U.S. patent application number 13/210910 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-21 for lottery game with multiple win opportunities for individual indicia.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas J. Napolitano. Invention is credited to Thomas J. Napolitano.
Application Number | 20130045784 13/210910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47713017 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130045784 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Napolitano; Thomas J. |
February 21, 2013 |
Lottery Game with Multiple Win Opportunities for Individual
Indicia
Abstract
A lottery game includes one or more player symbols, one or more
matching symbols and a large number of potentially winnable prizes.
Each of the potentially winnable prizes is capable of being won by
matching one of the one or more winning symbols with one of the one
or more player symbols. In one embodiment of the present invention,
a total number of potentially winnable prizes is provided, with a
first subset of the potentially winnable prizes associated with
each of the one or more player symbols, and with a second subset of
potentially winnable prizes associated with each of the one or more
winning symbols. Further, each of the first and second subsets can
be greater than one while being less than the total number of
potentially winnable prizes.
Inventors: |
Napolitano; Thomas J.; (East
Greenwich, RI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Napolitano; Thomas J. |
East Greenwich |
RI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47713017 |
Appl. No.: |
13/210910 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A lottery game ticket, comprising: one or more player symbols
arranged adjacent a grid on the ticket, wherein the grid has one or
more rows, one or more columns and a matrix of individual grid
spaces, wherein each of the one or more player symbols is
associated with a respective one of the columns, and wherein each
grid space is defined at a point of intersection between one of the
rows and one of the columns; one or more winning symbols arranged
adjacent the grid on the ticket, with each of the one or more
symbols being associated with a respective one of the rows; and a
total number of potentially winnable prizes, each of the
potentially winnable prizes appearing within a respective space of
the grid and being won when the winning symbol associated with the
row corresponding to the space in which the potentially winnable
prize lies matches the player symbol associated with the column
corresponding to the space in which the potentially winnable prize
lies.
2. The lottery game of claim 1, including: a first number of
potentially winnable prizes associated with each of the one or more
player symbols, the first number being greater than one; and a
second number of potentially winnable prizes associated with each
of the one or more winning symbols, the second number being greater
than one.
3. The lottery game of claim 2, wherein the second number is less
than the total number.
4. The lottery game of claim 2, wherein the first number is less
than the total number and the second number is less than the total
number.
5. The lottery game of claim 2, wherein the first number and the
second number are the same.
6. (canceled)
7. The lottery game of claim 2, wherein all of the first number of
potentially winnable prizes are won if the player symbol associated
with the first number of potentially winnable prizes is a bonus
symbol.
8. The lottery game of claim 2, wherein all of the second number of
potentially winnable prizes are won if the winner symbol associated
with the first number of potentially winnable prizes is a bonus
symbol.
9. The lottery game of claim 1, wherein the one or more winning
symbols and the one or more player symbols are printed on a ticket
and covered by a removable material.
10. The lottery game of claim 1, wherein the potentially winnable
prizes are printed on a ticket and covered by a removable
material.
11. The lottery game of claim 1, wherein each of the potentially
winnable prizes is represented by a currency value.
12. The lottery game of claim 1, wherein each of the potentially
winnable prizes is represented by a prize symbol not having an
inherent currency value.
13. The lottery game of claim 1, wherein the ticket is represented
on an electronic device.
14. A method of providing a lottery game, comprising the steps of:
generating, by a machine, a ticket having one or more player
symbols and one or more winning symbols, wherein the player symbols
and winning symbols are arranged adjacent a grid on the ticket,
wherein the grid has one or more rows, one or more columns and a
matrix of individual grid spaces, wherein each of the one or more
player symbols is associated with a respective one of the columns,
each of the one or more winning symbols is associated with a
respective one of the rows and each grid space is defined at a
point of intersection between one of the rows and one of the
columns; and providing a total number of potentially winnable
prizes on the ticket, each of the potentially winnable prizes
appearing in a respective space in the grid and being won when the
winning symbol associated with the row corresponding to the space
in which the potentially winnable prize lies matches the player
symbol associated with the column corresponding to the space in
which the potentially winnable prize lies.
