Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates generally to games of skill and chance, such as
bingo-type, lottery-type, and tic-tac-toe-type games, which are designed for
contemporaneous
play with an on-going competitive athletic event, such as a game of baseball.
In particular, the
present invention relates to a sweepstakes-type game in which pre-printed game
cards are
distributed to contestants which permit the contestants to predict the
performance of selected
players prior to the athletic event and which will reveal winning contestants
and associated
prizes based upon the geometric arrangement and/or point value of correct
predictions.
to While the popularity of professional sports has increased dramatically with
increased televised and media coverage of professional sporting events, this
growth has not
been accompanied by a general increase in stadium attendance, which, in many
cases, has
steadily decreased in recent years.
For instance, while professional baseball is one of the most widely viewed
spectator sports in the United States and many professional baseball games are
broadcast
nationwide via cable television and satellite, stadium attendance and
viewership has diminished
to such a great extent in some instances that extreme measures, such as team
moves and newly-
built ballparks, have been undertaken to attract an increased number of
spectators, at great
expense to team owners.
2 o One reason for decreased spectator attendance and viewership of
professional
sporting events such as baseball is the lack of fan participation and
recognition in any aspect
of the on-going game. Since fans may enjoy the game at home equally as much as
in the
ballpark, an added incentive is needed in order to attract additional numbers
of fans to
ballparks.
2 5 Another reason for the diminished interest and viewership in traditional
professional sporting events includes the increased level of competition from
the constantly
expanding number of non-athletic entertainment and leisure-related activities.
Similarly,
traditional competitive sports has in recent years faced increased competition
due to the growth
of interest and viewership in competitive athletic events which have
traditionally not been
3 o regarded as widely-viewed spectator sports, such as ice skating, golf and
gymnastics. Since
nationally broadcast team sporting events comprise a constantly diminishing
portion of the
ever-increasing spectrum of cable television and satellite-broadcast
entertainment programming
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services, an added incentive is also needed to attract an increased number of
viewers to such
sporting events.
The sweepstakes-type game of the present invention is intended to restore fan
and spectator enthusiasm in team sports, such as baseball and football, to the
same high level
of intensity experienced in foregone times, when no other competitive athletic
events or
entertainment activities competed with team sports for spectators and viewers.
The game of
the present invention is also intended to enhance spectator interest and
enthusiasm in an on-
going competitive sporting event by directly involving the spectators in the
play-by-play action
of the sporting event via the use of a pre-printed game card which reveals
prizes to spectators
1 o based upon the performance of selected athletes in the game. Despite the
waning enthusiasm
in sporting events when the home team is far behind the visiting team, the
game of the present
invention is designed to maintain spectator interest in the on-going game
irrespective of the
score. Thus, the sweepstakes-type game of the present invention creates
additional incentive
for fan and spectator interest in the normal play-by-play action of an on-
going sporting event
and will also facilitate a greater familiarity with the individual players'
skills, batting rotations,
and fielding positions. Additionally, more spectators and viewers will remain
involved in the
games from start to finish.
In one embodiment of the sweepstakes-type game of the present invention, a
spectator/contestant may actually predict the perforimance of selected
athletes prior to the game
2 o and prizes are awarded based upon the accuracy of his or her predictions.
In another
embodiment, the performances of the selected athletes which will result in the
awarding of a
sweepstakes prize are preassigned, prizes are awarded based solely upon the
actual
performance of selected athletes, and spectators need not make any
predictions. By awarding
prizes offered by advertisers and sponsors of the sporting event, spectators
and viewers are
2 5 rewarded for correct predictions of the play-by-play action of the
sporting event and an
increased number of spectators and viewers is thus attracted to the event.
The prior art offers no similar game of any kind. In this regard, the present
inventor has conducted an extensive search in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office
and has determined that no sports-related game of skill and/or chance
currently exists which
3 o could be used to suit the interests of fans, teams, and advertisers, and
which would nonetheless
CA 02276355 1999-06-28
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3
be successful in enhancing spectator interest, stadium attendance, as well as
increasing
television and radio audiences.
For instance, while numerous sports-related games of chance have previously
been proposed, none of these games is particularly suitable for use with an on-
going
competitive athletic event. Bingo-style games are disclosed in U.S. Patent
Nos. 3,549,150 to
Weeks; and 4,169,601 to Frischmann, et al. Bingo-type promotional games have
also been
proposed which utilize promotional coupons published, for example, in
newspapers.
Promotional games are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,509,759; 4,619,457 and
4,711,454 to
Small. One example of such a game is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,706,959 to
Price for a
1 o quarterback draw football game. While the Price patent discloses a game
board which includes
a simulated football field having player pieces, movement of the player pieces
is determined
by decks of cards instead of actual plays in a contemporaneously played
football game.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,184,270 to Presbrey, while a device is used in
conjunction
with a broadcast golf game, the device is simply a visual aid and is not a
game of chance. U.S.
Patent No. 5,112,050 to Koza, et al. discloses a broadcast lottery in which a
player acquires
a ticket from a transmitter location. The stored information is compared to
the broadcast
information and, if a match results, the ticket is deemed to be a winning
ticket. However, the
participant in the lottery does not select, on the basis of skill or chance,
predicted batting
performances of individual athletes in a competitive sporting event.
2 o In U.S. Patent Nos. 5,332,218 and 5,043,889 to Lucey, a golf sweepstakes
game is disclosed in which contestants predict the winner and runners-up of a
golf tournament.
Sweepstakes prizes are awarded depending upon the accuracy of the contestants'
predictions.
The contestants are each provided with a game card having an access number,
and a code
system allows the contestants to convert their selections into numbers which
are input to a
2 5 computer system along with the contestants' respective access number. The
results of the golf
tournament are entered into the computer system, and the winner of the
sweepstakes is
determined in accordance therewith.
In U.S. Patent No. 1,639,894, a game or puzzle based on baseball is disclosed
in which a score card is formed with a series of columns. The first column
lists the players
3 0 of a team while the remaining nine columns each represent a different
inning. A guide is
provided for defining codes for different plays, each of which can only be
used once on the
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. score card. Some innings are blocked out for each of the players. The
contestant fills in the
blank spaces for each player in the available innings in an effort to obtain
the greatest number
of runs while completing a perfect score card. The game is relatively di~cult
to understand,
complex to play, highly unrealistic, and does not serve to enhance spectator
interest or
enthusiasm by allowing spectators to make predictions of the individual
performance of
selected athletes.
In U.S. Patent.No. 4,883,636 a baseball bingo-type game is disclosed which
uses a conventional pre-printed bingo playing card having nine rows which
represent nine
innings of a baseball game for a visiting team and nine columns which
represent the same nine
1 o innings for a home team. Each resulting square in the nine-by-nine matrix
is pre-printed with
a baseball play. When a play on a given space is made by a player on either
the home or
visiting team, it is covered with a chip or marker by the contestant. As with
all conventional
bingo games, a winning contestant is determined when a predetermined pattern
of zones or
spaces is covered by markers (e.g., all the zones in a row, column, or
diagonal). This game
is highly unrealistic for various reasons. For instance, rather than relating
to the play-by-play
action of a typical baseball game, the game uses symbols such as hexes and
"wildcards", which
have absolutely no significance in the context of baseball, and it does not
allow for the same
plays by different players in the various innings. This patent merely
describes a bingo game
in which baseball plays are used as "calls" instead of numbers randomly picked
from a hopper.
