Collector card/phone card dispensing system with promotional free spin/free draw game feature

• US 6,213,874 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keith Heflin
• Original Assignee: Keith Heflin
• Inventors: Heflin, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/925,860
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17-19, 273/118.A, 194/215, 194/217, 235/1.B, 235/1.R
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A system for dispensing collector'"'"'s series cards to a collector includes a currency acceptor and card dispenser controlled by a computer. As a promotion to encourage the sale of the collector'"'"'s cards, the system includes a game sub-system that provides the purchaser with an opportunity to play a game of chance with the credits that the person receives with each collector'"'"'s series card purchased. The purchaser may then save such credits or play them, and to the extent that a person wins, a promotional prize will be awarded.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing collector cards to a user comprising

a. a currency acceptor;

b. a card dispensing mechanism;

c. a processor operatively connected to the currency acceptor and to the card dispensing mechanism whereby a signal is sent to the card dispensing mechanism by the processor to dispense the collector cards in response to receipt of a pre-determined amount of currency at the currency acceptor;

d. a display and user control panel each operatively connected to the processor; and

e. the processor including a promotional game sub-system, the game sub-system generating information at the display and receiving information from the user control panel whereby the user can play an electronic promotional game in response to and conditioned on purchase of the collector cards.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a game credit accumulator means for electrically storing game credits available to the user for playing the electronic promotional game.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a game credit dispensing means for issuing to the user a physical record of game credits available to the user for future play.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising switch means for a licensee of the system to input user game credits or delete user game credits from the system.

5. A method of dispensing collector cards from a collector card dispensing system to a collector comprising the steps of:

a. accepting currency from the collector at an electromechanical currency acceptor associated with the system;

b. processing in the system currency received signals from the currency acceptor;

c. automatically dispensing the collector cards from a card dispensing mechanism associated with the system when the currency received signals processed reach a predetermined level; and

d. providing the collector an option to immediately play an electronic promotional game associated with the system as a reward for purchasing the collector cards.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of accumulating game credits in the system when the collector successfully plays the promotional game.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of issuing to the collector a physical record of game credits accumulated by that collector.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of issuing a prize to the collector in exchange for game credits accumulated by the collector.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of issuing a physical record of game credits to the user and electrically entering the game credits reflected on the physical record into the system so that the user can play the promotional game.