U.S. patent application number 10/323174 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-24 for bingo type numbers game.
Invention is credited to Kerr, Robert G..
Application Number | 20040119232 10/323174 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32593127 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040119232 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kerr, Robert G. |
June 24, 2004 |
Bingo type numbers game
Abstract
A numbers game somewhat similar to bingo has features of
player-selected numbers, a field of numbers for each number
position, and a geometric pattern formed by the number positions.
Played on either a card or on a video monitor, the game prompts the
player to select preferably one number from each of a plurality of
fields of numbers, each being in a different number position and a
different part of the pattern. Numbers are randomly selected by the
game provider, and a win is determined by matching the winning
numbers in one or more number positions so as to form a segment of
the pattern, or a group of positions which have been pre-designated
as a winning combination.
Inventors: |
Kerr, Robert G.; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas M. Freiburger
650 California Street, 25th Fl.
San Francisco
CA
94108
US
|
Family ID: |
32593127 |
Appl. No.: |
10/323174 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/269 |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/06 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A game of picking numbers, comprising: a playing field with a
plurality of number positions arranged in a pattern, a field of
player-selectable numbers for each number position, with indication
to the player of the numbers in each field for selection of at
least one number therefrom, for each position, winning number
selection means outside the control of the player for selecting
from each field a number as a winning number for that field, and
whereby a winning play can be defined by a player's correctly
selecting numbers matching winning numbers in a designated group of
number positions or a single position designated to constitute a
winner.
2. The game of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises substantially
an X configuration.
3. The game of claim 2, wherein the X configuration has a number
position at an intersection of two lines forming the X, such number
position being free and without a field of numbers, always counted
as a match in that position.
4. The game of claim 1, wherein some of the number positions have
fields with more numbers than other number positions.
5. The game of claim 1, wherein the fields of numbers in each
number position each contain unique numbers not found in any other
field.
6. The game of claim 1, including means for advising the player of
the winning number for each field so that the player can determine
matches.
7. The game of claim 6, wherein the means for advising comprises a
video screen on which the winning numbers are announced.
8. The game of claim 1, wherein said pattern is a geometric
pattern.
9. The game of claim 8, wherein the geometric pattern has at least
three linear segments, said designated group of number positions
forming a segment or part of a segment.
10. The game of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises essentially
X configuration with two lines of number positions forming four
segments.
11. The game of claim 10, wherein each segment includes at least
two number positions.
12. The game of claim 1, wherein the pattern has segments each
defined by a plurality of number positions, said designated group
of number positions forming a segment or part of a segment.
13. A method for playing a game of numbers, comprising: providing a
playing field with a plurality of number positions arranged in a
pattern, establishing and presenting to the player a field of
player-selectable numbers for each number position, and providing
instruction to the player to select from each field a number, thus
being the player's number for each position, instructing the player
as to what will constitute a winning play, in accordance with
pre-ordained criteria as to winning combinations of positions,
outside the control of the player, selecting from each field a
number as winning number for the field and number position,
displaying the winning numbers of the pattern to the player so that
the player can determine whether any of the player-selected numbers
matches the winning number for each number position, and declaring
a winner for any player having numbers matching the winning numbers
in accordance with the pre-ordained criteria as to winning
combinations of positions.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the playing field is on a
player card, with provision for the player's choosing a number from
each field by hand, and including providing a player with a new
card showing the player-selected numbers in the pattern, after the
player made number selections.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein in the playing field is
provided on a video screen.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns games, and in particular encompasses
a numbers selection game having some similarity to bingo and also
similarity a lottery numbers game. The game is adapted for
gambling, in a casino or elsewhere, and may be played using game
cards or in a video game format.
[0002] Lottery games are very well known, operated by a number of
states in the U.S. In a lottery game, a player chooses several
numbers from one or several fields of numbers. For example, in many
states a player picks six numbers from a single field of numbers,
typically from the number 1 to approximately 50, with no number to
be repeated. The goal is to correctly pick a certain number of
numbers to match some or all of the numbers that will be randomly
selected by the operators of the lottery game. Unlike bingo, the
object in a lottery game is not to form a visual pattern on a card
by the correct selection of numbers matching randomly selected
numbers, but rather to select a designated number of numbers that
will match subsequently selected random numbers.
[0003] In a traditional bingo game, randomly selected numbers are
drawn from a single field of seventy-five numbers. Under the usual
game rules, the player's card consists of twenty-five number
positions printed on a card, aligned in five rows and five columns
as a matrix. A winner is declared by a player's achieving a
pre-selected arrangement of numbers which match the winning
numbers. This may be a horizontal line of matching numbers, a
vertical line, a diagonal or other pattern which is pre-announced
to the players.
