Self-service gasoline pump system with game function

• US 5,890,718 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ok-Sun Byon
• Original Assignee: Ok-Sun Byon
• Inventors: Byon, Ok-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/032,349
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 273/459, 273/460, 463/48
• US Class Current: 273/459
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/00 Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-service gasoline pump system with game functions in which a plurality of gasoline dispensers or pumps are respectively provided with a game device, and the game devices are connected in parallel to each other and to a controller. While a dispenses gasoline, the game device performs a game automatically whenever a predetermined certain amount of gasoline or charge is reached, or manually whenever the user pushes a button for starting games, so as to offer premiums to the user according to game points. The game results are displayed under the control of the controller.

Claims

1. A self-service gasoline pump system with game functions comprising:

a plurality of gasoline dispensers each having a preset unit for setting necessary data in advance, a display unit for displaying dispensed gasoline amounts and charges therefore, a pulse-counting unit for measuring the amount of dispensed gasoline, a nozzle switch unit for detecting a beginning and finishing of a gasoline dispensing operation, an interface part for driving all the units of the gasoline dispenser, and a control part for controlling all the units of said gasoline dispenser;

a plurality of game devices installed in respective ones of said gasoline dispensers, said games devices each having a communication unit connected to said interface part of the respective gasoline dispenser, a display unit for displaying current status of the respective game device and results of a game played by a user, a key pad unit for setting modes of the respective game device, a game unit for performing electronic games programs, and a control part for controlling all the units of the respective game device; and

a controller for said game devices having a communication unit which is connected to the communication units of said game devices, a display unit, a key pad unit, and a control part for controlling all the units of said controller;

wherein the control part of each of said gasoline dispensers transmits an order to the respective game device for performing an electronic game of one round via the interface part of the respective gasoline dispenser, when the user dispenses gasoline of a certain amount;

wherein said controller enables the game unit of each of said game devices to perform a game of one round when a game order is input through the communication unit of the respective game device, and the game unit of the respective game device detects and transmits game result data to said controller for said game devices via the communication unit of the respective game device; and

wherein the control part of said controller receives the game result data and displays it via the display unit of said controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said game devices further includes a speaker unit for generating sound effects to guide or inform users of operation method and game results while operating the respective game device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said game devices contains electronic game programs which may be performed by pressing a button at predetermined amounts of dispensed gasoline, charges or numbers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said key pad unit of each of said game devices further includes a button to be pressed for starting a game.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one gasoline dispenser is provided which operates independently from the game devices.