Abstract:
An instrument and method for the removal of a scratch-off coating of a scratch-off card or device utilizes a barrel having a hollow interior and an exterior configured for grasping in the hand. A solvent capable of dissolving the scratch-off coating upon contact therewith is contained within the interior of the barrel. A nib is coupled to and extending from the barrel and is in fluid communication with the solvent within the interior of the barrel. The nib is configured for delivering an amount of solvent to an exposed tip of the nib sufficient to dissolve the scratch-off coating when applied thereon. By contacting the nib of the instrument to a scratch-off coating of a scratch-off card or device, the nib delivers an amount of solvent to the exposed tip of the nib to dissolve the scratch-off coating to reveal an underlying substrate of the card or device without forming numerous particles or loose portions of the removed coating.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Scratch-off cards and devices such as those used for lottery games, contests and other uses, are typically provided with a substrate that is coated with a scratch-off coating. The scratch-off coating may be opaque to hide or cover the underlying substrate. Images, data or other indicia, which may be printed or otherwise formed on the substrate, typically underlie the scratch-off coating and remain hidden from view until the scratch-off coating is removed. The scratch-off coating is removed by mechanical means, such as with a coin or other hard object, by scratching or scraping the coating from the substrate to reveal the underlying surface. When the coating is removed in this manner, small amounts of the removed coating, in the form of particles or “crumbs” are usually scattered across the surface of the scratch-off device and/or the surrounding area. The particles usually must be brushed or blown away to remove them from the card or device. In certain instances the particles or crumbs can soil one&#39;s clothes or the surrounding area, requiring further cleaning or brushing to remove them. 
         [0002]    What is therefore needed is a device or method that can be used to remove the scratch-off coatings from various substrates that is convenient and does not create the crumbs or particles that are created when such scratch-off coatings are removed using conventional scratch-off methods. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of instrument for use in removing scratch-off coatings in accordance with the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the instrument of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the instrument of  FIG. 1  and a scratch-off device, wherein the instrument is being used to remove a scratch-off coating from the scratch-off device; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a scratch-off device with a portion of the scratch-off coating removed in accordance with a method of the invention; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 4  taken along the lines  5 - 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The description and examples are presented herein solely for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as a limitation to the scope and applicability of the invention. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an instrument  10  for use in removing scratch-off coatings of cards or other devices or substrates is shown.  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the instrument  10 . Although the instrument  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in one configuration, other configurations may be used for the instrument, as well. The instrument  10  is configured much like a pen or marker and may include a cylindrical barrel  12 . The barrel  12  has a hollow interior and is configured for manually grasping in the hand. Although the barrel  12  is shown as a cylindrical body, other shapes or configurations may be used, as well. The barrel  12  may be formed in one or more sections, such as the sections  14  and  16 , so that the interior of the barrel may be accessed during the manufacture or otherwise. Various materials may be used for the barrel, including plastic, composites, metal, etc. In the embodiment shown, the sections  14 ,  16  cooperate with one another so that they may be releasably or permanently coupled together. As shown, the section  16  forms a forward section of the barrel  12  and is provided with a male portion  18  of smaller diameter that is closely received within the forward end of the rear barrel section  14 . Other cooperating configurations could be used as well. For example, the barrel  12  may be formed as a single member with a separate seal or cap so that the interior of the barrel may be selectively accessed. The seal or cap may be releasably or permanently coupled to the barrel to temporarily or permanently close off the interior of the barrel. 
         [0011]    The interior of the barrel  12  serves as a reservoir for a solvent, which is described in more detail later on. An absorbent filler material  20  may be provided in the interior of the barrel  12  for absorbing the solvent. The filler material may be a fibrous material and may be configured to fill the interior of the barrel  12 . 
