Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD FOR PREVENTING AND DETECTING
TAMPERING OF SCRATCH-OFF COATINGS ON
SUBSTRATES, AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTRATES
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 61/340,806, filed March 23, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates in general to methodologies for
securing scratch-off lottery tickets and commercial tickets/coupons against
assisted and unassisted mechanical lifts and reapplication, as well as a
method for
protecting against the fraud of recycling losing tickets by the reprinting of
a
Scratch-Off-Coating (SOC). The proposed methodologies allow for enhanced
security without any increase in cost as well as no significant impact on the
consumer's play experience.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Lottery scratch-off or instant games have become a time-honored
method of raising revenue for state and federal governments the world over.
Indeed, the concept of hiding indicia information under a Scratch-Off-Coating
(SOC) has also been applied to numerous other products such as commercial
contests, telephone card account numbers, etc. Literally, billions of scratch-
off
products are printed every year where the integrity of their Scratch-Off-
Coatings
(SOCs) is used to ensure that the product has not been previously used,
played, or
modified. Thus, the integrity of the SOC is paramount to ensure that a game or
product is secure.
[0004] Unfortunately, there are known techniques that can mechanically
"lift" the SOC and thereby compromise the integrity of scratch-off products.
The
term 'mechanical lift' refers to a process that uses a flat blade (e.g., X-
Acto chisel
blade #17) or other device to peel back a portion of a Scratch-Off-Coating
(SOC)
to reveal previously hidden indicia. The SOC is then glued back into place
such
that it is not obvious that the integrity of the coating has been breached.
The
industry has developed countermeasures to the previously described mechanical
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lift technique which involve changing the formulation of the SOC so that it is
more
difficult to remove and/or it flakes off or crumbles rather than peeling off
in one piece,
thereby making "unassisted" SOC lifts more difficult. However, these
techniques have
done little to alleviate the vexing problem of "assisted" SOC lifts. Assisted
lifts differ
from unassisted lifts in that another medium or material is applied to the SOC
(e.g.,
Krylon acrylic clear spray) to strengthen it, thereby "assisting" anyone who
is
attempting a mechanical lift.
[0005] Another form of fraud involves completely removing the SOC,
viewing the indicia, and then reprinting a new SOC on the non-winning products
(via
silk screen or other printing methodology) that is similar in appearance to
the original
SOC such that an unsuspecting customer would purchase the modified product
assuming it is pristine.
[0006] Thus, it is highly desirable to develop improved methodologies
for
ensuring the integrity of a SOC against lifts and reapplication, as well as
enhancing
the product's resistance to complete SOC removal and reprinting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in
the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be
learned
through practice of the invention.
[0008] Described are a number of methodologies that provide practical
embodiments for reliably protecting the integrity of the SOC from tampering,
including
mechanical lifts, SOC reapplication, and SOC reprinting.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, a method is provided for deterring
and
detecting fraudulent removal of a scratch-off coating (SOC) from a substrate
that is
formed with at least one scratch-off area and a background area surrounding
the at
least one scratch-off area. A scratch-off coating is applied to the scratch-
off area.
The scratch-off coating has a graphic image thereon. A visually
distinguishable
design is applied over the scratch-off coating and onto the background area.
The
design is visually distinct from the graphic image on the scratch-off coating
and
comprises a series of lines across from the scratch-off coating onto the
background
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area. Attempts to lift and replace/reapply the SOC results in misregistered
(i.e.,
misaligned) portions of the design, thereby providing a visual indication of
attempts to
remove and reapply or tamper with the scratch-off coating.
[0010] In a particular embodiment, the design is generated and applied
such that reapplying the scratch-off coating causes the portions of the design
over the
scratch-off coating to be misaligned with the portions of the design extending
onto the
background area.
[0011] The design may vary broadly within the scope and spirit of the
invention, and in a particular embodiment is selected from the group
consisting of
photographs, fingerprint patterns, water flow patterns, or a series of lines,
such as a
Benday pattern series of lines.
[0012] The invention also encompasses any manner of substrate that
incorporates aspects of the methods described herein. In this regard, a
substrate is
provided with a scratch-off area and a background area that surrounds the
scratch-off
area. A scratch-off coating is applied to the scratch-off area. The scratch-
off coating
has a graphic image thereon. A design is applied on the scratch-off coating,
with the
design extending over the scratch-off coating and onto the background area.
The
design is visually distinct from the graphic image on the scratch-off coating
and
comprises a series of lines across from the scratch-off coating onto the
background
area. The design has a visual appearance such that misregistered portions of
the
design provide a visual indication of attempts to remove and reapply or tamper
with
the scratch-off coating.
[0013] For example, the design may be generated and applied such that
reapplying the scratch-off coating causes the portions of the design over the
scratch-
off coating to be misaligned with the portions of the design extending onto
the
background area. Although not limited to such, the design may comprise any one
of a
photograph, fingerprint pattern, water flow pattern, or a series of lines,
such as a
Benday pattern series of lines.
[0014] In a particularly unique embodiment, the border between the
scratch-
off area and the background area is non-visually distinct, which visually
enhances any
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misalignment between the design over the scratch-off area and the design over
the
background area.
