Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
RANDOM INDICIA SELECTOR
Background of the _nvention
This invention relates to apparatus for
randomly selecting at least one of a pluralit~ of
indicia, which may be numbers, for example.
The embodiment of the invention that is
described herein in detail was designed for the selection
of lottery numbers, which is one of the uses to which the
instant invention may be put, but, by no means the only
use.
Many lotteries require that the participants
select their own lottery numbers. While this often is
done using various combinations of "personal" numbers,
such as birth da~es, etc., many people find the selection
Of a lottery number difficult. The instant invention
provides simple, inexpensive apparatus that can be sold
at the same locations as lottery tickets are purchased
and which will generate random numbers to be chosen as
lottery numbers.
Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of this invention there
is provided apparatus for randomly selecting at least one
indicia comprising a container having an enclosed
compartment having at least first and second sections
25 communicating with each other; a plurality of balls
located in said compartment and moveable between said two
sections thereof, some of said balls being of a first
colour and at least one of said balls being of a second
colour; a window in said container through which said
30 balls in said second section can be viewed; a plurality
of indicia also viewable when viewing said second section
through said window, said indicia being of a colour that
does not contrast with said first colour but does
contrast with said second colour, said second section,
35 balls, window and indicia being so constructed and
arranged that when said balls are in said second section
they are located behind said indicia relative to a person
looking into said seconcl section through said window and
said indicia that are adjacent said balls of said first
3 ~
colour are masked by said colour of said balls of said
first colour and thereby rendered substantially
invisible, while said at least one ball of said second
colour forms a colour contrasting background for the one
of said indicia adjacent thereto and highlighting the
latter indicia as the one to be selected.
srief Description of the Drawlngs
This invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction
with the appended drawings, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of a random
number selector embodying this invention showing the
balls which constitute a part thereof in two different
locations;
Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 in
Figure l; and
Figure 4 is a section taken along line ~-4 in
Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Invention Includin~ the
.
Preferred Embodiment
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a
random number selector 10 embodying the pxesent invention
includes a container or housing 11 which, in the
illustrated embodiment, is rectangular in configuration,
but which may have any shape. Container 11 preferably is
fabricated of a suitable plastics material and includes a
lower part constituted by integral bottom 12, side 13 and
14, and end 15 and 16 walls. These walls define an
enclosed compartment 17 that has two sections 17a and 17b
that communicate with each other.
Overlying the whole upper surface 1~ of the
lower part of container 10 is a sheet 19 o~ material
which preferably is fabricated of a suitable plastics
material. Sheet 19 is secured to the lower part of
container 10 by adhesive or by any other suitable
technique, e.g. screws, plastic welding or snap fitting.
In the embodiment shown, which is the pret~erred
embodiment, the whole of sheet 19 is transparent, but
4~
this is not essential. However, the part of sheet 19
that covers compartment section 17b must be transparent.
Located withln compartment 17 are a plurality
of balls 20. Some of these balls are of a first colour,
which happens to be black in the preferred ernbodiment,
while at least one of the balls is of a dif~erent colour,
which happens to be white in the preferred embodiment.
The number of balls 20 that are of the latter colour
correspond to the number of indicia to be selected, while
the total number of balls 20 correspond to the total
number of indicia. Balls 20 preferably are fabricated of
a suitable plastics material and are all of the same
diameter. The size of balls 20 and the depth of
compartment 17 is such that the balls can move freely in
compartment 17.
Compartment section 17a has a greater volume
than that required to accommodate all of balls 20 so that
when the balls are in this compartment section and
container 11 is shaken, the balls may move about and
redistribute themselves.
Compartment section 17b is divided, in the
embodiment illustrated, into four channels 24, 25, 26 and
27 by means of three parallel dividing walls 21, 22 and
23 upstanding from and integral with bottom wall 12. The
25 width of each of the four channels is just sufficient to
accommodate balls 20.
Marked on or in the part of plate 19 that
overlies channels 24 27 are four rows of indicia. In the
present case the indicia are the numbers 1-39 with
3~ numbers 1-10 overlying channel 24, numbers 11-20
overlyin~ channel 20, numbers 21-31 overlying channel 26
and numbers 31-39 overlying channel 27.
It will be noted that channel 27 is shorter
than the other channels. This is because it is overlaid
35 by only nine numbers and will accommodate onlv nine of
balls 20, whereas the other channels each are overlaid by
ten numhers and will accommodate ten of balls 0.
The random number selector shown will select
numbers from 1-39. If it were desired to select numbers
~ 3~
from 1-40, channel 27 could be made as long as the other
channels and the indicia 40 added below the indicia 39.
Likewise the number of channels could be increased or
decreased to permit selection from among more or fewer
numbers.
While in the present embodiment the indicia are
numbers, other indicia such as symbols, letters, etc.
could be used.
The spacing between the indicia overlying each
channel is important. The center-to-center distance is
equal to the diameter of a ball 20, so that when the
balls are in the channels, each ball is aligned with one
of the indicia, as is best shown in Fig. 2.
As previously noted, the number of balls 20
corresponds to the total number of indicia (39), so that
when balls 20 are in compartment section 17b, they
totally occupy the same, as shown in Fig. 2.
The indicia 1 39 are of substantially the same
colour as the black balls 20 and, of course, markedly
contrast in colour with the white balls 20, about which
more will be said later.
It will be noted that compartment section 17a
has inclined side walls 28 and 29 adjacent compartment
section 17b. This is not essential but effectively
serves to funnel balls 20 from compartment section 17a
into compartment section 17b.
Optionally the random number selector may be
provided with a key chain 30.
The random number selector illustrated is for
30 choosing six numbers out of thirty-nine. Consequently,
there are thirty-nine balls 20 of which six are white and
thirty-three are black, and there are thirty-nine black
indicia running from one to thirty-nine.
In use the apparatus is held in such a way that
35 all of balls 20 are in compartment section 17a, as shown
in Fig. 1. In this position the random number selector
may be shaken or vibrated to randomly orient balls 20.
The apparatus then is tilted to permit balls 20 to funnel
into compartment section 17b, as shown in Fig 2. Ralls
z
20 locate themselves directly behind the indicia relative
to a person looking through sheet 19 into compartment
section 17b. Those of the indicia that are adjacent the
black balls are masked thereby and rendered substantially
invisible, as best shown in Fig. 2, while the white balls
form colour contrasting backgrounds for the indicia that
are adjacent thereto highlighting the latter as the ones
to be selected - in Fig. 2 the numbers 3, 7, 15, 24, 31
and 38.
If desired, a third colour of ball could be
introduced to select a special additional number. The
colour of this ball also should contrast with the colour
of the indicia being selected. For example, there could
be five white balls and one green ball selecting a to~al
Of six numbers but with the green ball selecting a
special number for another aspect of the lottery.
A random number selector is known in which
different coloured balls align themselves in channels
besidè rather than beneath the numbers to be selected.
20 This is not as effective as the instant invention as all
of the numbers remain visible, none being masked and none
being highlighted.
A random number selector also is shown in U.S.
Patent No. 3,289,321 issued December 6, 1966, M.V.
25 Sussman. In the Sussman selector different coloured
balls align beneath rather than beside the numbers to be
selected, as in the present invention, but, as shown in
Fig. 3 of the Sussman patent, all of the numbers remain
visible at all times.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention
has been described in detail, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that changes and modifications may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the ~nvention as defined in the appended claims.
