Motorized game ticket scratch-off apparatus

Abstract

A game ticket scratch-off device that includes a housing, a power supply such as a battery, a motor, a head, and an abrasive element. The battery is contained within the housing. The motor is electrically connectable to the battery to be driven thereby. The head is coupled to the motor to be moved thereby. The head is located outside the housing. The abrasive element is coupled to the head and provides an abrasive surface to remove overlay from a scratch-off game ticket. The abrasive element comprises a sanding screen. An adhesive tape is mounted to the abrasive element, wherein the head comprises a flat surface and the adhesive tape is secured to the flat surface to mount the adhesive element to the head.

1 . In combination, a game ticket scratch-off device and a game ticket, comprising: 
 a game ticket having game information covered by a removable overlay;    a housing;    a power supply contained within said housing;    a motor electrically connectable to said power supply to be driven thereby;    a head coupled to said motor to be moved thereby, said head located outside said housing; and    an abrasive element coupled to said head and providing an abrasive surface to remove said overlay from said game ticket.    
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said head is moved by said motor in an oscillating fashion.  
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said abrasive element comprises a sanding screen having a grid pattern of abrasive strands.  
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1 , comprising an adhesive tape mounted to said abrasive element, wherein said head comprises a flat surface and said adhesive tape is secured to said flat surface to mount said adhesive element to said head.  
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 1 , comprising an adhesive tape having opposite sticking surfaces, wherein said abrasive element comprises a sanding screen having a grid pattern of abrasive strands and having a circular perimeter, and said head includes a corresponding circular flat surface, wherein said adhesive tape is applied between said corresponding flat surface and said sanding screen to attach said sanding screen to said flat surface.  
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said head includes a flat surface for mounting said abrasive element, said flat surface being arranged such that a vector normal to said flat surface is perpendicular to said axis of said housing.  
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a battery.  
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable speed control connected between said power supply and said motor, said adjustable speed control controllable by a user to set a speed of movement of said head.  
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 1 , comprising an adapter arranged between said head and said abrasive element, said abrasive element secured to said adapter and said adapter removably coupled to said head.  
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said head is moved by said motor in an oscillating fashion; 
 wherein said abrasive element comprises a sanding screen having a grid pattern of abrasive strands, and having a circular perimeter;    comprising an adhesive tape mounted to said abrasive element, wherein said head comprises a flat surface and said adhesive tape is secured to said flat surface to mount said sanding screen to said head;    said flat surface being arranged such that a vector normal to said flat surface is perpendicular to said axis of said housing; and    wherein said power supply comprises a battery.    
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein said head is easily replaceable and said head is one of a plurality of selectable heads of varying diameters, and said sanding screen is one of a plurality of sanding screens each having a diameter corresponding to the selected head.  
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said head is easily replaceable and said head is one of a plurality of selectable heads of varying diameters, and said sanding screen is one of a plurality of sanding screens each having a diameter corresponding to the selected head.  
     
     
         13 . A combination comprising: 
 a game ticket having game information covered by a removable overlay;    a hand-held powered scratch-off device being of a size to be carried in a user's pocket, comprising a housing, a battery power supply contained within said housing, a motor electrically connectable to said power supply to be driven thereby, a head coupled to said motor to be moved thereby, said head located outside said housing, and a sanding screen having a grid pattern of abrasive strands coupled to said head and providing an abrasive surface to remove said overlay from said game ticket; and    a plurality of replaceable sanding screens that are pre-cut to fit on said head.    
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein said head is easily replaceable and said head is one of a plurality of selectable heads of varying size, and said plurality of replaceable sanding screens each has a size corresponding to the selected head.  
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein each of said plurality of replaceable sanding screens has a circular shape.  
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein each of said plurality of replaceable sanding screens has a circular shape.  
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein said plurality of replaceable sanding screens are removably carried on a card.