GB2117653A - Cards for games of skill or chance - Google Patents

Abstract

Printed cards issued to players for use in certain games, e.g. 'bingo', are customarily marked by the player for record purposes. In practice such cards are used only once, since attempts to erase the mark on the usual paper cards soon leads to destruction of the printing and/or the card. A durable card of the invention for use in such games is manufactured of rigid plastic sheet permanently printed with designs or characters, and is capable of being marked in the course of the game with temporary marks which may, however, be readily erased without affecting the permanent printed matter, so that the card is re-usable many times. The card may be of PVC or cellulose acetate and may be reverse printed and then flood coated on the reverse side with a contrasting colour coat.

Description

SPECIFICATION Cards for games of skill or chance In certain games it is customary for cards issued to the players for use in the game to be marked by the players as a record or aide memoire. For example, in the game known as 'bingo', players are issued with cards on which is printed a pattern of numbers and as numbers are called during the game, the player will parka called number which happens to be printed on his card, for example by 'ringing' it, underlining it, ticking it or in some other way. These cards cannot be re-used unless the marks are removed in some way but since the cards are customarily made of paper or thin paperboard, the marks are removable only with tedious effort and in any case such an operation can only be carried out once or twice before the printing becomes indistinct or the card becomes too thin for further use.

Thus if the cards are used in only one game of 'bingo' and by only one player, as is usual, the number of cards used buy a commercial 'bingo' establishment during the course of, say, a week will be very large. This not only leads to a great expense in the purchase of the cards, but the cost of disposing of the waste cards must also be taken into account.

We have now found that it is possible to make cards for use in such games which are re-usable many times. Such cards are manufactured of rigid plastic sheet, are of high durability to handling, are permanently printed with designs or characters of high durability, and are capable of being temporarily marked with readily visible marks, which marks may easily be erased without affecting the permanent printing of the integrity of the card itself.

According to our invention we provide a card for use in games of skill or chance made of rigid plastic sheet and of high durability, the said card being permanently printed with designs, letters and/or numerals relevant to the game, and capable of being marked, during the course of the game, with temporary, clearly visible marks by means of writing or drawing instrument, which marks may readily be erased subsequent to the game without affecting the permanent printed matter, in order to render the card re-usable in a further game.

Our invention includes integrated series of said cards.

Suitable plastic sheet for use in manufacturing the cards of our invention is a plastic sheet of high durability to mechanical handling, capable of receiving a printing ink composition to yield a permanent print, and capable of receiving temporary, visible marks which may subsequently be erased. Particularly suitable plastic sheet is clear rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, for example that is known as 'Pentaclear' PVC film (the word 'Pentaclear' is registered Trade Mark). Other suitable plastic sheet material is 'Genotherm' and cellulose acetate.

The plastic sheet used in the manufacture of the cards of our invention is- permanently printed with designs or characters. This may be achieved by methods known to the art and appropriate to the particular plastic chosen. Dependant on the latter, the usual methods of printing plastics may be used, for example silk screen, gravure, flexography and dry offset methods. Inks employed are appropriate to the printing method in use for the chosen plastic and may include U.V. drying inks and oxidation drying inks. With clear rigid PVC film, inks that dry by evaporation of solvent (especially ester solvent) are very suitable.

With rigid P.V.C. film a particularly suitable procedure is to reverse print clear film (that is to say print on the reverse of what will be the 'face' of the card when finally in use) and then flood coat the reverse side with a colour coat (desiribly of a colour contrasting with that of the original printing), which coating enhances the visibility of the printing and of the temporary marks which may be made on the card during a game and atthe same time protects the printing against rubbing off during handling.

The printed plastic sheet may be cut into suitable shapes for use as cards by means of conventional cutting equipment.

Various writing or drawing instruments may be used to make temporary visible marks on the cards during the game. Wax crayons are particularly suitable. Such marks may readily be erased, for example by wiping with a paper tissue or a dry cloth, without affecting the printing or the integrity of the cards.

The cards of our invention are particularly suitable for use in playing 'bingo' especially in commercial 'bingo' establishments. They are capable of being re-used many times and offer a considerable economic advantage over cards of paper or thin paperboard which are usable only once.

1. A card for use in games of skill or chance is made of rigid plastic sheet and of high durability, the said card being permanently printed with designs, letters and/or numerals relevant to the game, and capable of marked during the course of the game, with temporary, clearly visible marks by means of a writing or drawing instrument, which marks may readily be erased, subsequent to the game, without affecting the permanent printed matter, in order to render the card re-usable in a further game.

