U.S. patent number RE37,371 [Application Number 09/325,121] was granted by the patent office on 2001-09-18 for method, apparatus and gaming set for use in a progressive game.
Invention is credited to Jay E. Gerow.
United States Patent |
RE37,371 |
Gerow |
September 18, 2001 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Method, apparatus and gaming set for use in a progressive game
Abstract
A pull-tab gaming set, a progressive pull-tab gaming system and
a method of operating a progressive pull-tab game. The gaming set
includes a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front
portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming
section. The gaming section contains indicia of a redemption value
of the card which is unascertainable until the gaming section is
revealed. There are at least .[.three.]. .Iadd.two .Iaddend.classes
of pull-tab cards in the gaming set in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value, .[.losers having indicia of a
zero value.]. and at least one jackpot card with indicia of an
undetermined total value. The progressive pull-tab card game system
includes a pull-tab dispensing unit, configured to dispense
pull-tab cards, a jackpot display, and a control system operatively
connected to the dispensing trait to monitor the quantity of
pull-tab cards dispensed. The control system is configured to
compute a jackpot value dependent on that quantity and operatively
connected to the jackpot display to cause it to display the
computed jackpot value as pull-tabs are dispensed. The method of
operating a progressive pull-tab game includes the steps of
providing a set of pull-tab cards which includes at least one
jackpot card without a predetermined total value, setting a
progressive jackpot to a predetermined value, displaying the
progressive jackpot, dispensing one of the pull-tab cards to a
player, selectively increasing the value of the progressive
jackpot, repeating the steps of displaying, dispensing and
selectively increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed and then
awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the
jackpot card.
Inventors: |
Gerow; Jay E. (Bothell,
WA) |
Family
ID: |
24778934 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/325,121 |
Filed: |
June 3, 1999 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
692014 |
Aug 2, 1996 |
05647592 |
Jul 15, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/139;
463/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
3/069 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
3/06 (20060101); A63F 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/139,138.1,138.2
;463/17,18,19,26-28,42 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2 232 358 |
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Dec 1990 |
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GB |
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59-178573 |
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Dec 1990 |
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JP |
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Other References
"Tab Force" brochure, Infinity Group, Inc., Albuquerque, New
Mexico, Date Unknnown.* .
Betty Boop Round Top Designs, Bally Gaming Systems, Date Unknown.*
.
Third Amendment to the Tribal/State Compact for Class III Gaming
Between the Nooksack Indian tribe and the State of Washington (2
pages), Appendix X (46 pages) and Trbial--State Compact for Class
III Gaming Between The Nooksack Indian Tribe and the State of
Washington (pages 4-7), dated Oct. 28, 1991.* .
Bally Gaming Slots, 1996-1998, 23 pages.* .
The Future of the Scratch Ticket is Here brochure, Oasis
Technologies, Inc., 1997.* .
Oasis ITVM Fact Sheet, 2 pages, 1997.* .
Oasis Lottery Game Center System, 1 page, 1997.* .
Oasis Technologies, Inc. Company Profile, 9 pages, 1997.* .
Bally Gaming, The World's Game Maker brochure, 1998. .
Game Maker Slant-7200 product specification sheet, 1998. .
ProSlant 6000 Product specification sheet, 1999..
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Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kolisch, Hartwell, Dickinson,
McCormack & Heuser
Claims
I claim:
1. A pull-tab gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set
comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front
portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section
which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the
redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is
revealed and where the gaming set includes at least three classes
of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed
non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and at least
one jackpot card .[.with indicia of.]. .Iadd., wherein each of said
at least one jackpot cards is designated as a jackpot card by
indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of said progressive
game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an undetermined
total value.Iaddend..
2. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 1, wherein the front portion of
each pull-tab card further comprises a serrated region that is at
least partially removable from the pull-tab card, and wherein at
least part of the gaming section is located under the serrated
region.
3. The pull tab .[.cards.]. .Iadd.gaming set .Iaddend.of claim 1,
wherein the front portion of each pull-tab card further comprises a
peelable region, and wherein the gaming section is located beneath
the peelable region.
4. The pull tab .[.cards.]. .Iadd.gaming set .Iaddend.of claim 1,
wherein the gaming section is covered by a scratch-off coating.
5. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 1, wherein the class of winning
cards is divided into at least two sub-classes, where each
sub-class has a unique indicia and value.
6. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 5, wherein each of the pull-tab
cards further comprises a legend depicting a number of winning
cards in each sub-class, the unique indicia associated therewith
and the value of cards in such subclass.
7. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 6, wherein each of the legend
further depicts the indicia associated with the at least one
jackpot card.
8. The pull tab .[.cards.]. .Iadd.gaming set .Iaddend.of claim 1,
wherein each of the pull-tab cards further comprises a game
code.
9. The pull tab .[.cards.]. .Iadd.gaming set .Iaddend.of claim 1,
wherein each of the pull-tab cards further comprises a verification
code.
10. The pull tab .[.cards.]. .Iadd.gaming set .Iaddend.of claim 9,
wherein the verification code is located within the gaming
section.
11. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 1, wherein the undetermined
value of the at least one jackpot card includes a fixed value plus
an additional value to be determined during play of the progressive
game.
12. A progressive pull-tab card game system comprising:
a pull-tab dispensing unit, configured to dispense pull-tab
cards;
a jackpot display; and
a control system operatively connected to the dispensing unit to
monitor the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed and configured to
compute a jackpot value dependent on that quantity, the control
system further being operatively connected to the jackpot display
to cause it to display the computed jackpot value as pull-tab cards
are dispensed.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the dispensing unit
communicates with the control system and reports each sale of a
pull-tab card to the computer.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control system is
configured to have a predetermined initial jackpot value before any
pull-tab cards have been dispensed.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined initial
jackpot value is greater than zero.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the control system is
configured to compute the jackpot value by periodically
incrementing it by a predetermined value every time a predetermined
number of pull-tab cards is dispensed.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the dispensing unit further
includes a plurality of pull-tab racks, a slot for dispensing
pull-tab cards, and a mechanism for allowing a user to select a
specific pull-tab rack.
18. The system of claim 12, further including a pull-tab gaming set
comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front
portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section
which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the
redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is
revealed and where the gaming set includes at least three classes
of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed
non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and at least
one jackpot card with indicia of an undetermined total value.
19. The system of claim 12, further including a plurality of
pull-tab dispensing units, where the control system is operatively
connected to each dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of
pull-tab cards dispensed.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control system computes the
jackpot value dependent on the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed
from all of the dispensers.
21. A method of operating a progressive pull-tab game,
comprising:
providing a set of pull-tab cards which includes at least one
jackpot card .[.without a predetermined.]. .Iadd., wherein said at
least one jackpot card is designated as a jackpot card by indicia
on the jackpot card prior to the play of the progressive pull-tab
game, and further wherein said indicia on the jackpot card have an
undetermined .Iaddend.total value;
setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;
displaying the progressive jackpot;
dispensing one of the pull-tab cards to a player;
selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;
repeating the steps of displaying, dispensing and selectively
increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed; and then
awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the
jackpot card.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the dispensing step is preceded
by the step of allowing a player to select a particular pull-tab
rack from a plurality of pull-tab racks within a pull-tab
dispensing unit.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the dispensing step is preceded
by the step of allowing a player to choose a particular pull-tab
dispensing unit from a predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing
units.
24. The method of claim 23, further including the steps of
distributing the set of pull-tab cards among the predetermined
number of pull-tab dispensing units and operatively connecting
predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing units to a single
progressive jackpot.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of providing includes
the step of selecting a set of pull-tab cards in which each card
has a front portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable
gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the
card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming
section is revealed and where the gaming set includes at least
three classes of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero
value and the at least one jackpot card..Iadd.
26. A pull-tab gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set
comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a
selectively revealable gaming section that contains indicia of a
redemption value of the cards, the redemption value being
unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the
gaming set includes pull-tab cards in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value and at least one jackpot card,
wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards is designated as a
jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of
said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an
undetermined total value. .Iaddend..Iadd.
27. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 26, wherein the winning cards
are divided into at least two sub-classes, where each sub-class has
a unique indicia and value. .Iaddend..Iadd.
28. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 26, wherein the undetermined
total value of at least one jackpot card includes a fixed value
plus an additional value to be determined during play of the
progressive game. .Iaddend..Iadd.
29. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 26, wherein the gaming set
further includes pull-tab cards in the form of losers with indicia
of zero value. .Iaddend..Iadd.
30. The pull-tab gaming set of claim 26, wherein the gaming set
includes at least two jackpot cards with indicia of undetermined
total value. .Iaddend..Iadd.