2 o None of the above-described sweepstakes-type games is designed to
encourage
spectator interest in an on-going athletic event by rewarding contestants for
their correct
predictions of player performances. While the Lucey patents disclose a golf
sweepstakes game
in which contestants phone-in or scan-in their predictions to a validation
center prior to a golf
tournament, they do not disclose a play-by-play sweepstakes game effective to
enhance
2 5 spectator interest, and merely teach a method of downloading, via
telephone or computer,
individual bets on golf tournaments. The sweepstakes game of the present
invention differs
substantially from the game disclosed in the Lucey patents by being integrally
involved with
the play-by-play action of a sporting event and does not simply involve
predicting the winner
and runners-up of the event. While games directed at merely choosing the
winner and runners-
3 o up of an athletic event have been demonstrated to enhance spectator
interest and enthusiasm
in an on-going sporting event, the game of the.present invention, which
requires predictions
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~ CA 02276355 2002-08-16
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related to the play-by-play action of an on-going sporting event, will serve
to
enhance interest and enthusiasm to a far greater extent. None of the above-
described games is similar, and none permits contestants to make predictions
of
play-by-play performances during an on-going competitive sporting event on
the basis of skill or pure chance.
In view of the foregoing, an object of an aspect of the present invention
is to provide a sweepstakes-type game which can be used to enhance fan and
spectator interest and enjoyment as well as to provide a promotional vehicle
which serves the interests of professional athletic teams, team owners,
advertisers and fans.
Another object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a
sweepstakes-type game of skill and/or chance which may be played
individually by an unlimited number of contestants in conjunction with an on-
going competitive athletic event, which can be played by contestants having a
high level of skill and knowledge of the athletic event as well as by those
having absolutely no knowledge thereof, and which can be played using a pre-
printed game card distributed to contestants at a ballpark, retail outlet,
along
with a newspaper or periodical, or in any other venue.
The above and other objects of aspects are achieved in accordance with
the present invention by providing a sweepstakes-type game of skill andlor
chance for use in conjunction with an on-going competitive sporting event.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of
pre-printed game cards are prepared for distribution to contestants. The game
cards may be distributed in any known manner, including distribution to
spectators at a competitive sporting event, to patrons of a store, a
restaurant or
bar, or to newspaper or periodical subscribers and/or potential subscribers as
part of an advertiser's promotional campaign or subscription drive. The game
I
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cards may also be made available for sale or given away in commercial outlets
at which games, novelty items, or other sweepstakes-type game cards are
available.
The game cards are imprinted with first indicia defining a playing grid
which includes a plurality of divided playing areas or sections arranged in a
matrix, similar to that of a tic-tac-toe grid. Each of the respective playing
areas
of the playing grid is associated with a first desired characteristic of a
competitive sporting event, such as a fielding position, periodic score, final
score, inning, quarter, period, and the like. Within each of the individual
playing areas of the playing grid, the game card is further imprinted with
second indicia
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representing a plurality of potential performance possibilities of a team or
one or more selected
players involved in the competitive athletic event. Thus, by way of example,
the plural playing
areas may each be assigned to represent a different field position associated
with the athletic
event and the second indicia may be representative of each of the potential
plays that may be
made by the athlete associated with the respective field position. In each
respective playing
area, the game card further includes selecting means, such as scratch-off pads
or marking
areas, to permit the contestants to predict one or more of the potential
performance
possibilities. Thus, in the example given above, the selecting means permits
the contestants
to predict the performance of a particular athlete associated with the
respective playing area
1 o that is anticipated during the course of the sporting event.
For instance, when used in connection with the game of baseball, the first
indicia preferably comprises three rows and three columns of individual
playing areas and is
arranged in the nature of a conventional tic-tac-toe grid. In this manner, a
total of nine playing
areas are defined by the three respective rows and columns of playing areas.
Since there are
nine fielding positions in the game of baseball, each respective fielding
position may be
associated with one of the nine playing areas of the game card. Most
preferably, the playing
areas can be arranged similarly to the layout of fielding positions in a
baseball game, such that,
for example, the top row of three playing areas represents, from left to
right, left field, center
field, and right field. Similarly, the middle row of three playing areas
represents, respectively,
2 o short stop, pitcher (or designated hitter), and second base, while the
bottom row of playing
areas represents third base, catcher, and first base, respectively.
On the other hand, when used in connection with the game of football, the
first
indicia preferably comprises five rows and five columns of individual playing
areas. In this
manner, twenty-five playing areas are defined by the five respective rows and
columns of
2 5 playing areas. Preferably, the five rows of playing areas each correspond
to a different
football team. Four of the five columns of playing areas each represent one of
the four
quarters of a football game and the fifth column represents the final score.
In order to make the sweepstakes-type game and the manner in which it is
played extremely easy for contestants to understand, the game card is most
preferably further
3 o imprinted with background indicia representing the ball field in which the
sporting event is
played. In the case of baseball, for instance, the game card may be imprinted
throughout the
t
'~ i
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respective playing areas with background indicia representing the infield and
outfield of a
baseball field, while a game card used in connection with football is
preferably imprinted with
indicia representing the goal posts and end zones of a typical football field,
with the individual
playing areas arranged in a grid representing the football playing field.
Most preferably, the periphery of selected playing areas may be imprinted with
indicia representing the billboards typical of professional sports stadiums.
Most
advantageously, the billboards imprinted on the individual game cards are
further imprinted
with advertisements from individual game sponsors. In one aspect of the
invention, the actual
sweepstakes prizes awarded to winning spectators are imprinted within one or
more of the
1 o billboards, along with the identity of the individual game sponsors or
advertisers awarding the
respective sweepstakes prize.
Furthermore, in the case of baseball, the second indicia within each playing
area
of the playing grid preferably represents all or some of the potential batting
performances, such
as a single, double, triple, home run, base on balls, sacrifice bunt or
sacrifice fly, strike out,
fly out, ground out, and the like. The selecting means preferably comprises a
plurality of
marking boxes or scratch-off pads, each corresponding to a respective one of
the enumerated
batting performances, which enables the contestants to select a single or
multiple batting
performances for each of the nine playing areas of the playing grid. Third
indicia may also
be imprinted on the game card to record the actual performance of the
respective athletes
2 o during the course of the on-going game. Preferably, the selecting means
permits the contestant
to choose only one predicted batting performance for each ball player
throughout an entire ball
game and the third indicia is in the form of an individual scorecard in each
playing area to
allow spectators and viewers to record, for personal use and interest, the
batting performance
of each ball player throughout the course,of an entire game. In a more
sophisticated aspect of
2 5 the invention, however, the selecting means permits the contestant to make
batting performance
predictions for the multiple times at bat of some or all of the ball players
on a given team. In
another aspect of the invention, the third indicia serves as additional
selection means and
permits contestants to predict the batting performance of the respective ball
players at all their
times at bat throughout an entire ball game.
3 o In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the
individual
playing areas are each defined to represent an individual inning of a baseball
game rather than
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8
the individual field positions. In accordance with this aspect of the present
invention, the
second and third indicia and the selecting means may be the same or similar to
that used in the
first aspect of the invention described above. Thus, contestants are permitted
to select one or
more batting performances which are predicted to occur within each of the nine
innings of the
baseball game rather than predicting the batting performance of individual
ball players.
