Dittler Brothers Incorporated

Benny R Rich

James J Carides

Jon M Brawner

James T Pittman

Mark D Davis

David M Good

Robert M Hartman

Scott C Abrahamson

John S Bennett

Robert L Everett

Michael E Bowser

Kathryn L Matson

Frank Joseph Tortorici, Sr

Frank J Tortorici

Peter G Burke

Dana Kipland Duke

Terry D Futral

George W Hall, Iv

Polly C Hopkins

Rodney E Stephens

William F Estep, Jr

Jerome P Jacobson

A multi-ply label structure is especially, although not necessarily, adapted for affixation to a vessel. The multi-ply label is intended to protect a game piece, coupon, or other material from moisture and other detrimental external environments before affixation to the vessel. As a result, the bottle can be immersed in water for an extended period without destroying the integrity of the label structure.

Label structure

A multi-ply promotional label having a detachable game piece according to the present invention includes peripheral and perforation geometry that reduces the likelihood of intentional or inadvertent premature viewing of game indicia on the detachable piece. The label, moreover, may include multiple detachable game pieces. Deleterious effects of increased tensile stress along perforations due to the presence of multiple detachable game pieces or other factors are overcome by applying an adhesive to removably couple a preselected region of a downwardly facing aspect of a detachable game piece to an underlying base ply. The upward face of the same base ply may be printed to increase the available printable area in order, for example, to further instruct players on game procedures. Game security is enhanced and other advantages are provided by printing preselected fields containing categorical game indicia using a repetitive printing process and printing in registry therewith preselected fields containing conditional game indicia. In contrast to known processes, resulting game pieces can be produced having no predictability.

Method for printing a multi-ply label

The lottery ticket is composed of base sheet (,), cover sheet (,) and ticket sheet (,) lying therebetween. Base sheet (,) and cover sheet (,) are adhered to each other in the edge region (,). The adhesive means is strip-shaped. In addition, base sheet (,) and cover sheet (,) are perforated to each other. Said perforation (,) is line-shaped and lies in said edge region (,) provided with glue. The distance of the perforation (,) from the edge (,) of base and cover sheet (,) is in the region of 2-4 mm. The ticket sheet (,) is thus completely surrounded by a border (,) of glue and by a border (,) of perforations lying therein. The six surfaces of base sheet (,), ticket sheet (,) and cover sheet (,) are provided with a plurality of imprints in base areas covering one another. Due to these imprints which cover one another and hence cross one another, the ticket sheet (,) cannot be deciphered by means of examining against the light when the lottery ticket is unopened. Due to the perforation (,) the border (,) of glue of the ticket sheet (,) cannot be penetrated by mechanical interventions without the edge of the lottery ticket being visibly damaged. Due to a glue which cannot be dissolved by various non-mechanical actions, the barrier of the border (,) of glue cannot be overcome.

A method and system for creating game cards incorporates a removable scratch-off coating to hide printed symbols. The card is constructed so that the scratch-off coating is selectively retained by the card, in the form of symbols, when the scratch-off coating is removed. The selective retention of scratch-off coating material to the card is accomplished by incorporating into the card, between the substrate and the scratch-off coating, a clear release coat laser-engraved to form symbols. A laser creates the desired symbols in the release coat. The laser may be manually controlled or computer-controlled using software and drivers for the laser assembly. When the scratch-off coating material is applied to the card during construction, it adheres directly to the substrate in the form of symbols. When a player rubs the scratch-off coating material, it releases from the release coat and remains adhered to the substrate to create the symbols.

Laser image sublimation in scratch-off coating applications

A direct response mailing includes a response card and a set of stamps. The response card has a pressure sensitive adhesive patterned and applied to certain fields of the response card and has removable members placed on top of the pressure sensitive adhesive. The sheet of stamps is perforated into the individual stamps and are entirely unsupported with no adhesive applied to them. To formulate a response, a resident removes a desired set of stamps from the sheet and also detaches the removable members from the response card. The resident then places each stamp into a preferred one of the fields on the response card. Although the stamps have no adhesive, the pressure sensitive adhesive on the response card secures the stamps to the card. The direct response mailing does not have a remoistenable gummed sheet of stamps and thus benefits from not requiring the resident to lick the stamps and also has the benefit of being less prone to water damage during delivery in the mail. The direct response mailing also reduces waste and cost in comparison to a set of stamps fully coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Direct response mailing having response card and set of stamps

A holographic image produced by the impression of a shim onto a metallic ink coating comprising a plurality of metallic particles suspended in a resinous ink binder. A resinous or substantially tactile and nonresilient undercoat can be applied to the substrate also to receive the impression of the shim and to create more distinct holographic imagery. A substantially clear overcoat can also be applied over the metallic ink coating to enhance the reflectivity of the image.

