Abstract:
A game system providing multiple levels of integrated play featuring instant progressive awards and variably compounding award amounts. The game system may be one of many types, including seal cards, jar tickets, instant games and lottery tickets. The game system offers the opportunity for awards at an initial level, and a chance for an instant progressive award offered to players qualifying for an upper level. Players eligible for an instant progressive award do not wait until the end of play at the initial level before participating at the upper level. Any upper level progressive award amounts not awarded may be compounded with an award amount associated with the next round of play to create an increased award amount in the next round. Any compounded award amount is variable and not predetermined. The instant progression scheme and variably compounding award amounts increase player interest over multiple rounds of play.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/309,927, entitled “Multiple Level Instant Progressive Game System,” filed on Aug. 3, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to game systems, and more specifically, the invention is directed to a game system having multiple levels of integrated play featuring instant progressive awards and variably compounding award amounts.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0003]    Games of chance continue to be very popular. Certain games of chance have gained popularity with social, fraternal, or church organizations seeking to raise funds. These games of chance include, for example, seal card games, jar tickets, instant games, lottery tickets, coin board games and punch board games. Commercial bingo halls also feature similar games of chance. Game operators in these facilities have a multitude of game systems from which to chose. Some new game systems enjoy modest success, while many others fail to be commercially viable. The ability of a game system to generate player excitement and prolonged interest will ultimately determine the commercial success of the game system. It is advantageous to maintain a player&#39;s excitement and interest level both during the actual playing of the game, as well as, over the commercial life of the game itself.  
           [0004]    Several games known in the art feature a set of play tickets, e.g., 1,000 individual tickets which comprise a set, commonly referred to as a deal. The tickets are individually sold to players for a small fee. Each player breaks open one or more pull tabs of the ticket to reveal game symbols imprinted on the ticket. Some game systems feature instant winnings based on the imprinted game symbol or symbols while others feature qualifying symbols, identifying eligibility to compete in an award level associated with the particular deal. After all tickets in the deal are sold, players holding a ticket eligible for the deal award are recorded on a seal card. In other words, players holding qualifying tickets are required to wait until they can participate at the deal award level. The game operator will open a pull tab on the seal card to reveal the deal winner. A deal winner may receive cash, prizes, or additional tickets.  
           [0005]    Some game systems in the prior art feature a case award in addition to a deal award. In this type of game system, a case set of tickets are sold by the operator. The case includes a plurality of deal sets of tickets, e.g. 10 deal sets in one case, with each deal set having a predetermined number of tickets, e.g. 100 tickets. After all tickets in the case are sold and each of the deal set winners is determined, some or all of the deal winners further compete for higher level awards, e.g., a case award. In other words, players holding deal winning tickets are required to wait until they can participate at the case level. This is commonly referred to as a progressive scheme or progressive game system. That is to say, the tickets qualifying for a case award must first have been one of the individual deal award winners.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,737 to Fienberg discloses a similar game system with multi-level playing. One embodiment of the game features play tickets with numbers ending in “13” eligible for a first level of play. The winning ticket from the first level is eligible to play in a second level for additional winnings in a “Bonus Section.” A second embodiment which features a third playing level called a “Jackpot Section.” The &#39;737 patent discloses the general concept of a master winner of a multi-level progressive gaming scheme, but does not disclose the concept of an instant progressive award or variably compounding award amounts.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,200 to Zalabak also discloses a progression game system. A master card identifies play ticket numbers ending in “13” which compete in a “musical chairs” elimination scheme to determine a single ultimate winner. Play tickets may further contain graphic symbols that correspond to instant cash awards. The &#39;200 patent teaches the concept of multiple-levels progressive award with increasing predetermined award amounts.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,524 to Nannicola is directed to a instant ticket game system utilizing a master game seal card. Players with hold tickets ending in “13” qualify for play in a three-level modified progression scheme. To initiate play at the advanced level, a seal window is opened to reveal a winner. The winning player then competes to reach the concluding “Mountain Climber” level of the game. When a winning participate fails, a second hold card player becomes eligible to compete. All eligible money at the multiple higher levels must be awarded. This patent discloses the general concept of progressive participation in upper level payoffs, but play at the higher level occurs only after all deal tickets are sold. Further, all possible upper level money is awarded each and every time the game is played.  
