Abstract:
An adhesive lifting mechanism for retrieving retractable material from an underlying surface includes a housing having a retrieval opening. A tape spool, as well as applicator and, retrieval rollers, are mounted within the housing. The rollers have circumferential engagement surfaces that protrude through and outwardly from the retrieval opening. The rollers are engaged by successive segments of tape extending from the supply spool and across the retrieval opening. Each roller is positioned in the housing for being driven rotatably across an underlying surface with the peripheries of the respective rollers simultaneously bearing against the underlying surface such that a first segment of tape lifts extractable matter from the underlying surface and is retrieved into the housing. A fresh, second segment of tape from the supply spool is then pulled across the opening and peripherally engaged with the applicator roller.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/966,089 filed Oct. 15, 2004 now abandoned. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a handheld device for removing and lifting extractible material from an underlying surface. The device is particularly effective for removing protective coating that covers the hidden indicia printed on lottery tickets and other types of gaming tickets. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Numerous governmental and private entities produce and sell scratch-off gaming tickets. State lottery tickets are a particularly popular form of scratch-off ticket. These tickets usually employ a protective coating of latex, which covers hidden numbers, symbols or other types of indicia printed on a substrate of the ticket. The player who purchases the ticket usually uses his or her fingernail or a thin/sharp object such as a coin or paperclip to scratch away the latex so that the hidden indicia are revealed. This normal technique for removing the latex from the substrate is messy, tedious and time consuming. Quite often, latex residue is deposited on the user&#39;s hands, fingernails and/or clothing. In some cases, a coin, paperclip or other sharp/thin item is unavailable. This can be frustrating, particularly for a player who is anxious to read the hidden material on the ticket. 
   Recently, the security surrounding lottery and gaming tickets has increased. It has become more difficult to circumvent the protective coating on the tickets. An improved technique for removing and disposing of the latex coating is required; however, it is still usually necessary to physically scratch-off the coating before it is removed. 
   A compact and easy to use, handheld device would greatly facilitate removal and disposal of latex coating from a lottery ticket. To date, no such device is available for that purpose. In addition, such a handheld device could used for other applications including the removal of lint, dirt, animal hair, etc. from clothing, upholstery, rugs, etc. A need exists for a device of this type which is extremely compact, easy to use without creating a mess and readily disposable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adhesive lifting mechanism that is much more compact than existing tape mechanisms and which employs the unique overlapping footprint that allows the device to be especially compact. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that eliminates the mess associated with standard techniques for scratching the latex from a gaming ticket and which particularly collects and holds the latex immediately after it has been removed. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that allows the protective coating on a lottery or other gaming ticket to be removed quickly, effortlessly and with little or no tedium or inconvenience. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for removing the protective coating from a lottery gaming ticket that is simple and fun to use and which may be employed for a large number of tickets. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for removing the protective coating from a gaming ticket that provides a new and marketable novelty item for the lottery and gaming industries. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for effectively lifting and disposing of various extractable items such as lint, dirt and animal hair found on clothing, upholstery and rugs. 
   This invention features an adhesive lifting mechanism that is particularly effective for removing the protective coating that covers the hidden indicia printed on the substrate of a game ticket. The device includes a supply of tape carrying on one side a permanent, nontransfer adhesive that is adherable to and capable of lifting the protective coating. There is a housing having an interior chamber and an application opening communicating with the interior chamber. A tape supply spool is mounted rotatably within the interior chamber for mounting the supply of tape thereon. A tape retrieval roller is mounted rotatably within the interior chamber for collecting tape from the supply spool. An applicator roller is mounted rotatably to the housing proximate the application opening. The tape extends from the supply spool and across the application opening where it engages the applicator roller peripherally. The applicator roller and peripherally engaged tape are applied to the protective coating of the game ticket and the applicator roller is rotated through movement of the housing such that a first segment of tape removes the protective coating to reveal the hidden indicia and is pulled toward the roller. At the same time, a fresh second segment of tape from the supply spool is pulled into peripheral engagement with the applicator roller proximate the application opening. The device can then be used in a similar manner to remove the protective covering from the hidden indicia on another ticket. 
