Handheld Tool for Scraping Scratch-Off Tickets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handheld scratching device for scratch-off tickets. The device/tool is used for scraping opaque or film coatings of the scratch-off tickets such as a lottery tickets, to reveal hidden printed material thereunder. The device includes a base that includes a keyhole and a thumb grip indentation for securely and comfortably gripping the device during scraping. The device also includes a scratching edge for scraping the opaque or film coatings easily and securely. The keyhole is used for attaching the base to a key ring, keychain or keepsake holder. The device can come in multiple shapes, colors and designs, and can have messages or quotations printed or engraved in the base. The device obviates the use of a coin or any conventional sharp object to scrape a scratch-off ticket.

Claims

1. A scratch-off ticket scratching tool comprising: a one-piece tool including a base, wherein said base includes a trailing edge, a pair of side edges, and a pair of arcuate edges extending from said pair of side edges; a keyhole in said base for enabling attachment of said tool to a keychain; a neck extending from said arcuate edges of said base at a first end and connecting a semi-circular portion at another end; said semi-circular portion including a scratching terminal edge, wherein said terminal edge includes a plurality of scratching teeth; and said scratching teeth are serrated for scratching off a selected area of film coverings on the ticket protecting printed numerals and text thereunder.

2. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said base includes a thumb grip indentation for gripping of said tool.

3. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said base includes a nail nick for securing a finger of a user against said tool.

4. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said base includes a fingerhold indentation for gripping of said tool.

5. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said scratching teeth are semi-rigid.

6. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said tool is illuminated.

7. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said tool is of a material selected from a group consisting of a plastic and a polymer.

8. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 1, wherein said keyhole includes a diameter from about 0.2 inches to about 0.8 inches.

9. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 8, wherein said serrated teeth include a length from about 0.100 inches to about 0.150 inches.

10. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 9, wherein said base includes an area generally about 2 inches by 2 inches.

11. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 10, wherein said neck includes a longitudinal length from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches.

12. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 11, wherein said semi-circular portion includes an area generally about 0.75 inches by 2 inches.

13. A scratch-off ticket scratching tool comprising: a one-piece tool including a base, wherein said base includes a trailing edge, a pair of side edges, and a pair of arcuate edges extending from said pair of side edges; a keyhole in said base for enabling attachment of said tool to a keychain; a neck extending from said arcuate edges of said base at a first end and connecting a semi-circular portion at another end; said semi-circular portion including a scratching terminal edge; said base includes a fingerhold indentation for gripping of said tool for scratching off a selected area of film coverings on the ticket protecting printed numerals and text thereunder; and said tool is of a material selected from a group consisting of a plastic and a polymer.

14. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 13, wherein said terminal edge includes a plurality of scratching teeth.

15. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 14, wherein said scratching teeth are serrated.

16. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 15, wherein said fingerhold indentation includes a nail nick for securing a finger of a user against said tool.

17. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 16, wherein said fingerhold indentation is a thumb grip.

18. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 17, wherein said scratching teeth are semi-rigid.

19. A scratch-off ticket scratching tool comprising: a one-piece tool including a base, wherein said base includes a trailing edge and a pair of side edges; a keyhole in said base for enabling attachment of said tool to a keychain; a neck extending from said base at a first end and connecting a scraping portion at another end; said scraping portion including a scratching terminal edge; said terminal edge includes a plurality of scratching teeth, wherein said scratching teeth are serrated; said keyhole includes a diameter from about 0.2 inches to about 0.8 inches; said scratching teeth include a length from about 0.100 inches to about 0.150 inches; said base includes an area generally about 2 inches by 2 inches; and said base includes a fingerhold indentation for gripping of said tool for scratching off a selected area of film coverings on the ticket protecting printed numerals and text thereunder.

20. The scratch-off ticket scratching tool of claim 19, wherein said scratching teeth include an arrangement from about 4 teeth per inch to about 12 teeth per inch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a lottery/ scratch-off ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a thumb grip indentation and nail nick on the base of the one potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a second potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing a third potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing a fourth potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of one potential embodiment of the scratching blades used in various embodiments of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0025] As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that can easily and securely scrape or scratch selected areas of a scratch-off ticket. There is also a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that is lightweight, cost-effective, and portable. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that obviates the use of a coin or other conventional pointed and sharp objects for scratching scratch-off tickets. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that does not damage a ticket. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that provides a large surface area and good gripping for a user. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a scratching tool that ensures individuals can quickly and easily reveal the hidden printed material under the opaque coatings of the scratch-off ticket without damaging the ticket.

