Article dispensing – Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article – With casing or support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-07-31
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article
With casing or support
C221S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to gaming, and more particularly to a device and method for dispensing game tickets for playing games of chance for monetary prizes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Gaming is a widely popular form of entertainment and an economically important industry. State-run lotteries and other games of chance produce significant amounts of revenue for funding various socially beneficial activities such as education, economic development, etc.
In the private sector, games of chance are often used for both fundraising and entertainment purposes. For example, various charitable, social and fraternal organizations purchase sets of game materials consisting of game cards and tickets. Game cards typically have break-open windows or scratch-off areas for concealing winning and losing symbols prior to purchase. Game tickets are typically folded and sealed for concealing winning and losing symbols prior to purchase. Players unfold them to reveal the symbols as the games are played. Winning game symbols typically entitle the players to monetary prize amounts. The games can be designed with predetermined payout percentages. The game operators are thus assured of predetermined profit amounts after all of the cards or tickets are sold and all of the prizes are awarded.
The prior art includes various devices for packaging, promoting, displaying, and dispensing game cards and tickets. For example, folded-and-sealed tickets have for many years been placed in transparent glass and plastic jars, thus acquiring the designation “jar ticket”. However, jars are not well suited for packaging with modern, high-speed packaging equipment. Moreover, jars can be impractical to ship due to their size, shape, weight, and susceptibility to breakage. Cardboard boxes are therefore preferred for packaging and shipping game cards and tickets. However, a disadvantage with many of the cardboard boxes currently used for packaging and shipping game cards and tickets is that they are not particularly convenient for dispensing tickets. Game operators must therefore transfer the cards and tickets to other containers, such as jars, for display and sale. Although this distribution system is in widespread use, the labor and inconvenience associated with handling and transferring large volumes of cards and tickets are significant disadvantages.
The present invention addresses the disadvantages of previous devices and methods of packaging, shipping, displaying, and distributing cards and tickets for playing games of chance. Heretofore there has not been available a game ticket dispenser and dispensing method with the advantages and features of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the practice of the present invention, a game ticket dispenser has the general configuration of a box with a removable cutout through which the box contents can be removed. The contents can comprise a set of folded-and-sealed game ticket assemblies each having one or more individual tickets with indicia printed thereon for determining the winning or losing status of a particular ticket. In the practice of the method of the present invention, customer orders for game ticket sets are processed by a method including the steps of producing sets of game tickets and loading the game tickets into boxes. The boxes are formed with cutouts in their top panels. The cutouts are removed by the game operators at points of purchase and the game tickets can be extracted therethrough for sale and distribution to the players.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The principal objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing a game ticket dispenser and dispensing method; providing such a dispenser and method which can reduce ticket handling; providing such a dispenser and method which facilitate packaging and shipment; providing such a dispenser and method which can utilize existing game ticket packaging equipment; providing such a dispenser and method which enhance the display of the game materials at a point of purchase; providing such a dispenser and method which can be made and practiced with existing equipment with little or no modification; providing such a dispenser and method which provide security for the game materials; providing such a dispenser and method which can promote sales of game tickets; and providing such a dispenser and method which are economical, efficient, and particularly well-adapted for dispensing game tickets for playing games of chance.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3083866 (1963-04-01), Strange
patent: 3258156 (1966-06-01), Smith
patent: 3369699 (1968-02-01), Enloe et al.
patent: 4200200 (1980-04-01), Hein, III et al.
patent: 5024349 (1991-06-01), Haenni
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