Abstract:
A game piece for playing a promotional game and a method of playing a promotional game. The game piece includes a housing, a battery, a plurality of a signaling devices, a removable tab, and a timing circuit. The timing circuit is activated by removing the tab. The first signaling device is illuminated immediately. After a predetermined amount of time the remaining signaling devices are illuminated. Some game pieces are programmed to illuminate all signaling devices, while others are programmed to illuminate less than all of the signaling devices; however all game pieces are identical. The game is played by distributing game pieces to patrons of an establishment. The removable tab on each game piece is removed, beginning the timing circuit. After a predetermined amount of time, the final signaling device on “winning” game pieces will activate. The establishment will award prizes to patrons holding a winning game piece.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/498,013, filed 2 Aug. 2006. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for a game wherein prizes are awarded. Various establishments seek to attract and retain patrons by offering something of value to prospective patrons. Some establishments offer a free gift to every person entering the establishment, or to every person entering the establishment and meeting certain predetermined qualifications. However, such a giveaway does not encourage patrons to remain in the establishment. 
         [0003]    Other games may utilize an element of random chance. For example, tokens bearing an indicia may be distributed to prospective patrons. Different prizes may be associated with some or all of the different indicia. The prospective patron must enter the establishment to determine what, if any prize he has won. However, in a game such as this security measures must be employed to prevent the persons distributing the tokens from identifying the tokens bearing the indicia associated with the most valuable prizes and diverting those tokens for their own use. These security measures increase the cost of conducting the game. Further, once the prospective patron has entered the establishment to determine what, if any, prize he has won, the game is over and he has no incentive to remain at the establishment. 
         [0004]    Therefore it is desired to provide a game wherein all the game pieces appear the same, so as to reduce the costs of security. Further, it is desired to provide a game which will induce patrons to remain in the establishment in order to receive a prize. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    The present invention is a method of practicing a promotional game, and a game piece adapted to be used in the game. 
         [0006]    The game piece includes a housing, a battery, a plurality of signaling devices, a timing circuit, and a removable tab. The signaling devices may be a light, such as a light emitting diode (LED) and/or an audio speaker. The battery, signaling devices, and timing circuit are enclosed within the housing. The removable tab has a portion which extends from the housing and a portion which is located inside the housing. The removable tab is initially positioned such that it touches the battery and interrupts the circuit. When the tab is removed, the circuit is completed and the timer begins. The timing circuit is preprogrammed to instantly trigger the first signaling device. The timing circuit is further preprogrammed to trigger the successive signaling devices at preset time intervals. In use, a predetermined number of game pieces are preprogrammed to trigger all of the signaling devices. The remainder of the game pieces are preprogrammed to trigger some, but not all, of the signaling devices. The game pieces preprogrammed to trigger all of the signaling devices will be “winning” game pieces. In this manner, the winning game pieces will be indistinguishable from the nonwinning game pieces by visual or tactile inspection. 
         [0007]    The method of playing the game includes randomly distributing game pieces to patrons. The removable tab is then removed from the game piece. The patron then waits a predetermined amount of time to see if their game piece is a winner. Alternatively, the patron may leave the venue where the game piece is distributed and then return if the game piece is a winner. As another alternative, the patron may be directed from one venue to another either before or after it is determined if the game piece is a winner. The length of the predetermined amount of time may or may not be disclosed to the patron. If the game piece is a winner, the patron will be awarded a prize. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a simplified sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a simplified sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a game piece  10  according to the present invention. The game piece  10  of the present invention may take many forms, including, but not limited to a pin, button, badge, necklace, or fob. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the game piece  10  includes a housing  12 .  FIG. 2  shows the inside of the game piece  10 . Inside the housing  12  is timing circuit  14  including at least one battery  16  and at least one light emitting diode (LED)  18 . Such simple electrical circuits  14  are well known in the art. The battery  16  or batteries are preferably held in a connection plate (not shown) which mechanically and electrically connects the battery is to the rest of the circuit  14 . The game piece  10  further includes a removable tab  20 . The tab  20  initially sits between the battery  16  and the connection plate. When the tab  20  is removed, the electrical connection is made, and the timing begins. Once the timing circuit reaches the predetermined waiting time, the LED  18  is illuminated. The housing  12  of the game piece  12  may include openings  30  in the front surface of the housing, through which the LEDs  18  extend. 