In accordance with either of these aspects of the present invention, winning
contestants are preferably determi~d based upon the geometric arrangement of
playing areas
in which correct predictions have been made. In the case of baseball, in which
the playing grid
is arranged in the nature of a conventional tic-tac-toe game, the winning
geometric
1 o arrangements are also similar to a tic-tac-toe game. Thus, for instance,
winning combinations
of correctly-predicted playing areas are three up, three across, or three
diagonally, as in tic-tac-
toe. In such case, the individual billboard which is aligned with the three
adjacent playing
areas in which correct predictions have been made is most preferably used to
reveal the
sweepstakes prize associated with that particular winning combination.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the second indicia
imprinted on the game card defines a plurality of potential batting
performances, and each of
the enumerated batting performances has selecting means adjacent thereto, as
in the first and
second aspects of the invention. In the third aspect of the invention,
however, each of the
batting performances is assigned a predetermined point value. The total point
value for each
2 o such game card is based not only on the geometric pattern of correctly
predicted batting
performances, but also the associated point values.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the game card may
take any of the general forms described above in connection with the first
through third
embodiments. Thus, by way of example, the game card preferably includes first
printed
2 5 indicia defining a plurality of playing areas arranged in a grid, such as
a tic-tac-toe grid. The
card is preferably provided within each playing area with second indicia
comprising a list of
some or all of the potential batting performances, in accordance with this
aspect of the
invention, however, the game card is further imprinted with removable opaque
marking means,
such as scratch-off pads, associated with each of the enumerated batting
performances. During
3 o the on-going baseball game, contestants manually remove the marking means
associated with
the actual batting performance of the respective ball players, on a play by-
play basis. Beneath
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9
each of the individual removable marking means, the game card is further
imprinted with
prize-revealing indicia which indicates a particular potential sweepstakes
prize. Winning
contestants are determined based upon the geometrical arrangement or simply
the number of
matching prize-revealing indicia revealed at the end of the baseball game. In
accordance with
this aspect of the present invention, the selection means for permitting the
contestants to make
individual predictions may be omitted, if desired. However, if the selection
means is included,
additional sweepstakes prizes, or prizes of greater value, may be awarded
based upon correct
predictions, as in the first through third aspects of the invention.
In other aspects of the invention, instead of fielding positions or innings in
a
1 o baseball game, the individual playing areas of the playing grid may be
arranged to correspond
with the batting rotation or fielding position number. Similarly, rather than
basing the game
on the batting performance of participating ball players on a single team, the
game may be
based upon the batting performance of selected players on two competing teams.
Furthermore,
the playing grid can also be arranged based upon any selected number of
players in a single
game or multiple games, and may even be based upon the performance of a single
player in
multiple games. Moreover, instead of distributing individual game cards to
each contestant,
the game of the present invention may be played by one or more persons using a
larger game
board. For instance, a plurality of contestants may make batting performance
predictions on
a single game board by assigning unique or distinguishing selection means
characteristics to
2 o each such as shape, color or size. Similarly, the game may be implemented
in computer
software such that the playing grid appears on the screen of a CRT rather than
on individual
game cards or boards.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the game is designed for use
in
conjunction with a plurality of contemporaneously played football games. For
example, four
2 5 of the columns of playing areas are each assigned to represent one quarter
of each football
game. The fifth column of playing areas is assigned to represent the final
score of each of the
games. In each respective playing area, the game card is provided with
selecting means to
permit the contestant to predict, for each football team, the team's score in
each quarter of a
football game, and the final score of the game. As in the previous aspects of
the invention,
3 o winners are determined based upon the geometric pattern and/or point value
of correct
i ~i
CA 02276355 2002-08-16
l~
predictions and billboards may be included in the above-described manner to
reveal the identity of sweepstakes prizes.
The sweepstakes-type game of the present invention may be played in
any venue, and the game card may be a game board, an electronic display, such
as a computer monitor, or the like, and may be played with a
contemporaneously played sporting event, a simulated game (i.e., as in a
computer generated game), or a previously played game. For example, in a
preferred mode of play, game cards are distributed to contestants for use in
conjunction with a contemporaneously played game. In another preferred mode
of play, game cards are included in newspapers or periodicals for use in
connection with a subscription drive. In yet another preferred mode of play,
the
game is used in combination with a recorded version of a historically
significant game and contestants are challenged by being asked to predict the
actual performance of famous old-time ball players.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
sweepstakes-type game for play in conjunction with a contest having a
plurality
of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their performance, comprising:
means for storing predicted outcomes of the events in advance of their
performance;
multiple chance means for earning scoring factors by matching the
actual outcomes of the events to correctly predicted stored outcomes, each
scoring factor having a plurality of scoring chances to be earned during
subsequent performances of individual events during the contest; and
means for determining at the end of the contest at least one sweepstakes
game winner by obtaining at least one predetermined combination of said
scoring factors each earned during any one of its respective scoring chances.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of playing a sweepstakes-type game in conjunction with a contest
having a plurality of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their
i i ~ i i
CA 02276355 2002-08-16
l0a
performance, comprising the steps of:
predicting outcomes of the events in advance of their performance and
storing the predicted outcomes on a storage medium;
earning scoring factors by matching the actual outcomes of the events to
correctly predicted stored outcomes, each scoring factor having a plurality of
scoring chances to be earned during subsequent performances of individual
events during the contest; and
determining at the end of the contest at least one sweepstakes game
winner by obtaining at least one predetermined combination of said scoring
factors each earned during any one of its respective scoring chances.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a sweepstakes-type game for play in conjunction with a contest having a
plurality of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their performance,
comprising:
a) means for storing predicted outcomes of the events in advance of
their performance, said storing means including a plurality of game cards each
having first indicia bounding playing areas each associated with a
characteristic
of the contest, said playing areas being arranged in a pattern on each game
card, and second indicia representing a plurality of event outcomes for each
characteristic, said storing means being operative for marking the predicted
outcomes in each playing area;
b) means for earning scoring factors by matching the actual
outcomes of the events to correctly predicted stored outcomes; and
c) means for determining least one sweepstakes game winner by
obtaining at least one predetermined combination of said scoring factors
arranged in a geometrical arrangement of said playing areas, said determining
means including third indicia on each card depicting a plurality of said
predetermined combinations, and prize means on each card depicting a
plurality of prizes, one for each predetermined combination.
I L
CA 02276355 2002-08-16
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According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of playing a sweepstakes-type game in conjunction with a contest
having a plurality of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their
performance, comprising the steps of:
S a) storing predicted outcomes of the events in advance of their
performance by providing a plurality of game cards each having first indicia
bounding playing areas arranged in a pattern on each game card, each playing
area being associated with a characteristic of the contest, and second indicia
representing a plurality of event outcomes for each characteristic, said
storing
step being performed by marking the predicted outcomes in each playing area;
b) earning scoring factors by matching the actual outcomes of the
events to correctly predicted stored outcomes; and
c) determining at least one sweepstakes game winner by obtaining
at least one predetermined combination of said scoring factors arranged in a
1 S geometrical arrangement of said playing areas, said determining step being
performed by providing third indicia on each card depicting a plurality of
said
predetermined combinations, and depicting on each card a plurality of prizes,
one for each predetermined combination.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a sweepstakes-type game for play in conjunction with a baseball contest having
a plurality of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their performance
by individual baseball players, comprising:
a plurality of game cards, each having means for storing predicted
outcomes of the events in advance of their performance;
multiple chance means for earning scoring factors by matching the
actual outcomes of the events to correctly predicted stored outcomes, each
scoring factor having a plurality of scoring chances to be earned during
subsequent performances of individual events by an individual baseball player
during the contest; and
CA 02276355 2005-03-23
lOc
means for determining at the end of the contest at least one sweepstakes
game winner, including providing playing areas on each game card, the playing
areas being arranged in an array of three linear rows and three linear
columns,
and providing marking zones in each playing area, each marking zone being
marked when a scoring factor is earned during any one of its respective
scoring
chances, said game winner being determined when the marking zones lie along
a line in the array.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
sweepstakes-type game for play in conjunction with a golf contest of events
whose outcomes are unknown prior to their performance by having a plurality
individual golf players, comprising:
a plurality of game cards, each having means for storing predicted
outcomes of the events in advance of their performance;
multiple chance means for earning scoring factors by matching the
actual outcomes of the events to correctly predicted stored outcomes, each
scoring factor having a plurality of scoring chances to be earned during
subsequent performances of different individual events by an individual golf
player during the contest; and
means for determining at the end of the contest at least one sweepstakes
game winner, including providing playing areas on each game card, the playing
areas being arranged in an array of three linear rows and three linear
columns,
and providing marking zones in each playing area, each marking zone being
marked when an actual outcome matches a marked predicted outcome, each
scoring factor being earned when two actual outcomes match two marked
predicted outcomes in a single playing area, said game winner being
determined when the marking zones lie along a line in the array.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a sweepstakes-type game for play in conjunction with a contest
having a plurality of events whose outcomes are unknown prior to their
CA 02276355 2005-03-23
lOd
performance, the game including a plurality of game cards each having first
indicia bounding playing areas (28a-28i) each associated with a characteristic
of the contest, said playing areas being arranged in a pattern on each game
card, and second indicia representing a plurality of event outcomes for each
characteristic, said game cards being able to be marked in each playing area
for
storing predicted outcomes of the events in advance of their performance, the
actual outcomes of the events being matched to correctly predicted stored
outcomes to earn scoring factors,
characterised is that each game card includes
third indicia on each card depicting a plurality of predetermined
combinations of said scoring factors arranged in different geometrical
arrangements of said playing areas, and prize indicia on each card depicting a
plurality of prizes, one for each predetermined combination, at least one
sweepstakes winner being determined by obtaining at least one predetermined
combination of said scoring factors arranged in at least one of the
geometrical
arrangements.