         [0012]    A nib  22  formed from an absorbent material, such as compressed felt material, has a rearward extending neck portion  24  that is received within a forward opening  26  of the barrel section  16 . The nib  22  may be configured in various configurations to cooperate with the configuration of the barrel  12  with which it is used. In the embodiment shown, the barrel section  16  has a necked-down or frusto-conical portion  28  that tapers toward the forward opening  26  and has a cylindrical neck  29  that defines a central opening that terminates in the forward opening  26 . The central opening of the neck  29  closely receives the neck  24  of the nib  22 . A shoulder  31  may be provided on the nib  22  to engage the neck  29  to prevent further passage of the nib  22  through the forward opening  26 . The neck portion  24  of the nib  22  that extends into and is received in the barrel section  16  may penetrate into or otherwise be in contact with the filler material  20  to facilitate communication of solvent within the interior of the barrel  12  to a forward tip  30  of the nib  22 , which projects out of the forward opening  26  of the barrel  12 . In certain embodiments, the nib  22  may essentially form a seal or cap the barrel with the opening through which the nib extends being the only opening of the barrel through which the interior of the barrel may be accessed, such as filling the interior of the barrel with solvent during its manufacture. This may allow the use of a unitary barrel without requiring a separate seal, cap or barrel section, as described previously. 
         [0013]    The nib tip  30  may have various configurations. One suitable configuration is that of a chisel tip, such as those that are commonly used on markers and the like, where the tip  30  is set at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument  10 . Other shapes or configurations, such as square, rectangular, triangular, round, curved, conical, etc., may be used for the nib tip  30 , as well. The nib tip  30  may have a generally straight or flat contact point or surface to facilitate contacting a flat surface during application of the solvent. The nib  22  may be formed from the same materials and in those configurations used in forming many conventional markers for delivering ink. The contact length of the tip  30  may be from about 1/16 inch to ¼ of an inch or more. This facilitates coverage of a large surface area when applying the solvent. Additionally, the nib tip  30  may be substantially black, gray, brown, dark blue, or another dark color so that the tip  30  does not readily show stains or discoloration from removed scratch-off coating materials. 
         [0014]    It should be noted in the description, if a numerical value is presented, each numerical value should be read once as modified by the term “about” (unless already expressly so modified), and then read again as not so modified unless otherwise indicated in context. Also, in the description, it should be understood that an amount range listed or described as being useful, suitable, or the like, is intended that any and every value within the range, including the end points, is to be considered as having been stated. For example, “a range of from 1 to 10” is to be read as indicating each and every possible number along the continuum between about 1 and about 10. Thus, even if specific points within the range, or even no point within the range, are explicitly identified or refer to, it is to be understood that the inventor appreciates and understands that any and all points within the range are to be considered to have been specified, and that inventor possesses the entire range and all points within the range. 
         [0015]    A cap or tip cover  32  may be provided with the instrument  10 . The cap or tip cover may be made of the same or different materials as those used for the barrel  12 . The tip cover  32  releasably couples to the barrel  12  to selectively cover and enclose the exposed nib tip  30 . This prevents inadvertent contact of the nib with articles when not in use and also facilitates prevention of drying of the nib or evaporation of the solvent. The tip cover  32  may closely receive and secure around the exterior of the barrel  12  and be frictionally held thereon. The cap  32  may also be a screw-on cap with internal/external helical threads (not shown) that engage corresponding external/internal helical threads (not shown) of the barrel  12 . Alternatively, the cover  32  may be secured to the barrel  12  via a “snap fit” wherein an outwardly projecting member (not shown), such as an outwardly projecting ring or collar, and a corresponding recess (not shown) is provided on the interior or exterior surface of the cover  32  and exterior or interior of the barrel  12 , such that when the cover  32  is slid over the nib tip  30  and the forward end of the barrel  12 , the projecting member is received within the recess to releasably lock the tip cover or cap  32  in place. Additionally, the tip cover  32  may be configured to secure to the rearward end of the barrel  32 , to store the cap  32  while the cap  32  is removed to expose the nib tip  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    In the embodiment shown, an interior collar  34  is provided within the interior of the cap  32 . The collar  34  is configured to receive the nib tip  30  and the exterior of the neck  29 . A outwardly projecting member (not shown), such as a ring, and corresponding recess (not shown) may be provided on the collar  34  and neck  29  to secure the cap  32  to the barrel  12  for a snap or locking engagement. 
         [0017]    An optional pocket clip  36  may be provided on the cap  32  or elsewhere on the instrument to facilitate securing the instrument  10  to one&#39;s pocket or other article. A chain or lanyard  38  may also be provided in the cap  32  or barrel  12 , which may be provided with an aperture  40  for receiving and securing the chain or lanyard  38  to the instrument  10 . 
