Abstract:
An automatic scratch-off material removing device for lottery tickets comprises an enclosure, a power source, a brush, and a retention tray. The enclosure comprises a durable housing for the various components of the device having a loading slot where a user may insert a lottery ticket. The power source comprises a replaceable battery which is housed inside the enclosure and accessed via a removable cover located within a bottom surface of the enclosure. The brush comprises an electric rotating brush system which removes the scratch-off material from the ticket via a brush assembly. The excess scratch-off material falls into the retention tray, which is slidably removable from a rear portion of the enclosure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Sep. 28, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to scratch-off material removal devices, and in particular, to an automatic scratch-off material removal device for use on scratchcard game tickets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Just about everyone has played an instant lottery ticket at one time or another. The excitement of finding out whether or not you have a winning ticket is a pleasure enjoyed by many. However, such a hobby does come with a few drawbacks. It is often times difficult to locate an object that can be used to remove the scratch-off coating off of the ticket. Typically nearby objects are used as makeshift scrapers, such as fingernails, coins, or writing instruments. However, these objects do an incomplete job and have a tendency to damage the ticket. It is also hard to find a suitable surface upon which to place the ticket while it is being scratched. Hands or seat cushions do not form a firm stable surface and bars and countertops can be wet or dirty and as such may lead to ticket damage and possible ticket invalidation. Additionally, the ticket shavings often soil clothing and floors as they fall off. Finally, scratching off the tickets takes time and many people are just too excited to wait any longer than is necessary and others have physical impairments which may make manual scratching off of the coating difficult or impossible. 
     Various scraping devices for use with lottery scratch-off tickets are known, each attempting to provide solutions to these problems and disadvantages. These devices vary in function and use, examples of which can be seen by reference to several U.S. Patents. One (1) solution includes improved handheld scrapers as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,441, issued in the name of Salvini, which discloses a lottery ticket scraper and brush device. 
     Other solutions provide manual scraper devices such as those seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,693, issued in the name of Diba et al., which discloses a scraper carrying case container for lottery tickets including a carrier which holds a manual scraper for the removal of the scratch-off coating layer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,061, issued in the name of Rizzo, Jr., discloses a ticket scraper having an edged scraper element which removes the coating layer as the ticket passes through a slot and a manual pressure is applied to the ticket surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,720, issued in the name of Shultz, discloses a lottery ticket tray including a smooth ticket support surface and a removable drawer which collects the ticket scrapings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,287, issued in the name of Olson, discloses a lottery ticket scraper having a housing with a spring loaded scraper blade which forcibly engages the ticket surface as the ticket passed through the device. 
     Other devices attempt to provide an automatic means of removal of the coating as can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,543, issued in the name of Cameron et al., which discloses a lottery card scraper apparatus including a housing with a motor driven internal helical blade arranged to remove the coating as the ticket passes through the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,549, issued in the name of Forrest, discloses a coin operated ticket scraper having a motor driven scraping brush for removal of the coating. U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,882, issued in the name of Tyree, describes a lottery ticket scratch off device including a housing with an internal roller and scratching brush which are driven by a motor and a gear train which removes the coating as the ticket passed through the housing. 
     While these devices may accomplish their specific intended purpose, each suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency with respect to design, function, or effectiveness. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which instant lottery players can enjoy the game without the disadvantages described. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for tool for effectively and efficiently removing the opaque substance coating from the surface of a scratch off instant game lottery ticket or similar game piece. Thus, an object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which increases the speed with which the ticket coating is removed. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which eliminates the mess associated with the coating scrapings. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be used with any type of size of scratchcard game piece. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple and intuitive to use with little to no training. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is durable and economical to manufacture. 
