REVOLVING TICKET DISPLAY

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying lottery tickets consisting of a housing, rotatable display arms, a turning plate to rotate the display arms and tension holders that allow tickets to exert tension on the tension holders, thereby securing the position of the tickets.

Description

CLAIM TO PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/431,323, entitled “REVOLVING TICKET DISPLAY,” filed on Jan. 10, 2011, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ticket displays. In particular, the present invention relates to a revolving ticket display for lottery tickets and like material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many institutions, such as state governments, sell paper gaming tickets as a fundraising technique. In particular, scratch-off lottery tickets are popular with the public, and raises enormous amounts of revenue for state coffers. The use of paper tickets permits the issuer to easily control the payout ration while allowing a large number of people dispersed over a large geographic area to play the same games. Furthermore, Scratch-off tickets is a popular way to allow purchasers of the ticket to “instantly” determine the outcome of the game.

A large percentage of the Scratch-off tickets sales is attributed to impulse buyers, thus the need to display the tickets at the checkout counter became essential. However, counter space at most retail stores is considered very valuable real estate, and may garner top dollar for year round access. This is commonly know as “retailer display allowance” and a store can realize thousands of dollars per year from the rates charged for their counter top rental.

Numerous prior art addresses the need to display Scratch-off tickets and other types of tickets. For example, U.S. Pat Nos. 4,738,384, 4,995,507, 5,287,980 5,492,398, 7,011,381 and D329,877 are all modern era lottery ticket displays and dispensers. However, these entire prior art share the limitation of being static in nature. To show more ticket games you need to add additional modules which use up more valuable counter space.

U.S. Pat No. 5,528,258 by Moon, and U.S. Pat No. 6,256,912 by Gibson are similar prior art and teaches of rotating displays that are prism shaped. However, both prior art lack the simplicity to synchronously rotate the display arms and once again both prior art fails to teach of a means to quickly attach ticket type merchandise without the use of glue or tape. Furthermore, Moon and Gibson were not designed for typical retail counter space.

Other prior art such as U.S. Pat Nos. 3,798,811, 4,442,942 and 4,4070,973 all teach of rotating counter top displays but like the prior art listed above, none of these inventions would be suitable for the display of ticket type merchandise such as lottery tickets. None of the prior art would be able to accommodate tickets of different sizes without the use of glue or tape.

As can be seen by examination, none of the cited patents makes use of L.E.D. lights or any other type of light as the present invention has as one of it's embodiments. A strong need therefore exists for a rotatable display tailored to the display of ticket type merchandise such as lottery tickets. The rotatable display would be used in thousands of retail outlets so it must be simple, inexpensive and sturdy. The rotatable display would not require pasting, gluing, taping or any similar means to display the tickets. Most importantly, the rotatable display would easily position multiple shaped lottery tickets while having a reduced footprint to save valuable counter space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for displaying a plurality of ticket merchandise or ticket advertising such as Scratch-off lottery tickets without taking up unnecessary space. The apparatus shows a housing that may be made of plastic and must contain at least one transparent panel, preferably the front panel. The housing can be shaped to sit on a counter top or it may be affixed to a wall or installed in a counter top. Inside the housing is a plurality of display arms. The display arms may be of various shapes. The display arm may be flat, thus providing a plurality of display surfaces as it rotates, the display could also have a prism shaped, three sided display arm, the four sided preferred embodiment, or a five sided pentagon shape, or any other useful polygon shape. The display arms have the ability to hold a plurality of tickets such as Scratch-off lottery tickets. The display arms have multiple tension holders, spaced apart less then the width of the tickets to be displayed. The tickets to be displayed can be slightly bent and placed against the tension holders so that the tension caused by the flexed ticket would be enough to hold the ticket in place. Even tickets of different width and lengths, can be displayed and only the curvilinear shape may be different depending on the amount of flex exerted on the ticket. This retention method of holding tickets in place eliminates the need to use glue, tape or other more permanent attachment means. The display arms can be vertical as in the preferred embodiment or horizontal in a different embodiment. A major goal of the preferred embodiment and all others mentioned is to save valuable counter space for the store owners. With the space saved a store could add thousands of dollars a year in extra sales.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above description and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the preferred embodiment of one side of the display arm;

FIG. 2-A is a top view of a ticket placed between tension holders which are affixed to one side of a display arm.

