U.S. patent application number 09/850552 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for lottery system and method of running a lottery system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.. Invention is credited to Several, Edward G..
Application Number | 20020165021 09/850552 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25308452 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020165021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Several, Edward G. |
November 7, 2002 |
Lottery system and method of running a lottery system
Abstract
A lottery system or game and method of running a lottery system
are disclosed. The lottery system combines merchandise prizes with
cash to provide a "turnkey" lottery system for a lottery operator
wherein cash prizes are paid by the lottery operator and
merchandise prizes are distributed by the merchandise supplier or
manufacturer. The lottery operator has reduced costs because the
merchandise supplier pays a sponsorship allowance, and the
merchandise supplier receives an advertising benefit. The
merchandise prizes may include sporting goods, and the prize may be
a single item to a full system, such as a round of golf with golf
clubs and golf balls.
Inventors: |
Several, Edward G.;
(Simsbury, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHELLE BUGBEE, ASSOCIATE PATENT COUNSEL
SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE INC
425 MEADOW STREET
PO BOX 901
CHICOPEE
MA
01021-0901
US
|
Assignee: |
SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE,
INC.
|
Family ID: |
25308452 |
Appl. No.: |
09/850552 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
A63F 3/065 20130101; G07F 17/3253 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A method for running a lottery system comprising: providing
lottery tickets wherein the tickets may have hidden indicia
entitling the purchaser to prizes including cash, merchandise, and
combinations thereof; selling the lottery tickets to purchasers;
redeeming tickets having winning indicia for cash, merchandise, and
combinations thereof when the winning ticket is properly presented
to a lottery official or merchandise supplier or both.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lottery ticket is an instant
winner lottery ticket.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lottery ticket is a scratch
ticket.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the lottery ticket is a ticket
wherein symbols are revealed by a method other than scratching.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchandise prizes are
sporting goods items.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the merchandise prizes are golf
equipment, golf related items, or a combination thereof.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the golf equipment includes golf
clubs, golf balls, golf bags, golf umbrellas, golf apparel, rounds
of golf at select golf courses and combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the merchandise is basketball
equipment, football equipment, volley ball equipment, soccer
equipment or combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchandise is distributed to
the lottery winner without involvement of the lottery system
operator.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchandise supplier pays a
sponsorship allowance to the lottery system operator.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the lottery ticket has a printed
advertisement of the merchandise supplier.
12. A lottery system, wherein lottery tickets having hidden indicia
entitling the purchaser to prizes including cash, merchandise, and
combinations thereof are provided, and tickets having winning
indicia are redeemed for cash, merchandise, and combinations
thereof when the winning ticket is properly presented to a lottery
official, whereby the merchandise is distributed to the winner by
the merchandise supplier.
13. The lottery system of claim 12, wherein the lottery ticket is
an instant winner lottery ticket.
14. The lottery system of claim 12, wherein the merchandise prizes
are sporting goods items.
15. The lottery system of claim 14, wherein the sporting goods
items are golf equipment.
16. The lottery system of claim 15, wherein the golf equipment
includes golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags, golf umbrellas, golf
apparel, rounds of golf at select golf courses and combinations
thereof.
17. The lottery system of claim 14, wherein the sporting goods
items are basketball equipment, football equipment, volley ball
equipment, soccer equipment or combinations thereof.
18. The lottery system of claim 12, wherein the merchandise is
distributed to the lottery winner without involvement of the
lottery game operator.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the merchandise supplier pays a
sponsorship allowance to the lottery game operator.
20. The lottery system of claim 12, wherein the lottery ticket has
a printed advertisement of the merchandise supplier.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to a lottery game, more
preferably, to a state lottery game where individuals may purchase
a ticket and instantly win cash, prizes or both. The prizes
available consist of merchandise prizes, such as sporting goods
items. Examples of sporting goods items include, but are not
limited to, golf related items, such as golf balls, golf bags, golf
clubs, rounds of golf, and the like.
[0002] Traditional lottery games or lottery systems have lottery
tickets where purchasers choose various numbers and combinations of
numbers for different games. Customers can also purchase computer
generated selections, sometimes known as "quick pick" tickets,
where the computer randomly selects the number or combination of
numbers. Winning numbers are then drawn at a specified time, and
purchasers holding winning combinations can collect their
winnings.
[0003] Other lottery games are known which consist of preprinted
tickets wherein a purchaser scratches off the printed symbols to
reveal numbers or symbols. If the purchaser reveals a winning
combination, the purchaser wins a cash prize. These preprinted, or
"scratch" or "instant" tickets are available in many game types and
denominations, such as one dollar tickets, two dollar tickets, five
dollar tickets, ten dollar tickets, etc.
[0004] Other games exist where merchandise items are prizes.
Generally, these game pieces are available with purchase of a
specific item, or through the mail (with no purchase necessary). An
example of this type of game is a game operated by fast food chains
such as McDonald's, wherein customers receive a game piece when
purchasing a selected food item or items such as French fries.
