Combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing method and apparatus

• US 20010045456A1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Smith, Fred
• Application Number:
  US09/775,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

A combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system includes a fuel dispensing machine, a computer controller, a display, an input device and a dispensing device. The fuel dispensing machine, the display, the input device and the dispensing device are all in communication with the computer controller. The input device communicates customer-selected lottery ticket information to the computer controller, and the dispensing device dispenses the customer-selected lottery ticket.

Claims

1. A combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system, comprising:

a fuel dispensing machine;

a computer controller in communication with the fuel dispensing machine;

a display in communication with the computer controller;

an input device in communication with the computer controller, wherein the input device communicates customer-selected lottery ticket information to the computer controller; and

a dispensing device in communication with the computer controller, wherein the dispensing device dispenses the customer-selected lottery ticket.

2. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, wherein the input device comprises a payment input device adapted to communicate payment information through the computer controller.

3. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 2

, wherein the payment input device is adapted to receive and communicate credit card information to the computer controller.

4. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, further comprising a lottery controller interface in communication with the computer controller, the lottery controller interface controlling operation of the lottery ticket dispensing operation.

5. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, wherein the input device comprises an alphanumeric keypad adapted to communicate keypad touches to the computer controller.

6. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, wherein the dispensing device dispenses a fuel payment receipt.

7. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, further comprising a fuel controller interface in communication with the computer controller, the fuel controller interface controlling operation of the fuel dispensing machine.

8. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, further comprising a remote central control computer communicating with the computer controller, the remote central control computer adapted to control the combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system via the computer controller.

9. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of fuel dispensing machines.

10. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, wherein the display displays fuel selection information.

11. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, wherein the display displays the customer-selected lottery ticket information.

12. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 1

, further comprising a printing device in communication with a computer controller, the printing device adapted to print information on a substrate prior to dispensation.

13. The combination fuel dispensing and lottery ticket dispensing system of

claim 12

, wherein the in formation printed on the substrate is one of the lottery ticket information or customer payment information.

14. A method of dispensing a lottery ticket from a fuel dispensing machine having a computer controller, an input device in communication with the computer controller, and a dispensing device in communication with a computer controller, comprising the steps of:

beginning a fuel dispensing operation;

during the fuel dispensing operation, inputting customer-selected lottery ticket information via the input device;

during the fuel dispensing operation, processing, by the computer controller, the customer-selected lottery ticket information; and

dispensing, by the dispensing device, the customer-selected lottery ticket.

15. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

inputting payment into the input device; and

processing payment information by the computer controller.

16. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 15

, wherein the payment information is credit card information.

17. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 14

, further comprising the step of inputting a customer-requested number selection request via the input device.

18. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of:

generating a random number result by the computer controller; and

modifying the lottery ticket information based upon the random number result.

19. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 14

, wherein the input device is an alphanumeric keypad.

20. The method of dispensing a lottery ticket of

claim 14

, wherein the fuel dispensing machine has a printing device, and further comprising the step of printing the lottery ticket information by the printing device, prior to dispensation.