[0015] These
and other features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with reference to the following
description
and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the
invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including
the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set
forth in the
specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a first representative example
of a
lottery-type instant ticket where a mechanical lift has been attempted and the
SOC
was not reapplied in register;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a first representative example
of a
lottery-type instant ticket where a Benday-type pattern overprint greatly
increases
the difficulty of lifting and reapplying or reprinting the SOC;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the first representative example
of
FIG.2 where a lift/reapplication has been attempted but the miss-registered
Benday pattern makes the attempt clearly visible;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the first representative example
of
FIG.2 where a complete SOC replacement (or reprint) has been attempted but the
mis-registered Benday pattern makes the attempt clearly visible;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the first representative example
of a
non-continuous release coating film application in a typical scratch-off
ticket ink
film layer;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the second representative
example of a release coating film with an irregular surface application in a
scratch-
off ticket ink film layer;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the third representative
example
of a release coating film with an irregular surface application in a scratch-
off ticket
ink film layer; and
[0024] FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the first representative example
of a
scratch-off ticket with a special coating to chemically detect assist agents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each
example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of
the
invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various
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modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another
embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0026] Whether attempting a mechanical lift/reapplication or
reprinting a
new SOC coating, the perpetrator's principal challenge is the reapplication of
the
lifted SOC, or reprinting of a new SOC material, such that the SOC remains in
registration with the graphics on the rest of the ticket. If registration is
not
maintained between the lifted/new SOC and the rest of the ticket, the product
would appear modified or defective. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a lottery
ticket
100 where the scratch-off area 101 SOC has been mechanically lifted in six
places
102, but not reapplied into proper registration with the other graphics on the
ticket.
[0027] Regrettably, after some practice, a skilled technician can
perform
SOC lifts and replacements with little impact in registration on most tickets
such
that the ticket would pass as pristine under normal inspection. However, the
ability
for the skilled technician to perform these SOC lifts and replacements without
detection varies with ticket design, with more complex graphics in the scratch-
off
area(s) greatly increasing the difficuity. For example, a photographic
reproduction
of people or familiar objects in the scratch-off area(s) of a ticket makes it
practically
impossible to perform a mechanical lift/reapplication without leaving a
telltale mark.
The problem with this approach is that it is difficult to maintain an
environment
conducive to low cost photographic reproduction. Additionally, if the
photographic
image is confined to only the scratch-off area of the ticket with a clear
delineation
between the scratch-off area and the rest of the ticket (for example, provided
by a
border as is typical in scratch-off ticket graphic design), completely
reprinting the
removed SOC remains viable, because the graphic scratch-off border helps mask
any out-of-register condition.
[0028] If the photographic image is extended beyond the scratch-off
area, with the delineating scratch-off graphic border reduced in intensity
(e.g.,
screened half tone or dashed line), reprinting a removed SOC via lithographic
methods becomes un-viable since registration with the ticket substrate image
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would be exceedingly difficult. This same concept, of bridging the graphics
over
the scratch-off area and surrounding ticket substrate, can be expanded to
simpler
designs (e.g., Benday patterns) that accomplish the same registration
challenges
for the lift/replacement attack without the added costs of printing
photographic
images over the scratch-off area(s) of a ticket. Thus, in this preferred
embodiment,
low cost production and miss-registration detection methods are both
incorporated
into the same product.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of this preferred embodiment. In
FIG. 2, the six scratch-off areas 101 of the ticket 100 all include Benday
overprints
111 that cover both the scratch-off areas 101 as well as a portion of the
background ticket substrate 103. By covering both the scratch-off areas as
well as
the ticket substrate, the fine lines of the Benday patterns make registration
exceedingly difficult to effectively hide both the SOC lift/reapplication and
the
reprinting of SOC.
[0030] FIG. 3 provides an illustration of how the Benday patterns 111
provide a ready visual indication 115 that a mechanical lift/reapplication has
been
attempted in the six scratch-off areas, even to someone that is not
necessarily
aware of the technique. FIG. 4 illustrates how the same Benday patterns 111
would also protect against reprinting of the entire SOC in the six scratch-off
areas,
by readily showing a registration failure 260 between the replacement SOC and
the ticket substrate 103 that is not apparent in non-tampered tickets.
[0031] Of course there are numerous other variations of this
preferred
embodiment (e.g., photographic pictures, fingerprint patterns, water flow
patterns,
etc.) that are obvious to anyone skilled in the art and may under some
circumstances be more desirable than the previously disclosed embodiment.
[0032] In alternative embodiment, protection of the integrity of the
SOC
can be provided by alterations to the release material associated with the SOC
rather than by an elaborate overprint. Scratch-off tickets typically employ a
release
coating layer beneath the SOC opaque and decorative layers. The release layer,
as its name implies, causes any coatings placed over it to easily scratch-off.
