Abstract:
A promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence of characters or symbols. The gaming device is comprised of a substrate having at least one row of location designating symbols and at least one column of location designating symbols disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a combination of at least one of the symbols from the row and at least one of the symbols from the column. Groups of sequence representing elements are disposed on the substrate which represent elements having a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one of the symbols from the row and at least one of the symbols from the column. A promotional product label having a plurality of marks disposed thereon is addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the substrate is placed over the promotional product label, and each of the marks identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a reusable gaming device, more particularly to a promotional gaming device which can be used in conjunction with various promotional media. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
     Gaming is an entertainment activity with an increasingly widespread availability involving numerous applications. Presently, gaming is a diverse industry implementing a large variety of systems that enable players to participate in various forms of traditional games of chance such as instant ticket-type games, traditional lottery drawing games, and match games as well as more sophisticated electronic and video games. 
     One system of gaming is that of the instant ticket game. In the case of typical paper instant tickets, a computer generates a randomized prize data stream comprised of a finite series of win/lose outcomes. Each outcome is assigned to a lottery ticket, and each ticket contains one or more game chances which yield the assigned outcome. The player cannot change the ticket outcome; he or she merely scratches off an opaque covering on the ticket in accordance with the rules of the game to reveal win/lose results or prize status. 
     Remote gaming systems, and more particularly, off-line systems for playing games of chance including instant-type lottery games typically embody playing tickets on a game computer. These systems offer the same convenience as typical paper scratch-off tickets without the gaming computer ever having to be physically or electronically connected to a lottery system network during play. 
     In both types of instant win games, the primary benefit to the maker of the game is an incoming revenue stream. The advantage to players of instant-win tickets is the ability to obtain immediate gratification. Unlike holders of tickets for scheduled prize drawings, for example, who must await completion of the drawings to determine whether they have won any prize, purchasers of instant-win tickets are able to discern the extent of their successful play immediately after acquiring the tickets. However, empirical evidence suggests that some purchasers prefer greater involvement with the games presented on the tickets than many instant-win tickets typically provide. As a consequence, more recently created games have been extended to provide additional play tickets. These types of games are either multiple in number or are not limited to removing a single opaque covering. 
     Match games of chance such as Bingo and Keno are also becoming more popular world wide, particularly in the United States. Bingo parlors are proliferating, both as charity fund raisers and as legal for-profit ventures. Also, currently at least 30 state and provincial lotteries have adopted a bingo card format for their instant prize winner lottery cards. These cards are typically “Scratcher Bingo” games in which a caller&#39;s card and as many as four separate bingo squares are displayed. The player scratches off the play spaces which match numbers on the caller&#39;s card, attempting a traditional bingo match of vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines or four corners. The game cards can take a full 10 to 15 minutes to complete and are popular due to the hands-on participation required. Typically a player has a chance to win multiple prizes from a single card via the multiple bingo squares. Keno, although less well known, is proliferating as well with the expansion of legal gambling facilities. 
     Until recently, game creators were unaware of any effort (other than their own) to link games of chance with the personal computers of those who purchase the instant-type lottery tickets or play match games such as Bingo or Keno. However, a 1996 brochure of Gizmo Enterprises, Inc. entitled “Interactive Multimedia Lottery Ticket” touts a product called “WinWare.” According to the brochure, “WinWare” is “an improved lottery ticket that increases the excitement of lottery play.” Players purchase tickets from existing retailers, then use their home computer or a retail gaming system to play interactive lottery games. There is no skill involved because the outcome of the game is controlled by the ticket. When players win they simply bring their tickets back to the retailer and collect the prize. 
     It is apparent that with the recent widespread popularity of personal computers, the availability of on-line services, the increasing popularity of instant-type lottery and match games such as Bingo and Keno, and the increasing popularity of gaming in general, a faster and more convenient method of gaming entertainment could be developed using the Internet. Once proclaimed to be the “information superhighway,” the Internet has now become the “advertisement superhighway,” and, as such, is able to provide gaming opportunities directly to a person in the privacy of his own home through cyberspace while at the same time exposing the person to a manufacturer&#39;s line of product. 