     One (1) or more of these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing an automatic scratch-off material removal device comprising an enclosure a generally rectangular enclosure defining an interior portion. An elongated slot is longitudinally disposed along a central position in an upper panel of the enclosure for insertingly receiving the game piece and for providing access to the interior portion. An elongated cylindrical brush body having a brush axle and plurality of rigid bristles is provided adjacent to the slot for removal of the scratch-off coating. A motor having a motor housing affixed to a lateral side panel and a motor shaft extending from the motor is rigidly connected to the brush axle for rotating the brush body. A generally “L”-shaped guard is affixed between opposing lateral side panels and positioned next tot to the brush body for supporting the game piece. A gap is defined between the brush body and the guard for receiving the game piece and positioning the game piece in forced contact with the brush bristles. A collection tray is removably connected within the enclosure and positioned below the brush body for collecting the scratch-off coating scrapings. A removable battery provides a supply of power to the motor and a switch is mounted to an exterior of the enclosure for controlling the supply of power to the motor. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment of the invention, the device provides the device a magnifying lens hingedly attached to the upper panel of the enclosure nest to the slot. The magnifying lens is capable of being hingedly closed to cover the slot or is capable of being hingedly open to provide a magnified image of the game piece. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the invention may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The invention can be practiced without one or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an automatic scratch-off material removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the automatic scratch-off material removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another rear perspective view of the automatic scratch-off material removal device  10  depicting a residue access compartment  35   a  removed, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an underside perspective view of the automatic scratch-off material removal device for a lottery ticket  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a break-away view of the automatic scratch-off material removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of a scratch-off mechanism  40  of line A-A of  FIG. 5 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram depicting the major electrical components of the automatic scratch-off material removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  automatic scratch-off material removal device 
               15  lottery ticket 
               16  hand 
               20  enclosure 
               21  upper panel 
               22  front panel 
               23  side panel 
               24  rear panel 
               25  lower panel 
               26  interior portion 
               30  slot 
               31  magnifying glass 
               32  hinge 
               33  switch 
               34  locking tab 
               35   a  residue access compartment 
               35   b  collection tray 
               36  battery compartment 
               37  battery 
               38  foot 
               39  notch 
               40  scratch-off mechanism 
               41  brush 
               42  brush axle 
               43  brush cap 
               44  guard 
               45  guard lip 
               46  gap 
               47  reservoir platform 
               50  motor 
               51  motor shaft 
               55  electric wiring 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an automatic scratch-off material removal device (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means for removing the opaque substance coating on an instant lottery ticket  15  in lieu of conventional methods such as scratching off with a coin on a rigid surface. The device  10  generally comprises an enclosure  20 , a magnifying glass  31 , a scratch-off mechanism  40 , and a means to collect and retain the removed coating residue. The device  10  enables a user to automatically remove the coating on the lottery ticket  15  in order to reveal the concealed information on the lottery ticket  15  in an efficient and quick manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises an enclosure  20  which provides a housing means to several internal mechanisms and a collecting and retaining means to the removed coating residue. The enclosure  20  comprises features such as an upper panel  21 , a front panel  22 , a pair of lateral side panels  23 , a rear panel  24 , and a lower panel  25 . The enclosure  20  is approximately ten (10) inches wide, two-and-a-half (2½) inches high, and five (5) inches deep, yet other dimensions may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The enclosure  20  is preferably fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, metal, or the like. 
     The upper panel  21  of the enclosure  20  comprises a slot  30  which provides an opening for the user to insert the lottery ticket  15 . In use, the user grasps the lottery ticket  15  with their hand  16  and inserts the lottery ticket  15  into the slot  30  with the front of the lottery ticket  15  facing the front panel  22 . The lottery ticket  15  is engaged by a scratch-off mechanism  40  (see  FIG. 4 ) to remove the coating and reveal the concealed information. The slot  30  comprises dimensions to correspond to various sized lottery tickets  15 . The slot  30  is located at an intermediate position on the upper panel  21 . 
     The upper panel  21  also comprises a magnifying glass  31  to produce a magnified image of the lottery ticket  15  to view various sized printing on the lottery ticket  15  as desired. In use, the lottery ticket  15  is placed behind the magnifying glass  31  for viewing. When the magnifying glass  31  is in a downward position the magnifying glass  31  prohibits debris from entering the slot  30 . The magnifying glass  31  is hingedly attached to the upper surface  21  by a pair of hinges  32  which are located on a lateral edge of the magnifying glass  31 . The hinges  32  enable the magnifying glass  31  to be rotated downwardly against the upper surface  21  when not in use, thereby protecting the magnifying glass  31  from becoming damaged. The magnifying glass  31  is located adjacent to the slot  30  in a parallel orientation. 
