WO1998052660A1

WO1998052660A1 - Lottery game using letters

Info

Publication number: WO1998052660A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000350
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Melfredian Jones
Original assignee: Melfredian Esq (Aust) Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-05-16
Filing date: 1998-05-14
Publication date: 1998-11-26
Also published as: AUPO684497A0

Abstract

A lottery game based on the selection of a letter or character or a sequence of letters of characters from one or more alphabets to correspond to a pseudo randomly drawn winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters. The game may be played as a board game or via a computer. The game gas educational value and may be linked to a community support scheme with taxation implications.

Description

LOTTERY GAME USING LETTERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a lottery game based, in particular, but not limited to the selection of a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters of an alphabet corresponding to a pseudo-randomly drawn winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters.

BACKGROUND ART There are various lottery games in which a combination of numbers are selected and compared to a winning combination of numbers which have been drawn randomly.

It is generally believed that these games originated from the well known parlour game "Bingo" which is based on this concept. Among well known examples in Australia are those known by names such as "The Pools", "Tats Lotto", "Oz Lotto" etc. In almost all of these lottery games, the prize pool is divided into a number of divisions where prize dividends are paid out according to how many numbers have been matched to a winning combination of numbers drawn randomly.

One disadvantage of these games is that there is a limited facility for a player to increase his or her betting stake or gambling odds by nominating a heavier bet or increasing his or her chances of winning in a single game by varying the level or type of game to be played.

This is purely due to the fact that, in prior art lottery systems, each game is an independent game so that a combination of numbers selected in one game has no effect on the chances of winning in another game and that the systems have to conform to a strict and simple format for administrative purposes.

As these games are mostly played by the use of paper forms or coupons, the only method of increasing ones chances of winning is by purchasing and submitting several forms or coupons of the same combination of numbers or by adding a limited number of numbers on the same form or coupon at an increased cost.

Furthermore, addictive gambling is often a problem of modern society, especially for individuals belonging to the lower social economic classes which inevitably suffer its greatest effects. The inventor's intention is also to propose a link between the lottery game where administered at a national or international level with a scheme whereby a percentage of monies collected is used to contribute towards community support programs. As an incentive for public support, such schemes can also be related to a tax benefit linked to an individual tax payers participation in the lottery.

Although most prior art lottery games are based on numbers, the invention utilises a system based on letters or characters of an alphabet. The advantage of such a system is that a non English alphabet may be used for countries which have their own alphabet, for example, Chinese, Sanskrit or Arabic. In addition, the use of letters or characters instead of numbers allows letters or characters which form actual words to be used as opposed to non-meaningful number combinations. It is envisaged that this will have an added educational aspect. OBIECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to alleviate to some degree some of the problems and limitations associated with prior art lottery game systems and to provide the public with an alternative choice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lottery game where the games are not independent of one another, such that a letter or character or sequence of alphabet letters or characters selected in one game may be combined with a letter or character or sequence of letters or characters selected in another game in the same lottery draw.

Another object of the invention is that a player's chances of winning may be optionally increased by electing the type of game to be played.

Finally, the invention also provides the facility of reusing the same printed coupon for a number of lottery games, thereby reducing paper wastage and disposed litter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a broad aspect, the invention resides in a lottery game comprising:- recording means for choosing and recording a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters of an alphabet of one or more languages and other indicia; pseudo-random alphabet generation means for pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters from a pool of letters or characters of the alphabet of one or more languages; a set of rules governing a reward system based on matching the winning letter or character or the order of the winning sequence of letters or characters to the chosen letter or character or the order of the sequence of recorded letters or characters and other indicia, wherein in operation, the recording means enables a player to:- (i) record a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters; (ii) record the type of game to be played;

(iii) record the number of times the game is to be played in a single lottery game; and whereby the recording means enables the recorded letters or characters and indicia to be used for a number of lottery games. In a preferred aspect, the invention resides in a lottery game comprising:- recording means for choosing and recording a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters of an alphabet of one or more languages from one or more arrays of letters or characters of the alphabet of one or more languages and other indicia; pseudo-random alphabet generation means comprising an apparatus having one or more compartments containing tokens marked with letters or characters of the alphabet of one or more languages; each compartment provided with means to release tokens for pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters from a pool of letters or characters wherein the occurrence of each letter or character corresponds to at least the number of times the letter or character appears in the one or more arrays of letters or characters; a set of rules governing a reward system based on matching the winning letter or character or the order of the winning sequence of letters or characters to the chosen letter or character or the order of the sequence of recorded letters or characters and other indicia, wherein in operation, the recording means enables one or more players to:-

(i) record a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters; (ii) record the type of game to be played; and

(iii) record the number of times the game is to be played in a single lottery game; and whereby the recording means enables the recorded letters or characters and indicia to be used for a number of lottery games.

In preference, the recordal means is a paper form or coupon upon which a letter or character or a sequence of letters or characters and information relating to the type of game may be marked with a pencil or pen. This information can be electronically scanned for computer recordal purposes and the same coupon can be reused for several lottery games.

Alternatively, the chosen letters or characters and other information may be electronically stored on a credit card or other storage device which can be electronically retrieved. In another version, the lottery game may be played via a computer terminal which enables one or more players to key-in letters or characters and information and to store and retrieve the data in the usual fashion.

In yet a further version, the lottery game may be in the form of a board game. Preferably, the pseudo-random alphabet generation means is a clear perspex hollow container body having several compartments. Each compartment housing a set of identically sized and weighted balls or tokens. Each ball or token is marked with a letter or character of the alphabet of one or more languages. The number of times a ball or token is marked with particular letters or characters being determined according to the rules or at the discretion of a games manager or administrator. By mixing the balls or tokens in the compartments, balls or tokens may be pseudo-randomly released from the compartments to determine the winning sequence of letters or characters according to the rules.

Alternatively, the pseudo-random alphabet generator means comprises a modular apparatus in which there are several removably attachable container modules, each module containing balls or tokens marked with letters or characters. The modules may be added or removed depending on which alphabet is to be used.

In yet another version, the pseudo-random alphabet generator may be a computer.

Suitably, the letters or characters on each ball or token are also recessed or raised in relation to the surface of the balls or tokens so that the game may be played by visually impaired players.

Where the English alphabet is used, the pool of letters or characters for pseudo-random selection purposes will preferably contain the letter or character 'A' twenty-six times, the letters 'B' and 'C also twenty-six times and so on. Where an alphabet of another language contains a different number of letters or characters, the pool of letters or characters will preferably contain multiple examples of each letter or character corresponding to the total number of letters or characters of the relevant alphabet.

It will also be possible to vary the pool of letters or characters by varying the occurrences of different letters or characters or to select part of the total alphabet of a language which contains a great number of letters or characters.

It is also possible that where an alphabet contains a vast number of letters or characters for example, Chinese, to represent a group of letters or characters with a single letter or character. The set of rules are suitably such as to ensure that the game may be played in a series of steps which include the following:- (a) selecting and recording a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters and type of game to be played on a printed form or an electronic device; (b) registering or validating the recorded letter or character or sequence of letters or characters and the type of game with a games manager or administrator; (c) pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters by the games manager or administrator from a pool of letters or characters wherein the occurrence of each letter or character is determined according to the rules or at the discretion of the games manager or administrator; (d) comparing the winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters with the letter or character or sequence of letters or characters selected by the player;

(e) payment of a prize dividend according to matching the letter or character or number of selected letters or characters to the winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters and the type of game played as determined by the rules; and

(f) replaying the game with the same letter or character or sequence of letters or characters selected by repeating steps (b) onwards. Where the lottery game is linked to a community support scheme, the recordal means, whether by paper or electronic means, may be used as a record of a tax payers participation in the lottery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein:-

Figure 1 shows an example of a blank form or coupon in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a preferred pseudo-random alphabet generator according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a rotating floor member of the pseudo-random alphabet generator;

Figure 4 shows scoop members of the pseudo-random alphabet generator; Figure 5 shows a ball member;

Figure 6 shows detail of a flap member of the pseudo-random alphabet generator;

Figure 7 shows detail of the floor member of the pseudo-random alphabet generator;

Figure 8 shows detail of the ball bearing lifter of the collar member of the pseudo-random alphabet generator; Figure 9 shows an alternative pseudo-random alphabet generator;

Figure 10 shows a stand for the pseudo-random alphabet generator of Figure 9, and Figure 1 1 A and Figure 1 1 B shows a flow diagram of the invention when played on a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an example of a blank form or coupon 1 according to the invention.

Zones 2, 3, 4 and 5 contain multiple arrays or tracks of letters or characters of the English alphabet for selection of chosen letter or letter sequences by the player or by a random selection by a computer or other device according to the invention. The circles 6, 7, 8 and 9 enable a player, by marking a dot in the circle, to elect the type of games known as ALPHA, DOUBLE, TRIPLE and SCOOP, which can be played individually or as multiples of the same type of game or a combination of game types according to the rules respectively.

Other indicia 10, 1 1 , 12 allow a player to further vary his or her entry according to the rules of play.

Indicia 1 3 enables a player to increase his or her chances by nominating the times his or her chosen letter or sequence of letters are to be played known as a TIMES BET according to the rules.

Indicia 14 refers to the number of weeks which the entry form or coupon 1 may be played in lottery games drawn on a weekly basis.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a pseudo-random alphabet generator 20 according to the invention. Balls or tokens 21 , 22 marked with letters or characters of the English alphabet are contained in a clear perspex module 23. The modules may be removed and replaced with other modules 24 (shown in phantom) containing balls or tokens marked with letters or characters of a non- English alphabet where the lottery game is played in a foreign country.

Each module has agitator members 26 and flap members 25 for stirring the balls or tokens 21 , 22 when the rotatable floor member 27 is engaged by the collar member 28 of the central shaft 29, the floor member 27 is supported in position by spring loaded ball-bearing members 30, 31 .

Engagement of the floor member 27 by the collar 28 is achieved by elevating the collar member 28 by means of Bowden cables 32, 33 operated by spring loaded ball-bearing lifters 36 connected to a push button member 34.

By depressing the push button member 34 in the direction of the arrows

35, the ball-bearing lifters 36 elevate the collar member 28 which is connected to the shaft 29 by means of a slidable keyway 37. The collar member 28 engages the floor member 27 and by turning the wheel 38 causes the central shaft 29 to rotate the floor member 27.

The rotating floor member 27 causes the balls or tokens 21 , 22 to be agitated and stirred by the agitator members 26 which are attached to the floor member 27. The flap member 25 which is attached to the wall of the module 23 augments the agitation and stirring action of the agitator members 26 to ensure that a thorough mixing of the balls or tokens occurs. After a period of agitation, the push button member 35 is released and the collar member 28 is disengaged from the floor member 27 causing the floor member to gradually stop rotating.

Balls or tokens 39 determining the winning sequence of letters or characters are scooped out of the module 23 by means of clear perspex scoops 40.

Figure 3 shows detail of the rotating floor member 27 and the agitator members 26. The agitator members are formed from clear perspex and may have embedded in them, artefacts such as letters or characters 26a or illumination means such as lights etc.

Figure 4 shows detail of the scoop members of Figure 2 whereby balls or tokens 41 , 42 representing a winning sequence of letters or characters may be scooped out of the modules to appear through the clear perspex scoops 43, 44,

45 which represent separate portions of a winning sequence of letters or characters.

Figure 5 shows an example of a ball 46 with raised letters or characters 46a.

Figure 6 shows detail of a flap member 25 which may be pivoted about an axel member 47 and in the direction of the arrow 48, the flap member is restricted in its movement by a rear tag 25a which engages with the wall of the module 49.

Figure 7 shows detail of the floor member 27 supported by spring loaded ball-bearing members 30 and lateral alignment spring loaded ball-bearing members 31.

Figure 8 shows detail of the ball-bearing lifter 34 operated by a Bowden cable 32 causing the ball-bearing lifter 34 to elevate the collar member 28 which is connected to the rotatable shaft 29 by means of a sliding keyway 37. The lifter elevates the collar member in the direction of the arrow 50 when the Bowden cable 32 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 41 . This causes the collar member 28 to engage with the rotatable floor member 27. As shown in the illustration, the engaging surfaces 27a, 28a of the rotatable floor member and the collar member respectively are designed to provide maximal frictional contact.

Figure 9 shows an alternate pseudo-random alphabet generator 51 comprising a hand-held rattle shaped apparatus in which there are balls or tokens

52, 53. The rattle shaped apparatus is shaken by using the handle 54 in order to thoroughly agitate and mix the balls or tokens. When a winning letter or character or sequence of letters or characters is required, the rattle shaped apparatus is inverted so that the balls or tokens fall into a hollow cylinder 55 attached to the rattle shaped apparatus. The cylinder is marked with lines 55a,

55b to indicate separate portions of a winning sequence of letters or characters.

Figure 10 shows the rattle shaped apparatus 51 mounted in a stand 56 when not in use or where recording the winning letter or character or sequence of letters or characters.

Figures 1 1A and 1 1 B shows a flow diagram of steps taken when the invention is played on a computer from start, step 60 to the end, step 81 . The diagram occupies two pages and the paths denoted by circles "A" and "B" are intended to be continuous. For illustrative purposes, the layout of the computer display follows the format of the coupon as described as in Figure 1 . The number of players is selected at step 61 . The player's details such as a player's name, address, age, tax file number, etc are entered at step 62. Step 63 then enables the player or players to select the type of game to be played for example, ALPHA, DOUBLE, TRIPLE and SCOOP (6, 7, 8, 9 in Figure 1 ). An optional printout of information entered may be obtained at step 64. The format of the game such as the level of the game For example the TIMES BET (13 in Figure 1 ) according to the rules and/or other in indicia (10, 1 1 , 12 in Figure 1) is selected at step 65. Step 66 enables the nomination of the particular arrays or tracks of letters or characters to be used for the selection of the chosen letter or character or letter sequences by the player (2, 3, 4, 5 in Figure 1). Step 67 allows the player to select one or more sets of alphabets of one or more languages in whole or in part. Step 68 allows a player to nominate an optional combination of letters or characters with numbers; combinations of letters or characters from alphabets of different languages and a points value to be allocated to the selected combinations. Step 69 enables the player to select the actual letters of character sequences to be used to play the game either by the player choosing them or by having them randomly chosen by the computer.

Steps 63 to 69 are also the steps which comprise the Game Design and Printout Game Cards component of the computer sequence. By activating the play button, at step 70, the pseudo-random number generator of step 71 is activated to produce a pseudo randomly selected number or sequence of pseudo random numbers depending on the type (step 63) and level (step 65) of game nominated. The pseudo randomly generated number or numbers are mapped by the computers logic to particular alphabetic characters at step 72 and are displayed at step 73 on the computer screen (not shown). An example of a particular pseudo-random member generator which can be used "Borland c+ + Builder" by Borland International (Australia) Level 6, 140 Sussex Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia. Other software pseudo random number generators can also be used. The letters or characters chosen by the player (step 69) are then matched against the computer's letters (step 73) and the game score record updated or the coupon is serviced by paying out a dividend if there is a winning situation at step 74.

Step 75 allows the player to have a pause break before deciding to continue with the game by going to the next player along path 75a. Step 76 enables the player to review or summate his or her scores thus far in the game and to obtain a printout if required.

If the player or players decide at this stage to end the game, then step 77 is activated. In the alternative, further games may be played by electing to return along path 78a to step 78. Step 78 allows a player to select a new game type or level or other game variations without having to re enter his or her details (Steps 62). Step 79 allows the player to start a new round or game Step 80 enables the next player to enter the game based on any changes, effected at Step 78 to the game.

Whilst the above as been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1 . A lottery game comprising:- recording means for choosing and recording a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters of an alphabet of one or more languages and other indicia; pseudo-random alphabet generation means for pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters from a pool of letters or characters of the alphabet of one or more languages; a set of rules governing a reward system based on matching the winning letter or character or the order of the winning sequence of letters or characters to the chosen letter or character or the order of the sequence of recorded letters or characters and other indicia, wherein in operation, the recording means enables a player to:- (i) record a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters; (ii) record the type of game to be played;

(iii) record the number of times the game is to be played in a single lottery game, and whereby the recording means enables the recorded letters or characters and indicia to be used for a number of lottery games.

2. A lottery game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the letter or character of the ordered sequence of letters or characters are chosen from one or more arrays of letters or characters of an alphabet of one or more languages and the pseudorandom alphabet generation means comprises an apparatus having one or more compartments containing balls or tokens marked with letters or characters of the alphabet of one or more languages; each compartment provided with means to release balls or tokens for pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters from a pool of letters or characters wherein the occurrence of each letter or character corresponds to at least the number of times the letter or character appears in the one or more arrays of letters or characters.

3. A lottery game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pseudorandom alphabet generation means is a clear hollow container body having several compartments; each compartment having a set of identical sized and weighted balls or tokens; each ball or token marked with a letter or character of the alphabet of one or more languages, wherein the number of times a ball or token is marked with particular letters or characters being determined according to the rules or the occurrence of each letter or character as determined in claim 2 and whereby mixing the balls or tokens in the compartments, balls or tokens may be pseudo-randomly released from the compartments to determine the winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters according to the rules.

4. A lottery game as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the pseudo- random alphabet generation means comprises a modular apparatus in which there are several removably attached container modules, each module containing balls or tokens marked with letters or characters and wherein the modules may be added or removed depending on which alphabet is to be used.

5. A lottery game as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4 wherein the letters or characters of each ball or token are recessed in relation to the surface of the balls or tokens so that the game may be played by visually impaired players.

6. A lottery game as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4 wherein the letters or characters of each ball or token are raised in relation to the surface of the balls or tokens so that the game may be played by visually impaired players.

7. A lottery game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pseudo-random alphabet generation means is a computer.

8. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the recordal means is a form or coupon on which a letter or character or a sequence of letters or characters and information relating to the type of game may be marked.

9. A lottery game as claimed in claim 7 wherein the letter or character or the sequence of letters or characters and information marked on the form or coupon can be electronically scanned for computer recordal purposes.

10. A lottery game as claimed in claim 8 wherein the form or coupon can be reused for several lottery games.

1 1. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims in which the letter or character or sequence of letters or characters and information may be electronically stored on a credit card or other storage device and which can be electronically retrieved.

12. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims in which the lottery game is played via a computer terminal which enables one or more players to key in letters or characters and information and to store and retrieve the information.

13. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims in the form of a board game.

14. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein the English alphabet is used and the pool of letters or characters for pseudo-random selection purposes contains each letter or character of the alphabet twenty-six times.

15. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein an alphabet of a language other than English which contains a different number of letters or characters is used and wherein the pool of letters or characters contains multiple examples of each letter or character corresponding to the total number of letters or characters of the relevant alphabet.

16. A lottery game as claimed in any of the above claims wherein the number of times a particular letter or character occurs in the pool of letters or characters can be varied.

1 7. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein it will be possible to vary the pool of letters or characters by selecting part of the total alphabet of a language which contains a great number of letters or characters.

18. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims where it is possible that where an alphabet contains a vast number of letters or characters, to represent a group of letters or characters by a single letter or character.

19. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the above mentioned claims wherein the set of rules ensure that the game may be played in a series of steps which include the following:- (a) selecting and recording a letter or character or an ordered sequence of letters or characters and type of game to be played on a printed form or an electronic device;

(b) registering or validating the recorded letter or character or sequence of letters or characters and the type of game with a games manager or administrator;

(c) pseudo-random selection of a winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters by the games manager or administrator from a pool of letters or characters wherein the occurrence of each letter or character is determined according to the rules or is at the discretion of a games manager or administrator;

(d) comparing the winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters with the chosen letter or character or sequence of letters or characters selected by the player;

(e) payment of a prize dividend according to matching the number of selected letters or characters to the winning letter or character or winning sequence of letters or characters and the type of game played as determined by the rules; and

(f) replaying the game with the same letter or character or sequence of letters or characters selected by repeating steps (b) onwards.

20. A lottery game as claimed in any one of the mentioned claims wherein the lottery game is linked to a community support scheme and the recordal means, whether by paper or electronic means is used as a record of a tax payers participation in the lottery for tax assessment purposes.