31. A progressive pull-tab card game system comprising:
a pull-tab dispenser, adapted to dispense pull-tab cards;
a jackpot display; and
a control system operatively connected to the dispenser to monitor
the dispensing of pull-tab cards and configured to compute a
jackpot value dependent on the dispensing of pull-tab cards, the
control system further being operatively connected to the jackpot
display to cause it to display the computed jackpot value as
pull-tab cards are dispensed. .Iaddend..Iadd.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the control system is
configured to compute the jackpot value by periodically
incrementing a selectable initial value by a predetermined value
every time a predetermined number of pull-tab cards is dispensed.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
33. The system of claim 31, wherein the dispenser further includes
a plurality of pull-tab racks, a slot for dispensing pull-tab cards
and a mechanism for allowing a user to select a specific pull-tab
rack. .Iaddend..Iadd.
34. The system of claim 31, further including a pull-tab gaming set
comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a
selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a
redemption value of the card, the redemption value being
unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the
gaming set includes pull-tab cards in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value and at least one jackpot card
with indicia of an undetermined total value. .Iaddend..Iadd.
35. The system of claim 31, further including a plurality of
pull-tab dispensing units, where the control system is operatively
connected to each dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of
pull-tabs dispensed. .Iaddend..Iadd.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the control system computes the
jackpot value dependent on the quantity of pull-tabs dispensed from
all of the dispensers. .Iaddend..Iadd.
37. A method of operating a progressive pull-tab game,
comprising:
providing a set of pull-tab cards which includes at least one
jackpot card, wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards id
designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior
to the play of said progressive pull-tab game, said indicia on said
jackpot card having an undetermined total value;
setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;
displaying the progressive jackpot;
selling one of the pull-tab cards to a player;
selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;
repeating the steps of displaying, selling and selectively
increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed; and then
awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the
jackpot card. .Iaddend..Iadd.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the selling step is preceded by
the step of allowing a player to select a particular pull-tab rack
from a plurality of pull-tab racks within a pull-tab dispensing
unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the selling step is preceded by
the step of allowing a player to choose a particular pull-tab
dispensing unit from a predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing
units. .Iaddend..Iadd.
40. The method of claim 39, further including the steps of
distributing the set of pull-tab cards among the plural pull-tab
dispensing units and operatively connecting plural pull-tab
dispensing units to a single progressive jackpot.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of providing includes
the step of selecting a set of pull-tab cards in which each card
has a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia
of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being
unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the
gaming set includes pull-tab cards in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value and the at least one jackpot
card. .Iaddend..Iadd.
42. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of selectively
increasing is repeated every time a pull-tab card is sold in the
step of selling. .Iaddend..Iadd.
43. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of displaying is
repeated every time a pull-tab card is sold. .Iaddend..Iadd.
44. A method of conducting a pull-tab game comprising:
providing a set of pull-tab cards including at least one jackpot
card mixed in with a multiplicity of non-jackpot cards with
predetermined values, wherein each of said at least one jackpot
cards is designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot
card prior to the play of said pull-tab game, said indicia on said
jackpot card having an undetermined total value;
distributing the pull-tab cards from the set of pull-tab cards
sequentially to multiple players in a fashion so that the players
do not known when the at least one jackpot card will be
distributed; and
when the jackpot card is distributed, awarding a jackpot to the
player to whom the jackpot card was distributed, where the value of
the jackpot awarded is dependent on when, in the sequence of
distributing the cards, the jackpot card is distributed.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
45. The method of claim 44, further including the steps of setting
a progressive jackpot to a predetermined initial value and
selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot upon
the distributing of pull-tab cards prior to awarding the jackpot.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
46. A gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising
a plurality of play, each play having a selectively revealable
gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value, the
redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is
revealed, and where the redemption value is a fixed non-zero value,
a zero value or a jackpot value, wherein at least one play is
designated as a jackpot play by indicia on said play prior to
playing said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot play
having an undetermined jackpot value, and wherein at least part of
the jackpot value is to be determined during play of the
progressive game. .Iaddend..Iadd.
