Abstract:
A sign for indicating the temporary reservation of a coin operated apparatus including a coin slot for receiving a coin includes a first sheet-type display and a tab sized for insertion in a coin slot that depends from the display and is hingedly attached to it. The sign may also include additional display sheets hingedly connected to the first sheet-type display to enlarge the total display area. The sign includes a pocket for receiving a transaction or comp card and a tether to keep the card and sign together. The sign folds up to approximate the footprint of a transaction card and fit into the pocket or wallet of a user.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 10/266,262, filed Oct. 9, 2002. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    This invention relates to an information sign for use in connection with a coin operated machine, and more particularly, to a foldable reservation sign for use in such a machine that may be tethered to a computer readable tracking card.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Coin operated machines serve a multitude of purposes. Aside from delivering products to us in vending-type machines, arcade game and other game machines provide substantial entertainment to users of coin operated machines. In many of the game-type coin operated machines, a user or player of the game obtains certain advantages after being at the coin operated machine for a period of time, whether an accumulation of points an accumulation of free games, or other benefits that may accrue to a user. If a user wishes or needs to temporarily leave his or her position at the coin operated machine, that user may want to reserve that machine for his or her future use while being away from the machine for a short time. While these coin operated machines, highly electronic in nature, could be set up by the manufacturer to reserve the machine for a specified user, the builders and owners of such machines would rather the machine be in constant use or play. Therefore, while the coin operated machine shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,031 shows the ability to reserve a wild card indicia from one game to another, there is no provision in that patent for electronically reserving the use of that machine to a certain predetermined individual user.  
           [0004]    For coin operated machine owners, lessees, management or service personnel, provisions have been made for carrying relatively large signs when they need to indicate that a coin operated machine is out of order, or at least should be out of use. U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,605 shows such a sign for a coin operated machine that is insertable in the coin slot and includes a retaining wire that must be manipulated to remove the sign from the coin slot. While the size of the upper portion of the sign in the above identified patent is indicated as being about 3½ inches by 1¾ inches, the addition to the upper portion of the sign of a guide member or tab that extends approximately 2 inches from the sign increases its overall size to make it inconvenient for carrying in the pocket or wallet of management or service personnel, especially with the addition of the wire legs to the sign.  
           [0005]    Further, since about 1998, owners of entertainment establishments have designed and implemented customer tracking and recognition programs that are activated when the facility receives customer data from input devices such as transaction card readers, electronically connected to the coin operated machines. These customers are awarded points that are redeemable for gifts, meals, cash and the like at any of the coin operated machine owner&#39;s properties. These programs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,647.  
           [0006]    In order to take advantage of these promotional programs, coin operated card users must carry a tracking card, similar to a credit card and insert them into machines while the machines are being used. While these cards are sized as traditional credit cards and may be carried in the pocket or wallet of a user, users still have no ready transportable means for reserving a machine they are using if they need to temporarily leave the location of the machine.  
           [0007]    A need has developed for a readily transportable means for reserving one&#39;s position as a user of a coin operated machine when one temporarily leaves the machine&#39;s location. Additionally, a need has developed for providing readily transportable signage for a coin operated machine user to temporarily reserve a machine for play when that user is absent from the machine location that may be utilized in connection with a customer tracking and recognition program card.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, generally stated, to provide a portable signage usable to reserve a coin operated machine that may be folded to approximate the footprint size of a pocket-type carrier for a tracking or transaction card.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The invention resides in a sign for indicating the temporary reservation of a coin operated apparatus including a coin slot for receiving a coin. The sign comprises a sheet type display means for displaying communication thereon approximating the size of a transaction card. Tab means extending from an edge of the display means, and the tab means being sized for insertion in a coin slot of a coin operated apparatus, and a living hinge joining the tab means and the display means. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin operated machine having a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention positioned thereon;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in semi-folded position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the invention showing the pocket formed therein;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in semi-folded position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a blank of a third embodiment of the present invention together with an additional piece to be adhered to the blank to form a pocket therein;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 a  is a top plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 7 having the additional piece adhered thereto to form a pocket therein;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 b  is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line  8   b - 8   b  of FIG. 8 a ; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present application shown in semi-folded position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, a coin operated machine, generally indicated at  10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention includes an outer shell or cover  11  covering a plurality of electronic circuitry, not shown, which operates the machine. Adjacent the top front of outer cover  11  is a front display portion, generally indicated at  12 , that includes a game electronic display  13 , a set of instructions  14  for operating the machine or the game, and a plurality of additional displays  15  that may take any form the game producer desires. Below and to the left of the game display  13  is a transaction or comp card holder  16  that receives the tracking card identified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,647, commonly referred to as a tracking card. The tracking card is shown at  17 , partially inserted therein.  