         [0014]    The game piece  10  may include a pin  22  attached to the back of the housing  12 . The pin  22  may be of any known type typically used. The pin  22  allows the patron to attach the game piece  10  to his or her clothing. 
         [0015]    The game piece  10  may further be provided with promotional indicial  32 . The promotional indicia  32  may be of any type, including, but not limited to, a slogan or logo for the establishment or a product sold or service provided at the establishment. The promotional indicia may be applied to the housing  12  of the game piece  10  by any means, including, but not limited to, attaching a decal, sticker, or label to the housing  12 , painting the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , printing the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , engraving the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , molding the indicia  32  into the housing  12 , or stamping the indicia  32  on the housing  12 . 
         [0016]    An alternate embodiment of the game piece  110  is shown in  FIG. 4 . This embodiment includes a hole  124 . Among other uses, this hole may be attached to a ring, such as in a key chain. The interior circuitry and battery is not shown, but is essentially the same as the preferred embodiment described herein, including the removable tab  120 . The game piece  110  may be provided with promotional indicia  132  on the housing  112 . 
         [0017]    An alternate embodiment of a game piece  210  is shown in  FIG. 3 . This shows a circuit  214  including removable tab  220  and both LEDS  218  and a speaker  226 . In this embodiment the speaker is preprogrammed to play a sound when the timing circuit reaches its predetermined waiting time. It is contemplated that any sound could be played, including a prerecorded voice message or a song. It is contemplated that the game pieces  210  could have LEDS  218 , a speaker  226 , or both. This embodiment also includes a reset button  228 . The reset button  228  is aligned with a small hole  230  in the housing. Engagement of the reset button  228  will interrupt the circuit  214  and cause the illumination of the LEDs  218  and/or playing of the sound to end. The housing (not shown) of the game piece of this embodiment may also be provided with a hole through which the sound may be transmitted. 
         [0018]    The game is played using two types of game pieces, live game pieces and dead game pieces. The game pieces are substantially identical in appearance and weight. However, the live game pieces have timing circuits that can be activated while the dead game pieces cannot be activated. Because both types of game pieces use substantially identical batteries and circuits, it is not possible to distinguish between live game pieces and dead game pieces on the basis of appearance or weight. In this manner, patrons do not instantly know if their game piece is live or dead. Patrons must wait for a predetermined amount of time to find out if their game piece is live or dead. 
         [0019]    One purpose of the game is to provide patrons with an incentive to stay in the establishment. The intent is that the longer the patron stays in the establishment, the more money the patron will spend in the establishment. 
         [0020]    This method of gaming can be used in any situation where a proprietor desires to have patrons remain in the proprietor&#39;s establishment for an extended period of time. For the purposes of explanation and not to be limiting, this method of gaming could be utilized in a bar, a casino, a sporting event, a festival, or any other gathering of people. 
         [0021]    The length of time between removal of the tab  20  and activation of the LED  18  is determined by the proprietor and is set during the manufacture of the game piece  10 . The length of time may be influenced by the type of establishment in which the game is to be played. If the game is to be played at a sporting event which lasts for two hours, the timer may run for one and one half hours before activating the LED  18 / 218  and/or speaker  226 . 
         [0022]    A game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is designed to attract patrons to an establishment and to retain the patrons in the establishment. The owner the sponsor of the game or owner of the establishment would first decide how many game pieces  10  are needed and what percentage of the game pieces will capable of being activated (i.e. winning game pieces). 
         [0023]    To play the game the prospective patron must visit the establishment or venue where the game pieces are distributed. Upon receiving a game piece, the patron or player will remove the tab  18 . This activates the timer in the circuit  14 . 
         [0024]    If the patron receives a live game piece  10 , the LED  18  will light up and/or the speaker will sound after a predetermined amount of time. The patron will then go to a redemption location to receive a prize. 
