Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a scratch game to be used
and sold in a lottery. The invention also relates to a
method of manufacturing this scratch game.
b) Brief descri~tion of the Drior art
Scratch games comprising a substrate on which a scratchable
rub-off coating is applied to hide instant prices in the
form of a price amount or of a game symbol printed directly
onto the substrate are well known and commonly used by
lotteries or advertising companies for promotion purpose.
With such scratch games, the play essentially consists
essentially in scratching the rub-off coating or a part
thereof in order to hopefully find out one of the instant
prices printed onto the substrate and, if such an instant
price is found, the possessor of the game wins this price.
A game called Bingo is also well known. This game makes
use of cards on which a two dimensional grid of randomly
selected numbers is printed in separate boxes forming part
of the grid. In this particular case, the game consists in
trying to get a complete horizontal, vertical or diagonal
row of numbers drawn at random by some authority onto the
grid printed on the card in order to win a given price that
is usually predetermined before the drawing starts.
Another scratch game derived from the Bingo game has
already been suggested and is presently marketed in France
under the tradename GROLO. This game comprises a substrate
on which a grid of boxes is printed, containing winning or
losing symbols which are randomly distributed. This first
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grid is hidden by a scratchable rub-off coating on which
another grid is printed and superimposed over the first
grid. This second grid contains numbers sequentially
printed onto its boxes to allow identification of the
boxes. In use, a plurality of numbers are drawn at random
by some authority. Then, each player scratches the rub-
off coating of the boxes bearing the numbers that are
drawn, in order to uncover the symbols printed into the
corresponding boxes of the first grid. If a given number
of winning symbols are uncovered, the player will win a
given price.
In all these games, the second grid of numbers printed onto
the rub-off coating is always the same and only the first
grid of randomly selected winning and losing symbols vary
from one card to another.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a
scratch game of the type comprising a first grid of
informations printed on a substrate, a scratchable rub-off
coating applied onto the first grid to hide at least part
of the informations of this first grid, and a second grid
of informations printed onto the rub-off coating in such a
manner as to match with the first grid, wherein the
information of the first grid are randomly selected and the
informations of the second grid are selected to match with
the informations of the first grid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of manufacturing such a scratch game.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More particularly, the present invention provides a scratch
game comprising a substrate and, in combination therewith:
- a first grid of randomly selected informations
printed on the substrate, each information contained in the
first grid being printed in a separate box that forms part
of the first grid;
- a scratchable rub-off coating applied onto the first
grid to hide the informations printed in at least some of
the boxes of the first grid; and
- a second grid of selected informations, each
information contained in the second grid being printed in
a separate box that forms part of said second grid, said
second grid being printed onto said rub-off coating so that
(1) the boxes of the second grid are located exactly over
the boxes of the first grid hidden by the rub-off coating,
and (2) the informations contained in the boxes of the
second grid match with the information contained in the
underlying boxes of the first grid hidden by the rub-off
coating.
Preferably, the substrate is a card and the first and
second grids are two dimensional in shape and each comprise
a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
Preferably also, the informations contained in the boxes of
the first and second grids are numbers and the boxes of the
first and second grids that are printed one above the
other, contain the same numbers. Such a double grid of
same numbers is usefulin particular to mark the numbers
that are called in a BING0 game.
Advantageously, the scratch game may also comprise at least
one of the following security or control features:
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- a hidden validation number that is printed on the
card and that is specific to this card in order to permit
authentification of the card and permit the detection of
any counterfeiting or partial alteration of the numbers,
amounts or symbols printed on the card;
- an uncovered control number printed on the card for
production control;
- dual numbers printed on the card for ascertaining
that the first and second grids printed on the card are
lo identical; and
- a coded version of the validation number that is
specific to the card, this coded version being in the form
of bars of different thicknesses.
When the first and second grids have five columns the word
BINGO may be printed over the first and second grids in
such a manner that each letter of this word is positioned
above one of the five columDs. This particular
configuration is of a particular interest since it makes it
possible for the authority drawing the numbers to call them
as in a conventional Bingo game, that is by identifying the
column where each number being drawn can be found, by a
letter. Thus, for example, if the number being drawn, say,
5, is in the first column of both grids, the authority
drawing this number will actually call it as "B-5".