         [0022]    At the bottom of display portion  12  projects a ledge  18  that includes money handling apparatus for the coin operated machine. At the left side is a coin slot  20 . In the center is a credit or debit transaction card slide  21 , and at the right side at  22  is a bill receiving slot.  
         [0023]    Below the projecting ledge  18  is a lower display area  23  that may have any desired indicia thereon. Adjacent the bottom of the coin operated machine is a coin reservoir  24  and a coin slot  25  from which coins, tokens or other prizes may be awarded from the machine. At the right side of cover  11  is a lever arm  26  that may be pulled to start each game or transaction.  
         [0024]    At the left end of ledge projection  18  and inserted in the coin slot  20  is a first embodiment of the reservation sign of the present invention, generally indicated at  30 . In the first embodiment  30  of the present invention, the reservation sign  30  is connected by a tether  31  to the transaction card  17  mounted in the transaction card slot  16 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 2, a blank cutout  32  of the first embodiment of the sign  30  of the invention includes three like shape rectangles  33 ,  34  and  35  positioned serially in vertical relation to each other. The rectangles may preferably be sized approximately 3¾ inches by 2 inches each. Adjacent the bottom of serial rectangle  35 , opposing extensions  36 ,  37  extend from the ends of rectangle  35  and are approximately 1½ inch wide by 2 inches high each. Extending from the base of rectangle  35  is a tongue or tab  36  which approximates 2 inches at its base, and extends approximately 2 inches from the bottom of base rectangle  35 . Tab  36  may be trapezoidal in shape with its distal end approximating ¾ inch in width. The bottom may be rounded if desired. Tab  36  may be any convenient shape that will fit in a coin slot such as shown at  20 .  
         [0026]    As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the top rectangle  33  in the first embodiment is folded along crease  33   a  and sealed along a seam  34   a  and  34   b  to form a pocket having an opening at  34   c  in which the transaction or tracking card  17  may be received and kept. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the entire sign may be folded with extensions  36 ,  37  and tab  38  folded inwardly onto the bottom rectangle  35  and the pocket composed of rectangles  34  and  33  folded thereover to approximate a footprint which is only slightly larger than the size of the transaction card  17  which is then easily inserted into pockets  34   c , all to fit within a pocket or a wallet of a user.  
         [0027]    When the sign of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed, the integration feature of the tethered transaction card together with the unfolded sign, especially when the transaction card is inserted in the slot  16  of the coin operated machine provides a more formidable display than simply the sign itself. When the transaction card  17  is inserted into the pocket  34   c , the tether  31  may be rather easily put into the pocket also. In this embodiment, the tether  31  extends through the entire length of the pocket  34   c  and is fastened at the bottom end thereof at  39 .  
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, the sign  30  may be made of a polyvinyl material, polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. It would also be preferable to use a material that has a “memory” so it will tend to spread out when open even after it has been closed or folded for a substantial period of time. As long as tab  38  fits into a coin slot, it may be desirable to have a fastener or adhesive mounted on one side (an underside as folded) mounted on it. The tab may then be folded outside of the pocket and be selectably releasably retained thereon, perhaps by a hook and loop fastener.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , a second embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at  45 . The blank for the second embodiment, shown generally at  46  in FIG. 4, includes a top rectangle  47 , a bottom rectangle  48  and a left hand rectangle  49 . These three rectangular portions together with tab  50  extending from the bottom of the bottom rectangle  48 , provides a blank for proper folding in a manner somewhat different than that of the first embodiment  30 . With the second embodiment  45 , the left hand rectangle  49  is folded along its right edge  49   a  onto the top of the bottom rectangle  48  and sealed thereto along edges  47   a ,  49   a  and  50   a  to provide a pocket having an opening  48   a  shown most clearly in FIG. 5. While the second embodiment  45  is not quite as big as the first embodiment  30  in sign surface, it only needs to be folded along lines  47   a  and  50   a  as shown in FIG. 6 to close the sign to a size slightly larger than the transaction card  17   a  together with its the tether  51 . The second embodiment would provide a more economical sign to make and simplify the folding process. As with the first embodiment, a hook and loop fastener, commonly sold under the mark VELCRO, could be utilized in connection with the outer surface of upper rectangle  47  and the inner surface of the tab  50  to secure the folded sidewalls of the sign together with the tab  50  being positioned over the folded upper rectangle  47  when the entire assembly is in folded position.