           [0009]    No game system in the art teaches a game system having multiple levels of integrated play featuring instant progressive awards and variably compounding award amounts. A need in the art exists for innovative and exciting games that will create and maintain player interest and excitement throughout multiple rounds of play by the use of these features.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention is directed to a game system having multiple levels of integrated play, featuring instant progressive awards and variably compounding award amounts.  
           [0011]    In one embodiment, a seal card game system providing multiple levels of play is disclosed. The game system includes at least one deal set of tickets including a plurality of play tickets. Each play tickets includes a deal identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket to identify of which deal set the play ticket is a member. The play ticket also includes at least one game symbol imprinted on the play ticket and concealed by a removable pull tab. The pull tab adapted to be removed by a purchaser of the play ticket.  
           [0012]    A predetermined number of play tickets in each deal set of tickets have an instant award game symbol that identifies the play tickets as instant award winners. A predetermined number of play tickets in each deal set of tickets have a qualifier game symbol that qualifies the play tickets to participate for a deal level award and for an instant progressive level award.  
           [0013]    At least one deal winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab. The at least one deal winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the qualifier play tickets that wins a deal level award.  
           [0014]    At least one instant progressive winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab. The at least one instant progressive winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the qualifier play tickets that wins an instant progressive level award.  
           [0015]    The game system also includes an instant seal card adapted for compounding an amount of instant progressive level award not awarded during play of a previously played deal set with an amount of instant progressive level award associated with the deal set presently being played.  
           [0016]    A method of playing a game system of the present invention is also disclosed.  
           [0017]    The game system affords the game operator an enhanced degree of player interest and enthusiasm by awarding progressive awards instantly to eligibility players during the playing of the deal set. In contrast to conventional game systems, players eligible for progressive awards do not wait until the completion of the game&#39;s first level to participate for progressive awards.  
           [0018]    The game system may be one of many types, including for example, seal card games, jar tickets, instant games, lottery tickets, coin board games and punch board games. The game system offers the opportunity for awards at an initial level, as well as a chance to play for an instant progressive award for players qualifying during the initial level. Players eligible for a progressive awards do not wait until the end of the initial level to compete at the upper level.  
           [0019]    Any upper level progressive award amounts not awarded may be compounded with an initial progressive award amount associated with the next round of play to create an increased award level associated with the next round. This compounded award amount is variable and not predetermined.  
           [0020]    Alternatively, upper level progressive award amounts not awarded may be awarded at the completion of the deal set to players that qualified for, but did not win, the deal level award.  
           [0021]    The game system of the present invention provides for a enhanced degree of player participation and enthusiasm throughout the course of play of an initial level. Further, the compounding amount of potential progressive awards is designed to further increase player interest and excitement as a consecutive series of rounds are played. No game system in the prior art offers the advantages and features of the present invention.  
