FR2744952A1 - Scraper for removing opaque film e.g. layer of ink, from data - Google Patents

Abstract

An implement to facilitate the removal of an opaque layer from data consists of a base (1) which has a scraping blade (2) and or abrasive surfaces (4,5) and is for convenience attached to a key ring (6). The base (1) is shaped to fit on to a finger end and the scraping blade (2) may be circular and rotatable about an axis (3) in order to maintain sharpness. The abrasive surfaces may consist (4) of emery paper or corrugations in the body (1) or of glass fibre assemblies (5).

Description

Scraping device
The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the removal of a blackout coating, such as an ink layer, on a data medium, such as a game medium.

Today, the principle of many games is based on the fact of masking a certain amount of information by means of a blackout coating, the purchaser of said game support then having to remove this coating to know if his purchase was successful or no. To scratch such game carriers, generally, players use their nails.

In addition to the fact that this operation causes the nails to become dirty, it sometimes happens that they scratch too hard and they destroy the data medium at the same time, making it impossible to read the masked information.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a device facilitating the scraping and / or scraping operations of a game support, this simple device, easy to manufacture and inexpensive being designed so that it can always be placed available to the user.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for facilitating the removal of a blackout coating, such as an ink layer, covering at least partially a data medium, such as a game medium, characterized in that that it consists of a basic body mounted as a key ring, this body being fitted with a scraper mounted at least partially projecting from said body and / or a scraper, this scraper and / or this scraper being brought in contact with the blackout coating to ensure by generally moving back and forth and controlled by hand of said body, the removal by scraping and / or scraping of said blackout coating, thereby making the information masked by said coating accessible.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic body assumes the shape of a finger portion of a length at least equal to the equivalent of at least one phalanx.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the drawing in which FIG. 1 represents a side view in section of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a side view of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The device, object of the invention, is intended to facilitate the removal of a blackout coating, such as a layer of ink, covering at least partially a data medium. This device applies more particularly to the removal of coatings masking numbers or letters on lottery type game supports. This device consists, as shown in the single figure, of a base body 1 mounted as a key ring 6 so as to facilitate the storage of this body 1.

This body 1 is equipped with a scraper 2, such as a blade, mounted at least partially projecting from said body 1 and / or a scraper 4, such as a coating formed of an abrasive material. This scraper 2 and / or this scraper 4 are brought into contact with the blackout coating to ensure, by generally moving back and forth and manually controlled by said body 1, the removal by scraping and / or scraping said blackout coating, thus making the information masked by said coating accessible.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the base body 1 is equipped with both a scraper 2 in the form of a blade and a scraper 4. However, one of the two could be omitted.

To facilitate the gripping and handling of such a device, the basic body 1 generally takes the form of a finger portion of a length, preferably equal to the equivalent of at least one phalanx. In this case, the scraper 2 is, as shown in Figure 1, disposed at the end of said body 1 which would correspond to the location of a nail on a human finger. At its other end, the base body 1 generally carries the key-holder device 6 allowing the attachment of said body. This key holder device 6 consists of a chain and a hooking device such as a ring capable of being opened or closed. This basic body 1 delimits a generally axial blind cavity so as to allow the user to introduce at least one finger inside said body 1 to facilitate the reciprocal movement of said body 1. This introduction of the finger in the body 1 is made by the end opposite to that carrying the scraper 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

The scraper 2 can have a large number of shapes. it can be fixedly mounted on the base body 1 or else be removably mounted on said body 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the scraper 2 is a circular blade mounted to rotate about an axis 3, the rotation of the blade allowing the renewal of the scraping surface when the latter is worn.

The scraper 4 can be made of an abrasive material, such as emery paper, to facilitate scraping. This scraper 4 is generally arranged on the face of the body opposite to that carrying the scraper 2 (see FIG. 1). The scraper 4 can also be constituted by roughness formed in the material constituting the body 1 as in the example shown in FIG. 2.

It is also possible to provide, in addition to or instead of the scraper 4, a scraper 5 in the form of a "brush" made up of an assembly of glass fibers or carbon fibers housed in a hole in the body 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

This basic body 1 can be made of a large number of materials. Preferably, this basic body 1 will be a molded plastic part.

Claims (9)

1. Device to facilitate the removal of a blackout coating, such as an ink layer, covering at least partially a data medium, such as a game medium, characterized in that it consists of a base body (1) mounted as a key ring (6), this body (1) being fitted with a scraper (2), mounted at least partially projecting from said body (1) and / or a scraper ( 4, 5), this scraper (2) and / or this scraper (4, 5) being brought into contact with the blackout coating to ensure, by means of a generally back-and-forth movement and controlled by hand of said body (1), the removal by scraping and / or scraping of said blackout coating, thereby making the information masked by said coating accessible. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic body (1) assumes the shape of a finger portion of a length at least equal to the equivalent of a phalanx. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the basic body (1) delimits a cavity, preferably axial, blind so as to allow the user to introduce at least one finger to the inside said body to facilitate the reciprocating movement of said body. 4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the scraper (2) is mounted a blade mounted fixed or removable at the end of said body which corresponds to the location of a nail on a human finger. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the scraper (2) is a circular blade mounted for rotation about an axis (3), the rotation of the blade allowing the renewal of the scraping surface when the latter is worn out. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the scraper (4) consists of a coating of abrasive material. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the scraper (4) is constituted by roughness formed in the material constituting the body (1). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the scraper (5) consists of an assembly of glass fibers or carbon fibers housed in a hole in the body (1), the ends of said fibers projecting from the surface of the body (1). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base body (1) is a molded plastic part.