     In addition to Internet gaming, regardless of whether it is provided to the consumer strictly for his own entertainment or to induce him to purchase consumer products, a more desirable and convenient method of promoting the sale of consumer products could be developed. Such a promotion method could limit, or even eliminate, the requirement for paper manufacturer&#39;s coupons and could allow manufacturers an opportunity to promote specific products without altering product containers or attaching special coupons to the products or store shelves. The method could also allow consumers to personally select product categories and products within the selected categories for refund or discount information in advance of their shopping trip, and, to be effective, the method could generate consumer interest and excitement by the use of a game format for the selected product categories. Finally, the method would save valuable natural resources by specifically targeting rebate and coupon offers only to those consumers who actively solicit such offers. 
     Because of the increased interest in instant-ticket type games, traditional lottery-drawing games, and match games such as Bingo and Keno, there is a need to provide people with an easily accessible forum to afford them the opportunity to participate in recreational gaming. Furthermore, because there is an ever-increasing need to conserve valuable natural resources, the linking of recreational gaming with the potential to reduce environmental waste may serve that end. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention contemplates a reusable promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence of characters or symbols. The invention consists of a substrate having at least two rows of location designating symbols so that a position may be designated by a combination of at least one of the symbols from each row. The invention also contemplates groups of sequence representing elements disposed on the substrate. These sequence representing elements have a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one of the symbols from each row of location designating symbols. The invention furthermore contemplates a promotional product label having marks disposed on the label. Each of the marks are addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the substrate is placed over the promotional product label. Each mark furthermore identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence. 
     The substrate of the gaming device may be either transparent or translucent. The location designating symbols are arranged in a row and in a column, and the sequence representing elements may be comprised of either integers or letters. These sequence representing elements may be predisposed on the substrate in either varying patterns or in a random fashion. 
     The invention also contemplates a method of playing a game using a gaming device. The first step in playing the game is the placing of a gaming card over marks disposed on a promotional product label. The gaming card is a substrate having at least two rows and at least two columns of designating symbols disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one symbol from each row and each column. The substrate has disposed onto it groups of sequence representing elements having corresponding positions designated by a positional combination of at least one of the designating symbols from each row and column. Each of the marks disposed on the promotional product label is addressable by one of the sequence representing elements disposed on the substrate when the gaming card is placed over the promotional product label. 
     Subsequent steps in playing the game involve locating each address where the marks on the promotional product label are visible below each of the sequence representing elements, identifying a corresponding sequence element which forms a portion of a gaming sequence, and comparing the gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined winning sequence. 
     In the method of playing the game the substrate may be either transparent or translucent, and the location designating symbols are arranged in a row and in a column. The sequence representing elements may be comprised of integers or letters, and they may be disposed onto the substrate in either varying patterns or in a random manner. 
     The invention further contemplates a promotional gaming device for determining whether a player has matched a predetermined winning sequence. This device contains a first graphical element having at least one row and at least one column of location designating symbols. These location designating symbols are disposed in relation to each other so that a position may be designated by a positional combination of at least one symbol from one row and at least one symbol from one column. 
     The device also contains groups of sequence representing elements that are displayed on the first graphical element. These sequence representing elements have a corresponding position designated by the positional combination of at least one symbol from each row and at least one symbol from each column. 
     The device further contains a second graphical element having marks disposed on it. Each of the marks are addressable by one of the sequence representing elements when the first graphical element is place over the second graphical element, and each mark identifies a sequence representing element that in combination forms a gaming sequence which can be compared to the predetermined winning sequence. 
     The graphical elements may be displayed electronically on a computer screen. The computer screen may be connected to a remote database, and the remote database may be located on the Internet. 
     In this embodiment of the promotional gaming device, the user can position a computer-imaged cursor over the first graphical element and activate a dragging element enabling the user to position the first graphical element over the second graphical element. The marks can be perceived through the first graphical element and can be correlated with sequence representing elements, which are compared to a predetermined winning sequence. The graphical elements of the gaming device may have a unique identifying code associated with them enabling them to be validated by the game administrator. 
     Another method of playing the game using a gaming device as above can be carried out by placing a gaming card over marks preprinted onto an item, locating each address where the marks are visible below each of the sequence representing elements when the gaming card is placed over the promotional product label, collecting points based on the result of a mathematical computation derived from the integral values corresponding to the marks at each of the addresses, and redeeming the points collected from the mathematical computation for a prize. 