[0026] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a handheld scratching device for scraping a scratch-off ticket. The handheld scratching device includes a base and a scraping edge including a plurality of scratching teeth. The base can include a thumb grip indentation for secure gripping of the device and the scratching teeth can include pointed/sharp ends to scrape coatings provided on scratch-off tickets without damaging the text underneath the coatings. The base can include one or more indicia such as a logo, a trademark, a message, or the like, and a keyhole.

[0027] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a lottery/scratch-off ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The scratching tool 100 of the present invention is designed to help users to scratch off lottery tickets easily and effectively, without damaging the lottery ticket or any other scratch-off ticket. The scratching tool 100 is useful for individuals who regularly purchase scratch-off tickets. More specifically, the present embodiment of the scratching tool 100 includes a one-piece structure and includes a base 102 that includes a top surface 104 and an identical or different bottom surface 106. The base 102 includes a trailing edge 1020, a pair of side edges 1026, 1028 and a pair of arcuate edges 1022, 1024 extending from the pair of side edges 1026, 1028. The base 102 can include indicia 114 such as a logo, a design, a lottery company trademark, a message or the like. The indicia 114 can be printed, engraved or pasted on the base 102. Both the top surface 104 and the bottom surface 106 can include the indicia 114, which can be the same or different.

[0028] The scratching tool 100 includes a neck 108 extending from the arcuate edges 1022, 1024 of the base 102 that culminates in a semi-circular end 110. The tool 100 includes a scratching edge 1100 along which a plurality of scratching teeth 112 can be attached, or integrated therewith, that are used for scratching off selected areas of a lottery ticket or similar. The scratching teeth 112 can be pointed or serrated for scratching off the film that covers numerals and text thereunder. Scratching the film reveals the numbers or text that determine, for example, whether a ticket includes winning numbers/letters from a traditional lottery/scratch-off ticket. The scratching tool 100 obviates the use of a coin for scratching off a lottery/scratch-off ticket while enabling the tool 100 to be readily available with selective attachment to a key chain.

[0029] The base 102 includes a keyhole 116, thereby enabling a user to hang the tool 100 and also enables attachment to a key holder or keychain. The scratching tool 100 can be made of a sturdy, durable and slightly flexible material that is firm enough to withstand the minimal force that may be applied by a user while scratching off a ticket. The base 102 of the tool 100 also includes a thumb grip indentation for easy and secure gripping of the tool 100 that is best shown in FIG.2.

[0030] It is to be appreciated that the scratching teeth 112 are sharp enough to scrape of selected opaque film coverings from a lottery ticket (or similar) easily without damaging the ticket. The teeth 112 are semi-rigid and do not tear or damage a pocket or any other fabric or storage area placed therein. Further, the tool 100 provides a better grip while scraping a ticket than a conventional coin. The indicia 114 can be illuminated and can illuminate in dark areas, thereby allowing a user to easily locate the tool 100. Further, the tool 100 can be made up of metal, plastic, wood or any other similar material.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the keyhole 116 includes a diameter from about 0.2 inches to about 0.8 inches. The scratching teeth 112 can include a length or height from about 0.100 inches to about 0.150 inches. Further, the dimensions of the base 102 can be generally about 2 inches by 2 inches. The neck 108 includes a longitudinal length from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches and the dimensions of the semi-circular end can be generally about 0.75 inches by 2 inches.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a thumb grip indentation and nail nick on the base of the one potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The top surface 104 of the base 102 of the tool 100 includes a thumb grip indentation 202 for providing a better grip to a user scratching off a lottery ticket. The thumb grip indentation 202 can be in the form of a thumb-shaped depression. Further, the top surface 104 can also include a nail nick 204 for assistance with positioning and securing a user's thumb in place on the base 102. The placement of the thumb grip indentation 202 is slightly below the keyhole 116, thereby allowing a smooth and easy scraping operation.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a second potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment, the scratching tool 300 includes a one-piece structure and includes an oval-shaped first or proximal end 302, a rectangular middle portion 304 and a second or distal curved end 306. The distal curved end 306 can include a plurality of scratching teeth 308 used for scraping or scratching selected coated areas on a lottery ticket. The rectangular middle portion 304 can include indicia 310 in the form of printed or engraved text such as “YOU GOT IT”. There can be any text written on the middle portion 304, which can include messages that motivate or inspire, and/or can include taglines or brand information. The oval proximal end 302 includes a keyhole 312 to attach the tool 300 to a key ring or keepsake holder. It should be appreciated that both sides of the tool 300 can be identical or different. Further, the scratching tool 300 can be in any color or a combination of colors. In one variant, the scratching tool 300 uses red, blue, or green or a combination thereof. In other variants, any color, whether primary or secondary, known in the art can be used for the scratching tool 300. The rectangular middle portion 304 can include a thumb grip area, finger placement area and/or fingerhold, and can further include a thumb grip indentation for gripping the tool 300 during the scraping process. It should be noted that the oval-shaped proximal end 302, the rectangular middle portion 304 and the distal curved end 306 can be collectively termed as the scratching tool 300 in the present embodiment.

