GB2290482A

GB2290482A - Pictorial competition entry apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2290482A
Application number: GB9410679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Louise Renshaw
Original assignee: VERNONS GAMES Ltd
Current assignee: VERNONS GAMES Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-27
Filing date: 1994-05-27
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-27
Also published as: GB9410679D0; GB2290482B

Abstract

A games piece 1 comprises a sheet 2 that is at least partially transparent and has a plurality of location-marking indicia 3 thereon and an adhesive layer 4 on one surface thereof. The piece may be used to mark entries in a "spot-the-ball" competition. <IMAGE>

Description

GAMES PIECE The present invention relates to a games piece for use in games; in particular a piece for use in games that involve the marking of a plurality of locations on a substrate. The word "games" as used herein includes competitions and competitive activities.

In games of the type including Spot the Ball players aim to mark a winning location on a substrate. For example, in Spot the Ball games the substrate ("coupon") bears a photograph, for instance of a football match, on which the true location of a ball has been disguised. A coupon is issued to each player, and the players attempt to mark (conventionally with one or more crosses) the location of the ball on the photograph. The winners are the players who have marked locations which in the opinion of a panel of experts most accurately show the most logical and probable position of the centre of the ball. Players may pay to take part in the game (for example by paying for each location they mark) and the winners may receive prizes.

By marking more than one location players can increase their chance of winning. However, marking a number of crosses by hand is time-consuming. Some players mark their coupons using rubber stamps bearing a number of crosses but the stamped image is prone to smudging, making it unclear what location is marked by each cross.

Smudged crosses are less accurate and therefore less likely to win. This method of marking is therefore not satisfactory.

According to the present invention there is provided a games piece comprising a sheet that is at least partially transparent, having a plurality of location-marking indicia thereon and having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof. This games piece can be fastened to a substrate by means of the adhesive layer so that the location-marking indicia mark a plurality of locations on the substrate.

Preferably the location-marking indicia are for marking locations on a substrate to which the piece may be applied. Each marked location is suitably a point location marked precisely and distinctly by a single indicium. Preferably the location-marking indicia are crosses, to conform with conventional markings, in which case the point is marked by the intersection of the lines of the cross.

Preferably the adhesive layer is or may be exposed.

Preferably the adhesive layer covers the whole of one surface of the sheet and preferably the adhesive is a permanent or semi-permanent adhesive to allow the piece to be securely fixed to a substrate and ensure that there is no risk of the piece (and hence the locations marked by its indicia) being moved relative to the substrate.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a plurality of games pieces as described above, with their adhesive layers releasably fastened to a single backing sheet. This is a convenient unit for sale or distribution of the games pieces.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a games piece according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a unit comprising several such games pieces having a different arrangement of indicia; and Figure 3 illustrates two such games pieces having a different arrangement of indicia in use, applied to a substrate.

Figure 1 shows a games piece 1 comprising a sheet 2 having a plurality of location-marking indicia 3 thereon and having an adhesive layer 4 on one surface thereof.

The games piece is for application to a substrate to indicate locations thereon.

The sheet is suitably made of a thin film of, for example, clear matt vinyl, which is sufficiently transparent that when the games piece is applied to a substrate the substrate will be at least partially visible through the piece. This makes it clear what locations are marked by the piece when it is applied to a substrate. The sheet may be flexible, allowing it to be easily applied to the substrate.

The adhesive layer may be applied to one major surface of the sheet in a known manner. The adhesive may cover the whole of that surface of the sheet and may be sufficiently strong: for example by being a permanent adhesive; to enable the piece to be fastened securely to a substrate. These features prevent the piece from being moved inadvertently once it has been applied to a substrate (so that the locations marked by it on the substrate are fixed) and inhibit tampering with the piece once it has been applied to a substrate.The adhesive may be selected so that when the piece is fastened to a substrate the bond between the piece and the surface layer of the substrate is greater than that between the surface layer and the remainder of the substrate - so that if an attempt is made to move the piece at least part of the surface layer of the substrate will be detached from the remainder of the substrate, giving evidence of tampering. This feature is particularly appropriate when the substrate is made of paper or card.

The indicia are preferably crosses but could be dots or any other markings which accurately indicate locations on the piece. The indicia may be printed on the sheet in a known manner. The piece preferably bears a relatively large number of the indicia - suitably more than 100, preferably more than 200 and most preferably around 300 or more. The more indicia there are on the piece the more time-saving, and therefore advantageous, it is over the method of marking the indicia by hand. The piece may have a predetermined number of indicia, for example 300, the number corresponding to a feature of the game for which the piece is to be used - for example to a particularly convenient cost of marking that number of locations.

The indicia are preferably positioned relatively densely on the piece, to allow a user to use the piece to mark a number of nearby locations on the substrate. There may suitably be more than 20 indicia per square centimetre, preferably around 45 or more per square centimetre.

For sale to a user the piece may be provided with a removable backing sheet 5 covering the adhesive layer 4.

This protects the adhesive layer until the piece is to be used, when the backing layer is removed to expose the adhesive layer. The backing sheet suitably has a surface that is coated or otherwise treated to allow the backing sheet to be fastened releasably to the adhesive layer even when the adhesive is strong. It is convenient for the piece and/or the backing sheet to be flexible, to make it easier for the user to remove the piece from the backing sheet.

A user may be sold a unit (as shown in figure 2) comprising several pieces 1 mounted on a single backing sheet 6. These pieces may be cut from a single portion of transparent sheet material. The backing sheet and/or an additional portion 7 of the transparent sheet material may bear advertising material or instructions for use of the games piece(s).

Figure 3 illustrates two pieces fastened in place on a substrate 8 (a Spot the Ball coupon). Each indicium 3 marks a point location on the coupon directly below the indicium's location on its games piece.

Claims

1. A games piece comprising a sheet that is at least partially transparent, having a plurality of location-marking indicia thereon and having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof.

2. A games piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive covers the whole of the said surface of the piece.

3. A games piece as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adhesive is a permanent or semi-permanent adhesive.

4. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive is for fastening the piece to a substrate.

5. A games piece as claimed in claim 4, wherein the adhesive is such that when the piece is fastened to the substrate the bond between the piece and the surface layer of the substrate is greater than that between the surface layer and the remainder of the substrate.

6. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive is such that it is capable of forming a bond between the piece and the surface layer of a sheet of paper greater than the bond between the surface layer of the paper and the remainder of the paper.

7. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the indicia are crosses.

8. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are more than 200 location-marking indicia on the piece.

9. A games piece as claimed in claim 8, wherein there are around 300 location-marking indicia on the piece.

10. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each indicium is for marking a single location on a substrate to which the piece is applied.

11. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each indicium is for distinctly marking a single location.

12. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each indicium is for marking a point location.

13. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each indicium is for, when applied to a substrate, marking a location on the substrate directly below its location on the piece.

14. A games piece as claimed in any preceding claim, having a backing sheet releasably fastened to the adhesive layer.

15. A games piece substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A unit comprising a plurality of games pieces, each comprising a sheet that is at least partially transparent and having a plurality of location-marking indicia thereon and having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof, all with their adhesive layers releasably fastened to a single backing sheet.

17. A unit comprising a plurality of games pieces, the unit being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.