Electronic game player

• US 20040137985A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BSG IP Holdings Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: BSG IP Holdings Pty Limited
• Inventors: Krushka, Paul Anthony, Sprudzans, Paul Alex
• Application Number:
  US10/476,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20040137985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games

Abstract

An electronic game player (1) for playing bingo, keno and other similar games stores information corresponding to information on at least one game ticket for the game being played. The game player (1) comprises a keypad (4) for entering numbers into the game player via a single keystroke and for performing other functions (13-16) relating to the game. The game player (1) further comprises a screen (5) for displaying data relating to the game and the components of the game player are accommodated in a hand-held housing (1a).

Claims

1. An electronic game player comprising:

a keypad having a plurality of selectable keys, at least some of said keys each representing a number and arranged in a pattern corresponding to an arrangement of numbers on a game ticket;

said keypad incorporating input means to allow for entry of information by a single keystroke;

a screen for displaying data relating to said game;

a hand-held housing for accommodating said keypad, said input means and said screen;

whereby in use, upon actuation of a key representing a number, the game ticket stored in electronic format in the game player is daubed if the game ticket includes the number represented by the actuated key.

2. The game player according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a fast action touch membrane.

3. The game player according to claim 2, wherein said input means also comprises an overlay, which overlies said membrane.

4. The game player according to claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises two resistive plates.

5. The game player according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible printed circuit coupled to the keypad and the screen.

6. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the input means is a touch-responsive screen.

7. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first surface accommodating the keypad and a second surface accommodating the screen.

8. The game player according to claim 7, wherein a plane of the keypad is substantially coplanar with the first surface.

9. The game player according to claim 7, wherein a plane of the screen is substantially parallel with the second surface.

10. The game player according to claim 7, wherein the second surface is angled with respect to the first surface.

11. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the keypad is angled with respect to a horizontal plane to optimally facilitate operation of the keypad by a user.

12. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the screen is angled to optimally facilitate viewing thereof by a user.

13. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the screen is a graphical liquid crystal display (LCD).

14. The game player according to claim 1, wherein some of the data relating to said game corresponds to information on the game ticket.

15. The game player according to claim 1, wherein some of the data relating to said game are numbers which are a subset of the numbers represented by the keys.

16. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the keys represent a consecutive series of numbers.

17. The game player according to claim 16, wherein the consecutive series of numbers are the numbers 1 to 75.

18. The game player according to claim 16, wherein the consecutive series of numbers are the numbers 1 to 80.

19. The game player according to claim 16, wherein the consecutive series of numbers are the numbers 1 to 90.

20. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the game is bingo or keno.

21. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the screen displays a representation of any one or combination of one or more:

game ticket(s), best game ticket(s), a game number, game ticket identification number(s), game ticket colour(s), previously called number(s) and/or the number(s) outstanding until a user wins the game.

22. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the screen displays means for identifying called, selected, and/or entered numbers and numbers yet to be called, selected, and/or entered.

23. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the keys representing numbers are contiguously located and arranged in a grid pattern.

24. The game player according to claim 1, wherein entry of a number is cancelled upon a second actuation of the key representing the number.

25. The game player according to claim 1, wherein some of the keys represent any one or combination of operational functions performing the operations of:

displaying a previous game, a next game, a best game, a best ticket, clearing the screen, and/or menu navigation and menu option selection functions.

26. The game player according to claim 1, wherein the keypad further comprises indicator means for each key, each said indicator means being activated upon actuation of its key and de-activated upon a second actuation of its key.

27. The game player according to claim 26, wherein the indicator means is in the form of illumination provided by a light emitting diode (LED).

28. The game player according to claim 26, wherein the indicator means additionally comprises an audible indication.

29. The game player according to claim 1, further comprising indication means for indicating to a user that he/she is a winner of the game, said indication means comprising a visual indication displayed on the screen and/or an audible signal.