[0034] In one potential embodiment, the length of the tool 300 can be about 3 inches and the width of the tool 300 can be about 1 inch. The oval shaped proximal end 302 can include a length from about 0.50 inches to about 1.00 inches and a width from about 0.75 inches to about 1.25 inches. The keyhole cutout 312 can include a diameter from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches. The dimensions of the rectangular middle portion 304 can be generally about 2 inches by 0.75 inches and the distal curved end 306 can include a length generally about 0.75 inches and a width generally about 1 inch. Further, the height or length of the scratching/scraping teeth 308 can be generally from about 0.100 inches to about 0.150 inches. The dimensions described supra enable the tool 300 to be portable, fingerheld, lightweight, safe to use, easy to carry and easy to store.

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing a third potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment, the lottery ticket scratching tool 400 includes a proximal triangular portion 402, a rectangular middle portion 404 and a distal curved end portion 406. The distal curved end portion 406 includes a plurality of scratching teeth 408, used for scraping or scratching coatings on a lottery/scratch-off ticket. The rectangular middle portion 404 includes a first indicia 410 in the form of a printed or engraved text such as “SCRATCH” and the curved end portion 406 includes a second indicia 414 in the form of a printed or engraved text such as “ME”. There can be any text written on the middle portion 404 and curved end portion 406. The proximal triangular portion 402 includes a keyhole 412 to attach the tool 400 to a key ring, keychain, or keepsake holder. It should be appreciated that both sides of the tool 400 of the present invention can be identical or different. The rectangular middle portion 404 includes a thumb resting area or fingerhold, and further includes a thumb grip indentation for gripping the tool 400 during the scraping process. It should be noted that the proximal triangular portion 402, the rectangular middle portion 404, and the distal curved end portion 406 can be collectively termed as a scratching tool in the present embodiment.

[0036] The color of the proximal triangular portion 402 can be in any color including but not limited to black, red, green, yellow, orange, blue or any bright color. The color of the rectangular portion 404 can be in any color including but not limited to black, red, green, yellow, orange, blue or any bright color. The color of the curved end portion 406 can be in any color including but not limited to black, red, green, yellow, orange, blue or any bright color. The above-cited bright colors make the tool 400 attractive and easy to find. Further, the tool can come in a clear color variant as well.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing a fourth potential embodiment of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment, the lottery ticket scratching tool 500 includes an arcuate portion 502, and a rectangular portion 504. At the bottom of the rectangular portion 504, a plurality of scratching teeth 506 are disposed and are used for scraping or scratching coatings on a lottery ticket. The arcuate portion 502 includes a keyhole 508 to attach the tool 500 to a key ring 510 or keepsake holder. It should be appreciated that both sides of the tool 500 of the present invention can be identical or different. The rectangular portion 504 includes a thumb grip area and/or fingerhold area and further includes a thumb grip indentation for gripping the tool 500 during the scraping process.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a close view of one potential embodiment of the scratching blades used in various embodiments of the lottery ticket scratching tool of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The scratching teeth 600 of the present embodiment include pointed teeth shown in an exemplary profile thorough the pointed or serrated teeth 602 defined by the arms 602a and 602b. The pointed teeth 602 enable scratching or scraping of coatings off a lottery ticket or any other type of ticket without damaging the text written beneath the coatings. The scratching tool of various embodiments can include from about four teeth per inch to about twelve teeth per inch. The scratching teeth can be made of a stainless steel, a metal, a plastic, or a polymer.

[0039] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “lottery ticket scratching tool”, “ticket scratching tool”, “scratching tool”, “coatings scraping tool”, and “tool”, are interchangeable and refer to the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention.

[0040] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 are important design parameters for user convenience, the lottery ticket scratching tool 100, 300, 400, 500 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0041] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments including different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0042] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.