47. A method of operating a progressive game, comprising:
providing a gaming set that includes a predetermined number of
plays, each play having a selectively revealable gaming section
that contains indicia of a redemption value, the redemption value
being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and
where each redemption value is a fixed non-zero value, a zero
value, or a jackpot value, and where at least one play has a
redemption value that is the jackpot value, wherein the jackpot
value is designated as the jackpot value by indicia on said play
prior to playing said progressive game, said indicia on said
jackpot value having an undetermined total value;
setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;
displaying the progressive jackpot;
selling a play to a player;
selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;
repeating the steps of displaying, selling and selectively
increasing until the play having a redemption value that is the
jackpot value is sold; and then
awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the
play having the redemption value that is the jackpot value.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
48. The method of claim 47, where the steps of providing and
selling are accomplished by multiple machines linked together.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
49. A gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising
a plurality of plays, each play having a selectively revealable
gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value of the
play, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming
section is revealed, and where the gaming set includes plays in the
form of winners having indicia of a fixed non-zero value and at
least one jackpot play with indicia on an undetermined total value,
wherein the at least one jackpot play is designated as a jackpot
play by indicia on said jackpot play prior to playing said
progressive game. .Iaddend..Iadd.
50. A method of conducting a progressive game, comprising:
providing a set of plays including at least one jackpot play of
undetermined value mixed in with a multiplicity of non-jackpot
plays with predetermined values, wherein each of said at least one
jackpot play is designated as a jackpot play by indicia on said
jackpot play prior to playing said progressive game;
distributing the plays from the set of plays sequentially to
multiple players in a fashion so that the players do not know when
the at least one jackpot play will be distributed; and
when the jackpot play is distributed, awarding a jackpot to the
player to whom the jackpot play was distributed, where the value of
the jackpot awarded is dependent on when, in the sequence of
distributing the plays, the jackpot play is distributed.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
51. A method of conducting a progressive game, comprising:
providing a gaming set that includes a predetermined number of
revealable gaming sections, each revealable gaming section
containing indicia of a redemption value, the redemption value
being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and
each redemption value being one of a fixed non-zero value, a zero
value, or a jackpot value, wherein the jackpot value is designated
as the jackpot value by indicia on said revealable gaming section
prior to playing said progressive game, said indicia on said
revealable gaming section having an undetermined total value;
presenting to a player a revealable gaming section;
revealing the indicia associated with the presented revealable
gaming section;
determining whether the redemption value associated with the
revealed indicia is a fixed non-zero value, a zero value, or a
jackpot value;
if the redemption value is a fixed non-zero value, then awarding
the fixed non-zero value, selectively increasing the jackpot value,
and repeating the steps of presenting, revealing, determining,
awarding and selectively increasing, until indicia is revealed of a
redemption value that is a jackpot value;
if the redemption value is a zero value, then awarding a zero
value, selectively increasing the jackpot value, and repeating the
steps of presenting, revealing, determining, awarding and
selectively increasing, until indicia is revealed of a redemption
value that is a jackpot value; and
if the redemption value is a jackpot value, then awarding the
jackpot value. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates generally to gaming. More particularly, the
invention relates to a method, apparatus and gaming set for use in
a progressive pull-tab game.
BACKGROUND
"Pull-tab" is game of chance, commonly played in casinos and
taverns. In a pull-tab game, participants purchase pull-tab cards
from a large fixed pool or set. The game ends when the entire pool
of cards has been purchased. The cards in a set are marked at the
time of manufacture with various patterns of symbols or indicia.
The indicia on the otherwise identical cards is covered when they
are sold so that neither the operator nor player can see the
indicia before the card is purchased. A certain number of cards in
each set are manufactured with a pattern of indicia indicating that
they are winners. Such winning cards will have a predetermined
pay-off value: $1, $5, $1,000, etc. The remaining cards all have
zero value.
The winning and losing cards are randomly mixed and externally
identical. Therefore, the value of a card is not ascertainable
prior to its opening upon purchase. Whether winner or loser, the
value of each card is dependent only on the pattern of indicia
printed thereon and therefore is predetermined at the time the
cards are printed. Because the number of winning cards in a set,
and the value of each, is known, the operator of the game knows the
total pay-out for a game in advance, as do the players.
Most games of chance can be described as either progressive or
nonprogressive. In non-progressive games, such as traditional
pull-tab, participants play for a chance to win a predetermined
prize, i.e., one of the winning cards. Progressive games, in
contrast, involve a jackpot or prize that grows during the play of
the game. Many state lotteries, for instance, fall into the
progressive category because the prize increases over time as more
players participate. During the operation of a progressive game, a
portion of each player's purchase is dedicated to the prize. Thus,
the prize grows until the winning numbers are selected and the game
ends. Some slot machines also offer a progressive jackpot.