     The upper panel  21  further comprises a switch  33  which provides a means to activate or deactivate the scratch-off mechanism  40  (also see  FIG. 4 ). The switch  33  is located on a side surface of the upper panel  21  for illustration purposes only; it is known that other locations may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The switch  33  is preferably a conventional single-pole double-throw toggle switch, yet other switching devices may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a rear perspective view of the device  10  and  FIG. 3 , another rear perspective view of the device  10  depicting the residue access compartment  35   a  removed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The rear panel  24  of the enclosure  20  comprises a residue access compartment  35   a . The residue access compartment  35   a  provides access to an interior portion  26  of the enclosure  20  to remove the coating residue that is collected after removal from the lottery ticket  15 . The residue access compartment  35   a  comprises an open area into which the collection tray  35   b  is inserted to provide access to the interior portion  26  of the enclosure  20 . The collection tray  35   b  further comprises a rear wall having a locking tab  34  which engages a perimeter notch  39  to secure the collection tray  35   b  within the access compartment  35   a . The residue collection tray  35   b  includes a shallow reservoir platform  47  for the residue to accumulate. The residue collection tray  35   b  is removable from the access compartment  35   a  in order to access the reservoir platform  47  for disposing of the accumulated coating residue. The residue access compartment  35   a  is depicted as being located on an intermediate portion of the rear panel  24  for illustration purposes only; it is known that other locations may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an underside perspective view of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The lower panel  25  on the device  10  comprises a battery compartment  36  and a plurality of feet  38 . The battery compartment  36  provides a means to access the power supply for the device  10 . The battery compartment  36  comprises a tab-locking panel which is removed in a revealing the internal portion. The battery compartment  36  is depicted as being located on the lower panel  25  for illustration purposes only; it is known that other locations may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The lower panel  25  also comprises a plurality of feet  38  which provide a stabilizing means to the device  10 . The feet  38  are located on each corner of the lower panel  25  and are preferably fabricated from a non-skid rubber material, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a break-away view of the device  10 ,  FIG. 6 , a section view of the scratch-off mechanism  40 , and  FIG. 7 , a block diagram depicting the major electrical components of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed.  FIG. 5  is depicted with the upper panel  21  and front panel  22  removed for illustration purposes only. The scratch-off mechanism  40  is positioned in a lateral orientation and comprises a brush  41 , a guard  44 , and a motor  50  which provides a means to remove the coating on lottery tickets  15 . A proximal end of the brush  41  is mounted to a lateral side panel  23  by inserting a brush axle  42  into a brush cap  43 . The brush cap  43  comprises a bushing member which is integrally molded into the side panel  23 . The brush axle  42  is held within the brush cap  43  by an interference fitting. The brush axle  42  is positioned longitudinally through a central bore of the brush  41 . The brush  41  comprises a plurality of bristles for brushing against the coating on the lottery ticket  15  for removal of the coating. The brush  41  is fabricated from materials which are suitable to remove the layer of substance coating, such as; plastic, wire, or similar semi-rigid materials. A distal end of the brush axle  42  rigidly engages a proximal end of a motor shaft  52  which is interconnected to the motor  50 . The distal end of the motor shaft  52  is integrally molded and rotatably attached to an opposing lateral side panel  23  within a standard motor housing. 
     The guard  44  comprises a generally “L”-shaped member having a vertical base and a horizontal guard lip  45  extending perpendicularly from the lower end of the base. The guard lip  45  provides a support platform for a lottery ticket  15  to rest upon and limits the distance the lottery ticket  15  can be inserted into the interior portion  26  of the device  10  and aligns the face of the ticket with the surface bristles of the brush  43 . The guard  44  is positioned adjacent to and behind the brush  41  in a parallel orientation with the guard lip  45  positioned below the brush  41 . The guard  44  is preferably fabricated from materials such as plastic, metal or the like and attached to the upper panel  21  via adhesive, integral molding, or the like. A single lottery ticket  15  is inserted through the slot  30  and positioned within a gap  46  defined as the area between the brush  41  and the base of the guard  44 . The lottery ticket  15  rests against the guard lip  45  and is in forced contact with the brush  41  which is rotated by the motor  50 . The brush  41  presses against the surface of the lottery ticket  15 , thereby incrementally removing the substance coating as the bristles scratch against the surface. The residue from the coating then falls onto and is collect within the collection tray  35   b  positioned below the scratch-off mechanism  40 . 
     The motor  50  received power and control signals through electrical wiring  55  interconnected to the switch  33  and the batteries  37 . The batteries  37  are preferably user replaceable electrochemical cells, yet other devices may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The switch  33  is depressable to close the circuit, thus sending current through the electrical wiring  55  to the motor  50 . Once energized, the motor shaft  51  will rotate simultaneously rotating the brush  41 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; inserting batteries  37  into the battery compartment  36  as desired; positioning the device  10  on a level surface with the feet  38  resting upon the level surface; rotating the magnifying glass  31  to an upright position as desired to access the slot  30 ; inserting a lottery ticket  15  into the slot  30 , thereby positioning the lottery ticket  15  into the gap  46  between the brush  41  and guard  44 ; resting the bottom surface of the lottery ticket  15  against the guard lip  45 ; depressing the switch  33  to activate the motor  50  and rotate the motor shaft  51  which simultaneously rotates the brush  41 ; enabling the brush  41  to remove the coating on the lottery ticket  15 ; enabling the coating residue to descend onto the collection tray  35   b ; deactivating the scratch-off mechanism  40  as desired via depressing the switch  33  as desired; removing the lottery ticket  15  from the slot  30  as desired to view the information; utilizing the device  10  as desired; and, allowing instant lottery players everywhere the ability to get increased enjoyment from their hobby in a manner which is quick, easy and effective. 
     The method of utilizing the magnifying glass  31  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; rotating the magnifying glass  31  to an upright position; positioning a lottery ticket  15  behind the magnifying glass  31  at a desired position; and, utilizing the magnifying glass  31  to read small print on the lottery ticket  15  as desired. 
     The method of cleaning the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; removing the residue access compartment  35   a  as desired to access the collection tray  35   b ; discarding of the collected coating residue from the collection tray  35   b ; inserting the collection tray  35   b  back into the residue access compartment  35   a ; and, repeating as necessary. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.