16 are double arcuate cut outs or slots 34 and 36, and in panel 12 is a viewing window 38.

[0026] The panel 14 is profiled and defines a central circular portion 40, which is connected at its top and bottom by tear lines 42 and 44, or other frangible connection means such as catch points, to two T shaped portions 46 and 48. The side of the panel 12 is cut away as shown at 48, as the circular portion 40 is of greater diameter than the width of each of the panels 10, 12 and 14.

[0027] The circular portion 40 carries indicia 50, which is material to the use of the ticket, as will be understood.

[0028] To erect the ticket and render it ready for use, the panel 14 is folded over panel 12 to lie on top of it as shown in Fig. 2. Next, the superimposed panels 12 and 14 are folded over together onto the top of panel 10, as shown in Fig. 3. Finally, the glue flap 24 is folded onto and glued over substantially its entire area by applying a strip or spots of adhesive which spread under the flap when pressure is applied thereto to form a bond, shown hatched, with panel 12, sealing the ticket, as shown in Fig. 4, in which condition the edges of the circular portion 40 project through the slots or cut outs 34 and 36 and can be engaged by the fingers. It is to be mentioned that the degree of security offered by the ticket can be improved by applying strips or spots of glue between the edges of the blank 26, 28 and the perforation lines 30, 32. In this configuration, the front, intermediate, rear and flap 24 portions between the perforation lines 30, 32 and the edges of the blank 26, 28 of the blank may all be glued together while still leaving the T shaped portions 46, 48 connected only to the circular portion 40 and free to be disconnected therefrom and removed from within the body of the device. This configuration could provide additional resistance to lateral squeezing of the ticket which would cause the front and rear prtions of the ticket to separate and allow a user to see inside the ticket without breaking away the T shaped portions.

[0029] At this stage the ticket is ready for use. At this stage also, the circular portion 40 cannot be turned as it is prevented from doing so by being connected to the T shaped portions 46 and 48. As mentioned above, the particular manner in which the ticket is constructed is primarily concerned not with security but with ease, simplicity and speed of manufacture in mind. Therefore, although the circular portion 40 is prevented from turning by the T-shaped portions 46, 48, the connection between the said circular portion and the T shaped portions cannot withstand excessive torque which if applied could foreseeably free the circular portion without requiring that the user first break the T shaped portions away therefrom and from the body of the ticket.

[0030] To use the ticket the user tears away (this may require a bending back and forth) the removable sections of the ticket, made up of the portions of the front, intermediate and rear panels located outwardly of the tear lines 30 and 32. This is shown in Fig. 5 wherein said portions (indicated by references 52 and 54) have been torn away. The T shaped portions 46 and 48 form part of the portions 52 and 54, and when these are torn away, the circular portion 40 is now free to turn as shown by arrow 56 in either direction, about its centre (although there is no defined pivot there) in that it is trapped and centralised in the ticket by the slots 34 and 36, which are of less length that the diameter of the circular portion 40.

[0031] The user simply turns the portion 40 to view the previously hidden indicia, to ascertain if the indicia provide winning or correct information. The indicia may be covered, in conventional fashion, by means of irreversibly removable scratch off material to render tampering with the ticket even more difficult. In using such a ticket, the user would have to scratch away the covering before revealing the indicia, after it has been aligned with the window/s.

[0032] Instead of removable sections being provided, there may be a displaceable section or sections, the displacement of which has the same effect in that the displacement is readily visible so that tampering can be detected immediately, and that the intermediate panel portion is freed up to be capable of being turned.

[0033] A novel and entertaining ticket which is resistant to compromise is therefore achieved.

Claims

1. A ticket for lottery, game or novelty use comprising a number of panels of sheet material superimposed one on another, the ticket having an irreversibly removable or displaceable portion, which, when removed or displaced by the user of the ticket, enables an intermediate panel portion otherwise trapped within the ticket to be turned to enable otherwise hidden indicia on the intermediate panel to be viewed.

2. A ticket according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate panel portion is circular, and is trapped between a front panel portion and a rear panel portion.

3. A ticket according to claim 2 wherein edge regions of the circular panel portion project from the sides of the tickets through slots in fold edges joining the front and rear panel portions, said slots being of less length than the diameter of the circular intermediate panel portion.

4. A ticket according to claim 3 wherein a removable portion is provided and comprises three sections, a front section, an intermediate section and a rear section, respectively forming parts of the front, intermediate and rear panels, which are connected to the front, intermediate and rear panel portions by tear lines or other frangible means.

5. A ticket according to claim 4 wherein the intermediate panels of the removable portions are connected to the intermediate panel portion which is held in place between the front and rear panels of the device, said intermediate panels of said removable portions being encased within the front and rear panels of the device until the connection with the intermediate portion is torn or broken thus revealing tab portions.

6. A ticket according to claim 5 wherein the tab portions are printed with further game indicia.

7. A ticket according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said removable portions incorporate tab portions formed from the intermediate sections which are initially concealed by the front and rear sections by which become visible when the removable portions are broken away from the intermediate panel portion and slid without the ticket.

8. A ticket according to any of claims 5-7 wherein said tab members and suitably printed with indicia and form game pieces to be used in conjunction with the indicia printed on either or both of the outer surfaces of the ticket and the intermediate panel portion.

9. A ticket according to any of the preceding claims wherein a scratch-off coating is applied to either or both of the tab portions and/or the intermediate panel portion disposed within the device.

10. A ticket according to any of the preceding claims wherein either or both of the front and rear panel portions is provided with one or more viewing windows such that indicia printed on the intermediate panel portion can be made to come into register with said window.

11. A ticket according to any preceding claim wherein said ticket if of rectangular configuration.

12. A ticket according to any preceding claim wherein the removable portion is located at one end.

13. A ticket according to claim 12 wherein there are two removable portions, one at each end of the ticket.

14. A ticket according to any of the preceding claims wherein said ticket is made from a one piece blank of cut and creased sheet material such as cardboard or plastics.

15. A ticket according to claim 14 wherein said blank from which the device is made is provided with a glossy or waterproof covering.

16. A ticket for lottery, game or novelty use comprising a number of panels of sheet material defined between fold lines and superimposed on one another, the ticket having an irreversibly removeable or displaceable portion which when removed or displaced by the user of the ticket enables an intermediate panel portion otherwise trapped within the ticket to be turned to enable otherwise hidden indicia on the intermediate panel portion to be viewed, characterised in that the intermediate panel portion retained within the ticket by virtue of slots provided in fold lines which connect adjacent panels between which the intermediate portion is disposed and through which edge regions of the intermediate panel protrude in the completed ticket, the length of said slots being less than the maximum linear dimension of said intermediate portion.

Drawing