   In one preferred embodiment, the roller and the applicator roller constitute a single roller upon which successive first segments of tape are wound. Each spool and roller may include a clutch mechanism for restricting rotation of the spool to a single direction. The clutch mechanism may include a ratchet element carried by the spool and a complementary ratchet element mounted in the housing. A closure may be attached to the housing for selectively closing the application opening. The closure may carry a projection for manually removing the protective coating from a game ticket. 
   In an alternative preferred embodiment of this invention, there are separate and distinct applicator and retrieval rollers. The tape extends from the supply spool, peripherally engages the applicator rollers and is windable on the retrieval roller. The retrieval roller may include at least one circumferentially toothed wheel for circumferentially bearing against the underlying surface and rotating to pull the tape peripherally across the applicator roller. A scraper may be attached to and extend outwardly from the housing adjacent the retrieval opening. The successive segments of tape pass between the applicator roller and the scraper. 
   The retrieval roller and the tape supply spool are preferably noncontiguous and rotatably interengaged exclusively by the adhesive tape. The tape supply spool and the retrieval roller may define overlapping footprints. The footprint of the roller diametrically expands as successive segments of tape are retrieved thereon such that the retrieved tape diametrically overlaps the footprint of the spool. 
   The lifting mechanism may also be used to remove extractable items such as lint, dirt and animal hair from an underlying surface comprising clothing, upholstery, rugs or the like. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adhesive lifting mechanism and in particular a device for removing the protective coating of a game ticket in accordance with this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective interior view of a first half of the housing; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective interior view of the other half of the housing; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the closure; 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the interior of the housing that illustrates the tape supply spool and combined application roller; 
       FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the exterior of the opposite side of the housing; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the device; 
       FIG. 8  is an elevational side exterior view of the second half of the housing; 
       FIG. 9  is an elevational side exterior view of the first half of the housing; 
       FIG. 10  is an elevational side view of the device being operated to remove the protective coating from a lottery or other game ticket; 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view an alternative preferred adhesive lifting device in accordance with this invention; and 
       FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 11  with the top of the housing removed to depict the components of the device. 
   

   There is shown in  FIG. 1  a device  10  for stripping or lifting the protective coating that conventionally covers or obscures the hidden indicia printed on the substrate of a lottery ticket or other type of game ticket. It should be understood that device  10  may be used in connection with virtually any type of gaming ticket. The protective coating traditionally comprises latex, although the invention should be deemed to cover alternative types of protective coatings. Such coatings cover a paper or plastic substrate that bears numbers, letters, characters, designs or other types of hidden indicia. 
   Device  10  includes a housing  12  that preferably has a size and shape that allows it to fit conveniently and compactly in the user&#39;s hand. Housing  12  is preferably composed of a durable molded plastic, although the precise composition is not a limitation of this invention. The housing is shaped to fit comfortably in the user&#39;s hand. A first end  14  of the housing tapers to a point. The opposite end includes an elongate application opening  16  that exposes the interior of housing  12 . An applicator roller  18  is mounted rotatably within the housing proximate opening  16 . More particularly, a portion of roller  18  projects beyond the edge of opening  16 . Operation of the applicator roller is described more fully below. A closure  20  is hingedly attached to the housing for selectively covering opening  16 . 
