Equipment for, and methods of playing, a prize drawing game of chance

• US 5,413,341 A
• Filed: 06/29/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leon D. Lieberman
• Original Assignee: Leon D. Lieberman
• Inventors: Lieberman, Leon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/084,578
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 273/139, 273/138 R, 273/138 A, 273/148 R, 283/60.1, 283/60.2, 283/53, 283/30, 283/903
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/065 Tickets or accessories for use therewith A63F3/0625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

Equipment and methods of entering and playing a prize drawing game of chance are disclosed, some of which do not require the participant to make a purchase in order to enter. The five ways of entering the game include the use of a written entry form which is printed, at intervals, along the length of a cash register tape, such that the entry forms are disseminated among customers when cash register receipts are generated by the use of the tape and are given to customers. Other ways of entering the game include: Filling out of a form which is included on a cash register tape received by the participant from or through one who received it after making a purchase, even though no purchase was made by the participant; filling out an entry form furnished by the sponsoring establishment and printed on a cash register receipt tape which is blank except for one or more such forms; filling out an entry form furnished at the sponsoring establishment but not printed on a cash register tape; and by filling out an entry form available as a coupon in a publication such as a newspaper or advertising flyer. Entry forms are randomly selected at each participating store from those entry forms collected at that store. Winners receive gift certificates redeemable for specified amounts or quantities of goods or services at the participating store indicated on the certificate.

Claims

1. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising at least two of the following:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, and wherein said first prize drawing entry form has been furnished to an entrant in the course of a transaction in which the entrant has purchased something of value;

(b) a second prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, and wherein said second prize drawing entry form has been obtained by an entrant where someone other than the entrant has purchased something of value;

(c) a third prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, wherein said front side of said third prize drawing entry form is blank;

(d) a fourth prize drawing entry form comprising a coupon adapted to be removed from a publication; and

(e) a fifth prize drawing entry form printed on a medium other than a cash register tape, wherein said fifth prize drawing entry form is obtainable from an employee of an establishment participating in said prize drawing game of chance.

2. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 1, wherein said printed indicia further include written rules pertaining to said prize drawing game of chance.

3. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 2, wherein said printed indicia are repeated at intervals along the length of said cash register tape of said first, second and third prize drawing entry forms.

4. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 2, wherein said printed indicia are preprinted.

5. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 2, wherein said printed indicia are placed on said cash register tape of said first, second and third prize drawing entry forms by printing means located within a cash register.

6. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 1, wherein said printed indicia are repeated at intervals along the length of said cash register tape of said first, second and third prize drawing entry forms.

7. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 1, wherein said printed indicia are preprinted.

8. The set of prize drawing entry forms of claim 1, wherein said printed indicia are placed on said cash register tape of said first, second and third prize drawing entry forms by printing means located within a cash register.

9. A method for the playing by an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, which method comprises the following steps:

(a) selecting by the entrant of a source for the procurement of a written prize drawing entry form from among a group of alternative sources for said entry form, such alternative sources including at least two of the following and wherein only one of said at least two of the following is a cash register tape;

(1) a cash register tape which bears the form in writing thereon and which has been furnished to the entrant in the course of a transaction in which the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(2) a cash register tape which bears the form in writing thereon and which has been generated in the course of a transaction in which someone other than the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(3) a cash register tape which bears the form in writing but is otherwise blank; and

(4) a printed publication in which the form appears in writing as a coupon adapted to be removed and completed by the entrant; and

(5) an authorized employee of an establishment which sponsors said prize drawing game of chance, which employee supplies to the entrant said form printed on a medium other than a cash register tape;

(b) filling out by the entrant of said prize drawing entry form by the insertion in writing thereon of information which identifies the entrant;

(c) depositing the filled out prize drawing entry form in a receptacle adapted to contain such forms;

(d) randomly selecting a prize drawing entry form from such receptacle; and

(e) awarding a prize to an entrant based on said selection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said establishment which sponsors such prize drawing game of chance is a grocery store.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said establishment which sponsors such prize drawing game of chance is a drugstore.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said prize comprises a certificate redeemable for goods.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the goods for which said certificate is redeemable comprise groceries.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said prize comprises a certificate redeemable for services.

15. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, and wherein said first prize drawing entry form has been furnished to an entrant in the course of a transaction in which the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form comprising a coupon adapted to be removed from a publication.

16. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, which said first prize drawing entry form has been furnished to an entrant in the course of a transaction in which the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form printed on a medium other than a cash register tape which said second prize drawing entry form has been obtained from an employee of an establishment participating in said prize drawing game of chance.

17. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, which said first prize drawing entry form has been obtained by an entrant where someone other than the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form comprising a coupon adapted to be removed from a publication.

18. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, the number of said first prize drawing entry forms received varying upon the length of said cash register tape, which said second prize drawing entry form has been obtained by an entrant where someone other than the entrant has purchased something of value; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form printed on a medium other than a cash register tape, which said second prize drawing entry form has been obtained from an employee of an establishment participating in said prize drawing game of chance.

19. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, wherein said front side of said first prize drawing entry form is blank; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form comprising a coupon adapted to be removed from a publication.

20. A set of prize drawing entry forms which are made available to an entrant of a prize drawing game of chance, from which set the entrant can select one or more prize drawing entry forms for use in playing a prize drawing game of chance, said set comprising:

(a) a first prize drawing entry form comprising a cash register tape having a front side and a back side, said back side bearing thereon printed indicia including spaces for the insertion in writing of information identifying a prize drawing entrant and said front side being suitable for receiving data concerning items sold, wherein said front side of said first prize drawing entry form is blank; and

(b) a second prize drawing entry form printed on a medium other than a cash register tape, which said second prize drawing entry form has been obtained from an employee of an establishment participating in said prize drawing game of chance.