Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus and method for dispensing collectibles to a user comprising a housing with a user interface, such as displays, speakers, touch screens, push buttons, joy sticks, track balls, mouse(s), spinning dials, wheels, microphone and/or pull actuators. The user interface provides audio visual information related to one or more collectibles. A plurality of hoppers are coupled to a dispensing mechanism and are adapted to hold the collectibles. A controller is coupled to the user interface and the dispensing mechanism. The user may designate one or more collectibles through the user interface. The dispensing mechanism releases the designated collectibles from the appropriate hoppers. The apparatus and method may incorporate one or more games that may be configured to allow a user to affect the collectible being dispensed. Tracking the inventory of available collectibles may also affect the availability of specific collectibles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a non-provisional application which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/136,569, filed Sep. 10, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for its teachings and embodiments. 
     
    
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing collectibles or souvenirs to a user and a method therefore. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Commonly known collectible/souvenir dispensing devices typically involve the random dispensing of an item to be purchased from a common hopper containing an assortment of various available items. While these devices increase sales by incentivizing the consumer to make repeated purchases until the desired item or items are obtained through random chance, these devices quickly become frustrating and tiresome to the consumer and are additionally limited in their ability to deliver media presentations and advertising material to the consumer. These devices also fail to maximally engage the user because there is no feedback between the user&#39;s actions and the selection of the product to be dispensed. 
         [0004]    Other collectible/souvenir dispensing devices allow the consumer to select a desired product from among various available choices, wherein the device contains a dedicated hopper for each of the different product choices, from which the desired product is dispensed. While these devices ameliorate consumer frustration by providing the desired product, they fail to maximize sales because the consumer obtains the desired product on each attempt, thereby reducing the number of purchases by a particular consumer to the number of desired products. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, existing devices for dispensing collectible/souvenir items lack an attraction mode which, when the device is not being used by a customer, displays multimedia material on a visual display to stimulate consumer interest in the game. 
         [0006]    There is a need for a device or apparatus that dispenses collectible and/or souvenir products from a set of available choices in a way which is entertaining to the user and induces repeat purchases by the consumer. Specifically, there is a need for a device that dispenses collectible and/or souvenir products accompanied by the display of a random game event or skill event, wherein the selection of product dispensed is determined by the outcome of the displayed game event. 
         [0007]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,098 to Fleischer discloses a combination vending and slot machine, but the selection of the product dispensed is not actually determined by the outcome on the devices slot machine reels. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0276537 to Walker discloses a vending device that, after dispensing a product selected by a customer, randomly provides an entitlement to the customer following a game-themed presentation displaying the set of possible entitlement. However, none of the above-cited references discloses device of the invention. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The following section of the written description describes some of the objects of the present invention, but the section is not exhaustive of all of invention&#39;s objects. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that dispenses collectible and/or souvenir products from a set of available choices in a way which is entertaining to the user. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method that induces repeat purchases by the consumer. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device or apparatus that dispenses collectible and/or souvenir products accompanied by the display of a random game event or skill event, wherein the selection of product dispensed is determined by the outcome of the displayed game event. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device or apparatus that dispenses collectible and/or souvenir products that attracts consumers by displaying audio visual presentations about the products being dispensed. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of dispensing collectibles that allows the user to participate in a game that influences the selection of the product being dispensed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention is an apparatus for dispensing one or more collectibles, souvenirs or other novelty items (collectibles is used generically and may include souvenirs and novelties) to a user comprising a housing and a user interface coupled to the housing and adapted to accept user inputs and provide audio visual information to the user. It also comprises a plurality of hoppers adapted to hold the collectibles, a dispensing mechanism coupled to the plurality of hoppers, and a controller coupled to the user interface and the dispensing mechanism. Based upon the user designating one or more collectibles through the user interface, the controller causes the user interface to display information related to the one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism to release the designated one or more collectibles from corresponding one or more of the plurality of hoppers. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the user interface further comprises means for accepting payment from the user. By way of example, the means for accepting payment may be a bill reader, a coin slot, a magnetic card reader, a bar code reader and a radio frequency (rf) receiver, or a combination of these components. 
         [0016]    The user interface may include one or more of a touch screen, a push button, a joy stick, a track ball, a mouse, a spinning dial, a wheel, a microphone and a pull actuator. In one embodiment, the present invention the user interface includes a video display and speaker such that an audio/visual presentation is played to provide the user information related to the one or more collectibles. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the user interface includes a video display and speaker such that a multimedia presentation is played at predetermined times to attract users to the apparatus. 