The above and other objects of aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following description, when
read in conjunction with accompanying drawings, wherein there are set forth
by way of illustration and example various embodiments of the present
invention, in which:
Figure 1 shows a game card in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention, in which the game is embodied as a baseball sweepstakes
game and the individual playing areas are arranged to define individual ball
players on a given team;
Figure 2 shows a variation of the indicia printed within each of the
playing areas shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a game card in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention, in which the game is also embodied as a baseball
sweepstakes game and differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in that
CA 02276355 2005-03-23
l~e
the playing areas are each arranged to define individual innings in a baseball
game;
Figure 4 is an illustration of a game card in accordance with a third
embodiment of the invention, in which each of the nine playing areas
represents a different player position;
Figure 5 is an illustration of a game card in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the invention, in which each of the nine playing areas
represents a different batter in a team's rotation;
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11
Figure 6 is an illustration of a game card in accordance with a fifth
embodiment
of the invention, in which each of the nine playing areas represent a
different player position;
Figure 7 is an illustration of a playing grid in a sixth embodiment in which
predictions are preselected for a contestant;
Figures 8A and 8B illustrate a seventh embodiment of the present invention in
which the sweepstakes game is designed as a game of chance in which
contestants remove
scratch-off pads corresponding to the batting performance of individual
players throughout a
baseball game;
Figures 9A and 9B illustrate a variation of the seventh embodiment in which
the
1 o playing areas are arranged to define individual innings in a baseball
game;
Figure l0A is an illustration of a game card in an eighth embodiment of the
present invention in which the game is a football sweepstakes game and the
individual playing
areas are arranged to define the four individual quarters of a football game;
Figure lOB is a variation of the game card shown in the eighth embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 11 is a simplified block diagram of the principal components employed
for practicing a sweepstakes game in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention;
Figure 12 is a simplified block diagram of the principal components employed
for practicing a sweepstakes game in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention;
2 o and
Figure 13 is an illustration of a game card in a ninth embodiment of the
present
invention in which the game is a golf sweepstakes game.
Referring specifically to the attached drawings, in which identical or similar
elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, various
embodiments of
2 5 the present invention will now be described. The sweepstakes game of the
present invention
may be played in a variety of different venues, including baseball stadiums,
commercial
establishments, private residences, and the like. When played in any of these
venues, the game
may take any of a number of preferred forms, each of which will be described
below.
Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention. The baseball
3 o sweepstakes game is played with the use of a pre-printed game card,
denoted generally by
reference numeral 10. The baseball sweepstakes game is preferably played in
conjunction with
r
a
CA 02276355 1999-06-28
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12
an on-going baseball game in which contestants predict the performance of
individual players
prior to the commencement of a specific baseball game. However, the game can
also be played
using the results of a previously played game (i.e., for nostalgic purposes),
or a simulated
game (e.g., by computer).
As illustrated in Figure 1, the pre-printed game card 10 is in the nature of a
rectangular sheet of paper or light stock cardboard not unlike those
frequently used in
conjunction with bingo games and/or lottery-type sweepstakes games. Although
the invention
will be described with reference to individual pre-printed game cards 10, it
will become
evident that larger boards may be used commonly by a plurality of players.
Also, video
screens, optical card scanners, or keyboards (such as a computer keyboard or
the keypad of
a conventional dual tone multifrequency "DTMF" telephone unit) may be used in
conjunction
with or in lieu of a game card 10 to enter data by a player into a central
validation computer.
As long as the player can specify, on location or remotely, his or her player
performance
predictions, any known device capable of receiving and storing and/or
displaying selections
by a contestant may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of a game card for
the purposes of
the present invention.
A portion of game card 10 is imprinted to resemble a baseball stadium having
a field area and a plurality of billboards 12. The game card 10 is imprinted
with first indicia
14 which defines a plurality of rows 16, 18, 20 and columns 22, 24, 26, the
rows and columns
2 o being mutually orthogonal to form a playing grid 28 consisting of a
plurality of individual
playing areas or "boxes" 28a-28i. Each box 28a-28i is associated with a
different field position
in a baseball field. while in the preferred embodiment, printed indicia 14 is
a series of
interconnected boxes 28a-28i, it may instead be a series of interconnected or
closely spaced
regions of any desired geometric shape and pattern, or may simply comprise a
series of
2 5 orthogonal lines similar to a conventional tic-tac-toe grid. As long as
the first indicia 14 is
capable of defining a plurality of individual playing areas, the precise
nature thereof is not
important.
As shown in the drawing, each box 28a-28i is assigned to designate a different
area of a baseball field. Accordingly, boxes 28a-28i are assigned the
following field areas: left
3 o field 28a, center field 28b, right field 28c, short-stop 28d, pitcher (or
designated hitter) 28e,
second base 28f, third base 28g, catcher 28h and first base 28i. It will be
clear that when the
.,,
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13
game 10 is used in conjunction with a sporting event other than baseball, a
different
arrangement of playing areas or sections will be used and each, of course,
will represent
different field positions, athletes, or any other desired characteristic
associated with the
particular sporting event. In the embodiment presently being described,
however, the three
rows 16, 18, 20 and three columns 22, 24, 26 defining the nine playing areas
or sections of
the playing grid 28 as shown are arranged in the same format as a typical tic-
tac-toe grid.
While the first indicia 14 may include boxes, as illustrated in Figure 1, for
forming the
individual playing areas, it may also include solid or broken lines, or
vertical and/or horizontal
spaces.
1 o In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, second
printed
indicia 30 is provided in each of the boxes 28a-28i of the playing grid 28 to
represent any one
of the plurality of potential batting performances for each of the players.
The second indicia
30 may therefore be a listing of all, most, or some of the typical potential
batting possibilities
for each of the enumerated players in the boxes 28a-28i. In addition, the
second indicia 30
may be a list of the same or different potential batting performances for each
of the different
players associated with the respective boxes 28a-28i. In the embodiment
currently being
described, the second printed indicia 30 is the same for each of the boxes 28a-
28i and consists
of common batting performances executable by players during a baseball game.
In the Figure
1 embodiment, the enumerated batting performances are set forth using the
following
2 0 abbreviations:
1B 2B 3B HR BB SAC SO FO GO
The abbreviations shown above are described as follows:
1. IB A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a one base hit (single) by the fielder shown in that
2 5 square when he comes to bat during any of his times at
bat in this game.
2. 2B A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a two base hit (double) by the fielder shown in that
square when he comes to bat during any of his times at
3 o bat in this game.
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14
3. 3B A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a three base hit (triple) by the fielder shown in that
square when he comes to bat during any of his times at
bat in this game.
4. HR A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a four base hit (home run) by the fielder shown in that
square when he comes to bat during any of his times at
bat in this game.
