Amusement devices: games – Chance devices – Chance selection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-05-22
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Chance devices
Chance selection
C273S138200, C283S094000, C283S903000, C283S100000, C283S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234477
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to the field of lottery tickets and more particularly to a combined ticket assembly which simulates the provision of a pouch for containing the game tickets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lottery tickets are well known and widely sold and typically comprise a sheet material of paper or card stock on which is printed lottery information and various indicia for the playing of one or more games. Many such games are instant win type games where the player can play the game or games by carrying out various functions, such as removing a scratch-off layer or opening pull tabs. Such lottery tickets generally include information such as ticket numbers or bar codes which identify the ticket and may also include a “void if removed” section for the purposes of security and control.
One practice that has become prevalent in Canada is to sell such lottery tickets in a pouch that is formed from two layers which are sealed around the edge of the pouch so that the lottery ticket is sandwiched between the two layers. This technique provides a number of advantages, including: increased security, as the lottery ticket is sealed within a closed pouch and more attractive appearance through the use of metalized materials, which in turn causes higher customer-perceived value. In addition, multiple sheets and/or tickets can be included in the pouch.
Unfortunately, this packaging adds to the cost of manufacturing the lottery tickets and also causes a perception problem in these enviro-friendly times in that the packaging is strictly ornamental and is intended to be discarded.
As shown in published PCT International application No. WO 98/57715 published Dec. 23
rd
1998 of the present applicants there is provided a pouched lottery ticket which is supplied in a fan folded continuous strip arrangement for separating each pouch containing a ticket from the next at a dispensing station. The disclosure of this publication is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,857 (Koza) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,899 (Greenwood) each disclose a combined ticket construction in which a second layer is applied or folded over the basic ticket to improve security. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,284 discloses a break-open ticket with a second level of break-open.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a lottery ticket arrangement which provides the advantages of the pouch while reducing the extra cost and potential waste.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lottery ticket comprising:
a first ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having promotional graphics printed thereon, said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, at least some of the lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer; and
a second ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, at least some of the lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer,
the rear surface of the first ticket portion connected to the rear surface of the second ticket portion to form the lottery ticket assembly, wherein the lottery ticket assembly is arranged to separate into at least two portions for exposing the lottery indicia on the rear surface of the first ticket portion and the lottery indicia on the rear surface of the second ticket portion.
The front surface of the first ticket portion may include a line of weakness for separating the lottery ticket into at least two portions.
The lottery indicia may be variable imaged.
The first ticket portion and the second ticket portion may have side edges and the first ticket portion and the second ticket portion may be connected along said side edges.
The first ticket portion and the second ticket portion may be connected by an adhesive.
The line of weakness may be located within the side edges of the first ticket portion such that the adhesive does not interfere with separation of the lottery ticket into at least two portions.
The lottery ticket may be characterized by an absence of lottery indicia on the outer surface of the first ticket portion.
The lottery ticket may be characterized by an absence of lottery indicia on the outer surface of the second ticket portion.
The lottery indicia on the first ticket portion may include a first bar code and the lottery indicia on the second ticket portion may include a second bar code, said first bar code differing from said second bar code for redeeming the first ticket portion and the second ticket portion independently of one another.
The lottery ticket may include tear means for initiating separation of the lottery ticket construction, said tear means being at a position on the rear surface portion of the first ticket portion within the line of weakness.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lottery ticket construction comprising a plurality of lottery tickets, each one of said lottery tickets having:
a first ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having promotional graphics printed thereon, said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, at least some of the lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer; and
a second ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, at least some of the lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer,
the rear surface of the first ticket portion connected to the rear surface of the second ticket portion to form the lottery ticket having a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the lottery ticket construction is arranged to separate into at least two portions for exposing the lottery indicia on the rear surface of the first ticket portion and the lottery indicia on the rear surface of the second ticket portion,
wherein the front edge of a first representative one of the lottery tickets is connected to the rear edge of a second representative one of the lottery tickets at a junction.
The junctions may include perforations for separating a first lottery ticket from a second lottery ticket.
The lottery tickets may be folded along each junction with the fold at the front edge of each lottery ticket being in a direction opposite to the fold at the rear edge of each lottery ticket so that the lottery tickets lie each on top of and parallel to the next.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a lottery ticket comprising:
providing a first ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having promotional graphics printed thereon and said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, said lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer;
providing a second ticket portion formed by substantially flat substrate sheet material having a front surface and a rear surface, said rear surface having lottery indicia printed thereon, said lottery indicia being covered with a scratch-off layer; and
connecting the rear surface of the first ticket portion to the rear surface of the second ticket portion, thereby forming a lottery ticket, said lottery ticket arranged to be separated into at least two portions for exposing the lottery indicia.
The front surface of the first ticket portion may include a line of weakness for separating the lottery ticket construction into at least two portions and viewing the lottery indicia.
The lottery indicia may be variable imaged.
The first ticket portion and the second ticket portion may have side edges and the first ticket portion and the second ticket portion may be connected along said side edges.
The method may include connecting the first ticket portion and the second ticket portion with an
Brickwood Michael John
Scrymgeour Lyle Harold
Battison Adrian D.
Collins D
Pollard Banknote Limited
Wong Steven
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