Motorized game ticket scratch-off apparatus

Abstract

A game ticket scratch-off device that includes a housing, a power supply such as a battery, a motor, a head, and an abrasive element. The battery is contained within the housing. The motor is electrically connectable to the battery to be driven thereby. The head is coupled to the motor to be moved thereby. The head is located outside the housing. The abrasive element is coupled to the head and provides an abrasive surface to remove overlay from a scratch-off game ticket. The abrasive element comprises a sanding screen. An adhesive tape is mounted to the abrasive element, wherein the head comprises a flat surface and the adhesive tape is secured to the flat surface to mount the adhesive element to the head.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for scratching off the overlay that is applied to a game ticket to reveal game information beneath the overlay. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Lottery ticket scratch-off devices that incorporate a motor drive are known as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,907,882; 6,065,181; and 5,794,303. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,882 describes a motorized scratch-off device located within an enclosed housing. During use of this device, a lottery ticket is inserted into a housing wherein overlay material, such as latex, is removed by a motor driven brush. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,181 describes a ticket scratch-off device that includes a rotating disk that has projecting tabs that are used to scratch the latex off a lottery ticket. The rotating disk is coupled to a vacuum device and is located within a shroud having a frusto-conical configuration. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,303 also describes a scraper and vacuu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The game ticket scratch-off device according to the present invention provides advantages over the known devices. Particularly, the head of the device is located outside of the housing where the head can be visually monitored and directed to precisely remove those overlay areas of the game ticket that are desired to be removed without removing overlay portions of the game ticket which are not desired to be removed. The scratch-off devices of the prior art are configured such that close visual control of the scratching operation is not as easily accomplished given the fact that the device comprises either a ticket receiving closed housing or vacuum skirts which obscure visual observation of the scraping process. In contrast, the head of the present invention is easily observable during its operation to allow an operator to precisely direct the head to those areas of the game ticket which are desired to be unveiled.

[0010] Also, the device of the present invention provides an abrasive element that is easily replaced after a period of usage. The abrasive element can be easily peeled from the head and a new abrasive element can be adhesively applied to the head. The abrasive element can be provided with an adhesive tape or pad covered by release layers covering both adhesive sides of the adhesive tape or pad that are peeled off to reveal the adhesive sides for attaching the abrasive element to the head. Alternately, the replacement abrasive element can be pre-applied to the adhesive tape or pad with only its opposite adhesive side covered by a release layer. When the release layer is removed the adhesive pad or tape with abrasive element applied thereto, can be adhered to the head.

[0011] Replacement adhesive pads or tapes and abrasive elements can be sold on a card, to be peeled off one at a time from the card and applied onto the head of the device. Each abrasive element can be separate from the adhesive pad or tape or pre-applied to an adhesive pad or tape. The device according to the invention can be made of a compact size such as to be hung from a user's keychain or carried in a user's pocket. The device according to the invention can have a speed-control to adjust the speed of movement of the head. This could be an important advantage given different overlay removal resistance and / or degree of wearing of the abrasive element, to operate the device effectively and also to prolong battery life.

Problems solved by technology

The scratch-off devices of the prior art are configured such that close visual control of the scratching operation is not as easily accomplished given the fact that the device comprises either a ticket receiving closed housing or vacuum skirts which obscure visual observation of the scraping process.

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