The
physical nature of the scratch-off coating varies from manufacturer to
manufacturer
(e.g., wax base, UV coating, etc.) and has been documented in numerous other
patents as well as many public domain documents and is not essential to the
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present description. In known applications, however, the release layer is
specified
as a continuous film providing a foundation from which all subsequent layers
of ink
film will scratch-off, allowing for the one-time reveal that is typical of
scratch-off
tickets. The problem with this homogeneous continuous release film, however,
is
that it provides an excellent base for SOC mechanical lifts and/or replacement
of
the SOC by devious means.
[0033] Thus, a release film with partial coverage causes the SOC to
release easily from some areas and not at all from others, thereby making it
difficult if not impossible to lift or reprint the SOC even with mechanical
assists. In
one possible embodiment, the release film 200 is applied as illustrated in
FIG. 5
with a pattern of dots (holes) 201 in which no release film is present. In
this
embodiment, if the dots 201 are small enough they will not hinder the normal
scratching process or obscure the imaged indicia. However, the presence of a
non-continuous release film with holes large enough to prohibit lifting of the
SOC
will greatly hinder or render impossible mechanical lifting of the SOC due to
the
dotted areas with no release that would effectively block a sharp X-Acto or
razor
blade from raising a smooth film. Additionally, the pattern of dots (holes)
201 would
also make it extremely difficult to reapply a new SOC to the scratched off
area(s)
due to registration problems with the SOC overprint and the multiplicity of
dots. Of
course there are many possible patterns obvious to anyone skilled in the art
that
might perform better than the previously described dots and in some instances
may be more desirable, but for the sake of brevity, only the dot pattern is
described
in for this particular embodiment.
[0034] In yet another embodiment, rather than a pattern of holes or
lines
with no release present in the film, the same effect of making the film
resistant to
mechanical lifts and/or replacement of SOC can be accomplished with an
irregular
or rough release film surface. FIG. 6 illustrates an irregular or rough SOC
film 202,
printed on a ticket substrate 103, above the win or lose indicia 252, with
opaque
and decorative overprints 253 printed on top of the irregular release film
202. In
this embodiment, the irregular release film surface 202 when initially applied
and
not completely cured allows for subsequent SOC ink film layers to flow into
the
irregular surfaces forming a homogeneous and opaque covering 253. The
irregularities in the release film may be generated by planned deformities in
the
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Flexographic printing plate (or other type of printing) that applies the
release film to
the ticket substrate 103. In this embodiment, the rough/irregular surface of
the
release film 202 is not so irregular that it significantly impacts removal of
the SOC
by normal consumer scratching with a relatively blunt coin or other object.
However, when a perpetrator attempts to lift the SOC via assisted or
unassisted
means, the rough/irregular surface of the release film 202 functions as a
series of
'speed bumps' that repeatedly catch the sharp edge of the X-Acto or razor
blade
typically used in mechanical lifts causing the blades to jerk and not lift a
continuous
patch. Additionally, while the irregular release film surface 202 does allow
removal
of the majority of the SOC 253 with blunt coins and other objects (e.g.,
fingernail),
it does allow for microscopic parts of the SOC 253 to remain. While these
microscopic SOC remnants are not sufficient to significantly impact viewing of
the
revealed play indicia 252, the remnants do intermingle with any fresh SOC ink
coating(s) reapplied to a played ticket, such that the resulting ink films
appear
tampered with and would be unlikely to be accepted by a consumer as pristine.
[0035] In still another embodiment, the release film coating
thickness can
be varied, producing a series of plateaus, which halt or disrupt any
mechanical
lifting attempts. In this embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the release film 203 is
applied in multiple levels, resulting in a series of planes to which the SOC
ink
film(s) 253 are applied. The multiple levels of release coating could be
achieved by
altering the line screen on a single Flexographic printing plate or by the
application
of multiple printing plates.
[0036] In the special case of preventing assisted mechanical lifts,
the
chemical nature of the spray-on assist material can be used to trigger a
reaction on
the ticket's scratch-off surface. For example, Krylon clear spray contains
keytones,
petroleum distillates, toluene, naphthalene, acetone, and ethyl 3-
ethoxypropionate.
Dyes exist that responds to one of these ingredients. These dyes could be
applied
as an overcoat to the ticket's scratch area and serve as an obvious indication
of
attempted "assisted lift" tampering. FIG. 8 provides an exemplary illustration
of this
embodiment. In FIG. 8, the lottery ticket 100 has special dyes 255 that are
sensitive to one of the key ingredients in the assisted lift medium (e.g.,
Krylon). As
shown, when the ingredients from the assisted lift medium contact the dyes in
the
scratch-off area 101 overprint, a chemical reaction occurs causing the dyes to
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become visible, with the word 'VOID' 255 appearing in this example. Of course
the
chemical reaction, could cause the ticket's ink to dissolve, bleed, run, thin,
or
otherwise dramatically alter in appearance to indicate tampering.
[0037] While the aforementioned chemical reaction methodology is only
affective against assisted mechanical lifts, it can be used in addition to
some of the
other techniques described in this application to provide a more robust
defense
against ticket fraud.
[0038] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to
practice
the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and
performing
any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by
the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art.
It is
intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations
as
come within the scope of the appended claims.
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