   As shown more clearly in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 - 9 , housing  12  preferably comprises a pair of first and second half sections  22  and  24  that conform to one another and are snap-fit together by various suitable means. Each of the half sections includes a modified or truncated crescent or teardrop shape. A peripheral lip  26  extends largely about section  22 . Likewise, a peripheral lip  28  extends about most of section  24 . The forward edges  29  and  30  of sections  22  and  24 , respectively, do not include a lip. As a result, when the sections are interconnected, opening  16  is formed in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   A representative manner for snap-fitting the housing sections together is depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . More particularly, section  22  carried a pair of male spindles  32  and  34 . Section  24  similarly carries a pair of female spindles  36  and  38  that are positioned in corresponding locations in the interior of section  24 . To interconnect the half sections of the housing  12 , sections  22  and  24  are placed together along their respective peripheral edges  26  and  28 . Spindles  32  and  34  are then inserted into the central openings of female spindles  36  and  38  respectively. The half sections are snap-connected together such that the assembled housing is formed in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, half sections  22  and  24  include respective key chain slot-forming segments  40  and  42 . When the half sections are interconnected in the above-described manner, a fully completed key chain-accommodating slot  44  is formed in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Likewise, when the half sections are connected together, respective hinge receptacles  46  and  48  are aligned. These receptacles allow closure  20  to be hingedly attached to the assembled housing. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 4 , closure  20  includes a hinge bushing  50  that accommodates a hinge pin  52 . The ends of hinge pin  52  are received in respective receptacles  46  and  48  to hingedly attach the closure to the housing in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   A tape supply spool  56  is mounted rotatably within housing  12 . In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  9 , tape supply spool  56  includes a cylindrical component that is mounted rotatably about male spindle  34 . Indeed, when spindle  34  is snap-fit into female spindle  38 , tape supply spool  56  is rotatably mounted upon the interconnected male and female spindles. Spool  56  is intended to accommodate a wound roll of adhesive tape. Various known and yet to be developed adhesives may be employed. Typically, the adhesive is carried on only one side (i.e. the inside surface) of the tape. The adhesive is permanently attached to the inside surface and is not a transferred adhesive. This is critical because the mechanism of this invention is intended for lifting or retrieving protective coatings or other extractable matter. The adhesive is not deposited from the device onto another object in the manner of a transfer adhesive. 
   A clutch mechanism is employed to restrict rotation of spool  56  in one direction, i.e. in the direction of arrow  58 ,  FIG. 7 . In particular, the clutch mechanism includes an annular ratchet element  60  carried by the upper end of spool  56 . A complementary ratchet element  62  comprises a finger or detent integrally formed in housing section  24  by a suitable plastic punch-out process. In particular, detent  62  flexes interiorly and ratchet element  60  includes a plurality of radial teeth that are cut such that they interengage detent  62 . As spool  56  is rotated in the direction of arrow  58 , the cut of the teeth allow the teeth to rotate past inwardly flexed detent  62 . Alternatively, the cut and orientation of the teeth cause the teeth to lock with detent  62  and prevent rotation of spool  56  in the opposite direction. 
   As previously described, an applicator roller  18  is mounted rotatably proximate entrance  16 . This roller functions to apply pressure to the tape against the gaming ticket. It also serves as a roller for the tape. It should be noted that when the device is used in accordance with this invention, roller  18  also serves as a tape roller. This operation is described more fully below. Roller  18  is mounted within housing  12  in a manner analogous to that of spool  56 . In particular, as best shown in  FIG. 5 , roller  18  comprises an annular or cylindrical element that is mounted rotatably on male spindle  32 . When the half section  22  and  24  of housing  12  are interconnected, roller  18  is effectively rotatably mounted on interconnected spindles  32  and  38 .  FIG. 5  clearly depicts that approximately one-half of roller  18  is exposed through entrance  16 . 
   Roller  18  includes a clutch mechanism that is analogous to that employed by spool  56 . In particular, one end of roller  18  includes a toothed ratchet element  66  that is interengaged with a inwardly flexing detent  68  formed integrally in housing section  24 . As with spool  56 , when roller  18  rotates in the direction of arrow  69 , detent  68  allows such rotation. However, the detent locks with the teeth and prevents roller  18  from rotating in the opposite direction. This clutch structure therefore provides for one-way motion of both the tape supply spool and the application roller  18 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates device  10  being used to strip of lift the latex protective covering from the substrate of a gaming ticket T. As shown partially in phantom, tape supply spool  56  carries an annular supply (i.e. roll) of adhesive tape  70 . The leading end of the adhesive tape is pulled from roll  70  and is engaged peripherally with applicator roller  18 , which extends partially below entrance  16  of device  10 . Tape  72  is deployed from roll  70  and wound onto applicator roller  18  such that the outer, non-adhesive surface of tape  72  peripherally engages the circumference of roller  18 . As a result, the inner adhesive surface of tape  72  is exposed peripherally about roller  18 . To operate device  10 , the user grasps housing  12  and positions the device such that entrance  16  and partially exposed roller  18  are pointed toward the upper surface of ticket T. The peripheral surface of roller  18  and the tape that it carries are engaged with or applied against the protective coating of ticket T and housing  12  is pulled rearwardly as indicated by arrow  80 . This causes the adhesive outer surface of the tape to lift the protective coating and reveal the hidden indicia on the substrate of ticket T. A first segment of exposed adhesive tape surface collects the latex or other protective coating and transports that latex into the housing as indicated by arrow  69 . A successive second segment of tape is pulled downwardly from roll  70  as indicated by arrow  84 , and is positioned on the periphery of applicator roller  18  and the roll of used tape that it has collected circumferentially thereon. Essentially, as device  10  is operated, tape  72  is pulled from roll  70  on and is collected onto applicator roller  18 , which effectively forms a roller for the tape. Gradually, the size of the collected roll of tape  86  proportionately increases as the size of supply roll  70  decreases. Eventually, after a number of applications, the supply of tape is exhausted. The tape may then be replaced or the entire device discarded and replaced. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the supply spool includes a footprint F 1  that overlaps the footprint F 2  of applicator roller  18 . These overlapping footprints are configured to make the device as compact as possible. Initially, when the supply roll  70  is full, it will overlap footprint F 2 . Gradually, as the protective coating is removed from more tickets, the size of the roll of tape  86  on the roller will increase and that roll will overlap F 1 . By the time that occurs, the size of the supply roll will be small enough to accommodate the overlap of the retrieval roll. 
