Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention is directed to a lottery ticket having a play area containing
a grid of rows and columns of individual play regions covered by a scratch-off layer
in which each of the play regions beneath the scratch-off layer contains an icon from
a preselected set of sequential icons such that completion of the sequential set of
icons can result in a prize being won.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Scratch-off lottery tickets are well known forms of entertainment and are typically
sponsored by government organizations (e.g. State or National Lottery Commissions).
The games played on lottery tickets provide a source of amusement to the players and
the opportunity to win a prize. Scratch-off lottery tickets are popular because they
provide an instant win feature enabling the player to win a prize and know if a prize
is won at the time the purchase of the lottery ticket is made.
[0003] The lottery industry has made extensive efforts to raise the level of amusement of
lottery games played on scratch-off lottery tickets. The development of a lottery
game for a scratch-off ticket is limited in part by the nature of how lottery tickets
are produced including limitations arising from the techniques used to print lottery
tickets.
[0004] There is a well known game of amusement offered in magazines and newspapers identified
by the trademark "Sudoku" in which a series of rows and columns of individual play
regions is formed into a grid. Each row and column contains nine individual play regions.
The grid is subdivided into nine subgrids each containing nine individual play regions.
A few of these play regions are marked with a visible number selected from 1 to 9,
and thus a portion of the puzzle is provided to the player. The player inserts numbers
in those individual play regions which are not marked with numbers so that each row
and column of nine individual play regions contains a series of numbers of 1-9 with
no duplication. The game takes skill because the player must be able to anticipate
which numbers are available for each individual play region in order to properly complete
the rows, columns and subgrids of numbers.
[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a game suitable for a lottery ticket which
is reminiscent of the games offered under the trademark "Sudoku" but takes into account
the constraints associated with lottery tickets and furthermore provides a framework
by which the user can obtain a prize as is customary with scratch-off lottery tickets.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] The present invention is generally directed to a lottery ticket for playing a game
in a variety of formats which is reminiscent of a game played in magazines and newspapers
known by the trademark "Sudoku". The lottery ticket of the present invention takes
into account the constraints and limitations in the printing of lottery tickets and
the offering of games in connection therewith while at the same time offering the
opportunity for the player to win a prize.
[0007] In a particular aspect of the present invention there is provided a lottery ticket
comprising:
a) a front surface comprising a first play area, said first play area containing a
first grid comprised of first rows and first columns of individual play regions covered
by a scratch-off layer, each first play region containing a sequential theme related
icon selected from a predetermined set of sequential icons; and
b) a first prize designation region providing information about the winning of a prize,
wherein the player removes the scratch-off layer to expose the icon appearing in each
first play region and if at least one first row and/or first column contains the predetermined
set of sequential icons, the player wins the prize in the prize designation region.
The prize designation region may be associated with each of said at least one first
row or first column.
[0008] In a further aspect of the invention, the first grid further comprises a row identifying
indicia and a column identifying indicia so that each row is identified by a single
row identifying indicia and each column is identified by a single column identifying
indicia. Each first play region is therefore identified by a combination indicia comprising
a single row identifying indicia and a single column identifying indicia. The lottery
ticket of this embodiment further comprises a second play area comprising a plurality
of second play regions, at least some of the second play regions each containing a
single combination indicia which is covered by a scratch-off layer.
[0009] In a still further aspect of the invention there is also provided a third play area
which is a substantial duplicate of the Sudoku type of game. The third play area contains
a third grid comprised of third rows and third columns of individual play regions,
some of which contain a sequential theme related icon selected from the predetermined
set of sequential icons. The remaining individual play regions do not contain icons.
The player uses a writing instrument to insert other icons in each of the remaining
individual play regions in an effort to complete the game of amusement.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010] The following drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts are
illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention
as encompassed by the full disclosure of the application.