           [0022]    Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of a play ticket of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing five opened perforated pull tabs with imprinted game symbols revealed;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1B is a rear elevation view of the play ticket of FIG. 1A;  
         [0025]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 H are each front elevation views of play tickets of a first embodiment, showing imprinted game symbols revealed;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3A is a front elevation view of a deal seal card of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the deal seal card of FIG. 3A, showing deal winner identifiers revealed;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of a deal seal card of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the deal seal card of FIG. 4A, showing deal winner identifiers revealed;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of an instant seal card of a first embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of the instant seal card of FIG. 5A, showing instant progressive winner identifiers revealed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an instant ticket seal card game system. The game system includes 1,674 play tickets, one deal seal card and one instant seal card.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 1A, a front elevation view of a play ticket  10  of a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The front side  12  of the ticket  10  includes five pull tabs  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e . The pull tabs are adapted to be easily ripped and folded back by a purchaser of the play ticket. Each pull tab  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e  has a perforated border extending along three sides and folds back, or is scored, along a fourth non-perforated side. It should be understood by other with ordinary skill in the art that other concealment mechanisms and techniques can be used in the practice of the present invention.  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIG. 1A, once opened, the five opened perforated pull tabs  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e  reveal imprinted game symbols  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d ,  16   e . As illustrated, the game symbols  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d ,  16   e  are numerical. The game symbols may be numerical, graphical, or any other suitable scheme. As illustrated, the ticket  10  is a non-winning ticket.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1B is a rear elevation view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 1A, showing fanciful artwork and certain information provided about the game to the player on the back side  22  of the ticket. In the illustrated embodiment, the game system includes the feature of instant awards. A predetermined number of play tickets in each deal set of tickets has an instant award game symbol. The instant game symbol identifies the play ticket as an instant award winner. In the illustrated embodiment, a guide is included of the instant award game symbols  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  26   d ,  26   e ,  26   f ,  26   g  and the corresponding award  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c ,  28   d ,  28   e ,  28   f ,  28   g  associated with each symbol. The instant game symbols may be graphical  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  26   d ,  26   e ,  26   f  or numerical  26   g . In the illustrated embodiment, numerical game symbols ending with a number “77, 88, or 99” imprinted with blue ink win a $1 prize. Other prize levels vary from $2 to $100. It should be apparent to others with ordinary skill in the art that other dollar prize levels, as well as non-cash prizes, such as free tickets, can be awarded during the practice of the present invention.  
         [0036]    The ticket  10  also includes deal identifier indicia  15  imprinted on the play ticket. The deal identifier indicia  15  identifies a specific deal set of which the play ticket  10  is a member. In the illustrated embodiment, each play ticket is a member of only one deal set. In the case of the illustrated ticket  10 , the deal identifier indicia is a serial number  15 .  
         [0037]    This feature allows a game operator to identify the source of a displaced or random ticket by noting the serial number  15 . This feature increases security to the game operator by reducing the opportunity for foul play, forgery, alteration or other mischief, or unintentional error among participating players.  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 A- 2 H, front elevation views of eight play tickets of an illustrated embodiment are illustrated, showing various imprinted game symbols revealed. FIGS.  2 A- 2 F show six tickets  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  the include an instant award game symbol  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  that identifies the play ticket as an instant award winners. Respectively, the awards are cash prizes of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 and $2.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2G shows a play ticket  37  including an instant award game symbol  47  that identifies the play ticket  37  as an instant award winner of $1. In the illustrated embodiment, numbers ending in a “blue 99” are $1 instant award winners.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2H shows a play ticket  38  including an game symbol  48  that identifies the play ticket as a hold ticket. In this embodiment, numbers ending in a “red 13” are hold tickets that qualify for an instant progressive award and a deal level award. The play ticket  38  also includes instructions  49  imprinted on the ticket. In the illustrated embodiment, the instructions  49  direct the player possessing the ticket  38  to “proceed to the DOUBLE CHANCE BOARD to pick 1 window numbered #1 thru #34.” The player holding the ticket  38  is not required to wait until all tickets for the deal set are sold prior to participating at the upper level.  
         [0041]    As is conventional, the majority of the play tickets include non-winning and non-qualifying game symbols. Certain play tickets are hold tickets designated by play numbers ending in a red “13.” In the illustrated embodiment, there are a total of 17 hold tickets.  
         [0042]    In the illustrated embodiment, there are 127 play tickets that are instant cash winners of awards ranging from $1 to $100. In this illustrated embodiment, the population of instant cash award tickets and the population of hold tickets are mutually exclusive. However, other embodiments are possible in view of this disclosure featuring at least one instant cash award ticket that is mutually inclusive with the population of hold tickets.  
         [0043]    In the illustrated embodiment, players in possession of hold tickets play for cash awards in two ways. First, at the time a player identifies his or her ticket as a hold ticket, the player opens one of 34 windows on an instant seal card. A total of 5 of the 34 windows reveal cash prizes. Subsequently, after all tickets are sold, players in possession of hold tickets play for a separate cash award associated with the deal on the deal seal card.  
