Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INSTANT GAME CARD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an improved
instant game card and more particularly but not exclusively
an instant bingo game card.
b) Brief description of the related art
Known in the art is U.S. patent no. 5,074,566
(DESBIENS), which describes a two level scratch game. This
scratch game consists of a substrate on which is printed a
first grid of numbers, and which is covered by a scratchable
rub-off coating hiding the numbers of the first grid. A
second grid, identical in size and containing the very same
numbers as the first one is printed on the rub-off coating.
This scratch game requires a lot of rub-off coating to cover
all the first grid, and requires printing of the playing
numbers twice. Moreover, the first and second printings
need to be perfectly synchronised to avoid any discrepancies
between the visible and hidden grids.
Also known in the art is U.S. patent no. 5,193,815
(POLLARD) which describes an instant bingo game card
comprising a substrate on which is printed one or more grids
of numbers. Each grid is covered by a translucent coat of
a scratchable material which is pigmented so as to modify
the appearance of the underlying color of the substrate in
the area where is printed the grid. This instant bingo game
card requires a lot of scratchable material to cover the
grids, and the contrast between the scratched and
unscratched numbers is limited to the shade of the
translucent coat.
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Further known in the art is U.S. patent no.
4,212,468 (KNOTT) which describes a pressure sensitive game
apparatus. This apparatus consists of a sheet of flexible
translucent material having the symbol pattern corresponding
to a bingo card overlying, and a substantially rigid backing
member attached to the translucent sheet. The backing
member is coated with a pigmented material and a pressure
sensitive releasable adhesive material. Pressure on the
translucent sheet urges it into contact with the adhesive
material and causes the pigmentation to show through the
translucent sheet. This apparatus requires several
manipulations of the translucent sheet and the backing
member. Moreover, when pressure is applied on the apparatus
because of a bad movement, the pigmentation of the area
pressed shows through the translucent sheet, causing an
error.
Also known in the art are bingo game lottery
tickets that have been offered for a while by the Iowa
Lottery. The ticket includes a caller's card covered by a
thick layer of a rub-off coating, and a plurality of playing
cards. Beside each playing number of each playing card, a
small dot is printed in red and covered by a small patch of
rub-off coating. In use, the player scratches the rub-off
coating covering the caller's card and scratches the patch
of rub-off coating adjacent to each playing number
corresponding to the uncovered numbers of the caller's card,
so as to mark the same. The patch of rub-off coating
provided beside each playing number is quite small and often
difficult to scratch without scratching the surrounding
patches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an instant game card that requires a smaller
quantity of scratchable rub-off coating than the similar
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cards presently known to the Applicant, while offering a
marked contrast between the scratched and the unscratched
numbers to better visualize the called numbers.
According to the present invention, the above
ob~ect is achieved with an instant game card according to
the invention, which comprises:
a substrate having printed thereon at least one series
of playing numbers;
an unscratchable translucent varnish applied onto the
substrate so as to surround at least each of the
playing numbers; and
a scratchable rub-off coating applied onto the varnish
in such a manner as to surround each of the
playing numbers without hiding the same;
whereby, in use, when numbers are called, scratching of the
scratchable rub-off coating that surrounds the playing
numbers that correspond to those that are called, allows a
player to visualize the position of the playing numbers that
were so called in each of said series.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the above instant game card is preferably an
instant bingo game card which comprises:
a substrate having printed thereon at least one matrix
filled with playing numbers representing a bingo
game;
an unscratchable translucent varnish applied onto the
substrate so as to cover each of the at least one
matrix; and
a scratchable rub-off coating applied onto the varnish
in such a manner as to surround each of the
playing numbers of each of the at least one matrix
without hiding the same;
whereby, in use, when numbers are called, scratching of the
scratchable rub-off coating surrounding the playing numbers
corresponding to those that are called, allow a player to
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visualize the position of the playing numbers that were so
called on each of the at least one matrix.
As can be appreciated, the playing numbers have to
be printed only once and are clearly visible since they are
not covered by any rub-off coating, translucent or not.
Moreover, it is easy to identify the called playing numbers
by scratching the rub-off surrounding of the called playing
numbers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to impart full understanding of the
manner in which this object and other objects are attained
in accordance with the present invention, preferred
embodiments thereof will be described hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an
instant bingo game card according to a first embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of an instant bingo
game card according to a second embodiment of the invention;
and
Figure 3 is a top plan view of an instant game
card according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
In the following description and in the drawings,
the same numerals will refer to the same elements.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows an instant bingo game card 1
according to the invention. This instant bingo game card 1
comprises a substrate 3 in the form of a card, onto which is
printed one matrix 5 "shaped" as a bingo game. Of course,
several matrices 5 could be printed onto the substrate 3, i~
desired.
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The matrix 5 preferably has five rows of five
playing numbers 7 ranging from 1 to 75, distributed over
five columns. Each column has a specific range of numbers
such as, for example, nos. 1 to 15 in column 1, nos. 16 to
30 in column 2, etc. As in bingo cards, each column may be
identified by a letter printed above the column, for example
"B" above the first column, "I" above the second column, and
so on, with the letters of the word "BINGO".
To identify the instant bingo game card 1, a name
9 is printed on the substrate 3, as for example "LOTO
BINGO". In order to be more visible, the name 9 is
preferably printed in the upper section of the substrate 3.