While progressive games typically offer participants greater
excitement and appeal because of the opportunity to win a larger
prize, such games are more complex to operate. Moreover, not all
games of chance lend themselves to a progressive implementation.
.[.Pull-tab, for instance, has not been amenable for implementation
in a progressive game because of the use of a pre-printed set of
cards with predetermined winning amounts.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
progressive pull-tab game.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming
set of pull-tab cards suitable for use in a progressive pull-tab
game.
One more object is to provide a method of conducting a progressive
pull-tab game.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system
suitable for conducting a progressive pull-tab game..].
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a pull-tab gaming set, a progressive
pull-tab gaming system and a method of operating a progressive
pull-tab game. The gaming set includes a plurality of pull-tab
cards, each card having a .[.from.]. .Iadd.front .Iaddend.portion,
a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section. The
gaming section contains indicia of a redemption value of the card
which is unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed.
There are at least .[.three.]. .Iadd.two .Iaddend.classes of
pull-tab cards in the gaming set in the form of winners having
indicia of a fixed non-zero value, .[.losers having indicia of a
zero value.]. and at least one jackpot card with indicia of an
undetermined total value.
The invention also encompasses a progressive pull-tab card game
system including a pull-tab dispensing unit configured to dispense
pull-tab cards, a jackpot display, and a control system operatively
connected to the dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of
pull-tab cards dispensed. The control system is configured to
compute a jackpot value dependant on that quantity and operatively
connected to the jackpot display to cause it to display the
computed jackpot value as pull-tabs are dispensed.
One more aspect of the present invention is a method of operating a
progressive pull-tab game including the steps of providing a set of
pull-tab cards which includes at least one jackpot card without a
predetermined total value, setting a progressive jackpot to a
predetermined value, displaying the progressive jackpot, dispensing
one of the pull-tab cards to a player, selectively increasing the
value of the progressive jackpot, repeating the steps of
displaying, dispensing and selectively increasing until the jackpot
card is dispensed and then awarding the progressive jackpot to the
player that received the jackpot card.
Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the
present invention will be apparent to those versed in the art upon
making reference to the detailed description which follows and the
accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred embodiment
incorporating the principles of this invention is disclosed as an
illustrative example only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1a shows a backside of a pull-tab card constructed according
to the present invention.
FIG. 1b shows a front side of the pull-tab card of FIG. 1a.
FIG. 1c shows the front side of the pull-tab card of FIG. 1a,
showing lifted serrated flaps.
FIG. 2 shows an pull-tab card with a scratch-off coating suitable
for .[.me.]. .Iadd.use .Iaddend.in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pull-tab gaming set according to
the present invention.
FIGS. 4a-b shown a winning card and a jackpot card according to the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sign for use with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a progressive pull-tab gaming system constructed
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A pull-tab card for use with the present invention is shown
generally at 10 in FIGS. 1a-c. Card 10 includes a front side 12 and
a back side 14, with a selectively revealable gaming section 16
disposed on the front side. The gaming section, in the preferred
embodiment, includes three serrated flaps 18 that can be lifted to
reveal underlying indicia 20 of the value of the card. Although
serrated regions are preferred, any other suitable selectively
revealable region could be used, including among others,
scratch-off coatings, such as shown in FIG. 2, or a separable
two-part card, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,299, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
In the context of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, pull-tab cards, such as card 10, typically form part of
a pull-tab gaming set as shown generally at 30 in FIG. 3. Card 10
also typically includes a printed gaming code 22, which is
different for each set and therefore can be used to distinguish
cards from different sets. Set 30 preferably includes three classes
of cards. The first class, which usually constitutes the majority
of the cards, is losers. Losing cards, such as card 10 in FIG. 1c,
are those that have no redemption value.
The second class of cards in set 30 is winners, which have fixed
non-zero values. Winner cards include an indicia of the amount of
their redemption value. For example, a card in the winner class may
have a value of $100, such as winner card 40 shown in FIG. 4a.
Thus, a player receiving that card could redeem it with the
operator of the game for $100. In the preferred embodiment, there
are a number of different sub-classes within the winner class, and
each sub-class has a different fixed value. In a typical set
consisting of 4,000 cards selling for $1 each, there might be 100
cards in the $1 sub-class, 20 cards in the $10 sub-class, 10 cards
in the $50 sub-class, 5 cards in the $100 sub-class and so on. Most
commonly, there are fewer cards in the higher value sub-classes and
more cards in the lower value sub-classes, although this is not
essential.