Figure 1 is a top view of the front surface of a lottery ticket of a first embodiment
of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 1
in which no icons are provided on the scratch-off layer;
Figure 3 is a further embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 1 including a
second play area;
Figure 4 is a further embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 3 except that
the first play area does not have icons printed on the scratch-off layer;
Figure 5 is an embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 3 after the game has
been played by the player showing a winning ticket; and
Figure 6 is a still further embodiment of the invention similar to Figure 3 including
a third game area.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0011] The present invention is directed to a lottery ticket and particularly to a game
played on a lottery ticket in which a grid is comprised of rows and columns, the object
of which is to provide a game reminiscent of a game commonly known as Sudoku despite
the limitations placed on the printing of lottery tickets and the need to provide
the opportunity to win a prize. The lottery ticket is provided with at least a first
play area containing a grid comprised of rows and columns of individual play regions
each containing an icon with each of the icons selected from a predetermined set of
sequential icons. The object of the game is to complete within a row or column or
within an optional subgrid within the main grid the sequential set of icons so that
a prize may be won. A prize designation area is provided on the lottery ticket and
may be particularly associated with individual rows and columns. An optional prize
designation area is provided if subgrids are present so that the player can visually
determine that a prize has been won. In this feature of the lottery ticket, determination
of whether a prize is won is controlled by the lottery sponsor and not by the player.
[0012] The term "predetermined set of sequential icons" refers to a fixed number of icons
that have no duplicates. The icons must be from a recognizable set, either known to
the player or provided in the instructions accompanying the lottery ticket. The most
common example of a predetermined set of sequential icons is the numbers 1-9. Although
this particular sequential set of icons is disclosed in the drawings, it will be understood
that a smaller or larger number of icons may be used and the icons themselves need
not be numbers. Examples of other suitable icons include letters, colors, animals
(e.g. Santa's reindeer), historical figures, historical events and the like. Accordingly,
the lottery ticket can be developed with different themes such as a holiday theme,
historic celebrations, and the like, hence the term "theme related sequential icons".
All that is required is that the icons have either a recognized sequence (i.e. the
player can observe that there are no duplicates) or a sequence that can be provided
in the instructions for playing a lottery ticket game.
[0013] If the numbers 1-9 are chosen as the predetermined set of sequential icons, the grid
will contain 81 individual play regions (i.e. 9 play regions in each row and 9 play
regions in each column.) It will be understood that the number of icons in the predetermined
set of sequential icons may be more or less than nine which will result in a more
or less number of rows and columns.
[0014] Referring to Figure 1 there is shown an embodiment of the present invention in which
the lottery ticket 2 has a front face 4 having thereon a play area 6. It will be understood
that only the play area 6 is shown on the front face 4 of the lottery ticket. Conventional
graphics and promotional information as well as validation/authentication information
may appear on the front face of the lottery ticket but are not shown. The play area
6 includes a series of rows 8 and columns 10 each containing a predetermined number
of individual play regions 12 (e.g. 9 play regions appear in each row and column).
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the play area 6 is covered with an opaque scratch-off
layer 14, The entire play area 6 is covered with the scratch-off layer 14 thereby
hiding from view play indicia or icons 16 from the predetermined set of sequential
icons (see Figure 5) which is printed beneath the scratch-off layer. The term "play
indicia" are those particular icons that appear on a particular lottery ticket to
play the game whereas the term "icon" refers, as previously described to the many
different types of symbols that may comprise a predetermined set of sequential icons.
The terms "play indicia" and "icons" will be used interchangeably in describing the
embodiments which appear in the drawings.
[0015] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, there is printed on the scratch-off layer some,
but not all of the play indicia 16 in the corresponding play regions 12. For example,
in the lefthandmost column the play indicia (number 1) is printed in the second individual
play region of the column. The same number 1 appears below the scratch-off layer which
hides that number from view. As previously indicated, the drawings depict play indicia
in the form of numbers 1-9 as representative of the type of icons that may be used
for the sequential set of icons to play the game. Other icons as previously described
may be used in place of numbers.
[0016] The embodiment of Figure 1 also shows the presence of nine subgrids 18 each containing
the same number of play regions (9) as each individual row 8 and column 10.
[0017] Adjacent the lefthandmost column is a first prize designation area 20 having a prize
amount 22 associated with each row 8. Thus, the topmost row has associated therewith
in the first prize designation area 20 a prize amount of $5. If the lottery ticket
and particularly the topmost row has all icons of the predetermined set of sequential
icons (i.e. numbers 1-9) appearing in the row without duplication, then a prize of
$5 may be awarded.
[0018] There is also provided a second prize designation area 24 having a prize amount 26
associated with each column. For example the lefthandmost column has associated therewith
a prize amount of $20. If the lefthandmost column contains all of the icons of the
predetermined set of sequential icons, then the prize amount of $20 may be awarded.
[0019] It will be understood that the prize designation area need not be directly adjacent
the rows and columns. A separate prize designation area may be provided with all of
the information necessary for the player to determine if a prize has been won and
the amount of the prize.
