Prize redemption system for games

Patent 5816918 Issued on October 6, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 14, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

941194

1543318

1652071

2043166

2141580

2660434

2799500

2926915

3796433

Parlor game device
Patent #: 3975022
Issued on: 08/17/1976
Inventor: Figueroa

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Inventors

Assignee

RLT Acquisition, Inc.

Application

No. 746755 filed on 11/14/1996

US Classes:

463/16In a chance application

Examiners

Primary: Manuel, George

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Hickman Beyer & Weaver,LLP

Foreign Patent References

1087361 GB. 10/13/1967

International Class

A63F 009/24

Abstract

The present invention provides a prize redemption system for use with one or more game apparatuses. A game is provided on a game apparatus for a player to play in exchange for monetary input, and prize credits are credited to the player based on the game outcome. A prize selection menu is then displayed by the game apparatus, the menu including one or more prizes, where the player may select a prize that has a prize cost within the player's prize credit amount. The player is dispensed a specific prize ticket that is redeemable for the selected prize. The game apparatus can also provide specific prizes and tournament games played for a tournament prize contributed to by multiple players. An operator can adjust prizes and payout percentages of the system to achieve a desired profitability for game apparatuses. Prize input is entered into a prize table describing multiple available prizes and also describing payout information that indicates a desired amount of payout that the operator wishes to provide back to players of the game apparatus in terms of the value of the prizes. Prize information, such as prize costs and specific prize win ratios, is automatically determined by the system for each of the prizes in view of the desired profitability of the game apparatus.