FIG. 2-B, FIG. 2-C, and FIG. 2-D are top views of alternative shapes display arms could have.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the front of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the construction of a portion of a turning plate.

FIG. 4-A is a top view of the construction of a gear for the turning plate.

FIG. 4-B is a top view of how FIG. 4 and FIG. 4-A are affixed to each other, creating a turning plate.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the construction of a display arm's square plates.

FIG. 5-A is a top view of the construction of a gear that is affixed to the bottom square plate.

FIG. 5-B is a top view of how FIG. 5 and FIG. 5-A are affixed to each other.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a shelf with three holes in it.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a top inner box.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a top inner box as it is located and affixed inside the housing.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view with projection lines of the construction of a display arm.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the construction above the bottom square plate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional view of the construction of a display arm.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view with projection lines of the construction of a turning plate.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the alignment of the inventions gear system.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the construction of a top locking cover.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the housing with the method for inserting window panes into the housing and how to change a ticket display or replace a damaged window pane.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In referring to all the figures, like elements retain their indicators throughout the several views. FIG. 1 shown is a perspective view of the invention where 10 is the housing preferably made of some type of plastic. Although the preferred embodiment teaches of a housing 10 with two vertical display arms 12, in a different embodiment the display arms 12 could be horizontal with one arm above the other. In either a vertical or horizontal configuration the invention could have shown fewer or more display arms 12.

The front panel 14 and the back panel 14 are alike in all respects. The two side panels 16 are also identical in all respects. The construction of all four panels 14 and 16 is the same. The housing has windows cut out of it 14-A and 16-A. The front panel 14 and the back panel 14 are affixed to the two side panels 16, forming a rectangle. Into the rectangle is affixed the shelf 18. The bottom plate 20 is provided with two holes 20-A at each end of the bottom plate 20. The four holes 20-A allow a screw to be passed through if this is the desired method of attaching the housing 10 to a counter top. Double stick tape is also provided for an alternate method of attaching the housing 10 to a counter top. Also shown is the top locking cover 22 with the two locks 22-A and the turning plate 34 as it is located in the front panel 14.

In the preferred embodiment the top locking cover 22 has mounted into it the two locks 22-A which are used to removably affix the cover 22 to the housing 10. A different embodiment could have the top locking cover 22 provided with hinges and a lock. The preferred embodiment shows the front panel 14 and the side panels 16 as having the transparent window panes 14-B and 16-B inserted into the window cutouts 14-A and 16-A. The back panel 14 has inserted into the window cutout 14-A a non-transparent window pane 14-C. In the preferred embodiment the turning plate 34 is shown located in the middle of the housing 10 as it is mounted on the shelf 18. In a different embodiment the turning plate 34 could be located on either side panel 16. In still another embodiment the turning plate 34 could be shaped like a handle or dial.

FIG. 2 shown in a side view is one side 12-A of a four sided display arm 12 FIG. 1. Affixed to each outside edge of the part 12-A is a tension holder 24 which is a round rod of the same height as the display arm side 12-A. Between the rods 24 is a width slightly less than the width of a lottery scratch off ticket 26. The operator has to slightly bend the ticket 26 and place it between the rods 24 which create a tension to hold the ticket 26 in place. The height of the side 12-A is determined by the number of tickets to be displayed. In a different embodiment the display arms could be wide enough to display multiple rows of tickets, thus at least doubling the number of tickets displayed. This is accomplished by having at least one center tension rod.

