Patent Application
20060055107
The invention relates generally to an amusement device for game play and a lottery-type game utilizing the device.
Small games of chance provide popular entertainment at carnivals, amusement parks, and the like, and are important sources of revenue for game operators. Players compete for a chance of winning prizes with a relatively small cash purchase.
Lottery-type games of chance are especially popular today. Game pieces or games tickets are uniquely identified by serial number, game symbol, or other marking or indicia that identify winning and losing tickets. Players unfold the game tickets or scratch off coatings to reveal the indicia and discover what prizes, if any, are won.
Although conventional lottery games have proven to be popular, there is always a need to increase game appeal and provide fresh, new games. New or improved games sell more tickets.
The invention is an amusement device that can be used as a game piece or game ticket in a lottery-type game. The amusement device of the present invention is a noisemaker that carries game indicia.
A number of game tickets or noisemakers are sold to players. The noisemaker is popped to simultaneously generate noise for amusement and open the game ticket to access the indicia and to enable each player to determine what prize, if any, was won. The combination of noisemaker and game ticket attracts players and provides more appealing game play.
An amusement device in accordance with the present invention includes a sealed envelope or bag having an inner surface bounding an interior volume. Indicia for game play is in the bag, preferably printed or attached to the inner surface of the bag. The envelope is rupturable or poppable by hand or underfoot to open the envelope for game play and generate a popping noise for amusement. The envelope or bag is preferably made from water-resistant paper and the indicia are printed on the paper.
The interior of the bag can hold confetti or other materials to be disbursed when popping the bag. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, however, the envelope or bag is empty. Popping the bag does not disburse contents that must be cleaned up later. This is an advantage when a large number of game pieces are sold at carnivals or similar venues.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheet illustrating an embodiment of the invention.
The game indicia 20 is printed on the side of the sheet 22 that will form inner surface 16. The illustrated indicia 20 is the repeated letter “L” printed the length of the paper, indicating that a player has won a “large” prize. Other text or non-text indicia can be used for the lottery game, including indicia used in conventional lottery games, and the indicia can be glued or otherwise attached to the surface 16. The opposite side 24 of the sheet can be printed with promotional materials, game directions, advertising, or the like if desired.
The sheet 22 is folded and sealed using conventional paper bag-making techniques. The indicia 20 cannot be seen through the paper forming the bag. In other embodiments portions of the bag can be transparent or translucent; the indicia 20, however, should not be visible through the bag.
A player purchases an amusement device 10 as a game ticket and determines whether it is a winning ticket. The bag 12 is rupturable by squeezing in hand or by stepping on the bag. When the bag 12 ruptures, it makes a popping noise for amusement and game appeal. The ruptured bag exposes and enables access to the indicia 20 for game play. The opened bag and indicia remain as a one-piece member for easy cleanup and disposal of game tickets.
The illustrated bag 12 is made of water-resistant paper, but other types of papers or other materials can be used in other embodiments of the invention. For example, bags 12 can be made from blow-molded plastic. Films, scratch-off coatings, or overlays can be used to block the view of the indicia, and the location and area taken up by the indicia can vary from the illustrated embodiment.
While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that these are capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations, as fall within the purview of the following claims.
