U.S. patent application number 14/454907 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-12 for array of interconnected lottery tickets.
The applicant listed for this patent is Scientific Games International Limited. Invention is credited to Jonathan Charles Bedford.
Application Number | 20150042041 14/454907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48985984 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150042041 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bedford; Jonathan Charles |
February 12, 2015 |
Array of Interconnected Lottery Tickets
Abstract
An array of interconnected lottery tickets includes a first
lottery ticket and a a second lottery ticket connected to the first
lottery ticket along a common side edge. The common side edge has a
connected, manually detachable region that holds the first and
second lottery tickets in an interconnected configuration, and a
completely disconnected region.
Inventors: |
Bedford; Jonathan Charles;
(West Yorkshire, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Scientific Games International Limited |
Leeds |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
48985984 |
Appl. No.: |
14/454907 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/139 ;
283/105; 283/903 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/065 20130101;
A63F 3/0665 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/139 ;
283/105; 283/903 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/06 20060101
A63F003/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 2013 |
EP |
13179957.9 |
Claims
1. An array of interconnected lottery tickets, comprising: a first
lottery ticket; a second lottery ticket connected to said first
lottery ticket along a common side edge; and wherein said common
side edge comprises a connected, manually detachable region that
holds said first and second lottery tickets in an interconnected
configuration, and a substantially completely disconnected
region.
2. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 1,
wherein said detachable region comprises one or more structurally
weakened sections that allow for manual separation of said lottery
tickets.
3. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 2,
wherein said disconnected region is a center region flanked at
opposite ends by said structurally weakened sections.
4. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 3,
wherein said structurally weakened sections comprise perforated
sections.
5. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 4,
wherein said center region has a multi-directional edge profile
that crosses a longitudinal axis between said perforated sections
such that at least one edge portion of said first lottery ticket
crosses said longitudinal axis toward said second lottery ticket,
and at least one edge portion of said second lottery ticket crosses
said longitudinal axis toward said first lottery ticket.
6. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 5,
wherein said multi-directional profile comprises a wavy or
sinusoidal profile.
7. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 5,
wherein each of said first and second lottery tickets comprises
game-theme indicia and graphics printed on a front face thereof
that extend onto said edge portions of each of said first and
second lottery tickets.
8. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 7,
wherein said first and second lottery tickets are inverted relative
to each other such that said common side edge defines the
right-hand side of each of said first and second lottery tickets or
the left-hand side of each of said first and second lottery
tickets.
9. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 8,
wherein each of said first and second lottery tickets has a second
side edge opposite from said common side edge, and further
comprising an additional lottery ticket completely detachably
connected to each said second side edge along an entire length of
each said second side edge.
10. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 7,
wherein said first and second lottery tickets are aligned such that
said common side edge defines a left-hand or a right-hand side of
said first lottery ticket and an opposite respective right-hand or
left-hand side of said second lottery ticket.
11. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 3,
wherein said first and second lottery tickets have the same
left-hand side profile and the same right-hand side profile.
12. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 3,
wherein said first and second lottery tickets have a different
left-hand side profile and a different right-hand side profile.
13. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 12,
wherein said center disconnected region comprises a
multi-directional profile that does not cross a longitudinal axis
between said structurally weakened sections such that an entirety
of said center disconnected region defines a lateral extension
section along said common side edge of said first lottery ticket
and a lateral indent section along said common side edge of said
second lottery ticket.
14. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 4,
wherein said center disconnected region comprises a
multi-directional profile that does not cross a longitudinal axis
between said structurally weakened sections.
15. The array of interconnected lottery tickets as in claim 14,
wherein multiple portions of said center region define multiple
lateral extension sections along said common side edge of said
first lottery ticket and multiple lateral indent sections along
said common side edge of said second lottery ticket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to lottery
tickets, and more particularly to unique configurations of
interconnected lottery tickets, such as strips of instant
scratch-off lottery tickets.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Lottery games have become a time honored method of raising
revenue for state and federal governments the world over.
