Matrix game

• US 6,220,596 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Horan
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Horan
• Inventors: Horan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/244,380
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 273/269, 273/139
• US Class Current: 273/269
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/06 Lottos or bingo games; Systems, apparatus or devices for checking such games small boxes with balls used for generating random numbers A63F7/048; lottery apparatus G07C15/00; lottery gaming stations, online lottery or bingo G07F17/329; printing processes for lottery tickets B41M3/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0645 Electric lottos or bingo games

Abstract

A game which is played on a matrix having three columns and three rows. There are a pair of headers on the opposed sides of the rows. There is also a header on the columns. The letters in BINGO are distributed in any five spaces in these eight header spaces. The players may select the numbers in the matrix. A game which has similarities to BINGO, but which provides additional variables and player participation is thereby provided.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game similar to bingo comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a matrix having an array comprising three columns of elements and three rows of elements, said columns and rows being arranged such that each of said elements is simultaneously included in one of said columns and one of said rows and is positioned adjacent at least two other of said elements so as to form primary predesignated sets, and each of said columns has at least one header space and each of said rows has a pair of side header spaces and one of a plurality of five letters is positioned in at least some of said column or row header spaces, and at least some of said elements have a designation which is a numeral and at least some of the elements have a composite designation selected from the numeral of said element and one or more letters in the row or column of said letter, and a player selects at least some of the designations of the elements;

(b) causing the player to be associated by a physical means with the matrix by having said player assigned to a position adjacent the matrix; and

(c) generating a random set of elements by identifying a plurality of combinations of letters and numbers and declaring a winning combination when any of said random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements, and wherein

if the random set of elements generated in this step does not match any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements, further random sets of elements are successively randomly generated until one of said further random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements and the player wins when one of said random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the letters are B, I, N, G and O.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the matrix contains a FREE space.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein there are letters on both of the opposed header spaces of one of the rows.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each of the column header spaces has a letter.

6. A method of playing a game similar to bingo comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a matrix having an array comprising three columns of elements and three rows of elements, said columns and rows being arranged such that each of said elements is simultaneously included in one of said columns and one of said rows and is positioned adjacent at least two other of said elements so as to form primary predesignated sets, and said matrix has opposed top and bottom sides and opposed lateral sides and there are three columns or rows of header spaces adjacent three of said sides, and said header spaces contain five letters positioned adjacent at least some of the rows or columns, and at least some of said elements have a designation which is a numeral and at least some of the elements have a composite designation selected from the numeral of said element and one or more letters in the row or column of said letter, and a player selects at least some of the designations of the elements;

(b) causing the player to be associated by a physical means with the matrix by having said player assigned to a position adjacent the matrix; and

(c) generating a random set of elements by identifying a plurality of combinations of letters and numbers and declaring a winning combination when any of said random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements, and wherein

if the random set of elements generated in this step does not match any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements, further random sets of elements are successively randomly generated until one of said further random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements and the player wins when one of said random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the letters are B, I, N, G and O.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the matrix contains a FREE space.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein there are letters on opposed header spaces adjacent one of the rows.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each of the column header spaces has a letter.