The third class in set 30 is the jackpot. In the preferred
embodiment, there is only one jackpot card, shown at 42 in FIG.
4b.[...]. .Iadd., .Iaddend.although there could be two or more
jackpot cards as desired. The jackpot card has an undetermined
redemption value. Thus, until it is received by a player, it is not
possible to determine what its value will be. The value of the
jackpot card is determined only during the play of the game, as
will be described below. In the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, as will be described in more detail below, the value of
the jackpot card will go up during the play of the game. It is this
increasing jackpot card value that provides the progressive aspect
of the present invention.
As mentioned above, each card in the set is printed with indicia of
its value. As shown in FIG. 1a, the back side of each card is
preferably printed with a chart listing the indicia for each
sub-class of winning cards as well as the jackpot class. The chart
also lists the number of cards in each class and sub-class, and the
value associated with each sub-class of the winning class. Any card
bearing an indicia other than those listed on the chart is a loser.
Thus, a player receiving a card will tear open the serrated section
to reveal the gaming section and indicia printed therein. By
comparing the indicia in the gaming section with those listed on
the chart, the player can determine the class/sub-class of the
card. For all cards other than the jackpot card, the player will
also know the value of the card. The jackpot card has indicia from
which the player can identify it as a jackpot card, but has an
undetermined redemption value.
A sign 32, such as shown in FIG. 5, is normally provided in the
general area where the cards are being dispensed to allow players
to monitor what winning cards remain to be distributed. The sign
includes a listing of each of the winning cards, and, as each
winning card is redeemed, the operator of the game covers one of
the listings for that sub-class of card, as shown at 34. Although
this procedure is not required, it allows a player to glance at the
sign and determine the number and type of winning cards
remaining.
A system for conducting a progressive pull-tab game according to
the present invention is shown generally at 100 in FIG. 6. System
100 typically includes one or more dispensing units, such as unit
102, configured to dispense pull-tab cards. In the preferred
embodiment, unit 102 is a Lucky Pick Model No. LP1, sold by Over
and Under Int'l Inc., of Clarkston, Wash., with a serial
communications chip added to enable communication with a computer
as will be subsequently described, although any other pull-tab
dispensing unit could be made suitable for use in the present
invention with minor modification. Each unit is essentially
identical and the subsequent description will be made with
particular reference to unit 102. A typical unit, such as unit 102,
would be able to hold approximately 4,000 pull-tab cards. This
amount may represent an entire pull-tab gaming set, or a set may
fill two or more units. Unit 102 holds cards in four racks 104, and
the cards in each rack are visible through an overlying window 106.
Having the cards visible allows the player to evaluate
approximately how many cards remain. By comparing the number of
remaining cards with the number of remaining winning cards as
indicated on poster 32, as described above, the player is able to
estimate the odds of receiving a winning card.
Beneath each window is a button 108 that the player can push to
dispense a card from the above stack. Providing the player the
ability to select the stacks gives the player some sense of control
over the game. After the player selects the stack, the card is
dispensed into a bin 110 disposed beneath the buttons. Players pay
for cards using a bill validator 112 built into the unit. A display
114 is provided to inform the player of how much credit they have
remaining from money put into the bill validator. Thus, a player
can feed the bill validator $20 to purchase twenty tickets at once.
The cards, however, are only dispensed one at a time as the player
selects and pushes one of the four buttons.
System 100 includes a control system 120 to which each of the units
are operatively connected, such as by a serial cable 122. In the
preferred embodiment, control system 120 is an IBM compatible
computer running software known as Progressive Pull-Tab Version
1.3, produced by Paradise Valley Electronics, of Moscow, .[.ID.].
.Iadd.Id..Iaddend., that allows the control system to communicate
with each of the dispensing units, although any suitable software
could be used. Control system 120 monitors the quantity of pull-tab
cards dispensed by the dispensing units. In the preferred
embodiment, each unit signals the control system when a player
purchases cards and when a card is dispensed. Also in the preferred
embodiment, the control system is a physically separated from the
dispensing units, but it could just as well be incorporated in one
of the dispensing units, or each unit could have its own control
system.
