GB2120107A - Lottery card - Google Patents

Abstract

The card 1 or like object has a starting symbol 2 in a series and two arrays 3, 4 of spaced symbols in the same series, each such symbol being concealed by a covering that the participant can remove or destroy to gain sight of the symbol, one array being indicative of a prediction that the symbol revealed will be of higher value in the series and the other being indicative of the contrary. The starting symbol may be the first symbol of one of the concealed arrays rather than being shown separately. The symbols of the arrays may be arranged in depressions 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b etc. beneath aluminium foil 5 and an embossed pattern such as wavy lines 6 may be included. A third array of symbols indicative of a prediction that the number chosen is the same as that last revealed may also be used and the values of intermediate and final prizes for correct predictions may be marked at appropriate positions on the card. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Card for lotteries This invention relatesto a card orthe likeforusein conducting a game of chance. Such cards have been produced heretofore in which a series of symbols, usually numbers, printed on the card have been covered buy a paintorfoil or some other obscuring medium that can be removed bythe player, and a prize has been awarded to a player who, on removing the medium, is found to have uncovered a preselected symbol or combination of symbols. Such cards are usually sold over a period and it may well happen that the largest prizes, or indeed all the prizes, are won in the beginning of the period. It then follows thatfurther cards that are sold have a diminished chance of winning or even no chance at ali.

According to this invention a card or the like is printed with a starting symbol in a series, and with two spaced arrays of concealed symbols in the same series, these symbols being concealed by a covering that can be destroyed by the player to gain sight of the symbol beneath, the choice of a symbol in one array being indicative of a predictionthatthenextsymbol will be higher than the previous one and the choice of a symbol in the other array being indicative of the contrary.

Preferably the arrangement is such that the covering that is destroyed or rendered ineffective in order to gain sight of the symbol cannot be replaced by a similar covering. This may be achieved by arranging the symbol in a depression in the card surface or in an unbonded area and having a frangible covering over the top, with the remaining area ofthe covering bonded to the card. The remaining area may also include an embossed pattern that would be difficult to repeat. Other security arrangements may also be employed.

In use, the two arrays of symbols are in random order, at least as far as the player is concerned, and one array represents an increase in value while the other represents a decrease in value ofthesymbol the player chooses to reveal compared with the starting symbol or the symbol next previously revealed. Thus the player has to predictwhetherthesymbol he chooses two reveal will be higher or lowerthan the previous one, and if he is correct, can proceed to a further choice. The choices have to betaken in order and the two arrays are preferably arranged in two rows.

In the above, and in the remainder of this specification the expression "card" is intended to include any suitable material and form, and may cover any convenientthree-dimensional article as well as twodimensional articles. Thesymbols are produced on the card by any suitable printing process which includes embossing, casting, moulding, etching and the like.

The symbols used can be part of any series, such as letters of the alphabet, playing cards etc., but will ordinarily be numbers, and a card according to the invention using numbers will be described in relation to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of the card.

In the drawing a card 1 has a starting symbol which is indicated within the circle 2. In this case the starting symbol is '12'. The two arrays are indicated at 3 and 4 and consist of rows of depressions in the card 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d etc. and 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d etc. Each depression has a printed number, in this case random numbers identical in each row. The row3 represents predictions by the player that the next number to be revealed will be higherthanthepreceding one, and the row 4 represents predictions by the playerthatthe next numberto be revealed will be lowerthan the preceding one.

Suppose then, that the number in the positions 3a and 4a is'9', and the player decides to uncover the depression 4a. Since '9' is lowerthan '12' he will have made a correct choice and can then proceed to uncover one of the depressions 3b and 4b. Had he chosen to uncoverthe depression 3a his choice would have been incorrect and the card would then be useiess. Now suppose that the number in positions 3b and 4b is '16'; the player will have to decide to uncover the depression 3b in order to make a correct prediction.