         [0018]    Indicia  42  may be provided on the instrument  10 . The indicia (e.g. letters, numbers, images, etc.) may be printed on the exterior of portions of the instrument, such as the barrel  12 . It may be provided in the form of visually perceptible raised or recessed indicia formed into the surface of the instrument. The indicia  42  may provide an indication or suggestion of the usage of the instrument as being useful in removing the opaque coatings of scratch-off coatings. This may include an indication or suggestion that the instrument  10  is useful in playing of lotteries or other games of chance, which typically employ scratch-off devices. Surface decoration may also be provided on the instrument. Additionally, small decorative articles, objects, or particles (e.g. glitter, etc.), may be embedded or incorporated in the material of the instrument  10  itself, such as in the barrel or cap. These may be blended or molded with the resin or plastic material forming the instrument components. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3-5  show an example of a scratch-off card or device  44  having a scratch-off coating  46  provided on the surface of an underlying substrate  48 . The scratch-off coatings may be formed from various resins or lacquers, such as an acrylic resin, having opaque materials, such as carbon black or aluminum paste, dispersed therein. The opaque resin or coating is applied to a substrate and forms a scratch-off film or coating on the substrate. The scratch-coating may have printed indicia formed over it. Visible printing  50  ( FIG. 4 ) may provided on the surface of the coating  46 . Printed indicia  52  may also be provided on the surface of the underlying substrate  48 . Examples of various scratch-off devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,881; 6,443,494; 6,752,319 and 7,029,754, which are each incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0020]    The solvent used with the instrument  10  may be any solvent that is capable of dissolving the scratch-off coatings typically used with scratch-off cards and other devices. In particular, the solvent may be of a quality or of at a strength such that the scratch-off coating is removed or sufficiently dissolved when applied thereon without removing any underlying printing on the surface of the substrate  48 . Additionally, the solvent may have a sufficiently high vapor pressure so that it readily evaporates at atmospheric conditions without significantly saturating the device  44  or its components. Examples of suitable solvents include acetone, tetrahydrofuran, methanol, ethanol, cyclohexane, xylene, toluene, cresol, isopropanol, n-propanol, butanol, a glycol ether, dimethyl ketone, a phenol, valeraldehyde, mesityl oxide, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), 2-pyrrolidinone, diethyl acetyl, and combinations of these. Other solvents may be used as well in various amounts. Those solvents described in U.S. Patent Publication No. US2002/0030181A1, which is herein incorporated by reference, may be used as the solvent. Dyes may be used with the solvent provided they do not cover or obscure the substrate when applied thereon. In most embodiments the solvent used is substantially clear and colorless and does not contain any ink or dye so that it does not interfere with covering or obscuring the surface of the substrate underlying the removed scratch-off coating. 
         [0021]    In use, the instrument  10  containing the scratch-off solvent is used much like a pen or marker. The nib  22  may be configured to deliver only a limited amount of solvent during use such that it does not pool or provide an excessive amount of solvent that may damage the substrate or printing thereon. By applying the nib tip  30  to the scratch-off coating  46 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the scratch-off coating is dissolved and effectively removed from the surface of the substrate  48 . By moving the nib tip  30  from side to side over the substrate, the dissolved scratch-off coating is pushed aside and consolidated without forming numerous loose particles or loose portions of the scratch-off coating, as occurs using mechanical scratch-off methods. This reveals the underlying substrate  48  and any printing, such as the printing  52 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0022]    The instrument  10  may be provided in a manner that is indicative or suggestive of its use in removing scratch-off coatings. This may include providing indicia on the instrument itself or on labels or packaging supplied with the instrument. Alternatively, or in addition, the indication or suggestion of its use may be provided by providing the instrument in proximity to a scratch-off card or device or to advertising for the scratch-off card or device. Thus, the instrument may be provided within a few inches to within two or three feet from the scratch-off device or advertising for the scratch-off device such that it is readily apparent from the context that the instrument may be used for the scratch-off device. A display for the scratch-off devices or advertising for the scratch-off devices may also be supplied with a container or other holding means for holding the instruments, such that the indication or suggestion of use is provided. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been shown in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.