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing the
scratch game disclosed hereinabove.
More particularly, the invention provides a method for use
in the manufacture of a scratch game, which comprises the
steps of:
- printing a first grid of randomly selected
informations on a substrate, each information contained the
first grid being printed in a separate box that forms part
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of the first grid;
- applying a scratchable rub-off coating onto the
first grid printed on the substrate to hide the
informations printed in at least some o~ the boxes of the
first grid; and
- printing onto said rub-off coating a second grid of
selected informations, each information contained in said
second grid being printed in a separate box that forms part
of said second grid;
wherein the boxes of the first and second grids are
identical in size and the printings of said first and
second grids are synchronized so that (1) the boxes of the
second grid are located exactly over the boxes of the first
grid hidden by the rub-off coating, and (2) the
informations contained in the boxes of the second grid
match with the information contained in the underlying
boxes of the first grid hidden by the rub-off coating.
Of course, this method may also comprise the additional
steps o~ providing onto the card at least one of the above
mentioned security and/or control features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention and the way it works will become apparent
from the following non restrictive description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
- fig. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the
inventive part of a scratch game according to the
invention;
- fig. 2 is a flow chart of the method used for
manufacturing this game;
- fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a corner of the
scratch game of fig. 1 showing the coded version of a
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validation number which i~ specific to the card and is in
the form of bars of di$ferent thicknesses; and
- fig. 4 is a top plan view of the ~cratch game of
which only one part is shown in fig. 1, such game belng for
to play BINGo alone.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF TNE INVENTION
Fig. 4 shows a scratch game 1 according to the invention
lo for use to play BINGO alone, which comprises a substrate 3
in the form of a card on the upper surface of which a
plurality of playing "zones" Zl, Z2, Z3, Z4, æs are
provided. As the invention essentially lies in the way
each zone is made, only one of the, viz. Z1, will now be
described with reference to Fig 1.
Zone Z1 comprises a first grid 5 of randomly selected
number printed onto the card 3. The first grid 5 is
preferably bidimensional and similar to a traditional Bingo
grid, with five rows of five numbers ranging from 1 to 75,
which are distributed over five columns, each with a
specific range of numbers such as, for example, Nos. 1 to
5 in column 1, Nos. 16 to 30 in column 2, etc... Each
number is printed in a separate box which is part of the
grid and each box is defined by the intersection of one
column which one row.
After the boxes of the first grid 5 have been printed and
filled in with random numbers, a scratchable rub-off
coating 9 is applied onto the first grid 5 printed on the
card to hide the numbers printed in the boxes of this first
grid 5, and a second grid 11 which is identical in size to
the first grid and which contains the very same nu~bers as
the first grid at the very same locations are printed onto
the rub-off coating after the same is dried, except in zone
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Z5 where only non-relevant symbols such as question marks
and colored disks filled is the boxes of the second grid.
For all the other zones, the numbers that are printed in
the superimposed boxes of the first and second grids 5, 11
are identical. Thus, if a number, such as 7, is printed to
the first box of the second grid 11 printed on the rub-off
coating, the same number 7 will also be printed in the same
box of the first grid 5 onto the card.
The scratch game shown in Fig. 4 is a BINGO game. To make
the game easier to play for those accustomed to the
traditional Bingo game, capital letters such as those
forming the word ~INGO 15 are printed onto the card above
the first and second grids 5 and 11 of each zone Z, in such
a manner that each letter of the word BINGO is positioned
above one of the five columns of the grids. This makes
each number being drawn easier to be called out, as was
previously explained.
In use, the player who has bought the game, may scratch the
zone Z5 which is identified as "caller's card", in order
to uncover the hidden numbers printed in the first grid of
this zone (see the scratched boxes 16). Then , he or she
may scratch the corresponding numbers in the corresponding
columns of each of the zones Z2 to Z4 which are identified
as "cards 1 to 4", if the numbers of these zones are match
with those of the caller's card (zone Z5). If on any one
of cards 1 to 4, all numbers in a horizontal, vertical or
diagonal line are scratched ~the scratching here in zones
Zl to Z4, only serving to visualize with a different color
the matching numbers), the players wins a price.
