Combined card and key carrying case and lottery number picker

A case for cards, keys and numbered disks and for randomly picking lottery numbers. The case is comprised of a platform having a first space for storing a card and disks and a second space for storing a card; a plurality of thin numbered disks stored in the first space; a transparent cover attached to a top and a bottom of the platform for viewing and enclosing the card and disks in the spaces and a chain attached to end portions of the covers for carrying keys. One characterizing feature of the invention is a trap which permits the numbered disks to easily enter but impedes disks inside the trap from leaving the trap. Another characterizing feature is that cards can be placed in the case without disassembly of the case.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to cases and games of chance and more particularly 
to a case for carrying cards and keys and numbered disks and for randomly 
picking lottery numbers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Government lotteries are major sources of revenues in the United States and 
foreign countries. Each year, billions of dollars are collected from 
lotteries in the United States and foreign countries. Annual lottery 
collections in the U.S.A. has equalled the combined income of America's 
five most profitable corporations. 
Lotteries have such popular acceptance with Americans that it is believed 
that the federal government may soon adopt a national lottery as a measure 
for trimming its large budget deficits. National lotteries already exist 
in numerous countries, including Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, 
Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Ireland and Austria. 
Lottery betting stations are most often located in retail establishments 
such as supermarkets, pharmacies and party stores. Many betters delay the 
selections of numbers until arriving at betting stations, sometimes 
causing lines of betters. A compact, transportable lottery number picker 
would be of great value because it would allow players to quickly generate 
lottery numbers at betting stations. Provisions for carrying cards and 
keys would enhance the utility of the device. 
Cards could be used for identifying owners of lost keys, for recording 
information such as vehicle license numbers which are needed when 
purchasing fuel and checking in at hotels, and for advertising services of 
businesses and professionals. The utility of the case would be further 
enhanced if cards could be easily installed with disassembling the case. 
This would provide purchasers with an option of choosing a card which 
meets their needs. Moreover, it would allow manufacturers export the same 
cases, less cards, which are marketed in the United States. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a compact, transportable case for carrying cards, 
keys and numbered disks and for randomly picking lottery numbers. One 
advantage of the invention is that it can be used at betting stations for 
picking lottery numbers. This would reduce congestion at betting stations, 
particularly when prizes are large. The reduced congestion would reduce 
waiting time for placing bets and the interference with a proprietor's 
usual business. A further benefit is that the case can also be used as an 
identification tag for suitcases and brief cases. 
The case is comprised of a platform having a space for disks and a space 
for storing a card; a plurality of thin numbered disks stored in the first 
space; a transparent cover attached to a top of the platform for viewing 
and covering the disks, a transparent cover attached to the bottom of the 
platform for covering and viewing the card, and a chain attached to the 
covers for carrying keys. 
A characterizing feature of the invention is a trap which allows numbered 
disks to easily enter but impedes disks inside the trap from easily 
leaving the trap. Another characterizing feature is that cards can be 
installed in the case without disassembling the case. 
Further benefits, features and embodiments of the invention will be 
apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings which 
describe the invention in detail. A preferred embodiment is disclosed in 
accordance with the best mode which is contemplated for practicing the 
invention and the specific features in which exclusive property rights are 
claimed are set forth in each of the numbered claims which are appended to 
the detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like and 
corresponding parts throughout the several views, in FIGS. 1 through 8, 
inclusive, a case is illustrated for carrying a card, keys and numbered 
disks and for randomly picking lottery numbers. The case 30 is generally 
comprised of a rectangular shaped platform 31 having a first space 32 for 
storing numbered disks 34 and a second space 35 for storing a card 37; 
disks 34 bearing numbers from 1 to 50 stored in the first space 32; a 
transparent cover 35 attached to an upper portion of the platform 31 for 
covering and viewing the disks 34; an identical transparent cover 36 
attached to a bottom portion of the platform 31 for covering and viewing a 
card 37; and a chain 38 attached to outward extending portions of each of 
the covers 35, 36 for carrying keys. 
In the orientation depicted in the drawings, the platform 31 is comprised 
of a horizontal wall 39, a front wall 40, a left side wall 41, a right 
side wall 42, and a rear wall 43. The transparent covers 35, 36 which 
attach to the upper and lower portions of the platform 31 are comprised of 
lateral 85, front 86, right side 87, left side 88, and rear 89 walls. 
The platform's right side wall at the card storing space 35 is removed and 
the cover's right side walls 87 are recessed to form a slot 44 in the 
right side of the case 30 for inserting the card 37 into the card storing 
space 35. The slot 44 is a characterizing feature of the invention and is 
a substantial improvement over the prior art. Corner portions 36 of the 
covers 35, 36 retain the covers 35, 36 to the platform 31. 