         [0018]    The controller of the present invention may be coupled to sensors corresponding to the plurality of hoppers such that feedback regarding the quantity of collectibles within the individual hoppers. This information would allow for the controller to be programmed to prevent selection of a collectible that is no longer available, or to influence the selection of collectible to be dispensed to favor those having the greater number in inventory. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller is programmed to operate a game. The controller causes the user interface to display information related to one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism to release the one or more collectibles from corresponding one or more of the plurality of hoppers. In one embodiment, the user input effects the outcome of the game and may influence the selection of the one or more collectibles being dispensed. 
         [0020]    The present invention also includes a method for dispensing one or more collectibles to a user comprising the steps of providing a dispensing apparatus adapted to hold the one or more collectibles; operating a game event; displaying audio visual information regarding the one or more collectibles based upon the game event; selecting the one or more collectibles based upon the game event; and dispensing the one or more collectibles from the selecting step. In one embodiment of the method, the step of providing a dispensing apparatus includes the steps of furnishing a user interface and accepting input related to the game event via the user interface. In another embodiment of the method, the step of accepting input affects the outcome of the selecting step. The method may also further comprise the step of displaying audio visual information to attract prospective users to the dispensing apparatus. In addition, the embodiment may also include the step of determining the availability of the one or more collectibles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing, and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are shown and described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the collectibles dispensing apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram describing the interaction between the controller and the various components of the dispensing apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart describing the overall operation of different embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart describing one embodiment of the present invention in greater detail. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for dispensing one or more collectibles to a user. 
         [0027]    In the one embodiment, the apparatus  100  is enclosed in a housing  110 , similar to those employed in the prior art in ATM machines, video kiosks, or slot machine cabinets. 
         [0028]    The housing  110  contains a controller or control mechanism  250 , which in this embodiment is a CPU microprocessor, and which is coupled to the housing  110  and to a dispensing mechanism  130 , which it controls. In the embodiments shown the controller  250  is programmed with Visual Studio.net 2008 Team Suite Edition, Windows XP SP3, Dot net framework 3.5 spl, Microsoft DirectX, and Microsoft XNA, but may be programmed with any suitable software that is desired. The housing  110  contains means for the hoppers to be restocked by the appropriate personnel, such an access hatch or panel. Alternatively, any of the means commonly used in the art of vending devices for this purpose may be employed. 
         [0029]    The dispensing mechanisms  130  is one of any commonly known in the art of vending devices, with an aperture to the exterior of the housing  110  through which the user can retrieve the one or more collectibles, and is coupled to a plurality of hoppers  240 , adapted to hold the collectibles are contained in the housing  110 . Any number of hoppers  240  may be employed as is practical and desirable. In this embodiment, there are plurality of sensors which correspond to the hoppers  240  and adapted to sense the quantity of collectibles within the hoppers  240 . Optionally, the sensors may be adapted to sense merely whether any collectibles at all are present in the corresponding hopper  240 . In either case, the controller  250  is programmed to prevent selection of collectible based in input from said sensors. The controller  250  can be programmed to prevent selection of a collectible when the sensors indicate that the hopper  240  in question is empty, or when the sensors indicate that the quantity of collectible in the hopper  240  in question has fallen below some programmed threshold level, or when the sensors indicate that the quantity of collectibles in the hopper  240  in question has fallen below a certain threshold level relative to the quantity of collectibles in one or more of the other hoppers  240 . Optionally, any hoppers  240  commonly employed in prior art vending devices, with or without sensors, may be employed. 
         [0030]    Coupled to the housing  110  is a user interface  120 , which is adapted to accept user inputs and provide audio visual information to the user. In this embodiment, the user interface  120  contains means  200  for accepting payment from the user. In this embodiment the means  200  comprise a coin slot  210 , a bill acceptor  220 , and a magnetic card reader  230 . However, any combination of one more means  200  of accepting payment may be used. Other means  200  may also be used, including bar code readers, RF receivers, or any other payment acceptance means employed in vending devices. 
         [0031]    The user interface  120  includes a plurality of user inputs  128  which are chosen from the group of push buttons, joy sticks, track balls, mouses, spinning dials, wheels, microphones and pull actutators. These may be employed in any combination that is practical and desirable. Any other commonly known means of use input may also be employed in combination with the above inputs, or by itself, or among themselves. 
         [0032]    The user interface  120  also contains a video display  125  and speaker such that an audio/visual presentation is played when the controller  250  causes the user interface to display information  120  related to the one or more collectibles. In this embodiment, the video display and speaker also play an audio/visual presentation and predetermined times, as programmed into the controller  250 , to attract users to the apparatus. This is known as an Attraction Mode.  310  Optionally, the video display  125  and speaker can play other audio/visual presentations, either during the user-driven operation of the device or in the Attraction Mode.  310  These presentations may include educational information, promotion or marketing information, an info-commercial related to the collectibles, information about local attractions in the geographic area where the device is placed, or other information tailored to the location where the device is placed. 