FIG. 2-A shown is a top view of the rods 24 as they are affixed to one side 12-A FIG. 2 of the display arm 12 FIG. 1. The ticket 26 has taken a curvilinear shape which exerts a tension that holds the ticket 26 in place.

While the preferred embodiment teaches a round tension rod, other shapes and length could be used as long as they create the tension needed to hold the ticket in place. The tension rod need not contact the entire edge of the ticket to be displayed.

FIGS. 2-B, 2-C and 2-D show the rod 24 as it would be affixed to the different shapes a display arm could have in different polygon shaped embodiments of two, three or five sided display arms. These shapes can also be retained should the display arms be horizontal instead of vertical. These shapes will also lend themselves to display multiple rows of tickets per side instead of one.

FIG. 3 shown in a side view is the front panel 14 FIG. 1. A notch 28 has been created in the bottom middle of the transparent window pane 14-B FIG. 1. The size of the notch 28 is slightly larger than the width and thickness of the turning plate 34 FIG. 1 the notch allows the turning plate 34 FIG. 1 to project outwardly from the front of the housing 10 FIG. 1.

While the preferred embodiment shows the space below the window as just a blank piece of non-transparent material in different embodiments, this space could be used for advertising or with the addition of small pockets, brochures could be dispensed.

FIG. 4 shown is a top view of the lower portion 30 of the turning plate 34, FIG. 4-B, also shown is the hole 30-A which is located in the center of part 30. FIG. 4-A shown is a top view of the upper gear portion 32 of the turning plate 34, FIG. 4-B also shown is the hole 32-A, which is located in the center of part 32.

FIG. 4-B shown is a top view of the parts 30 and 32 as they are affixed to teach other to form the complete turning plate 34. The holes 30-A and 32-A are in exact alignment and have a diameter slightly larger then the bolt 64, FIG. 12.

FIG. 5 shown is a top view of the square plates 36 which are located at the top and bottom of the display arms 12 FIG. 1, also shown is the hole 36-A which is located in the center of part 36.

FIG. 5-A shown is a top view of the gear 38 and the hole 38-A which is located in the center of part 38.

FIG. 5-B shown is a top view of the parts 36 and 38 as they are affixed to each other to form the part 40. The holes 36-A and 38-A are in exact alignment and have a diameter slightly larger than the rod 50 FIG. 9. In the preferred embodiment the part 40 is located at the bottom of the display arms 12 FIG. 1. The top of the display arm 12 FIG. 1 has only the part 36 in use. While the holes 36-A and 38-A will allow the rod 50 FIG. 9 to pass through, their diameter is smaller than the smaller diameter segment of the nylon bushing 54 FIG. 9.

FIG. 6 shown is a top view of the shelf 18 FIG. 1 with the hole 18-A and 18-B. The holes 18-A have a diameter slightly larger than the smaller diameter segment of the nylon bushing 58 FIG. 9. The diameter of the hole 18-B is slightly larger than the smaller diameter segment of the nylon bushing 70 FIG. 12.

FIG. 7 shown is a perspective view of the top inner box 42, the holes 42-A and 42-B and the notches 44 are created when the part 42 is still flat, all four sides are then bent to the 90 degree angle shown. The holes 42-B and the notch 44 are explained in FIG. 8. The holes 42-A are in exact vertical alignment with the holes 18-A FIG. 6 when the invention is fully assembled FIG. 1. The diameter of the holes 42-A is slightly larger than the smaller diameter segment of the nylon bushing 52 FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 shown is a perspective view of the top inner box 42, FIG. 7 as it is mounted at the top of the housing 10 FIG. 1. The holes 46 are located in each side panel 16 FIG. 1 and align with the holes 42-B FIG. 7. A threaded bolt is passed through the holes 46 and 42-B FIG. 7, then a nut is applied and tightened to create a solid brace at the top of the housing 10 FIG. 1. The slot 48 is located in each side panel 16 FIG. 1 and aligns with the notch 44 FIG. 7. This arrangement allows the locking bolt of the lock 22-A, FIG. 1 to pass through the slot 48 thus securing the top locking cover 22 FIG. 1 to the housing 10 FIG. 1 creating a secure means to stop any unauthorized access to the inside of the housing 10 FIG. 1.