2. An integrated series of cards according to Claim 1.

3. A card according to Claim 1. made of lear rigid polyvinyl chloride film.

4. A card according to Claim 3. which is reverse printed and then flood coated with a colour coat on the reverse side.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cards for games of skill or chance In certain games it is customary for cards issued to the players for use in the game to be marked by the players as a record or aide memoire. For example, in the game known as 'bingo', players are issued with cards on which is printed a pattern of numbers and as numbers are called during the game, the player will parka called number which happens to be printed on his card, for example by 'ringing' it, underlining it, ticking it or in some other way. These cards cannot be re-used unless the marks are removed in some way but since the cards are customarily made of paper or thin paperboard, the marks are removable only with tedious effort and in any case such an operation can only be carried out once or twice before the printing becomes indistinct or the card becomes too thin for further use. Thus if the cards are used in only one game of 'bingo' and by only one player, as is usual, the number of cards used buy a commercial 'bingo' establishment during the course of, say, a week will be very large. This not only leads to a great expense in the purchase of the cards, but the cost of disposing of the waste cards must also be taken into account. We have now found that it is possible to make cards for use in such games which are re-usable many times. Such cards are manufactured of rigid plastic sheet, are of high durability to handling, are permanently printed with designs or characters of high durability, and are capable of being temporarily marked with readily visible marks, which marks may easily be erased without affecting the permanent printing of the integrity of the card itself. According to our invention we provide a card for use in games of skill or chance made of rigid plastic sheet and of high durability, the said card being permanently printed with designs, letters and/or numerals relevant to the game, and capable of being marked, during the course of the game, with temporary, clearly visible marks by means of writing or drawing instrument, which marks may readily be erased subsequent to the game without affecting the permanent printed matter, in order to render the card re-usable in a further game. Our invention includes integrated series of said cards. Suitable plastic sheet for use in manufacturing the cards of our invention is a plastic sheet of high durability to mechanical handling, capable of receiving a printing ink composition to yield a permanent print, and capable of receiving temporary, visible marks which may subsequently be erased. Particularly suitable plastic sheet is clear rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, for example that is known as 'Pentaclear' PVC film (the word 'Pentaclear' is registered Trade Mark). Other suitable plastic sheet material is 'Genotherm' and cellulose acetate. The plastic sheet used in the manufacture of the cards of our invention is- permanently printed with designs or characters. This may be achieved by methods known to the art and appropriate to the particular plastic chosen. Dependant on the latter, the usual methods of printing plastics may be used, for example silk screen, gravure, flexography and dry offset methods. Inks employed are appropriate to the printing method in use for the chosen plastic and may include U.V. drying inks and oxidation drying inks. With clear rigid PVC film, inks that dry by evaporation of solvent (especially ester solvent) are very suitable. With rigid P.V.C. film a particularly suitable procedure is to reverse print clear film (that is to say print on the reverse of what will be the 'face' of the card when finally in use) and then flood coat the reverse side with a colour coat (desiribly of a colour contrasting with that of the original printing), which coating enhances the visibility of the printing and of the temporary marks which may be made on the card during a game and atthe same time protects the printing against rubbing off during handling. The printed plastic sheet may be cut into suitable shapes for use as cards by means of conventional cutting equipment. Various writing or drawing instruments may be used to make temporary visible marks on the cards during the game. Wax crayons are particularly suitable. Such marks may readily be erased, for example by wiping with a paper tissue or a dry cloth, without affecting the printing or the integrity of the cards. The cards of our invention are particularly suitable for use in playing 'bingo' especially in commercial 'bingo' establishments. They are capable of being re-used many times and offer a considerable economic advantage over cards of paper or thin paperboard which are usable only once. CLAIMS

1. A card for use in games of skill or chance is made of rigid plastic sheet and of high durability, the said card being permanently printed with designs, letters and/or numerals relevant to the game, and capable of marked during the course of the game, with temporary, clearly visible marks by means of a writing or drawing instrument, which marks may readily be erased, subsequent to the game, without affecting the permanent printed matter, in order to render the card re-usable in a further game.

2. An integrated series of cards according to Claim 1.

3. A card according to Claim 1. made of lear rigid polyvinyl chloride film.

4. A card according to Claim 3. which is reverse printed and then flood coated with a colour coat on the reverse side.