         [0025]    The redemption location may be a specific location within the establishment, or may be an alternate location. For example, the game piece  10  may be distributed at a sporting event and the timer may be programmed to activate on winning game pieces prior to the end of the event. Winners will then directed to another establishment, such a bar, restaurant or retailer within a specific amount of time to claim their prize. As another example, each game piece  10  may be distributed at a specific location, such as a booth at a trade show. Each patron then continues to view other booths at the trade show but must return to the both where the game piece was distributed if it is determined that the game piece is a winner. As yet another example, each game piece  10  may be distributed to a selected number of patrons in an establishment, as opposed to all patrons in order to allow the sponsor of the game to enhance the odds of winning or value of the prize or prizes awarded. It is to be understood that the venue or venues where the game pieces  10  are distributed and where the prizes are awarded, along with the number of players eligible to participate in each game can change without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    The preferred embodiment of the game piece is similar to the embodiment described above, however the game piece includes at least 3 LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The game piece  10  may take many forms, including, but not limited to a pin, button, badge, necklace, or fob. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the game piece  10  includes a housing  12 .  FIG. 2  shows the inside of the game piece  10 . Inside the housing  12  is timing circuit  14  including at least one battery  16  and at least three LED  18 ,  34 ,  36 . The battery  16  or batteries are preferably held in a connection plate (not shown) which mechanically and electrically connects the battery is to the rest of the circuit  14 . The game piece  10  further includes a removable tab  20 . The tab  20  initially sits between the battery  16  and the connection plate. When the tab  20  is removed, the electrical connection is made, and the timing begins. At the time the electrical connection is made the first LED  18  is illuminated. Once the timing circuit  14  reaches a first predetermined waiting time, for example  20  minutes, the second LED  34  is illuminated. Once the timing circuit  14  reaches a second predetermined waiting time, for example thirty minutes, the third LED  36  may be illuminated. The housing  312  of the game piece  10  may include openings  30  in the front surface of the housing  12 , through which the LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  extend. 
         [0027]    The LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  may be of any type common in the art. The LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  may flash when illuminated, or may be constantly illuminated. Further, each LED  18 ,  34 ,  36  may remain illuminated as the additional LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  are illuminated, or each LED  18 ,  34 ,  36  may turn off as consecutive LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  are illuminated. For example, when the second LED  34  is illuminated the first LED  18  may remain illuminated. When the third LED  36  is illuminated the second LED  34  and the first LED  18  may remain illuminated. Alternatively, when the second LED  34  is illuminated, the first LED  18  may be turned off. When the third LED  36  is illuminated, the second LED  34  may be turned off. 
         [0028]    The LEDS  18 ,  34 ,  36  may be colored, or may be clear. Further, each LED  18 ,  34 ,  36  may be of a different color, or the LEDS may all be the same color. 
         [0029]    In the preferred embodiment, the game piece  10  is attached to a necklace or chain of beads through an opening in the housing. However, it may be desirable for the game piece  10  may include a pin  22  attached to the back of the housing  12 . The pin  22  may be of any known type typically used. The pin  22  allows the patron to attach the game piece  10  to his or her clothing. 
         [0030]    The game piece  10  may further be provided with promotional indicial  32 . The promotional indicia  32  may be of any type, including, but not limited to, a slogan or logo for the establishment or a product sold or service provided at the establishment. The promotional indicia may be applied to the housing  12  of the game piece  10  by any means, including, but not limited to, attaching a decal, sticker, or label to the housing  12 , painting the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , printing the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , engraving the indicia  32  on the housing  12 , molding the indicia  32  into the housing  12 , or stamping the indicia  32  on the housing  12 . 
         [0031]    An alternate embodiment of the game piece  110  is shown in  FIG. 4 . This embodiment includes an opening  124 . Among other uses, this opening may be attached to a ring, such as in a key chain. The interior circuitry and battery is not shown, but is essentially the same as the preferred embodiment described herein, including the removable tab  20 . The game piece  110  may be provided with promotional indicia  32  on the housing  112 . 
         [0032]    An alternate embodiment of a game piece  210  is shown in  FIG. 3 . This shows a circuit  14  including removable tab  20  and both LEDS  18 ,  34 ,  36  and a speaker  26 . In this embodiment the speaker  26  is preprogrammed to play a sound when the timing circuit  314  reaches one of the predetermined waiting times. It is contemplated that any sound could be played, including a prerecorded voice message or a song. It is contemplated that the game pieces  510  could have LEDS  18 ,  34 ,  36 , a speaker  26 , or both. 