15. A lottery game ticket, comprising: a ticket having a grid
having at least two rows, at least two columns and a matrix of
individual grid spaces, wherein each grid space is defined at a
point of intersection between one of the at least two rows and one
of the at least two columns; a plurality of interior player
symbols, each of which is associated with at least one row of
potentially winnable prizes and at least one column of potentially
winnable prizes; a plurality of exterior player symbols, each of
which is associated with either a row of potentially winnable
prizes or a column of potentially winnable prizes, but not both a
row and a column of potentially winnable prizes; and a total number
of potentially winnable prizes, each of the potentially winnable
prizes appearing within a respective space of the grid and being
won when a player symbol associated with the row corresponding to
the space in which the potentially winnable prize lies matches the
player symbol associated with the column corresponding to the space
in which the potentially winnable prize lies.
16. The lottery game of claim 15, wherein the grid is in the shape
of a right triangle.
17. The lottery game of claim 15, wherein at least one of the
player symbols is a bonus symbol indicating that all of the
potentially winnable prizes in a row or a column associated with
the bonus symbol are won.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to lottery games, and more
particularly to a lottery game providing multiple win opportunities
for individual indicia.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Lottery games and instant win tickets are known to provide
one or more potentially winnable prizes in the event a player makes
a match with a winning number, symbol or series of numbers or
symbols. For example, a Bingo lottery ticket is provided with a
grid with individual indicia in each distinct area of the grid. The
Bingo lottery ticket further provides a set of "called" numbers.
The player can mark the grid indicia corresponding to the called
numbers, and if the player matches all of the indicia in a
pre-established pattern, such as along a row, column or diagonal
line, then the player wins.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,529 illustrates what is typically known
as a "key number match" game. In a key number match game, the
number of possible prizes which can be shown to the player is
limited to the number of player numbers. However, each of the
player numbers is associated with only a single potentially
winnable prize. Further, the numbers to which the player attempts
to match his or her player numbers, which may be called the
"winning numbers", for example, are not associated with any
specific prize or subset of prizes. Rather, the winning numbers can
be matched by any of the player numbers to result in a win of the
predetermined single amount.
[0004] Lottery game players are often motivated to play games that
appear to offer a greater number of potential wins. In many ticket
games, for example, players are given one or maybe two potential
chances to win at a matching game. Even in a Bingo game with a
five-by-five matrix, which provides potential wins in every row,
every column and both diagonals, there are still only twelve
potential wins associated with the game.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need to allow greater than one
potential prize to be associated with a single indicia, as opposed
to the past where a single, specific prize is associated with a
single indicia or group of indicia.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a game with one or more
player symbols, one or more winning symbols and a large number of
potentially winnable prizes. Each of the potentially winnable
prizes is capable of being won by matching one of the one or more
winning symbols with one of the one or more player symbols. In one
embodiment of the present invention, a total number of potentially
winnable prizes is provided, with a first subset of the potentially
winnable prizes associated with each of the one or more player
symbols, and with a second subset of potentially winnable prizes
associated with each of the one or more winning symbols. Further,
each of the first and second subsets can be greater than one while
being less than the total number of potentially winnable prizes. In
this way, the present invention communicates that more prizes are
available in the game, even if the odds of winning are adjusted
such that the payout for any given game in accordance with the
present invention is not changed as compared to prior games.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a game ticket in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein player
symbols, winning symbols and prizes are unrevealed.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the game ticket of FIG. 1,
wherein player symbols and winning symbols are revealed, and a
prize associated with a matching pair is also revealed.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a game ticket in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein player
symbols and winning symbols are revealed, and a column of prizes
associated with a bonus symbol is revealed.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a game ticket in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the playing
field is a triangle shape.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a game ticket, wherein the
playing field is a triangle shape, and wherein player symbols and a