Traditional scratch-off and on-line games have evolved over
decades, supplying increasing revenue year after year. Instant
scratch-off lottery tickets ("scratch-off tickets") are a popular
and significant portion of the overall lottery ticket market.
Referring to the prior art views of FIGS. 1 and 2, conventional
scratch-off tickets 10 are typically mass produced in fan-folded
stacks 12 (also referred to as "packs" or "books") or rolls of
interconnected tickets 10, wherein a common perforated or otherwise
weakened line 20 separates individual adjacent tickets. The common
edge 20 extends perpendicular to the top side 22 and bottom side 24
of each ticket 10. The tickets 10 include any manner of indicia and
graphics 14, as well as a play area 16 wherein one or more
scratch-off symbols 18 are covered with a scratch-off coating.
[0003] Although lottery ticket producers are continuously designing
new games with appealing and enticing game themes, indicia, and
graphics to vary the gaming experience for consumers, the overall
square or rectangular shape of tickets defined by the common side
edges 20, top side 22, and bottom side 24 has remained virtually
unchanged. The overall shape of the tickets has not contributed to
enhancing the ticket appearance or appeal to existing or new
players.
[0004] The lottery ticket industry would benefit from
interconnected lottery ticket designs that incorporate the side
edges of the tickets into the game theme and indicia without
adversely affecting a vendor's ability to quickly separate and
distribute the tickets. Tickets with non-straight side edges could
be designed to complement the game theme or otherwise provide
uniquely shaped tickets that consumers may find more appealing as
compared to conventional ticket shapes.
SUMMARY
[0005] Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0006] In accordance with aspects of the invention, an array of
interconnected lottery tickets is provided in a unique
interconnected side edge configuration. The lottery tickets may be,
for example, instant scratch-off tickets, or any other type of
interconnected lottery ticket. The tickets may be mass produced and
provided for sale and distribution in the form of rolls or
accordion folded stacks. It should be appreciated that the
particular type of game implemented by the lottery tickets, game
theme, indicia, prize structure, and other game-dependent features
are not limiting features of the ticket arrays according to the
invention.
[0007] The ticket array includes a first lottery ticket, and a
second lottery ticket connected to the first lottery ticket along a
common side edge. Multiple first and second tickets may be
interconnected in a strip. The common side edge is defined by a
connected, manually detachable region that holds the first and
second lottery tickets in an interconnected, manually detachable
configuration, and a completely disconnected region wherein the
tickets are completely separated and detached. Thus, to separate
the tickets, a vendor simply detaches the common side edge at the
detachable regions. The disconnected region does not structurally
interconnect the tickets.
[0008] The detachable region may be variously defined. For example
the detachable region may be one or more perforated regions, scored
regions, or any other known type of structurally weakened
section(s) that allow for manual separation of the lottery tickets
along the detachable region.
[0009] Likewise, the disconnected region may be variously defined.
In one embodiment, the disconnected region is defined by a die-cut
or laser-cut section of the common side edge. Any other method may
be used to define the completely disconnected region.
[0010] In a particular embodiment, the disconnected region is a
center region flanked at opposite ends by structurally weakened
sections, such as perforated sections.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the center region has a
multi-directional edge profile in that it has a shape other than a
straight line, such as a wavy or sinusoidal profile, or a saw-tooth
profile. In some embodiments, the multi-directional profile may
cross a longitudinal axis between perforated end sections. With
this configuration, at least one edge portion of the first lottery
ticket crosses the longitudinal axis toward the second lottery
ticket, and at least one edge portion of the second lottery ticket
crosses the longitudinal axis toward the first lottery ticket. It
should be appreciated that, with this embodiment, the common side
edge may take on any manner of non-straight profile that is
incorporated into the lottery ticket game theme. For example, the
game theme may relate to sports games played with balls, and the
common side edge may have rounded sections that correspond to balls
depicted in the game theme graphics printed on the face of the
ticket.