If the player reaches the position 4d without having made an incorrect choice he becomes entitled to the prize indicated atthat position, i.e. 1. The value ofthis prize or the distance along the arrays the player has to go to become entitled to it may be determined in accordance with the calculated odds against his achieving this degree of success. The player reaching this position can choose whetherto acceptthe prize e.g. of1 orwhether he will continue along the array, in which case the odds will, of course, lengthen, and if ultimately successful will become entitled to an even larger prize, which again can be indicated against the appropriate position, for example 10 as shown on the drawing.

It is not strictly necessaryforthe starting symbol to be shown separately as in the circle 2, since the first numberto be revealed in one ofthetwo arrays may serve this purpose.

In most cases security will be needed to ensure that a card cannot be "doctored" by a player correcting wrong choices that he has made, such as by covering up again some of the numbers on the card. To this end, access to the symbols is by breaking a frangible material, such as a thin aluminium foil 5 which may coverthe whole card or a substantial part of it, as shown. So that the whole foil cannot be replaced, in addition to its having printed patternsonitthatare difficultto reproduce, an embossed pattern comprising for example wavy lines 6 can be included. These may be stamped into the card itself in a combined embossing and bonding operation.

Although the card has been described as having onlytwo arrays of numbers, one representing an increase in value and the other representing a decrease in value, a further form ofthe card can have a third arrayfrom which the player can select if he thinks the appropriate stage in that array has the same value as the number previously uncovered. This naturally can be used to lengthen the odds very considerably, and by introducing a larger element of chance can be used for much larger than would otherwise be the case.

Other complications may be introduced if desired; for example options for participation in other activities may be provided upon a player successfully reaching a pre-determined point along the arrays. However, the basic game described above has the virtue of simplicity and of ensuring that all purchasers of a card stand the same basic chance of winning. It also provides for greater psychological impactthan the ordinary scratch card since it demands a number of decisions by the player, rather than simply scratching off the covering to see whether what is underneath qualifies fora prize.

CLAIMS (Filed on 16/5183) 1. Acard or other object for use in a lottery comprising a surface bearing a starting symbol in a series of such symbols and two spaced arrays of symbols in the same series, these latter symbols being each concealed by a covering that can be destroyed or removed by a participant so as to gain sight ofthe symbol, one of said arrays being indicative of a prediction that the symbol revealed will be higher in value in the series than the starting symbol orthe previous symbol in one ofthe arrays, and the other array being indicative of the contrary.

2. A card or other object according to claim 1 wherein the two arrays are identical.

3. A card or other object according to claim 1 or claim 2wherein the symbols in the two arrays are in random order.

4. A card or other object according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the symbols at an intermediate point in the two arrays is marked with a prize.

5. A card or other object according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a third array is provided which is associated with a special prize in the event of one of its symbols being revealed bya perticipant and said symbol being identical with a predetermined one of the symbols already revealed in one of the other two arrays.

6. A card for use in a lottery substantially as described in relation to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Other complications may be introduced if desired; for example options for participation in other activities may be provided upon a player successfully reaching a pre-determined point along the arrays. However, the basic game described above has the virtue of simplicity and of ensuring that all purchasers of a card stand the same basic chance of winning. It also provides for greater psychological impactthan the ordinary scratch card since it demands a number of decisions by the player, rather than simply scratching off the covering to see whether what is underneath qualifies fora prize. CLAIMS (Filed on 16/5183)

1. Acard or other object for use in a lottery comprising a surface bearing a starting symbol in a series of such symbols and two spaced arrays of symbols in the same series, these latter symbols being each concealed by a covering that can be destroyed or removed by a participant so as to gain sight ofthe symbol, one of said arrays being indicative of a prediction that the symbol revealed will be higher in value in the series than the starting symbol orthe previous symbol in one ofthe arrays, and the other array being indicative of the contrary.

2. A card or other object according to claim 1 wherein the two arrays are identical.

3. A card or other object according to claim 1 or claim 2wherein the symbols in the two arrays are in random order.

4. A card or other object according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the symbols at an intermediate point in the two arrays is marked with a prize.

5. A card or other object according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a third array is provided which is associated with a special prize in the event of one of its symbols being revealed bya perticipant and said symbol being identical with a predetermined one of the symbols already revealed in one of the other two arrays.

6. A card for use in a lottery substantially as described in relation to the accompanying drawing.