The scratch game 1 disclosed hereinabove can be
manufactured according to the flow chart shown in fig. 2.
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In a first step, the first grid 5 of randomly selected
numbers of each zone Z1 to z5 can be printed uæing a high
speed ink jet printer driven by a computer. This kind of
equipment is commonly used by lottery ticket
manufacturers. It permits to print a great numbers of
tickets, such as 50,000 and more, in a very fast manner.
Usually, the price structure of the instant portion of the
game is based on the numbers chosen to generate the 50,000
tickets. This price structure/ticket correlation allows for
a reasonably estimation of the price fund liability in
relation to the numbers drawn.
In a second step, a thick layer of scratchable rub-off
coating is applied onto each zone of the printed card.
In the third and last step, the second grid 11 is printed
onto the rub-off coating, after the same has been dried,
using the same kind of high speed ink jet printer as used
in the first step.
In the scratch game shown in Fig. 4, it is of course
compulsory that printings of the first and second grids be
synchronized by some control means so that the second grid
is printed exactly over the first grid and contains the
very same numbers in its boxes as the first grid 5. Once
again, this kind of synchronized control means is usually
incorporated into a computer and is well known.
If necessary, a simulated drawing of numbers can also be
made on the computer to allow for a reasonably accurate
estimation of the price fund liability of a Bingo portion
of the card in relation to the numbers being drawn.
A plurality of security and control features may be used
with this particular case, as is shown in Fig. 1.
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First of all, a validation number 20 specific to each card
and hidden by a thick layer of scratchable rub-off coating
21, may be printed onto the card to permit the
authentification of the card and the detection of any
counterfeing or partial alteration of the numbers, amounts
or symbols printed on this card. The basic purpose of this
validation number which is unique to each card and
memorized by the computer when the same randomly select the
number to be printed, is to allow the authority to query
lo the computer and check whether the data appearing on the
winning card are actually the true and real data that were
printed onto this very particular card.
A second feature that can be used with this card is to
print an uncovered control number 23 whose purpose is
essential to allow for production control. This control
number may be 'he unique game-wide and used for description
and quantitative controls.
A third feature than can be used with the game forming the
subject matter of this invention is a dual numbering of the
card. In this feature, the same number is printed together
with the first and second grids, to ma~e it sure that the
synchronization was perfect when the printings were carried
out and that the second grid is identical to the first one.
i3y way of example, a three-digit number, or an alpha-
numeric symbol such as D8 at 25 in figs. 1, may be printed
when the first grid 5 is printed onto the card. Then, the
same number or alpha-numeric symbol may be printed at 27
when the second grid is printed. Of course, a match in the
numbers or alpha-numeric symbols printed at 25 and 27 is a
proof that both printings have been successfully
synchronized.
A fourth security and control feature that may be used with
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the game according to the invention is the printing of a
coded version of the validation number specific to the card
in the form of bars of different thicknesses 29 on the back
of each card. This features facilitates the data entry in
the computer by the paying agents who want to verify the
authority of the card. Of course, this bar-code is a coded
version of the validation number printed on the front of
the card. An algorithm may be used to code this number to
prevent fraudulent verification of the card's status by a
paying agent.
In the above mentioned description, reference has been made
exclusively to grids 5 and 11 identical in size and
containing the very some numbers one above the other,
except for the grids of zone Z5 (caller's card). In this
connection, it should be mentioned that the invention is
exclusively restricted to these particular features. Thus,
the grids 5 and 11 could be of different sizes, if, for
example, only some of the numbers of the first grid are to
be hidden during the play. Similarly, the informations
contained in the boxes of each grid need not necessarily be
numbers. Such informations could also be symbols, letters,
instant prices or any similar marking depending on the kind
of game and the way it is played. As a matter of fact, the
invention lies essentially in the fact that the
informations of the first grid are randomly selected and
the informations of the second grid are selected to match
with the informations of the first grid.
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