[0012] In other embodiments, the center region may have a
multi-directional profile, such as a wavy, sinusoidal, or saw-tooth
profile that does not cross the longitudinal axis between the
structurally weakened sections. This embodiment may result in
adjacent tickets having distinctly different side edge profiles. In
other words, the first lottery ticket would have a completely
different appearance than the interconnected second lottery
ticket.
[0013] The interconnected lottery tickets may be aligned or
inverted. In one embodiment, the first and second lottery tickets
are inverted relative to each other (rotated 180 degrees) such that
the common side edge defines the right-hand side of each of the
first and second lottery tickets or the left-hand side of each of
the first and second lottery tickets. With this embodiment, each of
the first and second lottery tickets has a second side edge
opposite from the common side edge, and the array may include an
additional lottery ticket completely detachably connected to each
of the second side edges along an entire length of each second side
edge. This pattern of interconnected tickets may repeat for the
entire stack or roll of tickets.
[0014] In an alternate embodiment, the first and second lottery
tickets are aligned such that the common side edge defines a
left-hand or a right-hand side of the first lottery ticket and an
opposite respective right-hand or left-hand side of the second
lottery ticket.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the first and second lottery tickets
may have the same left-hand side profile and the same right-hand
side profile. However, in other embodiments, the first and second
lottery tickets may have a different left-hand side profile and a
different right-hand side profile. For example, the center
disconnected region may have a multi-directional profile that does
not cross a longitudinal axis between structurally weakened end
sections such that portions or an entirety of the center
disconnected region defines a lateral extension section along the
common side edge of the first lottery ticket and a lateral indent
section along the common side edge of the second lottery ticket. In
this embodiment, the tickets may have completely different game
themes and graphics that incorporate the lateral extension and
indent sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is side view of a prior art stack configuration of
accordion-folded interconnected lottery tickets;
[0017] FIG. 2 is front face view of a prior art strip of
interconnected lottery tickets;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front face view of a strip of interconnected
lottery tickets in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front face view of the lottery tickets of FIG. 3
in a disconnected state;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a front face view of a strip of interconnected
lottery tickets in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a front face view of the lottery tickets of FIG. 5
in a disconnected state;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a front face view of a strip of interconnected
lottery tickets in accordance with still a different embodiment of
the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front face view of the lottery tickets of FIG. 7
in a disconnected state;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a front face view of a strip of interconnected
lottery tickets in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 10 is a front face view of a strip of interconnected
lottery tickets in accordance with still a different embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Reference will now be made to one or more embodiments of the
system and methodology of the invention as illustrated in the
figures. It should be appreciated that each embodiment is presented
by way of explanation of aspects of the invention, and is not meant
as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated
or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another
embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that
the invention include these and other modifications that come
within the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of an array 50 of
interconnected lottery tickets is depicted in accordance with
aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that the
invention is not limited to any particular type of lottery ticket
and, in the illustrated embodiment, includes instant scratch-off
tickets for illustrative purposes only. The scratch-off tickets may
include any manner of indicia or graphics that reflect the game
theme or other aspects of the lottery game, as well as a play area
with scratch-off symbols as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1
and 2. The tickets may be mass produced and provided for sale and
distribution in the form of rolls or fan-folded stacks, as depicted
in FIG. 1. The tickets may also be cut into single tickets, pairs
of tickets, or multiple numbers of tickets in strips.
[0028] Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ticket array 50 in
this particular embodiment includes a first lottery ticket 52 and a
second lottery ticket 62. The tickets 52 and 62 are connected
together along a common side edge 72. A series or repeating pattern
of the first lottery tickets 52 and second lottery tickets 62 may
be provided in an interconnected strip, as depicted in FIG. 3. Each
of the first lottery tickets 52 has a top edge or side 56 and an
opposite bottom edge or side 58. Likewise, each of the second
lottery tickets has top edge or side 66 and an opposite bottom edge
or side 68. Each of the lottery tickets 52, 62, has a side edge
opposite to the common side edge 72. For example, the lottery
tickets 52 have a left-side edge 54 and the lottery tickets 62 also
have a left-side edge 64.
