Vending machines

• US 20030186732A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dean Peter Viglione
• Original Assignee: Dean Peter Viglione
• Inventors: Viglione, Dean Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/276,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186732A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A vending machine (10) has a payment receiving and change dispensing apparatus (12), a product storage and dispensing apparatus (11), a product selection apparatus (13), and at least one game device (14) with a display (15) associated therewith. The game device (14) is initiated by a user activated event to provide a game of chance or skill to award a predetermined prize according to the result of the game, the result of the game and/or the prize awarded being displayed by the display (15).

Claims

1. A vending machine having a payment receiving and change dispensing apparatus, a product storage and dispensing apparatus, a product selection means, at least one game device with display means associated therewith, wherein said at least one game device is initiated by a user activated event to provide a game of chance or skill to award a predetermined prize according to the result of the game, the result of the game and/or the prize awarded being displayed by the display means.

2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the game of chance or skill is played by the user following initiation.

3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein, the game of chance is automatically played by the game device.

4. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game of skill involve a reflex action or manipulation of a joystick push buttons or the like associated with the game device, to award the prize only if a predetermined skill level is achieved.

5. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the game of skill involves application of mental skills.

6. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game device is initiated by a user inserting payment or entering payment details into the machine to purchase a product therefrom, the game can be initiated prior to or following selection of a particular product from the machine and as such the product can be dispensed prior to or following the results of the game.

7. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined prize is dispensed by the vending machine.

8. The vending machine according to claim 7, wherein the prize is a product usually dispensed by the machine and therefore is dispensed by the product storage and dispensing apparatus.

9. The vending machine according to claim 7, wherein the prize is in the form of a monetary prize and is dispensed by the change dispensing part of the payment receiving and change dispensing apparatus.

10. The vending machine according to claim 7, wherein the prize is in the form of a coupon, ticket, voucher or discount voucher and is dispensed by the machine by a suitable means.

11. The vending machine according to claim 7, wherein the prize is an entry into a further prize draw such that requisite information or data is entered into the machine via a data entry means.

12. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display means of the game device provides a medium for advertising the products associated with the vending machine.

13. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game provides a promotional material relationship with forthcoming events.

14. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein random or mystery jackpot prizes are awarded to users of the vending machine.

15. The vending machine according to claim 14, wherein the awarding of jackpot prizes is determined by the amount of use of the vending machine.

16. The vending machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vending machine(s) is/are connected remotely to a central controller to thereby send and receive communication signals.

17. The vending machine according to claim 16, wherein the connection is by means of a modem or the like.

18. The vending machine according to claims 16 or 17, wherein the central controller is used to monitor the vending machines as well as providing instructions thereto.

19. The vending machine according to claim 18, wherein the central controller is used to change game formats, randomly issue jackpots, change any advertising and cross promotions and the like.

20. The vending machine according to claim 18, wherein, the central controller also monitors the operation of the games on the vending machine as well as monitoring stock levels.