         [0044]    The illustrated embodiment features an instant seal card  100  including 34 windows, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. It should be apparent to others with ordinary skill in the art that any reasonable number of windows may be used in the practice of this invention. A majority of the windows, 29 of 34, reveal indicia indicating the player has not won an instant progressive award. Only 17 tickets in the deal set are hold tickets and permit the ticket holder to compete for an instant progressive award. Because only 17 of the 34 windows are opened, there is a substantial likelihood that at least one of the awards associated with the instant seal card will not be awarded.  
         [0045]    Any of the five cash prizes not awarded in the instant card are either “rolled-over” to the next game on the instant seal card used for the next game, or awarded in a separate “double chance” play area on the deal seal card. Amounts that “roll-over” on the instant seal card can be compounded with an award amount associated with the next round of play to create an increased award level associated with the next round.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIG. 3A, a front elevation view of a deal seal card  50  of an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The deal seal card  50  has three pull tags  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c . The deal seal card  50  also includes an imprinted recording section  52  that is adapted to allow an operator to record the players&#39; names in possession of hold cards. In the illustrated embodiment, the deal set includes 17 hold cards.  
         [0047]    After a game operator has recorded all the names of players in possession of deal qualifier game tickets in the recording area  52 , he or she may remove the pull tabs  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  to reveal a deal set winner. The game operator may chose one of the three windows to reveal at least one deal award winner.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the seal card  50  of FIG. 3A, showing deal winner identifiers revealed. The deal winner identifiers  64   a ,  64   b ,  64   c  identify the hold tickets that win deal level prizes. As stated, the game operator may open any one of these three windows. Regardless, the total money awarded in $500 in the illustrated embodiment.  
         [0049]    One pull tab  54   a  will yield a single winner, a second pull tab  54   b  will yield two winners, while yet a third pull tab  54   c  will yield three winners. For purposes of example only, assume the game operator had chosen to award the case award to two winners. In this example, the game operator would have opened the pull tab  54   b  and revealed deal winner identifiers  1513  and  1213 . The player or players holding the hold tickets with the deal winner identifiers  1513 ,  1213  would be the deal award winners and the players would equally share the $500 case award. It should be understood the deal award winners will vary dependent on which pull tab  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  is opened.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIG. 4A, a front elevation view of a deal seal card  70  of an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. This embodiment includes alternative cash award choices for the game operator at the deal level. The deal seal card  70  has two pull tags  74   a ,  74   b . The game operator may chose one of the two windows to reveal at least one deal award winner.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the seal card  50  of FIG. 3A, showing deal winner identifiers revealed. The deal winner identifiers  74   a ,  74   b  identify the hold tickets that win case prizes. As stated, the game operator may open any one of these two windows. Regardless, the total money awarded in $300 in the illustrated alternative embodiment. It should be apparent to others with ordinary skill in the art that the total prize money awarded to players in possession of hold cards may vary during the practice of the present invention.  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. 5A, a front elevation view of an instant seal card  100  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As discussed, the instant seal card has 34 pull tab windows, concealing 5 instant progressive winner identifiers. The instant seal card pull tab windows  101 ,  102 ,  103  . . .  133 ,  134  are each numbered “1” to “34.” As discussed, a player holding a ticket having a qualifier game symbol that qualifies the player to participate for an instant progressive level award, may open one of these windows.  
         [0053]    The instant seal card  100  is also adapted for compounding an amount of instant progressive level award not awarded during play of a previously played deal set with an amount of an instant progressive level award associated with the deal set presently being played. Indicia  150   a ,  150   b ,  150   c ,  150   d ,  150   e  is included to allow an operator to calculate the award for the present game.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of the instant seal card  100  of FIG. 5A, showing the pull tab windows in an opened position. As discussed, the illustrated embodiment contains 17 hold tickets that include a qualifier game symbol that qualifies the player holding the ticket to participate for an instant progressive level award, as well as a deal level award. Therefore, during the course of play, only 17 of the 34 windows will be opened. However, the instant seal card  100  is illustrated with all 34 windows  101 ,  102 ,  103  . . .  133 ,  134  opened.  