     The game can furthermore be played using a telephone by calling a telephone number designated by the game administrator and listening to pre-recorded messages or advertisements. The caller would then obtain information specifying a location at which a gaming device would be placed, place the gaming device at that place over a group of marks disposed on a promotional product label, and locate each address where the marks are visible below each of the sequence representing elements. The player then identifies a corresponding sequence element that forms a portion of a gaming sequence and compares the gaming sequence representing elements to a predetermined sequence. This gaming method may also have a unique identifying code associated with it for validation purposes, and it may be played across a telephonic paging system. Furthermore, the inventive system may be used in conjunction with an Interactive Voice Telephony system or an Interactive Voice Response/Recognition system. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention contemplates a method for obtaining biographical and geographical information relating to a consumer. The first step of this method is the electronic interconnection of an electronic computer with a remote database which may be connected at an Internet site. The second step is the electronic displaying on the computer monitor of advertisements and a graphical element which can be dragged over and dropped onto a second graphical element which contains marks. The marks on this second graphical element are addressable by sequence representing elements when the first graphical element is dragged and dropped over the marks. The third step is the allowance of a player to collect a prize if the player&#39;s first graphical element recites a winning sequence. The final step involves the player&#39;s collection of his prize in exchange for the player giving biographical and geographical information relating to himself which can be used in demographic studies by the promoter of the game. 
     Still another aspect of the invention contemplates a method of verifying information collected by comparing a first piece of data collected to a subsequent piece of data collected. The first piece of data is then compared to the second piece of data, and, if the two pieces of data are in response to the same question and if they differ, the data is flagged and verified by the game administrator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment of the invention and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a plane view of one embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 2 is a plane view of one embodiment of the recording means of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cut-away view of the recording means shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 5 is a plane view of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 6 is a plane view of the gaming device shown in use; 
     FIG. 7 is a plane view of the recording means of the gaming device shown in use; 
     FIG. 8 is a plane view of the gaming device showing the recording means at a correct location; 
     FIG. 9 is a plane view of another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 10 is a plane view of yet another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 11 is a plane view of still another embodiment of the substrate of the gaming device; 
     FIG. 11 a  is a plane view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside of its protective sleeve; 
     FIG. 12 is a plane view of the inventive system applied to an Internet gaming scheme and illustrating a web page of a manufacturer subscribing to the gaming system; 
     FIG. 13 is a computer-screen view of a web page illustrating a virtual substrate and a virtual recording means; 
     FIG. 13 a  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the reference and winning numbers are given over a computer system, but the game is played with a physical gaming device; 
     FIG. 14 is a plane view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside its protective sleeve and having an identifying number printed directly on the substrate; and 
     FIG. 15 is a plane view of the substrate of the gaming device placed partially inside its protective sleeve and having an identifying number printed directly on the protective sleeve. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the gaming device  10  comprises a substrate  12 , which may be made from plastic, paper, or a similar material. Further, the substrate  12  may be transparent, colored, or frosted and have a header portion  13  which is opaque to facilitate printing on the front and backsides of the header portion  13 , for example, for printing the name and/or logo of a business. Location designating means are disposed on the substrate  12  by printing, etching or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the location designating means comprises first location designating symbols, such as letters  14  disposed on the substrate in a row and second location designating symbols, such as numerals  16  disposed on the substrate  12  in a column. A location  18  (for example H3) is thus designated by the letter H of the first location designating symbols  14  and the numeral 3 of the second location designating symbols. 
     Sequence representing means, such as sequence representing numerals, in this case the integers from 0 to 9, are disposed on the substrate  12  in groups. For example, in this embodiment, the first group is enclosed in dashed-box  20  and a second group is enclosed in dashed-box  21 . In this embodiment, each group, for example,  20  and  21 , consists of five consecutive rows and two adjacent columns, comprising the integers 0 through 9. Each group has a sequence of the integers 0 through 9 that is different from the sequence of its adjacent groups. Thus, by placing a plurality of groups side-by-side, the sequence representing numerals appear random. Or, the sequence representing numerals may actually be placed on the card in a random manner. Alternatively, the formation of the groups may consist of [, for example,] one row or column comprising the integers 0 through 9. Additionally, symbols (such as letters) representing numerals may comprise the sequence representing means. 