5. BB A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a base on balls (walls) (Also, for the purpose of this
contest, batter hit-by pitch) by the fielder shown in that
square when he comes to bat during any of his times at
bat in this game.
6. SAC A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a successful sacrifice fly or sacrifice bunt by the
fielder shown in that square when he comes to bat during
any of his times at bat in this game. .
7. SO A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a strike out by the fielder shown in that square when
2 0 he comes to bat during any of his times at bat in this
game.
8. FO A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a flyout (fair or foul, pop up or line drive) by the
fielder shown in the square when he comes to bat during
2 5 any of his times at bat in this game. (Also, for the
purpose of this contest, when a batter gets on base due to
a fly ball error or a fly ball fielder's choice out).
9. GO A mark in this spot signifies the contestant's prediction
of a ground out by the fielder shown in that square when
3 0 he comes to bat during any of his times at bat in this
game. (Also, for the purpose of this contest, when the
CA 02276355 1999-06-28
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batter gets on base due to a ground ball error or a ground
ball fielder's choice out.)
It should be clear that the batting performances enumerated above are not
critical
and any number and any combination of batting performances or other typical
plays may be
5 used. The same or different combinations of batting performances or plays
may be provided
in each of the boxes 28a-28i, and arbitrary point values may be assigned to
each of the
enumerated batting performances or plays.
Marking areas 32 are provided for marking each playing area or section 28a-28i
with a contestant's predictions of the batting performance of each of the
players on either the
10 home team or the visiting team in the baseball game. One variation of this
theme is where the
playing areas are arranged to represent selected players on both teams. In
accordance with
another variation, the playing areas are intended to represent the performance
of one or more
individual ball players over the course of multiple ball games. In each such
variation,
appropriate means are provided to permit contestants to record their
predictions. In the
15 embodiment presently being described, for example, such means comprise
marking areas 32
which are small circles that allow the contestant to shade in his or her
batting performance
prediction in the respective playing areas 28a-28i for each of the baseball
players associated
with the respective playing areas 28a-28i. Accordingly, the contestants may
manually mark,
for example, by shading selected circles 32 using a pencil or pen, or by
placing a cross or
2 0 check mark in selected circles to distinguish or differentiate the
predicted batting performance
from the other, non-selected batting performances. It should be evident,
however, that the
specific nature of the marking areas is not critical and any means,
arrangement or device may
be used to appropriately or adequately mark a predicted batting performance
for each of the
playing areas 28a-28i. Thus, by way of example, the marking areas 32 may also
comprise
2 5 scratch-off pads, punch out holes, peel-off labels, or decals, in the case
of a smaller-sized game
card, and may also comprise game pieces, stick pins, magnets, lights, or the
like, in the case
of larger game boards. When the game is embodied in computer software and the
game card
is illustrated as a graphical representation on an electronic display such as
a CRT or liquid
crystal display device, the marking areas may comprise electronic or
computerized indicators,
3 0 or the like, which allow selection by entry of a predetermined keystroke,
mouse movement,
or the like. The nature of the marking areas is not critical although the
nature or size of
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16
playing card, board, or screen used to play the inventive game may dictate or
limit the type of
marking means that can be used. Where larger boards are to be used by a
plurality of players,
for example, each player may be assigned a unique or distinguishing marking
means
characteristic, such as shape, color, or size.
In the presently described embodiment, the object of the game is to correctly
predict one batting performance for each of the nine players of a selected
baseball team (i.e.,
the home team or visiting team) during all times at bat in a single game.
Players are not named
but are identified as they come to bat by their assigned fielding positions.
In Figure 1, the
fielding positions are illustrated on the game card 10 in a view of a baseball
field from the
1 o stands behind home plate with different locations of fielders' positions
within the respective
playing areas 28a-28i of the grid.
A selection is made by shading one of the nine marking areas 32 within each
playing area 28a-28i with, for example, a pencil or pen. Each contestant is to
complete his or
her predictions on the game card 10 and submit it for judging prior to the
start of the playing
of the baseball game. As noted above, only one batting performance prediction
is made in
each playing area, for a total of nine marks within the grid 28 of the game
card 10.
Winners will be officially determined upon the completion of the baseball game
that is used in a respective sweepstakes.
In an alternate mode of play, the marking areas 32 are replaced by scratch-off
2 o pads and contestants are instructed to make their batting performances
predictions by manually
removing the appropriate scratch-off pad in each playing area.
A unique and novel aspect of the present invention is that it provides a
sweepstakes-type game requiring a large number of contestant choices and which
may
nonetheless be easily understood by contestants without the need to resort to
detailed
instructions. By arranging the individual game components to resemble a
playing field for a
particular sport, the game card 10 conveys information to the contestant on a
user-friendly
basis, thus instructing the contestant, for example, that playing area 28a is
the location in
which the contestant's prediction for the left fielder is placed, playing area
28b is the location
in which the contestant's prediction for the center fielder is placed, etc.
This user-friendly
3 o manner of conveying instructional information to the contestant
facilitates a nearly
instantaneous understanding of the rules of the sweepstakes game even by
persons having little
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17
knowledge of the particular sporting event. Thus, there is no need for the
contestant to resort
to detailed instructions which are overly burdensome and which, in any event,
are difficult to
discern on a small-sized game card.
The user-friendly aspects of the present invention further include the manner
in
which the potential athlete performances are represented. For example, in the
case of baseball,
while the abbreviations 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, ... are used to designate a one
base hit (single),
two base hit (double), three base hit (triple), four base hit (home run), ...,
the numbers 1-9 are
also used to represent the nine potential batting performances designated in
each playing area
28a-28i. Thus, a one base hit (single) through a four base hit (home run) are
represented by
the numbers 1-4, while a walk is represented by the number 5 and a sacrifice
is represented
by the number 6. Use of these numbers to represent these particular batting
performances is
logical and easily memorable. Thus, contestants need not commit to memory any
complicated
rules or symbols in order to play the inventive game and contestants need only
memorize or
refer to a legend printed on a game card to determine the batting performances
associated with
the numbers 7-9. Since numeral 7 merely designates a strike out, numeral 8
designates a fly
out and numeral 9 designates a ground out, committing these numbers and their
associated
batting performances to memory requires very little thought. As described in
greater detail
below, the use of numerals 1-9 to represent each of the potential batting
performances
simplifies computer card validation when a telephone keypad or voice
recognition system is
2 0 used for entry of contestants' predictions to a central validation
computer.
As noted above, prior to the beginning of the game, the contestants must
predict
a batting performance for each of the ball players on a respective team
designated by the
individual playing areas 28a-28i. Accordingly, only one selection will be made
in each playing
area 28a-28i on the playing grid 28, which selection will signify the
contestant's prediction for
a single at-bat for each of the ball players on a respective team throughout
the entire game.
If a pinch hitter bats for a player, he is considered as batting for that
position regardless of the
pinch hitter's actual fielding position.
In accordance with the broader aspects of the sweepstakes game, a winning
game card may result when the marking areas of the playing grid 28 which have
been
3 o accurately selected or predicted form a predetermined geometric pattern
along adjacent ones
of the playing areas or sections during the course of the contemporaneously
played baseball
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18
game. Since the playing grid 28 is arranged in the nature of a conventional
tic-tac-toe board,
the winning geometric patterns are preferably the same as those in a tic-tac-
toe game. These
winning patterns are illustrated graphically by boxes 40a-40h on the game card
10.
As noted above, the game card 10 illustrated in Figure 1 further includes
printed
indicia 12 resembling a plurality of billboards as they might appear in a
typical ballpark. In
particular, eight billboards 12a-12h are provided around the periphery of the
playing areas 28a-
28i of the playing grid 28 representing the outfield of the baseball field.