System 100 also includes a jackpot display 130 operatively
connected to the control system to display a jackpot value. In the
preferred embodiment, the software on the control system keeps
track of the jackpot value and sends information to the jackpot
display. The redemption value of the jackpot card is determined by
the jackpot value. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,
the jackpot is set to a predetermined value at the beginning of the
game, that is, when a new set of cards is loaded into the system to
be dispensed. As the control system receives signals indicating
sale of cards, it increases the jackpot value. For instance, the
jackpot value may be incremented by five-percent of the price of
each card, as they are sold. Although the jackpot value is
incremented for every card sale in the preferred embodiment, it
could be incremented less frequently, or additionally on occurrence
of other events. For example, the jackpot could be incremented once
for every five card sales or once every fifteen minutes, or both.
In the preferred embodiment, the jackpot value is incremented by
and stored in software in the computer, but the jackpot could be as
simple as a mechanical counter that was incremented for every
ticket sale or some fraction thereof.
As described above, a new game starts when a set of pull-tab cards,
such as set 30 described above, is loaded into one or more
dispensing units and the jackpot is set to a predetermined value. A
pull-tab card is then dispensed to a player from a dispensing unit
and the control system increments and displays the value of the
progressive jackpot. This sequence of displaying, dispensing and
incrementing is then repeated until the jackpot card is dispensed.
When the jackpot card is dispensed, the player receiving that card
is awarded the progressive jackpot.
Players receiving winning cards before or after the jackpot card is
dispensed are able to redeem them for the predetermined value of
the card. Thus, although the jackpot may have been awarded, the
play of the game may continue until all the cards are dispensed,
with the draw for players being the remaining winning cards.
Alternatively, the game could be stopped as soon as the jackpot
card is dispensed, or after all winning cards have been
redeemed.
As mentioned above, .[.them.]. .Iadd.there .Iaddend.may be more
than one jackpot card in a gaming set. One reason for including
additional jack-pot cards would be to prevent a player from holding
a jackpot card after receiving it. In a game where there is only
one jackpot card the player receiving it would be inclined to hold
the card while the game continued and the jackpot increased. This
could be unfair to fellow players who would not know that they are
no longer competing for the jackpot. In a game with two or more
jackpot cards, the player receiving the first card would be
inclined to turn it in rapidly so that another player would not get
the other jackpot card and turn it in first. If there were two or
more jackpot cards, the jackpot could be restarted after each
jackpot card was redeemed.
It would also be possible to address the problem of a player
holding the jackpot card by providing a time or current jackpot
value stamp on the card. Thus, a player would only receive the
jackpot value at the time the card was issued.
In the preferred embodiment, the control system may be connected to
a large number of dispensing units. The control system, using
identification codes and software is able to segregate these
dispensing units into various groups of one or more machines. Each
group can then be used to play an independent game. Thus, if there
are twenty-one dispensing units connected to the control system,
they may be divided into two groups of five, a group of ten, and a
group of one. Each group would then have an independent jackpot
display and separate gaming set. Preferably, of course, the group
with ten dispensing units would be used with a gaming set having
ten times as many cards as the gaming set for the group with one
dispensing unit.
In a progressive game it can be desirable to link multiple
machines, and therefore more players, in a single game because the
associated potential jackpot will generally go up with the number
of cards making up the game. For instance, if each dispensing unit
will hold 4,000 cards, then the group including ten dispensing
units can be filled with a gaming set including 40,000 cards. On
average, in a game with just one jackpot card, the jackpot will get
to a value ten-times larger before the jackpot card is dispensed in
a 40,000 card game than would be the case with a 4,000 card
game.
In the preferred embodiment, the operator is provided with complete
flexibility to control the parameters of the jackpot using the
control system. In particular, the operator of the game can, using
the software running on the control system, select the initial
value of the jackpot, i.e., $500. Also, in the preferred embodiment
the operator is also able to select an increment percentage for
each sale of a pull-tab card. Such values might range from a few
percent to 25-percent or more. If the value was 10-percent, then
for $1 cards the jackpot would be increased by 10.cent. for every
pull-tab card sale. The values are selected to make the game appeal
to players and maintain a profit for the operator. Thus, a large
initial jackpot value may be used in conjunction with a smaller
percentage increment. On the other hand, a large percentage
increment may be used with a small initial value. The control
system is also able to track total sales and various auditing data
from the dispensing units.
It will now be clear that an improvement in this art has been
provided which accomplishes the objectives set forth above. While
the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be
understood that the specific embodiments which have been depicted
and described are not to be considered in a limited sense because
there may be other forms which should also be construed to come
within the scope of the appended claims.
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