[0020] An optional prize designation area 25 may be provided if optional subgrids 18 are
used to award prizes. As shown in Figure 1, a prize designation area 25 is in the
form of a "Bonus" for the completion of any subgrid with all of the icons of the predetermined
set of icons.
[0021] The awarding of a prize and whether or not a ticket is a winning ticket is controlled
by the lottery sponsor as there is no skill required to win a prize. The numbers that
are printed beneath the scratch-off layer in each of the individual play regions are
predetermined so that the game itself and the outcome are predetermined. However,
through the use of the removable scratch-off layer, the player can play the game by
removing the scratch-off layer in the individual play regions to gain a sense of playing
the game as if the outcome was not controlled.
[0022] The play indicia appearing on top of the scratch-off layer may be applied in the
same manner as disclosed in
U.S. Reissue Patent No. Re. 34,673 which is incorporated herein by reference. The play indicia appearing on the top
of the scratch-off layer may also be applied in the same manner as disclosed through
the use of a non-opaque scratch-off layer such as the use of a dual transparent system
as disclosed in
U.S. Patent No. 6,076,860 also incorporated herein by reference. It will be understood that the number of play
indicia which appears above the scratch-off layer can vary although, obviously, the
number of play indicia appearing above the scratch-off layer must be less than the
number of individual play regions.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, none of the play indicia appear above the
scratch-off layer. Referring to Figure 2, the scratch-off layer has none of the play
indicia appearing thereon. The player may simply remove the scratch-off layer from
the entire play area to reveal the play indicia below the scratch-off layer or as
described in connection with Figure 1, may remove the scratch-off layer from the individual
play regions to simulate playing the game even though the outcome is predetermined.
[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the player does not receive the benefit
of all of the play indicia appearing in the individual play regions of the first play
area. In this regard, and referring to Figure 3, there is provided a second play area
27 comprised of a series of rows 28 and columns 30 defining a plurality of individual
play regions 32 covered by a scratch-off layer 34. Beneath the scratch-off layer 34
appears combination indicia 36 (see Figure 5) which identifies a particular individual
play region 12 within the play area 6 which the player may expose by removing the
scratch-off layer 14 therefrom. Reference is made to Figure 5 showing combination
indicia (represented by the letters IJ) lying beneath the scratch-off layer 34. It
will be understood that the combination indicia can comprise a variety of different
types of icons (e.g. numbers, historic symbols, etc.) so long as the combination indicia
is able to identify a particular individual play region 12 within the play area 6.
[0025] In this embodiment of the invention, the play area 6 is provided with a row identifying
indicia region 38 (represented by the letters A-I) and column identifying indicia
region 40 showing the identification of each column by the letters J-R.
[0026] The game showed in Figure 3 is played when the user exposes the combination indicia
36 appearing in the second play area 27 by removing the scratch-off layer 34 therefrom.
The player then goes to the individual row and column in the first play area 6 which
corresponds to the combination indicia 36 and exposes the play indicia 16 appearing
thereunder by removing the scratch-off layer therefrom. In the embodiment shown in
Figure 3, the player will expose less than all of the play indicia 16 appearing in
the play area 6 as shown in Figure 5. A prize will be won as shown in Figure 5 if
at least one of the rows, columns or subgrids contains all of the predetermined sequential
icons without duplication. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a $15 prize is awarded
because all of the sequential icons are exposed in the bottommost row. Similarly a
prize of $20 is awarded because all of the sequential icons are exposed in column
"D".
[0027] The scratch-off layer 34 will be opaque in order to hide from view the particular
combination indicia 36 that will be used to play the game. However, one or a small
number of the individual play regions 32 in the second play area 27 may be exposed
to reveal combination indicia 36 as an enticement to purchase a ticket and play the
game.
[0028] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the combination indicia "ER" is
exposed in the second play area. The individual play region corresponding to "ER"
in the first play area 6 appears in column "E". The prize designation area 24 shows
a $50,000 prize if column "E" is completed. One way of exposing the individual play
region 32 bearing the combination indicia "ER" in the second play area 27 is to apply
the dual transparent marking system of
U.S. Patent No. 6,076,860.
[0029] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3-5 the first play area may be provided with one
or more marking systems to enable the player to visually observe which individual
play regions have been exposed and the combination indicia employed to play the game.