The billboards 12a-12h are arranged such that a single billboard is printed in
an
in-line relationship with each of the three rows 16, 18, 20 and three columns
22, 24, 26 of the
playing grid 28. Additionally, respective billboards 12a and 12h are provided
in-line with the
two sets of diagonal playing areas (28a, 28e, 28i and 28c, 28e, 28g).
In addition to illustrating the winning patterns of correctly predicted
batting
performances along with pattern indicia 40a-40h, the billboards 12a-12h
provided on the game
card 10 will reveal the prizes associated with each of the winning geometric
patterns. Thus,
by way of example, billboard 12a represents the prize associated with correct
predictions in
boxes 28a, 28e and 28i of the playing grid 28, as illustrated graphically by
pattern 40a.
Similarly, billboard 12b represents the prize associated with correct
predictions in boxes 28a,
28d and 28g of the playing grid 28, as illustrated graphically by pattern 40b.
In a Iike manner,
pattern 40c represents the winning geometric pattern associated with billboard
12c and playing
2 o areas 28b, 28e and 28h, pattern 40d represents the winning geometric
pattern associated with
billboard 12d and playing areas 28c, 28f, and 28i, pattern 40e represents the
winning
geometric pattern associated with billboard 12e and playing areas 28c, 28e and
28g, pattern
40f represents the winning geometric pattern associated with billboard 12f and
playing areas
28a, 28b and 28c, pattern 40g represents the winning geometric pattern
associated with
2 5 billboard 12g and playing areas 28d, 28e, and 28f, and pattern 40h
represents the winning
geometric pattern associated with billboard 12h and playing areas 28g, 28h and
28i.
Just as in any bingo game, one competes against any number of other
contestants
for various prizes. The prizes can vary according to the number of contestants
playing the
game. While knowledge of individual player statistics serves to increase the
chances of
3 o winning, any contestant, whether highly knowledgeable about the game of
baseball or having
little knowledge of the game can play the sweepstakes game of the present
invention. By
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19
rewarding contestants for their correct predictions, the game will serve to
enhance spectator
interest and will facilitate an increased level of study and interest in the
game. By determining
winning contestants at the end of the baseball game, the sweepstakes-type game
of the present
invention will serve to enhance spectator interest even in those games in
which the home or
favorite team is far behind the visiting team. Moreover, involvement in the
sweepstakes game
will interest those who were previously disinterested in the game of baseball,
and will become
a catalyst to increase their knowledge of the players and their abilities, as
well as the batting
rotations.
The sweepstakes game of the present embodiment is unlike a typical game of
1 o bingo since the individual playing areas 28a-28i permit contestants to
predict the batting
performance of each player on a respective baseball team. As will be
appreciated, certain
batting performances are more common than others, and others are more
difficult to achieve.
Unlike the game of bingo, in which contestants' game cards are merely filled
in as numbers
are retrieved from a hopper and called out, contestants in the sweepstakes
game of the present
embodiment predict, in advance, the batting performance of selected ball
players on a given
team, and the outcome of the game determines the winning contestants.
As shown at reference numeral 34, the game card 10 is further provided with
an individual score card 34 in each of the playing areas 28a-28i. Thus, by way
of example,
contestants may keep track of the performance of each player using the score
card 34
2 0 associated with the respective player. In another mode of play, however,
the score cards 34
are used to make additional predictions of the performance of each player at
each time at bat
throughout an entire ball game.
If desired, point values may be assigned for each of the enumerated batting
performances. The point values are selected from lowest to the highest value
in accordance
2 5 with the probability of each respective enumerated batting performance,
which is determined,
for example, by the frequency of each batting performance actually occurring
during one or
more baseball seasons. Thus, the point value of either a "ground out" or "fly
out" is the lowest
because these plays occur most frequently during a baseball game. On the other
hand, the
point value for a "triple" is the highest due to its infrequency. All the
other batting
3 o performances fall within those high and low point values according to
their actual probabilities.
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For example, the following point values may be assigned for each of the nine
enumerated batting performances:
1B (One base hit) (Single) - 3 points
2B (Two base hit) (Double) - 13 Points
3B (Three base hit) (Triple) - 100 Points
HR (Four base hit) (Home Run) - 28 Points
BB (Base-on-Balls) (Walls) - 5 Points
SAC (Sacrifice bunt or Sacrifice fly) - 26 Points
SO (Strike Out) _
3 Points
1 o FO (Fly Out; or fly ball error or
fielder's choice fly out) - 2 Points
GO {Ground Out; or ground ball
error or fielder's choice ground out) - 2 Points
Referring to Figure 2, a modified version of the indicia imprinted within each
15 of the respective playing areas 28a-28i is shown. The second printed
indicia 30, marking areas
32 and score card 34 are identical to those shown in each playing area of
Figure 1. In addition
to these features, however, the point values discussed above are also
imprinted. Thus, each
potential batting performance is represented by a numeral (1-9), an
abbreviation (1B, 2B, 3B,
HR, BB, SAC, FO, GO) and an associated point value, denoted generally in the
drawing by
2 o reference numeral 36.
Referring now to Figure 3, the design of a modified game card 50 having a
playing grid 52 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention will be
described. In accordance with the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 3,
the grid 52
includes printed indicia 54 forming three rows 56, 58, and 60, and three
columns 62, 64, and
2 5 66 defining a plurality of playing areas 68a-68i similar to the first
embodiment. Rather than
being arranged to correspond to individual fielding positions, however, the
individual playing
areas 68a-68i of the grid 52 each represent a separate inning of an on-going
baseball game in
conjunction with which the sweepstakes game is played. Within each of the
individual playing
areas, second indicia 70 and marking areas 72 are provided which are similar
in appearance
3 o and use to those illustrated in Figure 1.
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21
Since the modified playing grid 52 is not arranged to resemble a typical
baseball
field, the printed indicia representing the infield and outfield of a ball
field shown in Figure
1 is omitted. Instead, field indicia 74 is provided around the lower periphery
of the playing
grid 52 to resemble the periphery of a typical a baseball field, including
home plate 76, first
base 78, third base 80, and foul lines 82. Billboards 12a-12h and pattern
indicia 40a-40h are
also provided, and are identical in appearance and function to the same
elements illustrated in
Figure 1.
As will be readily understood, each contestant will make one batting
performance prediction in a marking area 72 for each inning of the ball game
represented by
1o playing areas 68a-68i of the modified playing grid 52. Point values and
geometric
arrangements of winning combinations are the same as in the first embodiment.
Similarly,
winning contestants are determined at the end of the baseball game.
Referring now to Figure 4, the design of a modified game card 90 having a
playing grid 92 in accordance with a third embodiment is shown. The same game
as well as
the same variations or modifications thereof above described may similarly be
used in
connection with the game card 90. The playing grid 92 includes printed indica
94 forming
three rows 96, 98 and 100, and three columns 102, 104 and 106 defining a
matrix of playing
areas 108a-108i similar to the first and second embodiments. While the playing
grid 92 is
somewhat different from the playing grid illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, as is
each of the
2 0 respective playing areas or sections 108a-1081, the indicia representing
the playing field is
preferably drawn so that the various field players are arranged in their
respective boxes, as in
the case of the game card 10 shown in Figure 1. A few additional minor
modifications are
shown. For example, instead of using drawings of actual ball players, each
playing area is
labeled with the name of the respective playing position and is provided .with
a circular area
110. In addition, rather than illustrating a ball field as seen from the
stands behind home plate,
the game card includes printed indicia representing a topographical view of a
ball field.
In each of the foregoing embodiments, the game card is suitable for use on a
cathode ray tube ("CRT") of a computer, where marking selection may be made by
electronic
pen or use of a touch-sensitive screen. Once the selections have been made, a
ticket or card
3 0 may be optionally printed and dispensed with the selected choice. Of
course, in the preferred
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22
embodiments described above, a similar ticket, card or coupon can be printed
out after the
marked-up cards prepared by contestants are scanned in using the optical card
readers.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate modified game cards. In Figure 5, the playing areas
are each assigned to represent a different batter in the batting rotation of a
respective team.