Holographic imaging

Multi-ply label

A label according to the invention reduces waste, has a lower cost, yet maintains a high level of consumer friendliness. In one embodiment, a label according to the invention uses adhesive rails in order to reduce the amount of adhesive and also places a confusion on a release layer in order to eliminate a downsheet. According to another embodiment, a label has a first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive for securing the label to a substrate but has a second layer of adhesive formed of a remoistenable gum to allow the consumer to later secure a collectable component to another substrate. In a further embodiment of the invention, a collectable component of a label has a release placed on one portion of its outer side and a repositionable adhesive placed on a second portion of its outer side. This label is consumer friendly in that it uses a pressure sensitive adhesive and since it allows a consumer to fold the collectable component in half before securing it to another substrate. In a further embodiment, a label is formed of two layers of paper and is secured to a substrate with a release liner placed between the collectable component and the substrate. The user may remove the collectable component from its substrate and then remove the liner when the consumer is ready to place the component on another substrate.

Multi-ply labels having collectable components

A method for printing a scrambled image and decoding mechanism in registration one on top of the other. The decoding mechanism is not immediately apparent upon inspection. A person decodes the scrambled image by exposing the decoding mechanism.

Integrated image scrambling and descrambling

A label comprised of at least two coupled plies is disclosed that incorporates a removable game on the inside face of an outer ply. The outer ply is adhered to an inner ply along two of its edges. The game piece, which is printed to the inside face of an outer ply between the two adhered edges of the outer ply, is removable from the label by sequentially tearing the game piece from the two edges. A suitable label construction is further disclosed in which the game piece incorporates removable scratch off coatings.

Multi-ply label containing removable pieces

Alternative benday patterns for cards and tickets and methods of producing such patterns are disclosed. The alternative patterns enhance the effectiveness of conventional devices by avoiding use of rotating print cylinders, with fixed repeats, in their creation. The attendant reduction in, or elimination of, benday repetition inhibits vertical ticket splitting and other manner of compromise. Desired images, including play indicia, promotional content, or both, can also be visibly encoded in the benday patterns, if desired.

Cards having variable benday patterns

A label comprised of at least two coupled plies is disclosed that can incorporate a removable game on the inside face of the centerpiece region of an outer ply. An edge region on the outer ply, which circumscribes the centerpiece region, is adhered to an inner ply. A weakened region separates the edge region from the centerpiece region so that the centerpiece region is removable from the label by first decoupling a segment of the centerpiece region from the edge region of the outer ply, and then grasping and pulling the centerpiece region from the label to decouple it completely from the label.

Enclosed promotional label

Cards and methods of securing hidden symbols on cards are disclosed. The cards, such as instant-win lottery tickets, utilize continuous overprint inks that mask the boundaries between their 'secure' and 'unsecure' portions to inhibit unscrupulous players from successfully tampering with them. By reformulating the overprint inks to permit a single set to be applied to both portions of a card, more vibrant and aesthetically-pleasing graphics may be displayed as well while utilizing fewer printing stations during the printing process. Alternatively or additionally, the cards may be embossed for added security. Raising portions of the secure area of a card above the remainder of its surface produces irregular features, thereby inhibiting both improper removal of the upper latex or other coating and photo reproduction of the card. The varying card height caused by embossing further inhibits heat-based tampering, as heat transfer to the irregular surface is no longer uniform.

Embossed card

Cards and methods of securing hidden symbols on cards are disclosed. The cards, such as instant-win lottery tickets, utilize continuous overprint inks that mask the boundaries between their 'secure' and 'unsecure' portions to inhibit unscrupulous players from successfully tampering with them. By reformulating the overprint inks to permit a single set to be applied to both portions of a card, more vibrant and aesthetically-pleasing graphics may be displayed as well while utilizing fewer printing stations during the printing process.

Card with integrated overprinting

A card, such as a lottery ticket or game piece, lacking a foil laminate is disclosed. To simulate the appearance of such a laminate, however, the card includes a substrate onto which metal particles are adhered. The particles are permanently suspended in a resinous ink binder, thus forming neither a sheet of material nor a continuous, solid film. To enhance the reflectivity of the card, a clear overcoat may be applied.

Growing community of inventors

Oakwood, GA, United States of America

Benny R Rich