Such marking systems include those disclosed in
U.S. Reissue Patent No. 34,673, the dual transparent system of
U.S. Patent No. 6,076,860, and the border marking system of
U.S. Patent No. 5,386,985, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The border marking system comprises
a border surrounding an individual play region having a color different from the color
of the scratch-off layer above it, wherein when the scratch-off layer is removed the
border surrounding the individual play region is exposed in a visually distinctive
color different from the color of the removed scratch-off layer.
[0030] In a still further embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 6, the same game
as provided in Figure 3 also includes a third play area 42 which includes rows 44
and columns 46 and subgrids 48 as described above. However, the third play area does
not include play indicia printed below a scratch-off layer. There is no scratch-off
layer in the third play area 42 but there is provided indicia 50 printed in some of
the play regions 52 of the rows 44 and columns 46. The play area 42 may be completed
by the player by inserting indicia within the unmarked individual play regions. In
this way, the player can partake in a game of amusement (no prizes awarded) wherein
one of the games may be a Sudoku type game in which the player attempts to complete
the rows, columns and grids with a complete set of predetermined sequential icons.
[0031] In a further aspect of the invention shown in Figure 6, the indicia provided in the
individual play regions of the third play area is the same as those appearing in the
first play area on top of the scratch-off layer. Beneath the scratch-off layer in
the first play area are the remaining indicia which completes the puzzle by providing
the predetermined sequential set of icons in all of the rows, columns and subgrids.
These indicia correspond to the indicia which would be inserted by the player to properly
complete the third play area. The first play area therefore provides the solution
for completing the third play area. Thus, if the player does not want the solution
but instead wants to complete the third play area on his own, he should play the third
play area first then proceed to play the game associated with the first and second
play areas. In this way, the player can play the game in the first play area to see
if a prize has been won and play the game in the third play area as a non-prize winning
form of amusement.
1. A lottery ticket comprising:
a) a front surface comprising a first play area, said first play area containing a
first grid comprised of first rows and first columns of individual play regions covered
by a first scratch-off layer , each first play region containing a sequential theme
related icon selected from a predetermined set of sequential icons;
b) a first prize designation region providing information about the winning of a prize;
wherein the player removes the scratch-off layer to expose the icon appearing in each
first play region and if at least one first row and/or first column contains the predetermined
set of sequential icons the player wins the prize in the first prize designation region.
2. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the icons are numbers.
3. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one second
grid at least partially contained within the first grid and comprising second rows
and second columns comprising less than all of the individual first play regions of
the first rows and first columns, and a second prize designation area associated with
each of said second grids.
4. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first scratch-off layer
is opaque.
5. A lottery ticket as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a marking system
associated with the first scratch-off layer, said marking system containing icons
corresponding to the icons printed below the first scratch-off layer for less than
all of the first play regions.
6. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first scratch-off layer employed
for the marking system is transparent.
7. A lottery ticket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first grid further
comprises row and column identifying indicia so that each row is identified by a single
row identifying indicia and each column is identified by a single column identifying
indicia, each first play region is thereby identified by a combination of indicia
comprising a single row identifying indicia and a single column identifying indicia,
said lottery ticket further comprising a second play area comprising a plurality of
second play regions, at least some of the second play regions containing a single
combination indicia, and said second play area being covered by a second scratch-off
layer.
8. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second scratch-off layer is opaque.
9. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 8, wherein a select group of at least one individual
play regions are covered by a non-opaque scratch-off layer.
10. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 9, wherein the non-opaque scratch-off layer is
transparent.
11. A lottery ticket as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the second play area
is comprised of rows and columns.
12. A lottery ticket as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, further comprising a border
marking system comprising a border region surrounding each first play region having
a color different than the color of the first scratch-off layer,
wherein when the first scratch-off layer is removed from said first play region, the
border surrounding the same is exposed enabling the player to mark said first play
region.
13. A lottery ticket as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, further comprising a third play
area containing a third grid comprised of third rows and third columns of individual
play regions, some of the individual play regions having designated icons marked therein
and the remaining individual play regions being unmarked being adapted to be completed
by the player, wherein the player completes the unmarked individual play regions in
a manner which provides the sequential set of icons.
14. A lottery ticket as claimed in claim 13, wherein the third grid, when properly completed
by the player, contains the same pattern of preselected set of icons as the first
grid.
15. A lottery ticket as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14, wherein the combination indicia
present in at least one second play region is visible to the player while the remaining
combination indicia in the second play region is hidden by the second scratch-off
layer.
16. A lottery ticket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first prize designation
region is associated with at least one row and/or first column.