prize associated with a matching pair are revealed.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a game ticket in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the playing
field is a triangle shape, and wherein player symbols and a column
and row of prizes associated with a bonus symbol are revealed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the game ticket 100 according
to one embodiment of the present invention can be arranged as a
grid. Each of the one or more columns 105a-e of the grid includes
an associated player symbol 108. The player symbols 108 can be
covered by an opaque removable material or a marking system, or can
be left uncovered. It will be appreciated that a marking system
permits a player to view an indicia prior to removing a layer of
typically colored material off of the indicia, after which a
different color appears in the background or on the indicia itself,
to indicate that the player has already "marked" the associated
indicia. Such a marking system is described, for example, in U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0045026, the disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0014] As further shown in FIGS. 1-2, each of the one or more rows
110a-e of the grid includes an associated winning symbol 112. The
winning symbols 112 can be covered by an opaque removable material
or a marking system, or can be left uncovered. While the player
symbols 108 are represented by the letter "Y" in FIG. 1 and the
winning symbols 112 are represented by the letter "X" in FIG. 1, it
will be appreciated that an actual ticket in accordance with the
present invention can be provided with symbols, designs, letters,
drawings or simple coloring as part of, or on top of, an opaque
removable material. Further, in the embodiment of the present
invention where no opaque removable material is provided, the
letters "X" and "Y" from FIG. 1 would not appear but only the
actual player symbols and winning symbols would appear, as shown in
FIG. 2, for example.
[0015] As further shown in the embodiment of the present invention
according to FIGS. 1-2, individual prizes 115 are represented
within the ticket grid 114. The total number of prizes that are
potentially winnable in the grid of FIGS. 1-2 is twenty-five, since
the grid in this instance is a five-by-five matrix, with an
individual prize associated with each space within the grid. The
actual prize value (e.g., 118) associated with each prize 115 can
be covered by an opaque removable material or a marking system, or
the prize values can be left uncovered. Each of the potentially
winnable prizes is capable of being won by matching one of the one
or more winning symbols 112 with one of the one or more player
symbols 108. If the player matches a player symbol to a winning
symbol, the player wins the prize indicated where the two matching
symbols cross within the prize grid 114. As shown in FIG. 2, the
player symbol #17 and winning symbol #17 match in the center row
and column, indicating a win of ten dollars.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, each of the one or more player
symbols 108 is associated with five independent and potentially
winnable prizes. Further, each of the one or more winning symbols
112 is associated with five independent and potentially winnable
prizes. The number of potentially winnable prizes for each winning
symbol and each player symbol may or may not be the same, depending
upon the configuration of the prize grid and any other game rules.
Along these lines, it will be appreciated that the prize grid 114
can be presented in matrices of different sizes and dimensions,
including in a shape other than a square or rectangle. For example,
the prize grid can be represented in a pyramid or triangle shape,
such as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, for example.
[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more of
the potentially winnable prizes is represented by a currency value
and the player wins the currency found at the grid location where a
player symbol matches a winning symbol. In another embodiment of
the present invention, one or more of the potentially winnable
prizes is represented by a prize symbol, which can be
cross-referenced with a prize table, legend or formula in order for
the player to understand the redemption value of the prize that has
been won. In another embodiment of the present invention, one or
more of the potentially winnable prizes does not translate into
cash winnings, but rather is associated with other games or
tickets, loyalty points, products, services, coupons or other
reward measure, or a combination thereof.
[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.
3, player symbols or winning symbols can be associated with groups
of prizes, such as a row or column of prizes, for example. As shown
in FIG. 3, the player symbol in the middle column is a "$$" symbol,
which can be considered a bonus symbol 119 in this embodiment, and
which entitles the player to all of the prizes indicated in the
column 105c. The bonus symbol 119 can be covered by an opaque
removable material or a marking system, or can be left uncovered. A
bonus symbol can take many forms and can be, for example, a special
gem or other design when uncovered.
[0019] In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS.
4 through 6, the lottery game includes a ticket 200 having a prize
grid 150 substantially shaped as a right triangle or half-pyramid.