         [0033]    In the this embodiment, the user interface  120  provides a touch screen which serves both to accept user input through tactile means and also to display visual information to the user. 
         [0034]    When not in use, the device is in Attraction Mode.  310  The user then provides payment through the means for accepting payment  200 , in the examples shown by inserting coins.  300 . The means for accepting payment  200  contains means for counting the payment submitted, in this case through the coin slot  210 , and undergoes a step of counting the payment.  320 . The number of credits equivalent to the value submitted is processed by the controller  250  and displayed on the user interface  120 . Excess credits can be accumulated for additional play  260 , or refunded via the means for accepting payment  200 . If the number of credits is insufficient to cover the programmed minimum cost of using the apparatus, the apparatus will execute the step of awaiting further payment  330  and will return to the payment insertion step  300 . Once a sufficient number of credits is registered, the apparatus goes into collectible vending mode  400 . In the embodiment shown, this can either consist of a direct vending mode  410 , in which the apparatus will dispense a coin selected by the user via the user interface  120  for a fixed price, or of a game which culminates in the dispensing of a coin at either a fixed price or at a randomly selected price. The game mode can be configured by service personnel to either charge a fixed price per play or a random price, in which case a randomly selected number of credits would be debited from the user&#39;s accumulated credit balance, according to the outcome of the game. In the embodiment shown, the games include a slot-machine style game  420  and a roulette wheel style game  430 . The device can hold any number of different games, according to its data capacity. A wide variety of games may be employed, including games of skill and games of chance. The device may be configured to provide the user the ability to select which of the available modes or games to play via the user interface  120 . In the alternative, the apparatus may be configured to only provide a single mode or game. The selection of available modes and games may be altered during service of the apparatus by accessing the controller  250 . 
         [0035]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , in the direct vending mode  410 , once sufficient payment is accepted, a coin selection screen  440  is displayed on the user interface  120  the user then designates one or more desired collectibles by providing an input  450  through the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . 
         [0036]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , in a game mode, once sufficient payment is accepted, a game screen, such as a slot machine screen  425 , or a roulette wheel screen  435  is displayed. The user initiates the game via input  450  to the user interface  120 . The random outcome of this game  280  is determined by the controller  250  and displayed via the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . 
         [0037]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , in the direct vending mode  410 , once sufficient payment is accepted, a coin selection screen  440  is displayed on the user interface  120  the user then designates one or more desired collectibles by providing an input  450  through the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles. The controller  250  then activates  340  the appropriate hopper  240  and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . If the hopper  240  is empty, the controller activates another hopper  240 , until a hopper with collectibles is activated  350 . The controller  250  saves a transaction record and conducts an inventory of the collectibles  360 . The apparatus then returns to Attraction Mode  310 . 
         [0038]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , in a game mode, once sufficient payment is accepted, a game screen, such as a slot machine screen  425 , or a roulette wheel screen  435  is displayed. The user initiates the game via input  450  to the user interface  120 . The outcome of this game  280 , either random or influenced by user input via the user interface  120 , is determined by the controller  250  and displayed via the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . If the hopper  240  is empty, the controller activates another hopper  240 , until a hopper with collectibles is activated  350 . The controller  250  saves a transaction record and conducts an inventory of the collectibles  360 . The apparatus then returns to Attraction Mode  310 . 
         [0039]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , in the direct vending mode  410 , once sufficient payment is accepted, a coin selection screen  440  is displayed on the user interface  120  the user then designates one or more desired collectibles by providing an input  450  through the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles. The controller  250  then activates  340  the appropriate hopper  240  and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . The apparatus then returns to Attraction Mode  310 . 
         [0040]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , in a game mode, once sufficient payment is accepted, a game screen, such as a slot machine screen  425 , or a roulette wheel screen  435  is displayed. The user initiates the game via input  450  to the user interface  120 . The outcome of this game  280 , either random or influenced by user input via the user interface  120 , is determined by the controller  250  and displayed via the user interface  120 . The controller  125  causes the user interface  120  to display information  460  related to the one or more collectibles and causes the dispensing mechanism  130  to dispense  270  the designated one or more collectibles from the corresponding hopper or hoppers  240 . The apparatus then returns to Attraction Mode  310 . 
         [0041]    It will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description has been made in terms only of the most preferred specific embodiments. Therefore, many other changes and modifications clearly and easily can be made that are also useful and outside the existing art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]    It is important to note that the embodiments of the invention described below are only examples of some of the uses of the teachings described herein. In general, statements made in the specification do not limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. Unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. Similar reference numerals and letters represent similar components and system features throughout the drawings and the written description. The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within scope and spirit of the present invention.