Also shown is the smaller diameter segment of the nylon bushing 52, FIG. 9 as it is passed through the holes 42-A, FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shown in an exploded view with projection lines is the construction of the display arms 12 FIG. 1. The four sides 12-A FIG. 2 of the display arms 12 FIG. 1 have been omitted for clarity. Beginning at the top, the rod 50 is passed through the nylon bushing 52, the top square plate 36 FIG. 5, then through the bottom square plate 36 and the gear 38 which form the part 40 FIG. 5, then through the nylon bushing 54, nylon washer 56 and the nylon bushing 58. The part 60 has a channel created in it which is slightly wider and deeper then the diameter of the rod 50. With the proper length of rod 50 passed through the parts 36 and 38 FIGS. 5 and 5-A, and the nylon parts 54, 56 and 58 the part 60 is epoxy glued to the rod 50. The bottom surface of part 60 is then affixed to the top surface of part 36. The parts 62 are then affixed to the parts 60 and 36 to act as additional bracing. See FIG. 10. Care must be taken that the rod 50 can rotate freely inside the nylon bushings and washers. This allows the display arm 12 FIG. 1, to rotate freely around the axis created by the epoxying together of the rod 50 and part 60 and the affixing of these parts to the bottom square plate 36 FIG. 5.

While the preferred embodiment teaches the use of nylon bushings and washers because of their durability and quietness of operation, bushings and washers of another material could be used. In the preferred embodiment the rod 50 is metal but could be made of plastic in an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 10 shown is a perspective view of the arrangement of the parts 60 and 62 FIG. 9 as they are affixed to part 36 FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shown is a perspective sectional view of the rod 50 FIG. 9 as it passes through the parts 52, 36, 60, 36, 38, 54, 56 and 58.

FIG. 12 shown is an exploded view with projection lines is the construction and mounting of the turning plate 34 FIG. 1 upon the shelf 18 FIG. 1.

Beginning at the top, a threaded bolt 64 is passed through the parts 32, 30 which when affixed to each other create the part 34 FIG. 4-B. The bolt 64 then passes through the nylon bushing 66, nylon washer 68, nylon bushing 70 and the hole 18-B FIG. 6. The nut 72 is then applied and tightened.

Because of the thickness of the material used in part 18 FIGS. 6 and 34 FIG. 4 and then use of the nylon bushings 66 and 70 and the nylon washer 68, when the nut 72 is tightened there remains a small length of the unthreaded portion of the bolt 64 below the shelf 18 FIG. 1 which allows the turning plate 34 FIG. 1 to rotate freely.

FIG. 13 shown is a perspective view of the alignment of the gears 32 FIG. 4-A and 38 FIG. 5-A as they mesh together and are rotatable.

FIG. 14 shown in perspective is the top locking cover 22 FIG. 1. The part 22 is constructed of a flat non-transparent material that has the holes provided for mounting the two locks 22-A FIG. 1 to the outside edges of the flat material are affixed the parts 22-B around all four sides of the rectangular shaped top locking cover 22.

FIG. 15 shown is a top view of the housing 10 FIG. 1 with the turning plate 34 FIG. 1 drawn to indicate the front of the housing 10 FIG. 1, the top locking cover 22 FIG. 1 and the top inner box 42 FIG. 7 have been omitted for clarity. The parts 74 have been notched and are affixed to the inside of the side panels 16 FIG. 1. The depth of the notch is slightly more then the thickness of the side window pane pieces 16-B FIG. 1. The parts 74 are affixed in a location that creates a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the front window pane 14-B FIG. 1 and the back window pane 14-C FIG. 1. The parts 74 and 16-B each extend upwardly from the shelf 18 FIG. 1 to slightly below the bottom surface of the top inner box 42, FIG. 8. The parts 14-B and 14-C extend upwardly from the shelf 18 FIG. 1 to slightly below the top of the housing 10 FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment the top inner box 42, FIG. 8 is no wider i.e. from front to back then the distance between the ends of the notches in parts 74. This arrangement allows for easy access to the display arms 12 FIG. 1. This is done by removing the top locking cover 22 FIG. 1 then lifting out either the part 14-B or 14-C when the tickets 26 FIG. 2 have been arranged upon the display arms 12 FIG. 1 then the process is reversed.

