Keychain Ticket Scratcher

An inventive device for protecting the hands, fingers, and skin while scratching latex or other protective film from the surface of a ticket is disclosed. The device is comprised of a housing, a slider member, and a resilient scratching member in a parallel position with the housing. The slider member is moved in a downward position toward the farthest point in order to release the scratching member and the receptacles. In use, the hands, fingers, and skin are protected as the receptacles are opened and the scratching member engages with the surface of the ticket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new combination keychain and ticket scratcher for conveniently removing latex or similar film covering from a game ticket while protecting the user's hands, fingers or skin from dust, shavings, or ink.

The use of a coin or any semi-circular device to scratch off game tickets is known in the prior art. There are many known prior art scratch off apparatuses. These include U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,2322 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,574B1. These devices are very common and are often purchased at grocery stores and convenience stores. Scratch-off coating materials are used to conceal numbers on a ticket. These coatings can contain a variety of materials including silicone, wax, ink, and acrylic resin. Aluminum foil is also used as a component of some multilayered tickets. Though many ticket purchasers have numerous convenient ways to scrape the protective film from game tickets, these devices do not provide protection for the hands, fingers or skin. The scratched off dust or particles can leave the hands, fingers or skin discolored and dirty.

In these respects, the keychain ticket scratcher according to the present invention, departs from the concepts and designs of prior art and therefore provides a device primarily developed for the purpose of removing latex or the like from game tickets while protecting the user's hand, fingers or skin from discoloration or dust. The keychain function of the ticket scratcher makes it accessible and easier to locate. The user would therefore avoid using fingernails or other objects to remove the film from a ticket.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices by safeguarding the user from dust or similar residue. The dust or residue from a scratched off game ticket can get into contact with the skin, clothing or other surface areas. In some cases, the fingers or skin might become covered with a colored dust layer and some residue might become hidden beneath the fingernails. The dust or residue is later transferred onto other surface areas if the hands or clothing are not washed immediately. Depending on the composition or coverings of the game ticket, allergy sufferers would have a continued exposure to the dust or residue. The presence of dust or residue is even more pronounced in multiple ticket scratches. This device is novel in that it protects the user from dust or residue after use. Once the device is engaged, the receptacles on the device prevent dust or residue from rubbing onto the skin and subsequently onto other surface areas.

Therefore, a general objective of the invention is to provide a keychain ticket scratcher that can be used to scratch game tickets and protect the hand, fingers, and skin while it is being used.

Another objects of the invention are to create a device that can be easily stored or carried around by attaching a keychain ring into the device and to create a device that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further benefits of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the preferred embodiments of the invention, without placing limitations thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A keychain ticket scratcher device10according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1though12of the accompanying drawings.

The keychain ticket scratcher device10includes a housing12, which generally has a rectangular shape. The device10has a front side14, a back side16, a top side18, a bottom side21, a right side22and a left side24. The sides are connectable and form an interior space26. The device10is constructed of a durable plastic material although a lightweight metal would also be acceptable. The front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42are releasably attached to the interior space26by a plurality of support structures48. The support structures48are releasably attached to the interior space26of the housing12. The support structures48are made of a durable plastic material.

The various parts for the device10may be made of any color and made in different sizes and capacities. The device10is portable and can be used as a keychain.

The bottom side21has a first elongated slot28extending between the front side14and back side16. The right side22of the device10has a second elongated slot adapted to receive the slider member54. The first elongated slot28is further positioned in the center of the front side14and the back side16. The first elongated slot28is adapted to receive the scraping edge32of the scratching member51after the slider member54is moved down the farthest point56along the right side22of the device10. The front side14has a front side opening34, which is adapted to accommodate the height and width of the front side receptacle41. The back side16has a back side opening36, which is adapted to accommodate the height and width of the back side receptacle42. Moving slider member54to its farthest point58along the second elongated slot44opens the receptacles. The front side receptacle41is movable between open and closed positions about a front side hinged member46. The back side receptacle42is movable between open and closed positions about a back side hinged member48. The front side hinged member46and the back side hinged member48are adapted to spring back and thereby enable the front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42to close. The front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42have a plurality of support structures48that enable the front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42to be releasably attached to said device10.

The front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42have a vertical distance sufficient to allow separation by the slider member54as the slider member54is moved to the farthest point58along the second elongated slot44. The front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42are arranged in a parallel relation to each other. The front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42have a generally concave interior.

The scratching member51has a top portion52and a scratching edge32. The scratching member51is constructed of a semi-rigid plastic, which gives it a spring like quality and is adapted to engage the game ticket. The scratching edge32of the scratching member is substantially semi-circular and is beveled. The scratching member51is attached to the back surface56of the slider member54. The width and length of the top portion52of the scratching member51allows it to open the front side receptacle41and said back side receptacle42at a 45 degree angle.

The slider member54is substantially rectangular in shape and is movable in the second elongated slot44. The slider member54has a front surface55and a back surface56. The back surface56extends into the housing and is adapted to engage the scratching member51in a manner such that when the slider member54is in contact with the scratching member51, the scratching member51can be moved down to the farthest point58and engage the front side receptacle41and the back side receptacle42. The width of said second elongated slot44is at least as large as the diameter of said back portion55of the slider member54, whereby the slider member54can be moved.

The top side18has a loop61in the outer surface thereof that can be aligned to permit insertion of a keychain therein. The loop61is adapted to fit a keychain or similar device. The loop will provide a suitable way of retaining the keychain ticket scratcher in a convenient location and it can be easily located when needed to scratch game tickets.

Still in reference to the drawings, the inventive ticket scratcher device10may also include a gripping portion62on the front side14of the device10. A user of the device10may place a thumb on the front side14of the device10and firmly hold the gripping portion62.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not wish to limit the same to the exact and precise details of the structure, and I reserve the right to make all modifications and changes so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and the following claims.