   Closure  20  carries a rib or projection  100  that extends along the apex of closure  20 . In the event the user runs out of tape, the elongate rib  20  may be placed against the protective coating and used to manually scratch that coating in a manner similar to a coin, paperclip, etc. 
   It is important that the tape supply spool and the retrieval roller be operably (i.e. rotatably) interengaged only by the tape interconnected between those components. Otherwise, the roller and the spool are not interconnected by gears are otherwise and do not touch. This allows each of the roller and the spool to rotate freely within the housing so that improved, binding-free operation is achieved. 
   Various modifications may be made to device  10  within the scope of this invention. For example, the applicator roller may be constructed separately from the roller. Other types of clutch mechanisms such as intermeshing gears may be used to limit operation of the rollers to one direction each. 
   The mechanism may also be used for a variety of other lifting and extracting operations. For example, the tape may be applied to drapes, upholstery, clothing, rugs, etc. to remove lint, dirt, animal hair and other debris. The device is operated in a manner analogous to that previously described. During each operation, the tape is rolled across the underlying surface and loose or other extractable material is removed and retrieved within the housing on the retrieval spool. When the tape is depleted, it may be replaced by a new spool of tape or by an entirely new lifting apparatus. 
   An alternative version of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A . As depicted therein, mechanism  110  includes a housing  112  that is composed of a molded plastic. Typically, the housing includes two interconnected half segments. One of the half segments is removed for clarity and to illustrate the internal components of the lifting mechanism. 
   Housing  112  includes an interior chamber  114 . A retrieval opening  116  comprising opening portions  117  and  119  separated by an applicator plate  175  is formed in the bottom of the housing in communication with chamber  114 . A scraper  118  is attached to housing  112  and extends through opening  116 . 
   A wound supply of adhesive tape  120  is rotatably mounted within chamber  114 . More particularly, tape  120  is wound on a supply spool  122  that is disposed rotatably about a post or spindle  124 . The post may comprise one or multiple pieces that are attached to the inside walls of housing  112  as in the prior embodiment. Tape supply  120  is rotatable about post  124  as indicated by doubleheaded arrow  126 . The tape carries a permanent, nontransfer adhesive on its inside surface  113  ( FIG. 11 ). 
   An applicator and retrieval assembly  128  includes an applicator roller  130  and a tape retrieval roller  132 . Applicator roller  130  is rotatably mounted within housing  112  on a shaft  136 , which again may comprise one or multiple pieces. Typically, the shaft is molded unitarily with the housing. Roller  130  is disposed proximate opening  116  and is closely adjacent to and slightly above scraper  118 . By the same token, roller  132  includes a central spindle  140  that axially interconnects a pair of wheels  142 . Each of the wheels (only one of which is shown) has a toothed circumferential surface  144  that protrudes through portion  119  of retrieval opening  116 . Spindle  140  is mounted on a shaft  150  that again is interconnected to the inside walls and extends laterally across chamber  114  of housing  112 . As with tape spool  122 , roller  132  rotates within the housing chamber as indicated by doubleheaded arrow  160 . 