It is the intention of the preferred embodiment to allow for the easy replacement of any of the window pane pieces should they become damaged or scratched. The front and back window pane pieces require only that the top locking cover be removed and the damaged piece replaced. To replace the side window panes, requires the further step of removing the top inner box to gain access to the side window fillers, this requires removing the bolts and nuts, then reversing the process. In a different embodiment access to the display arms could be located in the side of the housing instead of the front or back.

Although the preferred embodiment teaches of a counter top display unit, the present invention is suitable as a wall hung display or could be mounted into a counter with the display arms in a horizontal embodiment. L.E.D. (light emitting diode) light bars could be mounted inside the housing on both sides of the front window pane in an alternative embodiment. Although the preferred embodiment teaches an embodiment where all four sides of the housing have a window pane inserted, in a different embodiment the window panes are removed and the invention now becomes a display and dispensing unit for items such as gift cards or phone cards. Throughout the specifications, the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment. A person skilled in the relevant art may realize different variations from the specific embodiments that will none the less fall within the scope of the invention.

For example, the housing 10 FIG. 1, could be built of a material other than plastic or an open space could be built into the lower portion of the housing 10 FIG. 1, which would allow a store to sell items in this space, thus reducing the footprint of the invention upon a counter to almost nothing. Another embodiment could be the use of tabs that project out from the sides of the display arms 12 FIG. 1. A number system could then be placed on the tabs so a customer can simply tell a clerk what number ticket they would like.

With the use of this display, the actual live ticket dispenser can be a unit that can be located under a counter or on a back counter which would be an option that provides better security against unauthorized access to the live tickets. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A ticket display comprising:

a housing with at least one transparent panel;

a plurality of display arms rotatably mounted inside said housing; wherein said plurality of display arms each contain at least two tension holders spaced less than the width of a display ticket; and

a turning plate that a customer can spin by hand which will cause plurality of display arms to rotate and show a selection of tickets on display.

2. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of display arms contain a one or more index tabs.

3. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of display arms are flat providing a front and back display surfaces for each of said display arms.

4. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of display arms are polygon shaped providing multiple display surfaces for each of said display arms.

5. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said tension holders comprise rods mounted to said plurality of display arms.

6. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said housing is shaped to sit on top of a counter.

7. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said housing is shaped to be mountable on a wall.

8. The ticket display of claim 1, wherein said housing is shaped to be installed into a counter top.

9. The method of displaying tickets comprising:

providing a housing with an at least one transparent panel;

rotatably mounting a plurality of display arms to a turning plate with a driving gear that rotates said plurality of display arms wherein said display arms each contain an at least two tension holders, wherein the distance between said at least two tension holders is less than the width of a ticket;

placing a ticket between said at least two tension holders, wherein said ticket forms a curvilinear shape that provides constant tension towards said at least two tension holders, thus holding said ticket in place; and

connecting said turning plate to said display gear, whereby a customer spinning said turning plate causes said plurality of display arms to rotate.

10. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein said housing is shaped to sit on a counter.

11. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein said housing mountable to a wall.

12. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein said housing is shaped to be installed in a counter top.

13. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein said plurality of display arms are flat providing a front and back display surfaces for each of said display arms.

15. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein the said plurality of display arms are prism shaped with three display surfaces.

16. The method of displaying tickets of claim 9, wherein said plurality of display arms are polygon shaped providing multiple display surfaces for each of said display arms.