[0005] A need exists for a "turnkey" system that combines cash and
specific merchandise prizes that may be easily awarded to winning
purchasers. A lottery system of this type will reduce the operating
cost of the system for the lottery operator because the company
supplying prizes in exchange for advertisement on the lottery
tickets pays a sponsorship allowance. The merchandise supplier
benefits by increased advertisement due to the logo and/or
trademark on the lottery tickets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The lottery system of the present invention fulfills this
need by combining cash and merchandise prizes wherein the
merchandise prizes are easily obtained by the winners of the
prizes. The lottery operator provides lottery tickets bearing
advertising and/or logos of the merchandise supplier, and each
ticket has concealed indicia such as numbers, symbols, or a
combination thereof, some of which indicate a prize or prizes. When
the indicia indicating a prize is found, the ticket holder is
entitled to receive that prize. The prizes may be cash, merchandise
or both.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of
running a lottery system wherein cash and merchandise prizes are
awarded for winning tickets. The tickets may represent a specific
theme, such that a specific type of merchandise is awarded as
prizes (i.e., golf related items), or they may contain multiple
types of merchandise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a lottery ticket of the present invention wherein
the potential winning numbers and prizes are scratched off;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a lottery ticket of the present invention wherein
the potential winning numbers and prizes are peeled off or tabs are
pulled back to reveal the numbers and/or prizes;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a detailed drawing of the bonus spot of FIG. 2
with the pull tab to reveal the potential prize; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a detailed drawing of a prize spot of FIG. 2 with
the pull tab to reveal the potential prize.
[0012] The figures are for purposes of illustrating the enclosed
invention, and not to be construed as limiting the invention
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The present invention is based on the discovery by the
inventor that combining merchandise prizes with cash prizes in a
lottery system provides a "turnkey" lottery system for a lottery
operator wherein cash prizes are paid by the lottery operator and
merchandise prizes are distributed by the merchandise supplier or
manufacturer. As used herein, "turnkey" means that the lottery
operator has an effective lottery system to sell lottery tickets,
and the merchandise supplier handles the distribution of
merchandise prizes, from a single item to a full system, such as a
round of golf with golf clubs and golf balls. The lottery operator
also has reduced operating costs since the merchandise supplier
pays an allowance to the lottery operator. In return, the
merchandise supplier benefits due to increased advertising through
lottery ticket sales. The lottery system operator is not involved
in merchandise prize distribution.
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of the lottery tickets used in
the lottery system of the present invention. FIG. 1 represents a
lottery ticket 10 of the present invention wherein the potential
winning numbers are hidden under a surface to be scratched off, and
the purchaser of the ticket scratches off the prize spots. FIG. 2
represents a lottery ticket 110 of the present invention wherein
the potential winning numbers are hidden under tabs, and the
purchaser of the ticket reveals prizes by pulling back a tab on the
ticket. FIGS. 3 and 4 show detailed drawings of the prize spots 114
and the bonus spot 120 of FIG. 2.
[0015] In one preferred form of a present invention lottery system,
in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a lottery system wherein
cash, merchandise prizes, and combinations thereof are provided to
customers having winning tickets. The lottery system is preferably
an instant ticket lottery system, such as a scratch ticket (FIG. 1)
or a pull tab ticket (FIG. 2), although any other lottery system,
such as a computer system or other type of preprinted ticket, is
also applicable.
[0016] Lottery tickets are provided by the lottery operator, and
each ticket has concealed indicia such as numbers, symbols, or a
combination thereof, some of which indicate a prize or prizes.
Referring to FIG. 1, the winning numbers 12 are scratched off to
reveal numbers to be matched, and the purchaser's numbers 14 are
then scratched to see if there is a match. The prize spot 16 is
also scratched to determine the amount won if a number is matched.
There is a bonus spot 20 for the purchaser to potentially win
merchandise prizes, which are supplied by the merchandise supplier.
When the indicia indicating a prize is found, the ticket holder is
entitled to receive that prize, either cash or merchandise. A
purchaser can win both cash and merchandise prizes on a single
ticket. Instructions for redeeming the ticket for a prize are
provided on the ticket, at the place of purchase, or both. When a
prize is cash, the lottery operator pays the winner. When a prize
is merchandise, the winner collects the prize or prizes directly
from the merchandise supplier.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the lottery tickets have an
advertisement or logo of the merchandise supplier printed on the
ticket. An example of this, the trademark 22 of the merchandise
supplier in FIG. 1. The logo or trademark of the merchandise
supplier will indicate to purchasers who the merchandise supplier
is, and what types of merchandise prizes may be available. For
example, Applicant's trademark, Top-Flite.RTM., which is well known
in the golf industry, is used on one embodiment of the lottery
tickets of the present invention. The logo or name of the lottery
operator 24 may also be printed on the ticket, as well as the name
of the game 26. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a picture of a golf ball in the
name of the game 26, with the merchandise supplier's trademark.
Other items, such as the cost of the ticket 28 and a control number
18 may also be printed on the ticket.
[0018] FIG. 2 represents another embodiment of the ticket of the
present invention. The reference numerals represent the same items
as in FIG. 1, except that they are "100" series numbers. For
example, the lottery ticket in FIG. 2 is 110, the trademark or logo
is 122, the bonus spot is 120, and the like.
[0019] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the
merchandise prizes include sporting goods merchandise such as, but
not limited to, golf equipment, basketball equipment, football
equipment, volley ball equipment, soccer equipment and the like. In
a preferred embodiment, the sporting goods merchandise includes
golf equipment, such as golf balls, golf bags, golf clubs, golf
umbrellas, golf apparel, rounds of golf, combinations of golf
equipment, and the like. The merchandise is delivered to the winner
by the merchandise manufacturer or distributor, or a designated
supplier. The operator of the lottery, such as the state, does not
have to become involved in the distribution of merchandise prizes.
Additionally, the lottery operator has reduced costs due to the
sponsorship allowance paid by the merchandise supplier.
[0020] The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be
the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it is
contemplated that various changes and modifications apparent to
those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the
present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is intended
to cover all such changes and modifications encompassed within the
spirit and scope of the present invention, including all equivalent
aspects.
* * * * *