[0004] In some bingo games there have been geometric patterns or
other patterns designated as winning patterns, and these have
sometimes included a pattern of the letter "X", as formed by
intersecting diagonals. This has simply has been one of a number of
different patterns designated as winning patterns for particular
bingo games, formed by positions within the bingo matrix of
typically twenty-five numbers.
[0005] In traditional bingo, the player does not select any of the
numbers, but is issued a card wherein the numbers are organized in
a particular way, presumably different from any other bingo card
within the same game. However, there have been bingo-type games in
which the player was able to pick some or all of the numbers for
the player's own card. For example, see U.S. Pat. No.
5,494,293.
[0006] In addition to the above patent, the following U.S. patents
may have some pertinence to this invention: U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,227,025, 6,220,596, 5,957,457, 5,909,875, 5,823,534, 5,813,911,
5,782,470, 5,711,527, 5,624,119, 4,999,001, 4,611,811, 4,252,322,
4,118,035, 3,949,993 and Des. 351,624.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In the game of this invention, numbers are randomly selected
by the "house" from several different fields of numbers. For a
player to win, the numbers on the player's card that match the
randomly selected numbers must form a geometric pattern, or a
portion of a pattern that has been pre-designated as a winning
pattern. Preferably there are as many separate fields of numbers as
there are number positions on the player's card. The player selects
from these fields of numbers, the numbers that will be the player's
numbers. In one implementation of the game, these numbers
designated by the player are then printed at each respective number
position on the player's actual game card. In the game of the
invention, the number positions are not simply in a matrix of row
and columns as in traditional bingo, but are in a pattern that has
been selected by the "house", or by the conductor of the game. One
such pattern is a letter "X".
[0008] Other patterns are possible, all (including the "X" pattern)
being referred to herein as geometric patterns. These can include,
for example, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, an asterisk,
another letter of the alphabet, a stick figure, even a circle,
which may have separate segments designated.
[0009] Accordingly, in one implementation of the invention a method
for playing a game of numbers includes providing a playing field
with a plurality of number positions arranged in a pattern, the
pattern having segments each with number positions defining the
segment. A field of player-selectable numbers is established and
presented to the player for that number position. The player is
instructed to selected from each field a number, thus being the
player's number for that position. The player is further instructed
as to what will constitute a winning play, in accordance with
pre-selected criteria as to winning combinations of segments or
positions. The game is played by random selection from each field
of a number as winning number for that field and number position,
thus defining the game pattern with the winning numbers randomly
selected. The winning numbers are displayed to the player,
preferably as they are selected, so the player can determine
whether any of the player-selected numbers matches the winning
number for each number position. A winner is declared for any
player having numbers matching the winning numbers in accordance
with the pre-selected criteria.
[0010] It is among the objects of the invention to establish a game
which is easily and quickly played and in which the player has more
control than bingo, by being able to select numbers. A further
object is to play the game in a certain desired pattern, not as a
winning pattern to be found among a matrix of rows and columns of a
large number of number positions, but with the fields of numbers
set out in a configuration that forms a relatively simple geometric
pattern. These and other objects, advantages and features of the
invention will be apparent from the following description of
preferred embodiments, considered along with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a
number picking card for a player in one embodiment of the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an
official game card for a player of the game, reflecting the numbers
which were selected by the player in accordance with FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a card, board or
other representation for advising the player, prior to playing the
game, what patterns of matching numbers will constitute winning
combinations.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows an example of a spreadsheet generated by a
computer program to allow the "house" to select variables for the
game and to predict payout based on selected parameters.
[0015] FIG. 5 is schematic view showing an example of a display for
the game of the invention using a video monitor rather than a play
card.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] In the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 3 show one example of an
implementation of the bingo-type game of the invention. In this
example the pattern formed by the number fields is the letter "X",
but, as explained above, many other geometric patterns can be
employed. In broadest terms the invention encompasses any pattern,
so long as each of the random numbers selected is selected from a
separate field or pool.
[0017] In this implementation of the game there are eight number
positions, as shown on a player's number selection card 10 in FIG.
1. Number positions, each with a box with a field of numbers for
use in the player's selection, are shown at 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19,
20 and 21. A ninth number position is shown at 22, but this is
designated as a "free" position, always counted as a match for
purposes of determining a winner. All of the positions 12 through
22 are herein referred to as number positions, even though the
center position 22, where the lines of the "X" intersect, is
preferably a free position.