In Figure 6, the playing areas are each assigned to represent a different ball
player, however,
unlike the game card 10 shown in Figure 1, the players are represented by the
position number
which designates their position.
As will be appreciated, any other arrangement of the playing areas and marking
areas may be used for a given or particular card reader or computer reading
hardware.
1 o Computerized bingo-type games and computer-based reading devices per se
are already known
and the technology for implementing the instant game by way of computer would
readily be
known to one skilled in the art. Examples of computer games of the type under
discussion
include those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,312,511 to Jullien; 4,661,906 to
DiFransesco,
et al.; 4,768,151 to Birenbaum, et al.; 4,863,173 to Chen; 4,875,686 to Timms;
and 5,072,381
to Richardson, et al.
Figure 7 depicts a game card 150 having a grid 152 arranged in three rows and
three columns as described above. Individual players are depicted in the nine
playing areas,
together with marking areas 154, performance numbers 156 and performance
choices 158, as
described above in connection with Figure 2. In a variant embodiment, rather
than having the
2 0 human participant predict the performance of the individual players, a
computer preselects the
performances and displays these choices to the human participant on a grid
printed on the card
150, typically on the reverse side thereof.
In another embodiment of the invention described in reference to Figures 8A
and 8B, however, the contestants need not make batting performance predictions
and the pre-
2 5 printed game card 112 includes scratch-off pads 114 screen- printed over
"hidden" prizes. In
this embodiment, as a baseball game progresses, the contestant removes scratch-
pads 114
corresponding to the ball players' actual batting performances.
For example, when the left fielder hits a home run, the contestants will
manually
remove the scratch-off pad corresponding to the "home run" selection in the
left fielder square.
3 o Similarly, if the left fielder is up at bat and hits a single, the
contestants will remove the
scratch-off pad corresponding to the "single" selection in the left fielder
square.
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23
At the conclusion of the game, winners of the game are determined by a given
geometric pattern of matching prizes in the manner described above, or based
upon the number
of so-called matching prizes, and/or associated point values. Figure 8A
illustrates the game
card 112 in the manner it would appear when presented to contestants. Figure
8B illustrates
one game card 112 without the scratch-pads applied. As shown, prize revealing
indicia 116
is imprinted in each playing area to represent a number associated with a
respective
sweepstakes prize. Different.cards have different indicia 116. A legend 118 is
provided on
each card 112 to indicate the identity of the various sweepstakes prizes.
As the baseball game bas progressed and the contestants have been engaged in
. removing the appropriate scratch-off pads which are associated with the
players' batting
performances, the identity of various prizes will be revealed. The particular
prizes which are
awarded to winning contestants may be determined based upon the frequency of
particular
prizes, or, in the manner described above, upon particular geometric patterns
of matching
prizes or associated point values.
In connection with the game of baseball, in which nine field positions are
represented by nine playing areas on the game card, the latter means of
sweepstakes
identification it is most advantageous since prize identity can be revealed in
the nature of a tic-
tac-toe game.
As each fielder has had an up at bat, the contestants may choose to remove the
2 o scratch-off pad corresponding to that up at bat, or may wait until the end
of the game to make
his or her selection of a particular up at bat for each fielder in order to
increase the likelihood
of winning.
Figures 9A and 9B illustrate another embodiment of the inventive game.
Similar to the game illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B, this embodiment is
significantly different
2 5 from the previous embodiments, in that the game is configured as a game of
pure chance and
winning contestants are not determined based upon their selection of players'
batting
performances.
Various modes of play will now be described. When the sweepstakes game is
to be played in a baseball stadium or commercial outlet, individual game cards
are to be
3 0 distributed to each contestant. In such case, game cards having marking
areas designed to be
shaded in by contestants facilitate an effective manner to keep track of all
entries. In that case,
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24
all game cards and batting performance predictions are entered into a
monitoring computer
through the use of card scanners for scanning all contestants' game cards. An
embodiment of
such a system will be described below.
The preferred name for the sweepstakes game which will use the apparatus
which is the subject of this invention is "BASEBALL BINGO". In accordance with
a preferred
mode of use of the present invention, the sweepstakes game is sponsored as a
part of a program
for marketing one or more products or services. For example, with the purchase
of a
particular item, such as a newspaper or periodical, or a visit to a particular
retail outlet or fast
food restaurant, a customer or potential customer would receive a game card
with which he
1 o or she could play the BASEBALL BINGO sweepstakes game. In accordance with
another
preferred mode of use, the sweepstakes game is designed to be played in a
ballpark in
conjunction with an on-going game of baseball and game cards, such as those
shown in Figure
I, are distributed at a baseball stadium to spectators of the baseball game.
Of course, the game
of BASEBALL BINGO can be played co~urrently by spectators at a baseball
stadium, patrons
at commercial establishments or retail outlets, or individuals at home. The
sponsor of
BASEBALL BINGO dictates the particular mode of play adopted.
When played in a stadium in connection with a particular baseball game,
spectators may enhance their odds of winning the sweepstakes by use of a
program which
provides the identity and individual playing statistics of the baseball
players in the baseball
2 o game which is the subject of a particular BASEBALL BINGO sweepstakes.
Preferably, for each baseball game in connection with which BASEBALL
BINGO is played, outside sponsors, such as commercial vendors, fast food
restaurants, and
the like, will also make available to contestants a list of the baseball
players and their playing
statistics that are expected to participate in the baseball game.
2 5 As noted above, the object of the game is for the contestants to predict
at least
one at-bat performance of some or each of the players on a selected team
during the baseball
game. The contestants will use the marking areas 32 provided on the game card
to record his
or her predictions.
The game card illustrated in Figure I is in a form designed for use in
automatic
3 o computer controlled equipment of the type made by Scantron Corporation of
Tustin,
California. This particular game card comprises a nine digit access number 200
which is pre-
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printed on the card to provide up to one billion uniquely numbered game cards
for each
baseball game. It also comprises a pre-printed six digit game number 202 to
identify the
particular baseball game. This will enable coverage of all baseball games
played within a
particular season by the sweepstakes game. A two digit number shown at
reference numeral
5 204 identifies the calendar season of the baseball game. All of this
information is pre-printed
on all of the game cards prior to distribution for customer participation.
As discussed above, the game cards are distributed to spectators at a baseball
game, sold in retail outlets in which other lottery-type games are sold,
and/or distributed to
customers or potential customers in connection with a specific marketing
program.
l0 Participating contestants are instructed by the game card to predict the
batting performance of
the baseball players on a particular team during a specific baseball game. On
the game card
illustrated in Figure 1 there are provided marking areas 32 which correspond
to a number of
enumerated batting performances, one of which may be selected by contestants
for each
playing area 28a-28i. The batting performance predictions are indicated by
shading the
15 respective marking areas 32 in each of the nine playing areas 28a-28i.
The game card 10 of Figure 1 comes pre-printed with an access number 200,
the game designation number 202 and the year 204. The game card 10 illustrated
in Figure
1 shows a pre-printed access number of 123,456,789. The game card 10 is marked
16 to
correspond to a game between the New York Mets and the Morareal Expos and 96
to represent
2 o calendar year 1996.
While the game card 10 is illustrated as having a pre-printed game number 202,
this number need not be provided on the card 10. In that case, the contestants
are instructed
to shade in the number of the game from a predetermined numbered list of
professional
baseball games. The year can either be pre-marked with a year designation
number 204 or left
2 5 for the participant to mark in a similar fashion. A completed game card 10
is then taken to a
card reader which may be preferably located in a ball park or at the location
of a sponsor, such
as a fast food restaurant, and the participant's prediction is recorded by
inserting the card into
a card reader, where it is read automatically and the information is stored by
a computer in a
form such that the information can be readily recalled by a computer
processor. If a card
3 o reader facility is not located near the contestant, or if access to one is
inconvenient, the rules
could permit the contestant to mail his or her card to a reader location.