         [0033]    For example, the game piece could be configured with three LEDS  18 ,  34 ,  36  and one speaker  26  such that when the tab  20  is removed, the electrical connection is made, and the timing begins. At the time the electrical connection is made the first LED  18  may be illuminated. Once the timing circuit  14  reaches a first predetermined waiting time, the second LED  34  is illuminated. Once the timing circuit  14  reaches a second predetermined waiting time, the third LED  36  may be illuminated and the pre-recorded message or music may be played. 
         [0034]    This embodiment also includes a reset button  28 . The reset button  28  is aligned with a small hole  30  in the housing. Engagement of the reset button  28  will interrupt the circuit  14  and cause the illumination of the LEDs  18 ,  34 ,  36  and/or playing of the sound to end. The housing (not shown) of the game piece of this embodiment may also be provided with a hole through which the sound may be transmitted. 
         [0035]    Alternately, the game piece could be configured with two LEDs  18 ,  34  and one speaker  26  such that when the tab  20  is removed, the electrical connection is made, and the timing begins. At the time the electrical connection is made the first LED  18  may be illuminated. Once the timing circuit  314  reaches a first predetermined waiting time, the second LED  34  is illuminated. Once the timing circuit  14  reaches a second predetermined waiting time, the pre-recorded message or music may be played. 
         [0036]    The game is played using two types of game pieces  10 , winning game pieces and nonwinning game pieces. The game pieces  10  are substantially identical in appearance and weight. However, the winning game pieces  10  have timing circuits  14  that will active all three LEDS  18  while the non-winning game pieces have timing circuits  14  that will only activate the first two LEDS  18 ,  34 . Because both types of game pieces  10  use substantially identical batteries  16  and circuits  14 , it is not possible to distinguish between winning game pieces and non-winning game pieces on the basis of appearance or weight. In this manner, patrons do not instantly know if their game piece  10  is winning or non-winning. Patrons must wait for a predetermined amount of time to find out if their game piece  10  is winning or non-winning. 
         [0037]    The length of time between removal of the tab  20  and activation of the second and third LEDs  34 ,  36  is determined by the proprietor and is set during the manufacture of the game piece  10 . The length of time may be influenced by the type of establishment in which the game is to be played. For example, if the game is to be played at a sporting event which lasts for two hours, the timer may run for 30 minutes before activating the first LED  18  and another 30 minutes before activating the second LED  34 . 
         [0038]    A game in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is designed to attract patrons to an establishment and to retain the patrons in the establishment. The sponsor of the game or owner of the establishment would first decide how many game pieces  310  are needed and what percentage of the game pieces  310  will be winning game pieces. The sponsor or owner will then be provided with an appropriate number of winning and non-winning game pieces. 
         [0039]    To play the game the prospective patron must visit the establishment or venue where the game pieces  10  are distributed. Upon receiving a game piece  10 , the patron or player will remove the tab  20 . This activates the timer in the circuit  14 . 
         [0040]    The first LED  18  will light up immediately after the tab  20  is pulled. This verifies that the game piece  10  is operating properly. The second LED  34  will light up after a predetermined amount of time. This further verifies that the game piece is operating properly. If the patron receives a winning game piece, the third LED  36  will light up and/or the speaker will sound after a predetermined amount of time. The patron will then go to a redemption location to receive a prize. Because the first and second LEDs  18 ,  34  will be illuminated on every game piece  10 , not just on winning game pieces, game patrons can be assured that their game piece  10  is functioning correctly. 
         [0041]    The redemption location may be a specific location within the establishment, or may be an alternate location. For example, the game piece  10  may be distributed at a sporting event and the timer may be programmed to activate the third LED  36  on winning game pieces prior to the end of the event. Winners will then directed to another establishment, such a bar, restaurant or retailer within a specific amount of time to claim their prize. As another example, each game piece  10  may be distributed at a specific location, such as a booth at a trade show. Each patron then continues to view other booths at the trade show but must return to the both where the game piece was distributed if it is determined that the game piece is a winner. As yet another example, each game piece  10  may be distributed to a selected number of patrons in an establishment, as opposed to all patrons in order to allow the sponsor of the game to enhance the odds of winning or value of the prize or prizes awarded. It is to be understood that the venue or venues where the game pieces  10  are distributed and where the prizes are awarded, along with the number of players eligible to participate in each game can change without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.