Beside the name 9, a ticket price 25 may also be printed on
the substrate 3. Another type of printings 11 may be used
to describe each of the winning combinations of playing
numbers 7 that may be called during a game. These printings
11 are printed on the substrate 3 beside the matrix 5. The
winning combinations may, for example be one of the rows of
the matrix 5, one of the columns of the matrix, two crossing
diagonals of the matrix or four corners of the matrix. The
printings 11 may further describe prizes that are won for
each of the winning combinations.
An unscratchable translucent varnish 13 is applied
onto the printed substrate 3. The varnish 13 may cover all
the printed substrate 3, but is preferably applied only over
the playing numbers 7. If these numbers are located in
boxes sguare in shape, then each playing number 7 may be
covered by a square of varnish. Preferably, the varnish
squares are sized in such a manner as to be spaced from each
other, and to leave bands 15 of substrate between the
varnished boxes containing the playing numbers 7.
A scratchable rub-off coating 17 is applied onto
the varnish 13 covering the playing numbers 7. In
accordance with the invention, the scratchable rub-off
coating 17 surrounds each of the playing numbers 7 without
hiding them. The scratchable rub-off coating 17 is applied
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directly onto the substrate 3 over the bands 15 to cover
them, as shown on Figure 2. When a player scratches the
rub-off coating 17 surrounding the playing numbers 7, the
rub-off coating 17 beneath which there is varnish 13 peels
away, while the rub-off coating 17 applied onto the
unvarnished substrate 3 stays in place and form partitioning
lines 21 between the scratched playing numbers 4.
In a bingo game, when the playing numbers 7 are
called, the player has to scratch the scratchable rub-off
coating 17 surrounding the playing numbers 7, corresponding
to those that are called. The scratched rub-off coating 17
allows the player to see the substrate 3 surrounding the
scratched playing numbers 7, which is preferably of a
contrasted color with respect to the unscratched playing
numbers 7. So, scratching the surrounding of the playing
numbers 7 allow the player to clearly visualize the position
of the called numbers 7 in the matrix 5.
The instant bingo game card 1 according to the
second embodiment of the invention, as shown on Figure 2,
further comprises caller's numbers 19 disposed in two lines.
It is clear that the caller's numbers 19 could also be
disposed along one line or more, or even in a grid. However
the disposition of these caller's number in lines is
preferred since it reduces the space occupied by the same
on the substrate 3, and thus leaves more space for the
matrix(ces) 5, which can be made bigger and thus easier to
scratch.
To protect the caller's numbers 19 printed on the
substrate 3, a layer of the unscratchable translucent
varnish 13 is applied over them. The scratchable rub-off
coating 17 or any other scratchable coating is then applied
onto the varnish 13 in such a manner as to cover each of the
caller's numbers 19.
In use, a player will scratch the rub-off coating
17 covering the caller's numbers 19 of this second embodi-
ment of the invention, and scratch the rub-off coating 17
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surrounding the playing numbers 7 corresponding to the
caller's numbers 19. It will then be possible to visualize
the position of the playing numbers 7 corresponding to the
caller's numbers 19 on the matrix 5. It will also be
possible to determine when the playing numbers 7
corresponding to the caller's numbers 19 form one of the
winning combinations for which there is a prize to be won.
In accordance with a third embodiment of the
invention, shown on Figure 3, the instant game card is not
of the BINGO type. It nevertheless comprises a substrate 3
onto which is printed several series 21 of playing numbers
7. Of course, one series 21 or more can be printed on the
substrate 3. Preferably, each series 21 consists of a line
of several playing numbers 7. Each of the playing numbers
7 is printed in a box 23. The name 9 of the game is printed
onto the substrate 3, preferably in the upper section of it.
Printings 11 describing each of the winning combinations are
also printed on the substrate 3. The winning combinations
are, for example, seven called numbers out of ten playing
numbers 7 forming one series 21, and for each additional
number called in a series 21, the prize gets bigger.
An unscratchable translucent varnish 13 is also
applied onto the substrate 3, to cover each of the boxes 23.
A scratchable rub-off coating 17 is then applied onto the
varnish 13 in such a manner as to surround each of the
playing numbers 7.
In use, a player will scratch the rub-off coating
17 surrounding the playing numbers 7 corresponding to those
that are called. The scratched rub-off coating 17 will
allow the player to visualize the number of called playing
numbers 7 in each series 21, to determine whether his or her
card 1 contains one or more winning combinations.
According to a variant of this third embodiment of
the invention, the instant game card 1 further comprises
caller's numbers 19 printed onto the substrate 3. The
caller's numbers 19 are covered by the varnish 13, onto
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which is applied the rub-off coating 17 or any other
scratchable coating, in such a manner as to hide the
caller's numbers 19.
In use of this variant of the third embodiment,
the player scratches the rub-off coating 17 covering the
caller's numbers 19, and scratches the rub-off coating 17
surrounding the playing numbers 7 corresponding to the
caller's numbers 19. It is then possible for the player to
visualize the number of called playing numbers 7 in each
series 21, and to determine if he won one of the prizes.
Although the present invention has been explained
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it
should be pointed out that any modifications to these
preferred embodiments, within the scope of the appended
claims, are not deemed to change or alter the nature and
scope of the present invention.