   Successive segments of tape  120  extend between the tape supply on spool  122  and the applicator and retrieval assembly  128 . In particular, a tape segment  170  extends from tape supply  120  to roller  130 , and between roller  130  and scraper  118 . The tape peripherally engages roller  130  and a leading tape segment  174  extends from roller  130  beneath applicator plate  175  and to spindle  140  of retrieval roller  132 . 
   In operation, mechanism  110  is manually grasped and placed over the “scratch-off” coating of a lottery or gaming ticket. The mechanism is then rolled by hand across the ticket in the direction of arrow  180 . The toothed circumferences  144  of wheels  142  engage the underlying substrate of the ticket and/or surrounding surface and pull successive tape segments  174  and  170  across the applicator roller and in the direction of arrow  182 . As a result, the tape is progressively unwound from spool  122  and wound onto spindle  140  of retrieval roller  132 . Roller  130  bears against the outer surface of tape  120  as it is pulled from spool  122 . Specifically, the tape is pulled peripherally about roller  130  such that tape spool  122  rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The roller  130  presses against the peripherally engaged tape segment. At the same time, moving device  110  in the direction of arrow  180  causes the leading edge of scraper  118  to scrape and remove the latex protective coating from the ticket. The leading edge of the scraper is in close proximity to roller  130  and the particular tape segment  174 ,  170  passing between the roller and the scraper. As a result, the extracted latex covering is adhesively collected by the inside surface of the exposed tape. As the tape segment collecting the coating is pulled about roller  130 , the applicator roller rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The retrieval roller  132  is likewise driven in a counterclockwise direction such that the leading tape segment  178  and the coating collected thereon is pulled onto the retrieval spindle  140 . The scraped latex is thereby picked up by the adhesive tape and transferred neatly onto the retrieval roller. A fresh successive section of tape  170  is then pulled from the tape supply spool into the position peripherally engaging roller  130  and previously occupied by tape segment  174 . The scraping and retrieval operation may then be repeated as often as required. Eventually, when the supply of tape is exhausted, the lifting apparatus may be discarded. Alternatively, a fresh supply of tape may be installed. 
   It should be understood that the version shown in  FIGS. 11 and 11A  may also include ratchet mechanisms identical or analogous to those previously described, which limit the turning of the spools and rollers to one direction (i.e. counterclockwise). As in the prior embodiment, the only rotatable interengagement between the tape supply spool and the retrieval roller is the tape itself. Otherwise, these components are not contiguous and are not connected by gears or other mechanisms. 
   As in the prior embodiment, tape supply spool  122  and retrieval roller  132  define overlapping footprints. As a size of the tape  120  on the supply spool decreases, the amount of tape retrieved on roller  132  increases. Eventually, the retrieved tape diametrically expands to an extent that it is accommodated within the original footprint of the supply tape. 
   The version in  FIG. 11  allows the adhesive lifting apparatus to be used successively in connection with newer lottery tickets featuring enhanced security protection. The adhesive on such tickets must first be scraped before it is adhesively removed. Scraper  118  is disposed in close proximity to applicator roller  130  so that the scraped latex is picked up completely and quickly by the tape. This is done quickly and conveniently without creating a mess. 
   In certain versions of the invention, only a single toothed wheel may be employed. The diameters of the spool and rollers may be varied within the scope of the invention. In some cases ( FIG. 11A ), the scraper may be inserted into a slot  200  formed in the housing. In other cases, the scraper may be formed unitarily with the housing. The retrieval roller may alternatively employ a circumferential surface carrying rubber or similar material for frictionally engaging the underlying surface. 
   From the foregoing it may be seen that the apparatus of this invention provides for a handheld lifting mechanism for removing and retrieving the protective coating that covers hidden indicia of lottery tickets and other types of gaming tickets. A version of the mechanism may also be used for collecting extractable material from underlying fabric surfaces. While this detailed description has set forth particularly preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, numerous modifications and variations of the structure of this invention, all within the scope of the invention, will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is understood that this description is illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is not limitative thereof. 
   Although specific features of the invention are shown in some of the drawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any and all of the other features in accordance with this invention. 
   Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims: