GB2296218A

GB2296218A - Lottery ticket marking template

Info

Publication number: GB2296218A
Application number: GB9525576A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eamon Farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-12-22
Filing date: 1995-12-14
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Also published as: IES64259B2; IES941000A2; GB9525576D0

Abstract

A lottery ticket marking template which may be foldable includes numbered marking slots 5. The slots may be pre-formed with associated numbering (Fig. 2), or the slots may be perforated at 6 so that the numbered central portion 7 can be punched out. The template may be formed in sections 8 hinged at 9 so that it can be folded up into the size of a credit card. <IMAGE>

Description

LOTTERY TEMPLATE The present invention relates to templates for use with lottery tickets.

Many lotteries work on the basis of pre-printed tickets or cards on which a series of numbers is printed. The player selects a certain number or series of numbers, marks the lottery card and registers his choice of numbers. The lottery numbers are subsequently drawn by the Lottery Authority and if the numbers selected by the contestant match those drawn by the Lottery Authority, the contestant wins a prize.

In many cases contestants like to operate a system in which they select a certain number or a certain series or permutation of numbers which they then mark on their lottery ticket for every lottery contest.

The object of the present invention is to provide a guide or template to make the selection or marking of that certain permutation or series of numbers easier for the contestant.

According to the present invention there is provided a template adapted to correspond to the layout of a given lottery ticket comprising a multiplicity of marking slots, each marking slot corresponding to the position of a number on the lottery ticket when the template is correctly superimposed on the lottery ticket, and numbers corresponding to the numbers on the lottery ticket being marked on the template adjacent each marking slot.

In a preferred embodiment the marking slot may be formed with a perforated edge connecting the slot to a central removable portion upon which the lottery number may be marked. Alternatively the marking slot may comprise an aperture with a number being marked on the template adjacent the aperture.

The template may be foldable.

Preferably the template is formed in sections which are hinged together such that the template may be folded to a size suitable for carrying in a wallet or purse. The template may be hingable by means of a knuckle hinge in which a fine pin extends through the length of the template.

This pin may be made of steel.

Alternatively, the template may be scored to produce one or more hinge lines having reduced thickness about which the template may be folded.

Most suitably, the lines of reduced thickness are about the narrower of the width or length to ensure the most compact size of folded template.

The template may be made of any suitable material such as stiff card or board or a plastic material such as polypropalene.

The template may be provided together with a wallet to protect the template.

The invention may now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an example of a lottery ticket, Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a template in accordance with the present invention, Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a template in accordance with the present invention having perforated marking slots, Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of a marking slot from the embodiment of the template shown in Figure 3, Figure 5a shows an elevation of an embodiment of the template having hinges, and Figure 5b shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5a.

As shown in Figure 1 a lottery ticket (1) may comprise a series of numbers (2) marked on a ticket or card (3). In the first embodiment of the template shown in Figure 2 the template (4) comprises a plurality of marking slots (5) which are laid out such that when the template (4) is superimposed on the lottery ticket (3) it is possible to view the numbers (2) marked on the lottery ticket (3) through the marking slots (5) in the template (4). Each of the marking slots (5) on the template (4) is marked with the number which is visible through the slot (5) in the template (4) when the template (4) is superimposed on the lottery ticket (3). To use the template, the template (4) is simply superimposed, correctly aligned on top of the lottery ticket (3).The permutation of numbers selected by the contestant can be permanently marked on the template (4) with a pen or other means such that when the template (4) is positioned on top of the lottery ticket (3) the contestant merely has to place the writing point of a pen or pencil into the slot (5) to mark his choice of numbers on the lottery ticket (3).

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the marking slots (5) are formed with perforated edges (6) such that the contestant has to punch through the slot (5) in order to remove a central portion (7) by breaking the perforations (6). This central portion (7) is marked with the number over which it would be superimposed when the template (4) it is placed on top of the lottery ticket (3). To use the template (4) the contestant simply punches out the central portion (7) of the marking slots (5) corresponding to the numbers in his chosen permutation to leave a permanent record of the permutation selected.

Again, as described above, to use the template (4) the template is simply positioned on top of the lottery ticket (3) and a pen or pencil inserted through the marking slot (5) to mark the lottery ticket (3).

This embodiment has the advantage that since the perforated edges (6) are relatively difficult to tear apart, it is more difficult for a contestant to mark the wrong numbers as a pen or pencil cannot easily be put through an unopened marking slot (5).

As is shown in Figures 5 and 6 the template (4) may be formed in four sections (8) the sections being hinged together by means of knuckle hinges (9) which allow the template to be folded along the hinge lines into a more compact size for carrying in a wallet, purse or the like.

The hinges (9) comprise a plurality of interengaging projections (10) along the abutting edges of each section (8) of the template (4). These projections (10) have a central bore (11) through which a fine steel pin (12) passes, the sections (8) being pivotable about the pin (12) to fold the template (4). Most suitably the template is foldable into a size which approximately corresponds to the size of a conventional credit card.

Claims

1. A template adapted to correspond to the layout of a given lottery ticket comprising a multiplicity of marking slots, each marking slot corresponding to the position of a number on the lottery ticket when the template is correctly superimposed on the lottery ticket, and numbers corresponding to the numbers on the lottery ticket being marked on the template adjacent each marking slot.

2. A template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marking slot is formed with a perforated edge connecting the slot to a central removable portion.

3. A template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marking slot comprises an aperture.

4. A template as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the template is formed in sections which are hinged together such that the template is foldable.

5. A template substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in any of Figures 2 and/or Figures 3 and 4 and/or Figures 5a and 5b.