The prize grid 150 has a plurality of rows 155a-d and a plurality
of columns 160a-d. Each of a plurality of interior player symbols
162 is associated with at least one of rows 155a-c and at least one
of columns 160a-c. Each of a plurality of exterior player symbols
164 is associated with either a single row 155d or a single column
160d, but not both.
[0020] The lottery game in this embodiment also includes a total
number of potentially winnable prizes 165. In the specific
embodiment of FIG. 4, ten potentially winnable prizes 165 are
shown. Each of the potentially winnable prizes 165 can be won if
there is a match of the respective player symbols 162 and/or 164
associated with the row and column where the prize is located.
Because each player symbol 162 and/or 164 can represent both a row
and a column, each player symbol 162 serves as both a player symbol
and a winning symbol. Further, each player symbol 162 has a number
of potentially winnable prizes in its associated row, and a number
of potentially winnable prizes in its associated column.
[0021] For each player symbol 162, the number of potentially
winnable prizes in its associated row may be the same, more or less
than the number of potentially winnable prizes in its associated
column. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the player symbol "17" has
two potentially winnable prizes in row 155b and two potentially
winnable prizes in column 160b. The player symbol "5" has three
potentially winnable prizes in row 155c and one potentially
winnable prize in column 160a.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a winning ticket in this embodiment of the
present invention, where the number "5" is shown to have a match.
The associated winning prize 170 is shown as ten dollars. The
winning prize can also be represented by a winning prize symbol as
described above, where it does not have an inherent currency value.
The player symbols and prizes in the prize grid in this embodiment
of the present invention can be covered by an opaque removable
material or a marking system, as described above.
[0023] In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.
6, all of the first number of potentially winnable prizes,
exemplified in column 160c, and all of the second number of
potentially winnable prizes, exemplified in row 155a, are won if a
player symbol is a bonus symbol 172. The bonus symbol 172 can be
covered by an opaque removable material or a marking system, for
example, but can also be left uncovered. As shown in FIG. 6, the
bonus symbol is the sign "$$", but the bonus symbol can take
different forms and designs as desired.
[0024] The tickets 100, 200 of the lottery game according to the
present invention can be printed physical tickets, or can also be
electronic tickets that are played using any of various electronic
devices, including mobile communications devices (e.g., smart
phones), personal computing devices (e.g., desktops, laptops),
stand-alone video lottery terminals, retailer terminals and other
known devices, for example. In one embodiment of the present
invention, electronic tickets can be presented to the user of an
electronic device over a network that is connected to a host
computer that creates, issues, validates and/or redeems tickets
using suitable programming stored in a memory thereof and operable
via a computer processor maintained within the host. The player's
electronic device also includes suitable programming, memory and
processing capability to facilitate electronic representation of
the game of the present invention on a display associated with the
electronic device.
[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
providing a lottery game is provided. The method includes providing
a ticket having one or more player symbols and one or more winning
symbols, providing a total number of potentially winnable prizes,
each of the potentially winnable prizes capable of being won by
matching one of the one or more winning symbols with one of the one
or more player symbols. In one embodiment of this aspect of the
present invention, the total number of potentially winnable prizes
is represented in a square or rectangular prize grid. In another
embodiment, the total number of potentially winnable prizes is
represented in another shape such as a right triangle or
half-pyramid shaped grid, for example. The method of the present
invention further includes providing a first number of potentially
winnable prizes associated with each of the one or more player
symbols, the first number being greater than or equal to one, and
providing a second number of potentially winnable prizes associated
with each of the one or more winning symbols, the second number
being greater than or equal to one. In one embodiment of the
present invention, both the first and second numbers of prizes are
greater than one. In another embodiment of the present invention,
the first number provided is less than the total number of
potentially winnable prizes. In another embodiment, the second
number provided is less than the total number of potentially
winnable prizes. In still another embodiment, both the first number
and the second number provided are less than the total number of
potentially winnable prizes. In yet another embodiment, the first
and second numbers provided are the same.
[0026] It should be understood that the foregoing description and
examples are only illustrative of the present invention; the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention,
including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and
the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily
apparent to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in
the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be
devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the
invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to
embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that
fall within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *