SCRATCHING DEVICE

Abstract

A device for scraping a coating from a substrate to reveal an inscription on the substrate, the device comprising a body, at least a first scraping portion extending from the body and having a first scraping edge of a first length, and at least a second scraping portion extending from the body and having a second scraping edge of a second length, the first length being different than the second length.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a scraping device for removing a coating from a substrate, and, more particularly, to a scraping device for use in scratch-off type games such as scratch-off lottery tickets and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Lotteries have grown in popularity in recent years. In their simplest form, lottery tickets are slips of paper with a series of numbers printed on them. The purchaser of the ticket or “user” as used herein, finds out later whether the numbers are winners when the numbers are drawn by the administrators of the lottery subsequent to the purchase of the ticket. More recently, lottery tickets have evolved from simple numbers to scratch-off games such as bingo and crossword puzzles, in which the user finds out immediately if he or she is a winner. In these scratch-off games, the user typically scratches off a coating from a relatively large area on a card to reveal the user's numbers or letters, which are particular to the card. The user then scratches off the coating from smaller areas to play bingo, a crossword puzzle, or similar game.

The areas that the user scratches differ in size. For example, as mentioned above, the area corresponding to the user's numbers is generally relatively large, while the areas corresponding to the numbers to be scratched off for bingo or letters for a crossword puzzle tend to be relatively small.

People who play scratch-off games typically use a number of different implements to scratch the different sized areas. For example, often a quarter or other coin is used to scratch the larger area, while a key or the edge of a credit card might be used to scratch the smaller areas. Thus, to play a given card, the user often must rummage through his or her pocket or pocketbook to find the right sized implement to scratch the game card. Furthermore, once the boxes are scratched, the user must remove the debris from the card, usually by wiping it with his or her hand. Such an approach not only tends to smudge the card, but also is messy as the debris from scraping is often sticky and adheres to the user's hand.

Therefore, Applicant has identified the need for a device that provides for scraping surfaces of varying areas on a scratch-off game card. Additionally, Applicant has also identified the need to remove the debris from the card without the user using his or her hand. The present invention fulfills these needs among others.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The present invention provides a device for precision scraping of scratch-off game cards. To this end, the device offers at least two scraping edges of different size. Additionally, in one embodiment, a device comprises an integrated brush for removing the scraping debris. Because such a device is preferably carried on the person during the ordinary course of the user's day to be available to play scratch-off card games, Applicant recognizes that it ought to be aesthetically pleasing and fun. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the device is shaped to resemble an interesting object or animal. For example, in one embodiment, the device is shaped as a human having a head with one scratching surface and arms with another. Alternatively, rather than (or in addition to) being aesthetically pleasing, the device may be configured for additional utility such as a key ring, bottle opener or ice scraper.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a scratching device having different edges for scraping a coating from a substrate to reveal an inscription on the substrate. In one embodiment, the device comprises: (a) a body; (b) at least a first scraping portion extending from the body and having a first scraping edge of a first length; and (c) at least a second scraping portion extending from the body and having a second scraping edge of a second length, the first length being different than the second length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the invention having a humanoid shape.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the invention having a cat shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the scraping device 100 of the present invention is shown. The device 100 is adapted for scraping a coating from a substrate (not shown) to reveal an inscription on the substrate. The device 100 comprises: (a) a body 101; (b) at least a first scraping portion 102 extending from the body 101 and having a first scraping edge 102a of a first length; and (c) a least a second scraping portion 103 extending from the body 101 and having a second scraping edge 103a of a second length, the first length being different than the second length. Optionally, the device also comprises a brush 105 extending from the body 101. These elements are now described in greater detail below.

The body 101 functions to integrate the various scraping portions and the optional brush 105. The body also functions to provide a purchase point for the user to grasp during the scraping operation. To this end, the body 101 comprises a relatively rigid material such as a hard plastic, metal, wood, or other material known for rigidity and strength. In one embodiment, the device is stamped form a uniform material. Alternatively, the device may be an integrally molded device. Such embodiments facilitate manufacturability, although it should be understood that the device may be produced by other methods such as welding or otherwise attaching different portions together.

The first and second scraping portions may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, referring to FIG. 1, the first scraping portion has a first scraping edge 102a which is a curved edge. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the scraping portion may have a straight edge, like the second scraping edge 103 a of the second scraping portion 103. In addition to the first and second scraping portions, it may be preferable in certain embodiments to have three or more scraping portions to add additional variation to the length of the scraping edges depending upon the intricacy of the different sized coated portions of the game cards. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a third scraping portion 104 is showed having a third scraping edge 104a. In one embodiment, the scraping edges 104a and 103a are different to provide for different levels of precision in scraping game cards as discussed above. Alternatively, the edges may be the same length to allow the device to be used the same way by either left- or right-handed people. It should be understood that, although only three scraping portions are detected in the device of FIG. 1, other embodiments are possible in which more or less scraping portions are provided.