[0029] The common side edge 72 is defined by a connected, manually
detachable region 74 that holds the first and second lottery
tickets 52, 62 in an interconnected, detachable configuration. This
detachable region 74 may be defined by a single section, or
multiple sections as depicted in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.
The detachable region or multiple sections 74 may be variously
defined in accordance with the scope and spirit of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the detachable regions 74 are defined by
perforated sections 78. In alternative embodiments, the detachable
region 74 may be defined by any conventional means of providing a
structurally weakened line in the substrate of the lottery tickets
that allows for relatively easy manual separation of the tickets
along the weakened section. The weakened sections may be defined,
for example, by a score line, an adhesive provided between
previously separated sections of the ticket, or any other manner of
providing a connected yet manually detachable region that holds the
first and second lottery tickets 52, 62 in an interconnected
state.
[0030] The common side edge 72 includes a substantially completely
separated and detached region 76 wherein the tickets are separated
and detached from each other within this region. In the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the disconnected region 76 is defined
between flanking opposite end detachable regions 74 (e.g.,
perforated sections 78). Thus, between the detachable regions 74,
the tickets are completely separated along the common side edge 72
such that essentially the only structure interconnecting the
tickets are the perforated end sections 78 that extend to the top
and bottom side edges of the tickets 52, 62. It is contemplated
within the scope of the invention that the disconnected region 76
may include tiny connecting points to hold the ticket parts
together during production, transit, and prior to sale at the
retail location. For example, these connecting points may take up
less than 25%, or less than 10%, or less than 5% of the total
length of the disconnected region 76.
[0031] The disconnected region 76 may be defined by any suitable
means. For example, in a particular embodiment, the disconnected
region 76 is die-cut along the common side edge 72 by a die cutter
having a desired profile. In alternative embodiments, the
disconnected region 76 may be laser-cut, blade-cut, etc. It should
be appreciated that the particular means of separating the tickets
along the disconnected region 76 of the common side edge 72 is not
a limiting factor of the invention. With the common side edge
configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a vendor simply
detaches the common side edge at the detachable regions 74 in order
to separate and distribute the tickets.
[0032] Still referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the
disconnected region 76 is a center region that is flanked at
opposite ends by the structurally weakened and detachable regions
74 (in this case, the perforated sections 78). The center
disconnected region 76 has a multi-directional edge profile that
crosses a longitudinal axis 82 of the perforated sections 78. In
this manner, at least one edge portion 84 of a first lottery ticket
52 crosses the longitudinal axis 82 towards the second lottery
ticket 62. Likewise, at least one edge portion 86 of the second
lottery ticket 62 crosses the longitudinal axis 82 towards the
first lottery ticket 52. The multi-directional edge profile may be
variously configured and essentially encompasses any type of
non-straight line profile. For example, in the illustrated
embodiment, this profile is defined by a wavy or sinusoidal profile
that is used to enhance or incorporate the game theme indicia and
graphics printed on a front face of each of the lottery tickets.
For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the game indicia
and graphics relate to a "heart" themed lottery ticket that may be
marketed, for example, during the Valentine's Day holiday season.
The heart depicted on each of the lottery tickets is incorporated
into the side edge portions 84, 86 of the respective tickets, as
can be particularly appreciated from FIG. 4. Thus, the
multi-directional edge profile provides a unique and appealing edge
profile to the tickets as compared to a straight, perpendicular
side edge between the top and bottom sides of the tickets.
[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the multi-directional profile
may incorporate a saw-tooth configuration wherein the side edge
portion 84 of a first lottery ticket 52 extends beyond the
longitudinal axis 82 towards the adjacent second lottery ticket 62.
Likewise, an alternate edge portion on the lottery ticket 62 may
extend past the axis 82 towards the first ticket 52. It should be
appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular
configuration of a multi-directional side edge profile along the
disconnected region 76 of the common side edge 72.