[0018] As noted above, within each of the eight number positions
12-21, there is a field of numbers. The number of numbers in each
of the eight fields determines the mathematical probability of any
particular number being randomly selected from that field, and
therefore determines the probability of a player's selecting, in
advance of the random selection of winning numbers, the numbers
that will match. Thus, the field 12 shows seven numbers (1-7),
while the fields 14 and 15 show six numbers and the field 13 shows
eight numbers. The fields 20 and 21 both have eight numbers in this
example, while the field 18 has six numbers and field 19 has only
five numbers. A myriad of combinations is possible.
[0019] The house can change the probability of a winning pattern
being formed on a player's card by varying the number of numbers in
one or more of the separate fields of numbers in the number
positions. Thus, to decrease the frequency of winners, more numbers
may be added to one or more of the fields.
[0020] In implementation of the game, a computer program can be
delivered with the game, that program including a spread sheet
serving as a menu, programed to permit the house to change the
variables of the game, including the number of numbers in each of
the fields of numbers. Also controlled via the program can be the
designation of number positions on the card to constitute a winning
pattern, and the value of prizes that will be awarded for each of
the winning patterns. In one game there can be several different
winning patterns, as indicated in FIG. 3. The program also permits
the house to see the effect on revenues and win frequencies caused
by denominating different patterns as winners, by changing the
number of numbers in the fields of the various number positions,
and by designating different prize amounts. An example of a spread
sheet is shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] Within a preferred embodiment, the player of the game picks
one number from each of the separate fields of numbers. The game
can be played either in a paper card version or as a video game. In
the paper card version, the player selects numbers on a card such
as shown in FIG. 1, which can be by blacking the selected numbers,
then turns in the card to the house, or provider of the game, and
receives a game card printed with player's selected numbers, and
this may be in a form such as shown in FIG. 2. This can be called a
bingo card. As seen in FIG. 2, the players-elected numbers, in
combination with the "free" number position 22, form the letter
"X".
[0022] After all players have selected numbers and have obtained
player cards 25, the house randomly selects numbers for each field
which is to be in the game, usually one from each field. The
randomly selected numbers are displayed, preferably as they are
picked, so as to be seen by the players. The display employed can
be a video monitor or any other medium that will display the
selected numbers, and preferably the selection process. Each
successive game preferably has a unique game number, or the game
can be identified by date and time played, as indicated at 26 in
FIG. 2. Also, the card 25 may have a unique card number as shown
28.
[0023] As noted above, FIG. 3 shows a card 30 or other form of
display, visible to or provided to the player prior to playing the
game, indicating what combinations of matching number positions
will constitute a win. In this case, FIG. 3 shows six different
ways to win, from the highest payout with all number positions
matching, to the minimum payout with any single corner matching the
winning number. The center number position may be a "free" position
as noted above; FIG. 3 only shows this position blackened if
required to form a diagonal or a line.
[0024] In a video version of the game, video monitors are provided
for each individual player. The bingo "card" is displayed on the
monitor, which can be generally as shown in FIG. 5. An electronic
means is used to allow the player to select a number from each of
the fields of numbers, for example by displaying the card on a
touch screen video monitor which permits the player to select
numbers by touching the number to be selected in each field.
Alternatively, a keypad can be provided, with prompts to the player
to indicate which field is up for selection. As an alternative, the
game can be played using a computer and video monitor for each
player, with each computer and display as an independent player
unit, or with the computers linked together in a network.
[0025] As explained above, the player is awarded a prize if the
number selected by player match such of the randomly selected
numbers so as to form a winning pattern, and various patterns can
be defined in advanced as shown in FIG. 3. Various values of prizes
can be awarded for different patterns, or different segments of the
geometric shape, that are formed by the matching numbers. The
higher the odds against achieving certain patterns (such as the
coverall pattern), the higher the prize values which will be
paid.
[0026] The game can include a progress feature. With that feature,
a percentage of the money paid by players to play the game is set
aside into a progressive prize pool, which will be paid to the
player whose eight selected numbers match the eight randomly
selected numbers, as shown in the "coverall" pattern in FIG. 3.
Linking the games in multiple casinos can expand the progressive
prize feature, so that with the increased number of players, the
progressive prize increases substantially.
[0027] As noted above any pattern can be employed so long it is
adaptable to designating a winning position or progression of
positions. The pattern can be of an alphabet letter, a number, a
geometric pattern, etc., or simply a matrix as in regular
bingo.
[0028] The above described preferred embodiment is intended to
illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its
scope. Other embodiments and variations to this preferred
embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *