Method and apparatus for conducting a competition using a divided literary work

• US 7,281,928 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victoria J. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Victoria J. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Victoria J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saadat; Cameron
• Application Number:
  US09/640,369
• Time in Patent Office: 2,616 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463 40- 43, 434176-177, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434322-323, 434/333, 434/156, 273/156, 273/157.R, 273/272, 273/299, 273/300, 273/153.R, 273429-432, 705/1, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 434/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00

Abstract

The invention provides a method of advertising by conducting a competition using a literary work that is divided into a plurality of distinct parts and formed into playing pieces, each piece optionally having an associated advertisement, logo, or brand. A literary work, such as a short story, is divided into a plurality of distinct parts in such a way that the correct sequence of words in the literary work cannot be readily determined by looking at any distinct part. Each distinct part is recorded on a playing piece, such as a paper or cardboard element, and an advertisement (e.g., a corporate logo, brand, or slogan) can be recorded on the reverse side of the card. Additional “helper” playing pieces may contain information regarding the correct sequence for arranging the other cards to reassemble the literary work. The playing pieces are distributed to the public, and participants are encouraged to collect all the playing pieces pertaining to that literary work. The first participant to correctly sequence the playing pieces and send in the playing pieces (in the correct sequence) wins the competition and a corresponding prize. Playing pieces can be distributed electronically (e.g., through web sites) instead of on paper, and corporate sponsors can link playing pieces to their corporate web sites for added promotional value.

Claims

1. A method for promoting literacy and reading by conducting a competition related to a literary work in association with an advertisement, comprising:

dividing a literary work comprising a correctly ordered sequence of words into a plurality of distinct parts, each part having no readily identifiable means for determining the correct sequence of words in said literary work;

creating a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces comprising one of said distinct parts;

creating an advertisement;

distributing said plurality of playing pieces comprising one of said distinct parts to members of the public in association with said advertisement;

collecting said playing pieces comprising one of said distinct parts;

sequencing said playing pieces into a correctly ordered sequence of words in said literary work;

sending said correctly ordered set of playing pieces, or an identifier thereof, that represents the correctly ordered sequence of words in said literary work; and

winning a prize for said correctly ordered set of playing pieces that represents the correctly ordered sequence of words in said literary work.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said advertisement is a corporate name.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said advertisement is an advertising campaign.