Disassembly of the case 30 to install or change the card 37 is undesirable 
because it precludes a manufacturer from using low cost permanent methods 
such as ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. It is further undesirable 
because of possible damage to the covers 35, 36 and/or platform 31. It 
will be observed that when the chain 38 is attached to the covers 35, 36, 
the chain 38 prevents a loss of the card 37 through the slot 44. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the covers 35, 36 are attached to the 
platform 31 with interlocking ribs 45 which extend along the front 86, 40 
and rear 89, 43 walls of the covers 35, 36 and the platform 31. The ribs 
45, as shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, are sloped to 
facilitate interlocking. As also shown in FIG. 8, adjacent interlocking 
rib surfaces 46 are steeply sloped to prevent the ribs 45 from being 
easily disengaged. The ends of the ribs 45 are offset from the right 42, 
87 and left 41, 88 side walls of the platform 31 and the covers 35, 36. 
The offsets are desirable to permit the covers 35, 36 and platform 31 to 
flex during the interlocking of the ribs 45. In the alternative, the 
covers 35, 36 may be joined to the platform 31 by adhesive bonding or 
ultrasonic welding. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 22, a second characterizing feature of the 
invention is a trap 47 in the disk storing space 32 which allows the 
numbered disks 34 to easily enter but impedes disks 34 from easily 
leaving. This feature has been found to improve the picking of lottery 
numbers. The length of the trap is dependent upon the number of disks 34 
which must be captured. If the trap length is excessive, extra disks 34 
will be captured. In the illustrated embodiment, six disks 34 are to be 
selected from 50 disks 34. To this purpose, the length of the trap 47 
permits six disks 34, and only six disks 34, to be captured. 
The trap is formed by an inner wall 48 which extends inwardly from the 
platform's right side wall 42, in parallel and spaced relationship to the 
platform's rear wall 43. The portion 49 of the rear wall 43 of the 
platform 31 inside of the trap 47 is joined to an adjoining portion with a 
ramp 50 at the entrance 51 to the trap 47. The end portion 52 of the 
trap's inner wall 48 is hook-shaped and curves outward toward the 
platform's rear wall 43. 
The operation of the trap 47 can be best understood by reference to FIG. 
22. During a selection of a lottery number, the case 30 is rotated to 
empty the trap 47 of disks 34. The case 30 is then agitated to randomize 
the disks 34 and rotated to capture six disks 34. When the case 30 is 
rotated, disks 34 accumulate at the entrance 51 of the trap 47, forcing 
disks 34 up the ramp 50 and into the trap 47. The movement of disks 34 on 
the ramp 50 pushes other disks 34 out of the path of the disks 34 which 
are entering the ramp 50. 
When the case 30 is rotated to position trap 47 horizontal, the trap's 
hook-end portion 52 impedes the disks 34 from flowing out of the trap 47. 
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment 53 is shown which 
is similar to the first described embodiment 30 except a pair of 
orthogonal traps 54, 60 are provided for picking three and four digit 
numbers in daily lotteries. The trap 54 for picking a four digit number is 
formed by extending a wall 55 inwardly from the platform's right side wall 
56 in a direction which is parallel to the platform's rear wall 57. The 
platform's rear wall 43 inside the trap 54 is connected to an adjacent 
wall portion by a ramp 58 and the inner wall 55 has a hook-shaped end 
portion 59. 
The trap 60 for picking a three digit number is formed by extending a wall 
61 inwardly from the four digit number trap 54 in a direction which is 
parallel to the platform's right side wall 56. The right side wall 56 in 
the trap 60 is joined to the adjacent portion outside of the trap 60 with 
a ramp 62 and the inner wall 61 has a hook-shaped end portion 63. 
Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 15, a case 64 is shown having a slot 65 
in the front of the case 64 for inserting a card 74 into the case 64. Ribs 
66 for interlocking upper 91 and lower 67 covers are provided in left and 
right side walls of the cover 67 and a platform 68. The slot 65 is formed 
by a recess in the platform's front wall 64 and a recess in the lower 
cover's front wall 70. A semi-circular notch 69 is provided in the lower 
cover 67 for inserting the card 74. 
In FIGS. 16-21 a case 75 is shown having identical upper and lower covers 
71 which are slideable on longitudinal ribs 76 to expose upper 80 and 
lower 81 spaces of a platform 77. In this embodiment, there are recesses 
83 in the cover's left side walls 78 to clear the platform 77. When the 
covers 71 fully engage the platform 77, corner projections 84 of the 
covers 71 engage corners 82 of the platform 77 to retain the covers 71 to 
the platform 77. An advantage of this embodiment is that the numbered 
disks 34 can be loaded after the covers 71 are assembled to the platform 
77. 
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that my invention provides 
benefits heretofore unavailable in a lottery number picker. 
Although but several embodiments have been illustrated and described, it 
will be understood that other embodiments can be derived by changes in 
shape and materials as well as numbers and substitutions of parts without 
departing from the spirit thereof.