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS.  7 - 9 , a third embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated at  55  in FIG. 7, a blank for the third embodiment, is identified at  56  and includes a top rectangle  57  a bottom rectangle  58 , left and right extensions  59 ,  60  and tab  61 , all similar to the first embodiment without the third rectangle thereof. In the third embodiment  56  of the invention, the top rectangle of the first embodiment  30  is supplanted by a separate rectangle  62  that is positioned over the bottom rectangle  58  and sealed along three of its edges to bottom rectangle  58  adjacent folding lines  58   a ,  58   b  and  58   c  to form a pocket having an opening  58   d  into which the transaction card  17   b  of the invention may be inserted along with its tether  63 . As shown most clearly in FIG. 8 b , the joinder of the edges of the rectangle  62  to the edges of rectangle  58  may be by heat sealing, adhesive gluing or other appropriate adhering means. As shown most clearly in FIG. 9, the third embodiment  55  of the invention is similar to the first embodiment  30  of the invention with the exception that the pocket has been moved from the upper portion of the sign to the middle portion of the sign. The end extensions  59  and  60  fold similarly to the end extensions  36  and  37  in the first embodiment, and tab  61  folds similarly to the tab  38  of the first embodiment.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  10 - 12 , a fourth embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated at  70  in FIG. 10, includes a blank or housing  71  that may be a modification of a plastic business card holder or bank check holder. Housing  71  includes a generally rectangular back side  72  formed of a plastic sheet, vinyl or the like, and a pair of opposed front sheets  73 ,  74  (FIG. 10) that are slightly less than half the width of back side sheet  72 . Front sheets  73 ,  74  are, in the preferred embodiment, heat sealed or otherwise adhered to the back sheet  72  along three sides of their perimeters where each of the respective two ends  73   c ,  73   d ,  74   c ,  74   d  and outer side of the sheets  73   e ,  74   e  conform to the periphery of back side sheet  72 . As shown in FIGS. 10 and 16 in inner edge  73   a ,  74   a  is open (unfastened to bottom sheet  72 ) to define a pair of hollow pockets, one each between the top sheets  73 ,  74  and bottom sheet  72 . As shown most clearly in FIG. 10, a pair of complementary cutout sections  73   b ,  74   b  are positioned with section  73   b  between sides  73   a  and end  73   c  and section  74   b  positioned between side  74   a  and end  74   c  on the housing  71 . In the preferred embodiment  70  of the present invention, the front sheets  73 ,  74  are made of the same plastic, vinyl or the like material as is the back side sheet  72 . This plastic material will be colored to present a generally flat surface on which indicia may be printed or otherwise positioned to indicate that the machine on which the sign is positioned is being reserved for a person who is temporarily absent. Advertising, promotional materials, logos, and the like may also be printed, embossed or otherwise positioned on the flat surfaces.  
         [0032]    A slide, generally indicated at  76 , preferably made of a plastic material that is less flexible than the material of the blank or housing  71  fits within the two hollow pockets between front sheets  73  and  74  and the back sheet  72 . Slide  76  includes a bifurcated rectangular portion indicated at  77 ,  78  and a bifurcated depending tab indicated at  79  and  80  that is sized to protrude from the space denoted by notches  73   b ,  74   b  and the end or bottom  73   c ,  74   c  of the housing  71 . A spine or living hinge  84  divides the slide into two halves. When the slide is pushed upwardly in the pockets, the tab  79 ,  80  withdraws inside the periphery of the fourth embodiment  70 . When the slide is moved downwardly in the pockets, the tab  79 ,  80  extends from the bottom  73   c ,  74   c  of the fourth embodiment to provide a tab similar to that shown in the previous embodiments that may be fitted within a coin slot of a coin operated machine.  
         [0033]    In this embodiment, an aperture  81  in bifurcated rectangle half  78  of slide  76  provides a means for mounting a tether  82  thereto which, in turn, is mounted to a comp card (not shown) similarly to the prior embodiments shown and described above. The comp card may be positioned within one of the aforesaid pockets when it is not being inserted into a coin operated machine as is shown with the first embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 12, when the slide  76  is retracted into the housing  71 , the living hinge  84  that bifurcates the slide  76  may be folded along with the remainder of the housing  71  along the middle or spine of the back side to provide a thin folded sign that may be positioned in the pocket, or wallet of a user while also maintaining a hollow pocket for the comp card.  
         [0035]    Thus, an economical, efficient sign has been shown and described which can be displayed by the user of a coin operated machine to reserve that machine temporarily in his or her absence. The sign incorporates a pocket which may be utilized to receive and retain a tracking card therein.  
         [0036]    While four differing embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.