Random lotto marker

Integrated mechanical apparatus for making a random wager selection, comprising:

• (A) means for generating a substantially random first spatial pattern, said generating means including a cage, cage-biasing means, and a plurality of balls, said cage being moveable between a vertically extended normal configuration enabling random horizontal movement of said balls within said cage and a vertically collapsed printing configuration fixing said balls against horizontal movement within said cage and forcing said balls downwardly, said cage-biasing means biasing said cage to its vertically extended normal configuration and thereby permitting said balls to assume the first pattern after said cage is randomly shaken;
• and
• (B) means for marking a wagering sheet with printing in a second spatial pattern essentially the same as said first pattern and constituting a wager selection, said marking means including a plurality of independently selectable marking elements independently moveable between inoperative and operative positions, said marking elements in said inoperative position being longitudinally elevated and said marking elements in said operative position being longitudinally depressed;
• whereby downward movement of said balls as a result of the movement of said cage to its vertically collapsed printing configuration operatively vertically depresses the marking elements vertically aligned with said balls to their operative positions, a vertical alignment of one of said balls and one of said marking elements being required for said one marking element to mark the sheet.

Integral mechanical apparatus for making a random wager selection, comprising:

• (A) means for generating a substantially random first spatial pattern, said generating means including a cage and a plurality of balls, said cage being moveable between a vertically extended normal configuration enabling random horizontal movement of said balls within said cage and a vertically collapsed printing configuration fixing said balls against horizontal movement within said cage and forcing said balls downwardly, said cage in its vertically extended normal configuration permitting said balls to assume the first pattern after said cage is randomly shaken;
• and
• (B) means for marking a wagering sheet with printing in a second spatial pattern essentially the same as said first pattern and constituting a wager selection, said marking means including a plurality of independently selectable marking elements independently moveable between inoperative and operative positions and a single common element-biasing means active on each of said elements, said marking elements in said inoperative position being longitudinally elevated and said marking elements in said operative position being longitudinally depressed, said element-biasing means biasing said marking elements to their inoperative position;
• whereby downward movement of said balls as a result of the movement of said cage to its vertically collapsed printing configuration operatively vertically depresses the marking elements vertically aligned with said balls to their operative positions, a vertical alignment of one of said balls and one of said marking elements being required for said one marking element to mark the sheet.

Integrated mechanical apparatus for making a random water selection, comprising:

• (A) means for generating a substantially random first spatial pattern, said generating means including a cage and a plurality of balls, said cage being moveable between a vertically extended normal configuration enabling random horizontal movement of said balls within said cage and a vertically collapsed printing configuration fixing said balls against horizontal movement within said cage and forcing said balls downwardly, said cage in its vertically extended normal configuration permitting said balls to assume the first pattern after said cage is randomly shaken;
• (B) means for marking a wagering sheet with printing in a second spatial pattern essentially the same as said first pattern and constituting a wager selection, said marking means including a plurality of independently selectable marking elements independently moveable between inoperative and operative positions, said marking elements in said inoperative position being longitudinally elevated and said marking elements in said operative position being longitudinally depressed;
• (C) a downwardly extending lip for maintaining said marking elements in said inoperative position spaced above the sheet while enabling said marking elements in said operative position to engage the sheet;
• and
• (D) a separable base having an upper surface defining a downwardly extending groove adapted to receive therein a lower portion of said lip, said base containing an upwardly facing ink reservoir adapted to be operatively engaged by said marking elements in said inoperative position when said base groove receives said lower lip portion, whereby said marking elements are maintained inked and ready for marking.