     FIG. 2 shows recording means  22  of the gaming device  10 . In this embodiment, the recording means  22  is made up of individual cells  24  of a grid system  26 . The recording means  22  records a predetermined sequence, such as the winning or losing numbers of a lottery-type game. The recording means  22  in this embodiment includes location aiding means  29  which is a portion marked by a shadowed area or some other mark that helps to align the recording means with the sequence representing means (shown in FIG.  1 ). FIG. 3 is a cutaway view showing the layers comprising the recording means  22 . In this embodiment the recording means  22  is printed directly on the manufacturer&#39;s products, promotional items, or direct mail items. Alternatively, the recording means  22  may include a sheet member  23  which is paper backed by an adhesive  25 . The adhesive  25  is protected by a protective backing  27 , which may be peeled away so that the recording means  22  may be adhered to the packaging of a manufacturer&#39;s product or the product itself. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an intended use of the first embodiment of the gaming device  10  will be described. The substrate  12  has a plurality of first location designating symbols, such as letters  14  disposed in a row. A plurality of second location designating symbols, such as numerals  16 , are disposed in a column. The first and second location designating symbols are disposed in relation to each other so that a location  18  may be designated by a combination of one of the first location designating symbols, for example the letter H, and one of the second location designating symbols, for example the numeral 3. Thus, as shown by a line-of-sight line  33 , the location aiding means  29  of the recording means  22  is located at location H3 (as shown in FIG.  5 ). Therefore, the player merely has to be supplied with location H3 by the game maker in order to correctly line up the recording means  22  with the substrate  12 . A combination of a letter  14  and a numeral  16  may be selected for designating the location where the substrate  12  will be placed to determine the numbers to be compared to a sequence of potentially winning numbers. In this manner, D7 can be selected as the location in which case the player places the substrate  12  to determine whether a pattern printed on the recording means  22  corresponds to a predetermined sequence of numbers and is thus the winning sequence. 
     Referring to FIG.  4  through FIG. 7, the recording means  22  is comprised of a paper sheet  23  having an adhesive backing  25 . To determine his win/lose status the player places the substrate  12  over the recording means  22  so that the grid system  26  of the recording means  22  lines up with the sequence representing means or a grid system  26  disposed on the substrate  12  (shown in FIG.  10 ). The locating means  28  of the recording means  22  is thus visible through the substrate  12  at a selected location, in this case, H3. Next, the player determines which numbers on the substrate  12  correspond with a preprinted pattern or marks  30  on the recording means. For example, as shown in FIG.  5  through FIG. 7, if the winning sequence is 7336, the preprinted pattern or marks  30  on the recording means  22  will correspond to those numbers on the substrate. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the manufacturer may remove the sheet member  23  from its protective backing  27  to expose the adhesive  25  and place the recording means  22  on its product or packaging, or it may preprint the recording means directly onto its product, packaging, direct mail, or any other material. 
     For example, the recording means  22  can be printed on a package of a manufacturer&#39;s food product, and the consumer can determine if he is a winner by placing his substrate  12  over the printed recording means  22 . If the printed recording means  22  corresponds to the proper predetermined sequence of numbers, the consumer is a winner. The consumer then notifies the manufacturer of the winning sequence, and the manufacturer verifies the winning by matching the pattern on the recording means  22  with the serial number of the substrate  12 . Once the consumer contacts the manufacturer to notify the manufacturer that the consumer has matched the sequence, the manufacturer has obtained data pertaining to who has bought its product and the consumer&#39;s demographic location. Instead of printing the recording means  22  on the package, the manufacturer may enclose a game card with the printed recording means  22  on it inside the package. In this instance, the winning consumer need only to mail the winning ticket to the manufacturer for verification. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, if the substrate  12  is placed over the recording means  22  and the player is a “loser,” the sequence which will be perceived by reading the marks  30  (in this case 5055) will not correspond with the desired winning sequence. 
     In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the substrate  12  has a plurality of holes  32  and each hole corresponds with one of the sequence representing elements. Therefore, in accordance with this embodiment, the player merely has to match up the pattern made by the recording means  22  corresponding with holes  32  of the substrate  12  to determine if the player is a “winner.” 
     Referring to FIG.  1  through FIG. 7, methods for writing and reading winning and losing sequences using the gaming device  10  will be described. The method of writing the winning and losing sequences for the gaming device  10  comprises the steps of placing the substrate  12  over the recording means  22  so that the locating aiding means  29  is visible through the substrate  12  at a preselected location (for example, H3). Or, alternatively, sequences can be written by placing a transparent recording means  22  over the substrate  12 . Next, the individual cells  24  of the recording means  22  which are associated with each sequence representing element which sequentially corresponds with a respective sequence element of the winning or losing sequence are perceived. Finally, each of the appropriate individual cells  24  are marked, for example, by placing a mark  30 , so as to thereby record winning or losing sequences. 