         [0055]    As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the instant deal card  100  includes five instant progressive winner identifiers  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204 ,  205 . The remaining 32 windows reveal non-winning symbols  202 . Because only 17 of the 34 windows are opened during normal play, there is a substantial likelihood that at least one of the instant progressive winner identifiers will not be revealed. At the discretion of the game operator, the non-awarded prize money can be compounded with the instant seal card of deal sets to be played subsequently.  
         [0056]    For example, FIG. 5B illustrates a compounding activity performed by a game operator. As illustrated, calculations  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c ,  160   d ,  160   e  have been completed by an operator to determine the award for the present game, using indicia  150   a ,  150   b ,  150   c ,  150   d,    150   e . An example of the calculations will now be discussed.  
         [0057]    A first calculation  160   a  indicates that the $200 award was not awarded during play of the instant seal card of the previously played deal set. Thus, a total award of $400 would have been paid to a player who opened window  112  to reveal an instant progressive winner identifier  212 .  
         [0058]    A second calculation  160   b  indicates that the $150 award was awarded during play of the instant seal card of the previously played deal set. Thus, a total award of $150 would have been paid to a player who opened window  101  to reveal an instant progressive winner identifier  201 .  
         [0059]    A third calculation  160   c  indicates that the $50 award was awarded during play of the instant seal card of the previously played deal set. Thus, a total award of $50 would have been paid to a player who opened window  117  to reveal an instant progressive winner identifier  217 .  
         [0060]    A fourth calculation  160   d  indicates that the $100 award was not awarded during play of the instant seal card of the most recently played deal set, nor was in awarded during the set previous the most recently played deal set. In this case, award amounts from three a series of three deal sets are compounded. In other words, a total award of $300 would have been paid to a player who opened window  133  to reveal an instant progressive winner identifier  233 .  
         [0061]    A fifth calculation  160   e  indicates that the $25 award was not awarded during play of the instant seal card of the previously played deal set. Thus, a total award of $50 would have been paid to a player who opened window  123  to reveal an instant progressive winner identifier  223 .  
         [0062]    As illustrated by these examples, any compounded award amount is variable and not predetermined. Thus, the undetermined nature of the compounded award amounts increases player interest and excitement.  
         [0063]    Referring once again to FIGS.  3 A- 3 B, an additional option for the game operator is included in the deal seal card  50  illustrated. In the event any instant progressive cash awards are not won, the operator may award the unclaimed money during play of the present deal set, rather than waiting until the play of the instant deal card of the next deal set. In this option, the money is awarded during play of the deal seal card  50 .  
         [0064]    The deal seal card  50  includes indicia for awarding a prize not yet awarded upon completion of play associated with the instant seal card. As illustrated, the deal seal card  50  includes windows  58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c ,  58   d ,  58   e  for awarded prizes that were non-awarded during play of the instant seal card. Each windows  58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c ,  58   d ,  58   e  conceals a qualifier game symbol  68   a ,  68   b ,  68   c ,  68   d ,  68   e  that identified a winning qualifying symbol.  
         [0065]    For example, if no player opened one of the 34 windows concealing the $200 award, the operator could open the $200 window  58   a  on the deal seal card  50 . In the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, this step would result in the player holding the ticket with the qualifying symbol “213”  68   a  winning a $200 award. The option of allowing a game operator to chose to not “roll-over” the non-awarded amounts from the instant deal card to the next round of play is included, among other reasons, to comply with certain state regulations. As illustrated, the deal seal card  50  illustrated includes “double chance” windows  58   a ,  58   b ,  58   c ,  58   d ,  58   e  near the top of the deal seal card  50  that reveal winners. In the illustrated embodiment, the winners revealed under these windows are not winners of the deal level awards on the same deal seal card  50 .  
         [0066]    One embodiment of the present invention has been discussed in detail. This embodiment is provided for purposes of example only and is only one of many possible examples. It will be apparent to others with ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments are possible in the practice of this invention in view of this disclosure.  
         [0067]    Many variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown and described.