In one embodiment, the device also comprises a brush 105 to be used to brush away the debris after scraping. Suitable brushes include, for example, bristles, foam, wipers or featherlike devices, just to name a few. The brush 105 can be integrated with the body using known techniques. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the brush extends from the body 101 from an opposite direction of the first scraping portion 102, although it should be understood that many embodiments are possible.

As mentioned above, the scraping device of the present invention is likely to be carried by the user in the course of his or her ordinary day. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the device is designed to have a look and feel that is pleasing to the user, thereby enticing the user to carry the device around all day. To this end, in one embodiment, the device 100 is configured to resemble an aesthetically pleasing shape such as that of an interesting object or animal. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the device resembles a human, in which the body portion 101 resembles a torso, the first scraping portion 102 resembles a head, and the second and third scraping portions 103 and 104 resemble arms extending from the body 101. In this particular embodiment, facial features 108, such as eyes and mouth are also added to enhance the resemblance to a human. The brush 105 extends from the lower part of the torso and resembles legs or a skirt. In a different embodiment, the brush 105 extends upward from the head of the humanoid figure to resemble hair while the first scraping portion 102 comprises a rounded portion at the distal end of the body 101 (not shown).

Although a humanoid figure is depicted FIG. 1, it should be understood that other embodiments are well within the scope of the invention. For example, rather than a human, the scraping device may be configured as an animal such as a cat or a dog. For example, referring to FIG. 2, a scraping device 200 is configured in the shape of a cat. As such the body 201 resembles the body of the cat; the first scraping portion 202 resembles a leg that extends from the body 202 and the first scraping edge 202a resembles a paw of the leg; and the second scraping portion 203 resembles a second leg and the second scraping edge 203a resembles a paw of that leg. The brush 205 resembles the cat's tail. A hole 206 for receiving a key ring or chain is positioned to resemble the eye of the cat.

Aside from or in addition to making the device aesthetically pleasing, the device can have additional utility features to further entice the user to carry the device in the ordinary course of his or her day. For example, as mentioned above, in one embodiment, the device comprises an opening 106 to receive a key chain 107 or ring, thereby enabling the scraping device to function not only as a scraping implement, but also as a key ring. In another embodiment, the device may have a slot to enable the device to function as a bottle or can opener. The slot may be configured to resemble an anatomical feature on the animal-like shape embodiment of the scraper. For example, in one embodiment, the slot is configured as a mouth. Other utility functions include, for example, a pencil or pen holder, an ice scraper, a screw driver, a measuring device like a ruler, a letter opener, a straight edge, or a cutting edge. Other utility functions and their associated features will be obvious in light of this disclosure. Preferably, although not necessarily, the additional utility features do not add moving parts to the device so as to keep the device simple and readily manufactured as mentioned above.

It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the specification is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalence as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for scraping a coating from a substrate to reveal an inscription on said substrate, said device comprising:

a flat body, said flat body being stamped from a rigid sheet of material, said flat body resembling an animal and comprising at least; a first scraping portion extending from said flat body and having a first scraping edge of a first length; and a second scraping portion extending from said flat, body and having a second scraping edge of a second length, said first length being different than said second length; wherein at least one of said first or second scraping portion resembles an appendage of said animal; and

a brush extending from said flat body opposite of said first scraping portion.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The device of claim 1, said first scraping portion resembles the head of said animal and said second scraping portion resembles an appendage of said animal.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said animal is a human and said appendage resembles an arm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said brush extends from said flat body opposite of said first scraping portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said brush resembles legs.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said brush resembles a tail.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a third scraping portion having a third scraping edge of a third length, said third length being different from said first and second lengths.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said third scraping portion resembles another appendage of said animal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said third scraping portion resembles another arm of said human.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said first scraping portion resembles an appendage of said animal and said second scraping portion is another appendage of said animal.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said first scraping portion resembles an appendage of said animal and said second scraping portion resembles another appendage of said animal.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said device resembles a cat.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said device resembles a cat.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said device defines a hole to receive a key chain or key ring.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a key chain or a key ring.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said hole corresponds to the position of an eye of said animal.

20. The device of claims 1, wherein said brush is essentially in the plane of said flat body.