     Once the sheet member  23  of the recording means  22  has been marked as described above, it may be read by the following method in order to determine if the sequence is a winner or a loser. First, the substrate  12  is placed over the recording means  22  at the preselected location (for example, H3). Next, the individual marks  30  in the cells  24  of the recording means  22  are perceived through the substrate  12  to thereby read the respective sequence representing element and thus reconstruct the winning or losing sequence, in this case 7336. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, an embodiment of the gaming device  10  is shown in which letters  14  are disposed so that each of the columns of numbers is designated by a letter. In this case, every other column has the numerals 1 through 5 and its adjacent column has the numerals 0 through 6. By this arrangement, every group of numbers (2 columns times 5 rows) will have the digits 0 through 9, thus, facilitating the use of the invention. The gaming device  10  can be held and carried in a protective sleeve  34 , as shown in FIG. 11 a , while not in use. 
     One application of the gaming device involves the operation of a collectibles or loyalty system where the numbers shown give a number of points that, when collected, allow for the redemption of prizes from a catalog. The individual marks  30  in the cells  24  of the recording means  22  are perceived through the substrate  12  and read. The values of the numbers corresponding to the individual marks  30  are then summed to arrive at a point value. The points can then be redeemed for prizes or banked to collect a larger prize at a later date when more points are collected. 
     The system may also be operated across landline and mobile telephone networks, as well as telephonic paging systems. A player having a gaming device  10  and a recording means  22  preprinted on a card, the protective sleeve  34  holding the gaming device  10 , or some other item can call a telephone number and listen to pre-recorded messages about products, offers, and services. Lifestyle information is collected in exchange for a location aiding means  29  and a winning number sequence. In the telephone version, as in all versions, if a person wishes to participate and he has not already received details of the promotion, a gaming device  10  and a recording means  22  can be sent to the person in exchange for his providing of his lifestyle data as well as his address. The lifestyle information and player responses can be collected using Interactive Voice Telephony or Interactive Voice Response/Recognition. 
     The inventive system can be played on a computer connected to either a remote database or the Internet. FIG. 12 depicts the inventive system as it would be applied to an Internet gaming scheme. In this embodiment  110 , a computer monitor is shown illustrating a web page of a manufacturer which subscribes to the inventive gaming system. After a player registers with the manufacturer or a company providing promotional services for a group of manufacturers and becomes a game player, a virtual substrate  112  appears as an icon on a portion of the player&#39;s computer screen as the player navigates the various manufacturer web sites that subscribe to the promotional gaming system. Virtual substrate  112  contains all of the characteristics of substrate  12  described earlier, but is virtually projected onto the viewing screen when a game player visits the web site of a subscribing manufacturer or supplier of goods or services. Virtual substrate  112  is mated with virtual recording means  122  by “clicking and dragging” virtual substrate  112  and dropping it onto recording means  122 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the virtual substrate  112  as it is “clicked on and dragged” over to the virtual recording means  122 . In the same manner as in FIG. 5, if the virtual marks  130  of the virtual recording means  122  match the winning numbers (in this case 3041), then the player is a winner. The player may then contact the web site host by e-mail or post to notify it of his winning match-up and collect his prize. 
     Alternatively, only the reference and winning sequence numbers may be given to a player over the computer as shown in FIG.  13 A. Here, the player obtains the reference and winning sequence numbers from the computer according to the usual preset parameters, but instead the player uses the physical version of the gaming device to determine if he is a winner. 
     Responses and information collected as a result of a person playing the game either over the computer or by telephone can also be verified under the system. For example, if a player has entered an answer inconsistent with a previous answer for the same or similar questions, both answers are flagged. The inconsistency in the one answer (or both answers if neither have been reported outside the system) can then be corrected before the information is disseminated. 
     In both the telephone and Internet versions of the game, as well as other versions of the game, each gaming device  10  may have a unique identifying number  40  associated with it enabling the administrator of the game or promotion to recognize which promotion the gaming device  10  relates to. The unique identifying number  40  may be printed directly on the card as in FIG. 14, or it may be printed on the protective sleeve of the card  34  as shown in FIG.  15 . Players using the gaming device  10  via the Internet or telephone could be required to enter the unique identifying number  40  prior to participating in the promotion in order to allow the administrator of the game to determine whether the player has played the game before and, if so, to which promotion the gaming device  10  relates. This unique identifying number  40  would allow the game administrator to switch from a promotional device on products, etc., to the Internet or telephone version. 
     With respect to the above description, it is realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, 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. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.