Marking system and method and scratch-off game card incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10043418-B2
Application number	US-61178709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2009
Priority date	Jun 16, 2009
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A game card incorporates a marking system having one or more layers of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable when applied to a substrate and one or more overlying screens having a pattern of opaque ink elements printed on the removable layer or layers such that the ink elements are blended into smooth tones when viewed by the human eye. An optional underlying screen provides another pattern of opaque ink elements underneath the removable layer. The marking system and method of the present invention permit a wide range of combinations of designs and security measures, while ensuring that indicia printed on the game card are visible so that players can scratch or otherwise remove the removable layer and at least a portion of the overlying screen as a way of marking the underlying indicia. Whether the underlying screen is employed or not, once the removable layer is removed, the underlying indicia on the game card is surrounded by a background that is visibly distinct from the color viewed when the removable layer is in place and has not been removed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A scratch off game card, comprising:
a substrate having at least one area with printed indicia thereon;
at least one removable layer covering at least a portion of the printed indicia; and
at least one overlying screen comprising a pattern of opaque ink elements printed on the at least one removable layer such that the ink elements are blended into smooth tones when viewed by a human eye at a distance and thereby allow the indicia to be at least partially visible.

2. The game card of claim 1 wherein the pattern of opaque ink elements is comprised of substantially circular dots.

3. The game card of claim 1 wherein the pattern of opaque ink elements is comprised of substantially non-circular elements.

4. The game card of claim 1 wherein the at least one overlying screen has a pattern density of approximately eighty percent or less.

5. The game card of claim 1 wherein the at least one overlying screen has a pattern density of between approximately twenty percent and approximately sixty percent, inclusive.

6. The game card of claim 1 wherein the at least one overlying screen includes a first pattern portion with a density of over thirty percent and a second pattern portion with a density of approximately thirty percent or less.

7. The game card of claim 1 wherein the at least one removable layer can be removed in portions, and wherein removal of a portion of the at least one removable layer results in removal of a portion of the screen.

8. The game card of claim 1 wherein the printed indicia comprise a plurality of individual indicia, and wherein the at least one removable layer comprises a plurality of removable layers, with a respective one of the plurality of removable layers covering a respective one of the plurality of individual indicia, and further wherein the at least one overlying screen is printed on the plurality of removable layers such that removal of one of the plurality of removable layers removes only a portion of the at least one overlying screen.

9. The game card of claim 8 , wherein a base color layer is applied atop the substrate, and wherein removal of one of the plurality of removable layers provides a visible distinction between the base color layer where the portion of the at least one overlying screen has been removed and the base color layer where the at least one overlying screen has not been removed.

10. The game card of claim 8 wherein a base color layer is applied atop the substrate and an underlying screen comprising a pattern of opaque ink elements is printed over the base color layer, and wherein removal of one of the plurality of removable layers provides a visible distinction between the underlying screen where the portion of the at least one overlying screen has been removed and the underlying screen where the at least one overlying screen has not been removed.

11. The game card of claim 1 wherein the removable layer is transparent.

12. The game card of claim 1 including at least a first and second overlying screen, wherein the ink elements of the first overlying screen are of a first color that is different from the ink elements of the second overlying screen.

13. The game card of claim 1 including at least a first and second overlying screen, wherein the first overlying screen is of a different density than the second overlying screen.

14. The game card of claim 1 further including an underlying screen comprising a pattern of opaque ink elements printed on the substrate underneath the at least one removable layer such that the ink elements are blended into smooth tones when viewed by a human eye at a distance and thereby allow the indicia to be at least partially visible.

15. The game card of claim 14 wherein the underlying screen is further printed underneath the printed indicia.

16. The game card of claim 14 wherein the underlying screen matches the at least one overlying screen in density.

17. The game card of claim 14 wherein the ink elements of the underlying screen pattern are substantially aligned with the ink elements of the overlying screen pattern.

18. The game card of claim 14 wherein the ink elements of the underlying screen pattern are substantially unaligned with the ink elements of the overlying screen pattern.

19. The game card of claim 14 wherein the ink elements of the underlying screen pattern are of a type that is the same as the ink elements of the overlying screen pattern.

20. The game card of claim 14 wherein the ink elements of the underlying screen pattern are of a type different from the ink elements of the overlying screen pattern.

21. The game card of claim 1 further including a base color layer printed on the substrate underneath the printed indicia.

22. The game card of claim 21 wherein the base color layer has a color that is selected from the group of colors consisting of: a foil, a fluorescent ink, a thermochromic ink, a pearlescent ink, an encapsulated ink, a solid opaque colored ink, a fragrance encapsulated ink, a glow-in-the dark ink, an ultraviolet sensitive ink, an ultraviolet fluorescent ink.

23. The game card of claim 1 wherein the pattern of opaque ink elements forms one or more of a symbol, a letter, a word, a logo or a security mark.

24. The game card of claim 1 wherein at least one ink element comprises a symbol, a letter, a word, a logo or a security mark.

25. A method for printing a marking system on a game card, comprising:
printing indicia on a game card;
printing at least one removable layer covering at least a portion of the printed indicia; and
printing at least one overlying screen comprising a pattern of opaque ink elements on the at least one removable layer such that the ink elements are blended into smooth tones when viewed by a human eye at a distance and thereby allow the indicia to be at least partially visible.

26. A game card marking system, comprising:
at least one layer of varnish or rubber-based material that is removable when applied to a substrate; and
at least one overlying screen comprising a pattern of opaque ink elements on the at least one removable layer such that the ink elements are blended into smooth tones when viewed by a human eye at a distance.

27. The game card of claim 1 , wherein the at least one overlying screen is printed on the at least one removable layer so as to allow the indicia to be at least partially visible without removing the removable layer.

28. The game card of claim 1 , wherein the at least one overlying screen is printed on the at least one removable layer so as to allow the indicia to be at least partially visible through the at least one overlying screen.

Assignees

• Napolitano Thomas J
• Miller William John
• George Dinah Ann
• Capone John Louis
• Dalton Ross
• Igt Global Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Napolitano Thomas J
• Miller William John
• George Dinah Ann
• Capone John Louis
• Dalton Ross

Classifications

• G09F3/0292 Primary

  tamper indicating labels · CPC title

• B41M3/005

  Colour cards; Painting supports; Latent or hidden images, e.g. for games; Time delayed images · CPC title

• A63F3/0665

  having a message becoming legible after rubbing-off a coating or removing an adhesive layer (for educational purposes G09B) · CPC title

• A63F3/062

  Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games · CPC title

• A63F3/065

  Tickets or accessories for use therewith (A63F3/0625 takes precedence) · CPC title