[0034] Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be appreciated
that, in this particular embodiment, the first and second lottery
tickets 52, 62 are inverted relative to each other. In this manner,
the common side edge 72 defines the right-hand side of each
respective ticket 52, 62 (or the left-hand side of each of the
tickets depending on the inverted orientation of the respective
tickets 52, 62). Each of the tickets 52, 62 has an opposite
left-hand side edge 80 defined by a straight perforated line that
extends perpendicular to the top and bottom sides of each ticket.
Referring to FIG. 3, a repeating pattern of the tickets 52, 62 may
be provided wherein an additional lottery ticket is attached to
each of the second side edges 80.
[0035] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the respective
tickets 52, 62 are aligned (as compared to the inverted
configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4) such that the common side edge 72
defines the right-hand edge of the first lottery ticket 52 and the
left-hand edge of the second lottery ticket 62. The disconnected
region 76 is a center region between flanking perforated sections
78 and may be defined as a multi-directional profile that crosses
the axis 82 extending between the perforated sections 78 such that
a lateral extension 90 is defined on each of the side edges, as
well as a lateral indentation 92. The lateral extensions 90 and
indentations 92 may be incorporated in the game theme and graphics
of each lottery ticket. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5
and 6, the lateral extensions 90 and indentations 92 compliment the
ball theme and graphics of each ticket. Thus, in the embodiment of
FIGS. 5 and 6, the left-hand and right-hand side edges of each
lottery ticket 52 and 62 incorporate side edge extensions 84, 86
that define a lateral extension 90 on one ticket and a lateral
indentation 92 on the adjacent ticket, as can be particularly
appreciated from FIG. 6.
[0036] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, each lottery ticket 52,
62 has the same left-hand side profile and the same right-hand side
profile, as is particularly appreciated from the view of FIG.
6.
[0037] FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an embodiment wherein the common side
edge 72 is defined by a center disconnected region 76 flanked by
opposite perforated sections 78. In this particular embodiment, the
disconnected region 76 extends from the axis 82 towards the
adjacent ticket without crossing back over the axis 82. This unique
configuration provides a lateral extension 90 on the right-hand
side of each ticket that extends into a lateral indentation 92 on
the left-hand side of the adjacent ticket, which provides a
distinctly different appearance as compared to the tickets of FIG.
6.
[0038] As with the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the embodiment of
FIGS. 7 and 8 provide tickets 52, 62 having the same left-hand
profile and the same right-hand profile.
[0039] FIG. 9 depicts an alternative embodiment wherein the
disconnected region 76 is flanked by perforated sections 78.
However, in this embodiment, the disconnected region 76 along the
right and left-hand side edges of the center ticket 62 extends
laterally outward into the adjacent tickets 52, thereby defining a
lateral indentation 92 in the adjacent tickets 52. With this
particular configuration, the center ticket 62 has a left-hand and
right-hand side profile that is different from the left-hand and
right-hand profiles of the adjacent tickets 52. In other words, the
tickets 52 have an overall hourglass shape, whereas the ticket 62
has an overall laterally expanded center region. This particular
configuration allows for alternating tickets of completely
different size, edge profiles, theme, and graphics, as depicted in
FIG. 9.
[0040] FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment that is similar to FIG. 9
wherein the center disconnected region 76 is flanked by perforated
sections 78. In this embodiment, however, the disconnected region
76 has a multi-directional profile that does not cross the
longitudinal axis 82 of the perforated sections 78 and defines
multiple lateral extensions 90 along the left and right-hand side
edges of tickets 52 and multiple lateral indentation sections 92
along the left and right-hand side edges of the center ticket 62.
As with the embodiment of FIG. 9, the center ticket 62 has left and
right-hand side edges that are different from the left and
right-hand side edges of the adjacent tickets 52. These different
tickets may have the same or different game themes and indicia, as
described above.
[0041] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations may be made present invention
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is
intended that the present invention include such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *