Apparatus for scraping coated surface tickets and method of manufacture

Abstract

A ticket scraper and method for the efficient production thereof using conventional plastic sheet printing and die-cutting techniques. Multiple scrapers of the same or varied designs are produced from a single sheet of plastic. The ticket scraper is effective for removing the obscuring surface of scratch-off tickets, but can be safely handled without risk to the user, the user's personal effects, or others. Production costs are minimized, while flexibility with respect to the appearance of the scraper produced is retained. Using conventional plastic sheet printing techniques, indicia comprised of a variety of shapes, designs and/or promotional logos/advertising are printed on a plastic sheet. Conventional die-cutting techniques are used to cut the scrapers from the printed plastic sheet. Using this approach, indicia appearing on the scrapers can be quickly and inexpensively changed, thereby allowing the scrapers to serve as a new, inexpensive media for advertisers and promoters targeting a specific customer base.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A method of manufacturing a scraper for use in removing an obscuring coating from a game card, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a die-cutting blade configured to cut at least one scraper design;    (b) selecting a sheet of plastic material having characteristics sufficient to render at least portions of the sheet effective to function as a scraper;    (c) printing indicia upon the sheet of plastic material, wherein said printed indicia are arranged on said plastic sheet to correspond with a printable area within said at least one scraper design of said selected die-cutting blade;    (d) aligning said plastic sheet with said selected die-cutting blade so that said printed indicia are aligned with said printable area within said at least one scraper design of said selected die-cutting blade; and    (e) die-cutting at least one scraper, with indicia printed thereon, from said sheet of plastic material with said selected die-cutting blade.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the thickness of the plastic sheet is selected to be between 1 and 4 millimeters in thickness.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes positioning the die-cutting blade substantially perpendicular to said plastic sheet, thereby enabling a substantially perpendicular cut through said plastic sheet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) comprises passing the die-cut through the plastic sheet along the entire perimeter of the scraper, thereby detaching the scraper from the plastic sheet.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) comprises limiting said die-cutting blade such that the blade does not pass through said plastic sheet in at least one location on the perimeter of the said scraper, thereby forming a scraper that remains partially affixed to said plastic sheet.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes positioning the die-cutting blade at a non-perpendicular angle to the plane of the plastic sheet, thereby enabling an angular cut through the plastic sheet to create a scraper with at least one tapered edge.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (a) the die-cutting blade is further configured in a roller configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (d) aligning said plastic sheet with said die-cutting blade includes aligning a vertical stack containing multiple plastic sheets with said die-cutting blade.  
     
     
         9 . A scraper for use in removing a obscuring coating from a game card, the scraper comprising: 
 a planar body of uniform thickness between 1 to 4 millimeters, having an peripheral edge and indicia printed thereon; and    at least one coplanar protrusion that extends from the planar body;    wherein the scraper is produced by die-cutting the scraper from a sheet of plastic of uniform thickness between 1 and 4 millimeters with indicia printed thereon.    
     
     
         10 . The scraper of  claim 9 , wherein the planar body is perforated by at least one hole.  
     
     
         11 . The scraper of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one coplanar protrusion is bounded by two edges, an exposed arcuate first edge that is substantially curved, and a second edge that serves as the junction between said at least one coplanar protrusion said planar body.  
     
     
         12 . The scraper of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one coplanar protrusion is bounded by four edges, comprising: 
 an exposed outer linear first edge;    an exposed second edge connecting a first end of said outer linear first edge to a first point on the peripheral edge of said planer body;    an exposed third edge connecting a second end of said outer linear first edge to a second point on the peripheral edge of said planer body; and    a forth edge that serves as the junction between said at least one coplanar protrusion said planar body.    
     
     
         13 . The scraper of  claim 12  wherein said second edge and said third edge diverge from said first point and said second point, respectively, until meeting said first and second ends of said outer linear first edge.  
     
     
         14 . The scraper of  claim 12  wherein said second edge and said third edge converge from said first point and said second point, respectively, until meeting said first and second ends of said outer linear first edge.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus containing multiple scraping devices of the type used to scratch opaque coating from game cards and the like, said apparatus comprising: 
 a planar sheet of plastic material having formed coplanar therein a plurality of manually detachable scraper devices for use in removing the opaque coating from a game card, each scraper comprising:    a planar body of uniform thickness between 1 to 4 millimeters, having a peripheral edge and indicia printed thereon; and    at least one protrusion with a scraping edge extending coplanar from the planar body;    wherein said sheet is weakened about the peripheral edge of each of said scrapers to facilitate selective manual removal of each scraper from said sheet.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the planar body of each scraper is perforated with at least one hole.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one coplanar protrusion of each scraper is bounded by two edges, an exposed arcuate first edge that is substantially curved, and a second edge that serves as the junction between said at least one coplanar protrusion said planar body.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one coplanar protrusion of said each scraper is bounded by four edges, comprising: 
 an exposed outer linear first edge corresponding to said scraping edge;    an exposed second edge connecting a first end of said outer linear first edge to a first point on the peripheral edge of said planer body;    an exposed third edge connecting a second end of said outer linear first edge to a second point on the peripheral edge of said planer body; and    a fourth edge that serves as the junction between said at least one coplanar protrusion and said planar body.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein, within each scraper, said second edge and said third edge diverge from said first point and said second point, respectively, until meeting said first and second ends of said outer linear first edge.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein, within each scraper, said second edge and said third edge converge from said first point and said second point, respectively, until meeting said first and second ends of said outer linear first edge.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said sheet is weakened by pre-cutting the sheet to a predetermined depth less than the sheet thickness along the periphery of each scraper to facilitate manual removal of the scraper from the sheet.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said sheet is weakened by scoring the sheet along the periphery of each scraper to facilitate manual removal of the scraper from the sheet.