Automatic phonograph bonus award system

• US 4,258,838 A
• Filed: 10/30/1979
• Issued: 03/31/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation (The Games Room Co. Uk Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Rockola, Leonard A. Distaso, Michael Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Michael, Rockola, Donald C., Distaso, Leonard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US06/089,366
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 194/1 R, 194/9 R, 194/15, 273/138 A, 274/10 D, 340/162
• US Class Current: 194/206
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/08 by using devices external to the driving mechanisms, e.g. coin-freed switch coin actuated mechanisms G07F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22

Abstract

A bonus award system for an automatic phonograph offers bonus pricing during bonus time intervals. Optionally operable means are provided for initiating bonus intervals in the absence or presence of record plays during random time intervals, which are determined in part by phonograph customer activity.

Claims

1. In an automatic currency-controlled phonograph having a currency accumulator for storing play credits and a keyboard for selecting plays, a bonus award system comprising:

random interval timing means for determing random time intervals;

means for sensing record plays during each random time interval;

bonus intervl timing means for determining bonus time intervals;

first optionally operable means for initiating the bonus interval timing means following each random time interval in the absence of record plays therein;

second optionally operable means for initiating the bonus interval timing means following each random time interval in the presence of record plays therein;

bonus indicating means operable during each bonus time interval; and

bonus credit means responsive to currency deposit in the accumulator and being operable to provide bonus pricing for record plays selected during each bonus time interval.

2. The bonus award system of claim 1 wherein the second optionally operable means initiates operation of the bonus interval timing means only upon the continuous presence of record plays during each preceding random time interval.

3. The bonus award system of claim 1 and bonus time interval delay means operable upon currency deposit in the accumulator to extend an initiated bonus time interval until after a keyboard selection has been made.

4. The bonus award system of claim 1 wherein the random interval timing means includes a random interval counter and means for resetting the counter with a random factor generated during a preceding random time interval upon the occurrence of an addition or removal of credit from the accumulator, an operation of the keyboard or the playing of a record.

5. The bonus award system of claim 1 wherein the bonus indicating means is visually presented to a phonograph customer.

6. The bonus award system of claim 1 and optionally operable random play means for initiating free play of one of a predetermined plurality of record selections following each random time interval.

7. The bonus award system of claim 4 wherein the random play means comprises:

storage means for the predetermined plurality of record selections; and

sequencing means for effecting sequential play of the selections stored in the storage means.