There are numerous
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26
commercially available card readers of various complexities and capabilities.
A card reader
adequate for use at individual sponsors' facilities is the Scantron Model 1300
Optical Mark
Reader/Data Terminal. This commercially available card reader system retails
for
approximately $2,000 and operates with a wide variety of personal computers.
On the other hand, for a central validation center processing hundreds of
thousands of coupons, a high speed card reader is required. For this purpose,
a Scantron
System 9000, or the like, could be used. (Equipment similar to the Scantron
equipment is
available from National Computer Systems of Minneapolis, Minn.). In order to
implement a
nationwide sweepstakes game, all of the card readers at individual sponsor
locations would be
1 o tied together to a central computer. Throughout the course of a baseball
game which is the
subject of a given sweepstakes, the individual batting performances of the
respective players
are input into the computer. The computer is pre-programmed to determine the
winner or
winners of the sweepstakes from the pre-scanned game cards, which should
require only a few
seconds. Thus, it is possible to announce the winning access number or numbers
to an
audience immediately at the end of a game, as the ball players are walking off
the field. Or
if desired, the name or names of the sweepstakes winner or winners could be
announced. On
the other hand, winners need not be announced at all, and contestants could
redeem their prizes
at validation centers.
An alternate method of data entry is available using the keypad of a
conventional
2 o dual tone mufti-frequency ("DTMF"), or TOUCH TONE telephone. Actually the
only critical
item on the game card for use in this case is the access number 200. In this
case the access
number is 123,456,789. The game card should also provide a telephone number
206 for the
contestants to call his or her predictions in to a central validation center.
The telephone
number will preferably be a local number or a toll free long distance (800
type) number when
2 5 this invention is used as a part of an advertising plan. However, when
used as a part of a
sweepstakes game for profit, a fee could be charged through the telephone
company by using
a fee-type telephone number. The remaining information on the game card shown
in Figure
1 is merely provided to assist the contestant in transmitting his or her
predictions and to serve
as a record of the predictions. The participant writes his or her batting
performance
3 o predictions (and other requested information described above) into the
proper blank marking
areas 32 on the game card 10.
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27
In this case, the game card 10 instructs the contestant to call in his or her
batting
performance predictions, for example, to the telephone number (800) 555-1234.
A processing
system including a computer controlled telephone answering device is provided
at that number.
The system is preferably programmed to answer the telephone, and to instruct
the participant
calling to type his or her access number followed by the contestant's batting
performance
predictions and any other needed information into the contestant's telephone
keypad. The
system is further programmed to record the information provided by the
contestant and to
inform the contestant if the information provided is not in the correct form.
Additionally, the
system can also inform the contestant that his or her access number is not
valid, or has already
1 o been used.
Figure l0A illustrates a game card 600 in which the game is a football
sweepstakes game, and has a grid 602 arranged in multiple rows 604, 606, 608,
610 and 612
and multiple columns 614, 616, 618, 620 and 622 to define the four individual
quarters of a
football game and the final score. Indicia within the playing areas indicate
potential scores for
various football teams in each quarter. A player predicts the score for a
particular team for
a particular quarter in advance, and the results are subsequently compared to
the predicted
scores. Prizes in billboard areas 624a-6241 are awarded as described
previously for reference
numerals 12a-12h.
Figure lOB illustrates a variation of the game card of Figure 10A, and depicts
2 o more football teams, as well as areas to be marked with the predicted
scores.
Figure 11 is a general layout plan for a sweepstakes game using card readers.
The cards are hand-delivered (block 414) to a plurality of card readers 400
and computers 402
located at retail outlets throughout the country and are connected by
telephone lines or satellite
to a central processor 404. The central processor is preferably a high speed,
large memory
2 5 computer. Also connected to the central processor 404 is one or more
System 9000 Optical
Mark Readers 406 which is located at a central station to read game cards sent
in by mail
(block 408). Once the baseball game is over, an operator inputs the respective
player
performances (block 410)into the central processor so that the winning set or
sets of numbers
are determined (block 412). In order to win, a contestant must correctly
predict the batting
3 o performances of three ball players in a row or diagonally, as in tic-tac-
toe. There could, of
course, be many winners. In such a case, the prizes could be kept small, or
the winners could
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28
share the grand prize. In the absence of any winning contestants, prizes could
either be
awarded to the best predictions in terms of point values, or carried forward
to the next week,
as is typical in lottery-type games.
The central processor thus determines the winning combinations of BASEBALL
BINGO numbers and then determines the access numbers of the winning players
from
information previously collected. Preferably, these determinations can be made
within a few
seconds or minutes after the baseball game is over and as suggested above, the
winners can be
announced to the television and/or stadium audience while the baseball players
are walking off
the field. This aspect of the sweepstakes game will vastly increase the
interest of the spectators
1 o and television audience in professional sports, especially for those
participants who have
predicted the batting performances and who are still in contention near the
end of the game.
Thus, even when the home team is far behind the visiting team and cannot win,
spectators and
viewers will still be interested in the outcome of the game. Using high-speed
processing
equipment, there should be adequate time for the contestants' predictions to
be processed and
available in the memory of the central processor at the conclusion of the ball
game if the
predictions are timely scanned using sponsors' card readers, downloaded to the
central
validation center and at the central mail station prior to the start of the
baseball game.
Figure 12 illustrates a general layout plan for a sweepstakes game using the
telephone system discussed above. Preferably, the information is transmitted
by many
2 o thousands of telephone keypads 500 through telephone networks 502 to a
plurality of telephone
receiving centers. Each of these receiving centers comprise a voice power
board 504, such as
an AT&T Model VP4, enabling the receiving center to instruct the contestants
on how to
transmit his or her batting performance predictions. Four voice power boards
are controlled
by a receiving computer 506, such as AT&T Model 6386E with a remote file
system 508. The
2 5 Model 6386E receiving computers are connected to a central computer 510
such as an AT&T
Model 3B2/700 which also has a remote file system 512 so that it can
communicate with a
large number of the receiving computers 506. Software for the voice boards is
commercially
available from software companies such as CIA. Each voice power board can
handle four
telephone calls simultaneously. An unlimited number of Model 6386E receiving
computers
3 o can be connected to the central computer and Model 3B2/700 can efficiently
handle about 60
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29
to 100 calls simultaneously on a real time basis. More powerful central
computers such as
AT&T Model 3B4000 can provide increased capacity.
The following is a typical "conversation" between a contestant and a receiving
center which takes place prior to the ball game. Assume the receiving centers
telephone
number is (800) 555-1234, the contestant's access number is 123456789, the
contestant
predicts the batting performance of the ball players referred to above:
PLAYER TOUCHES RECEIVING CENTER SAYS
8005551234 "Hello. Thank you for playing Baseball Bingo in game
16 between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros.
1 o Please press your Access Number. "
123456789 "Thank you. Now press the six digit game number
printed on your card. "
123456 "Thank You. Now indicate the team that you are making
predictions for by pressing 1 for the Mets and 2 for the
Astros."
1 "Thank You. You're playing for the Mets. Referring to
your game card, touch in your batting prediction
numbers for the top row of players, now. "
139 "You predicted single for the left fielder, triple for the
2 o center fielder, ground out for the right fielder. " Touch
in your prediction numbers for the middle row of
players, now. "
672 "You predicted sacrifice for short stop, strike out for
pitcher, double for second baseman. " Referring to your
2 5 game card, touch in your batting numbers for the bottom
row of players, now. "
845 "You predicted fly out for the third baseman, home run
for the catcher, walk for the first baseman. " You are in
the game of Baseball Bingo" when you hang up. Thank
3 o you and good luck. "
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It will generally take approximately one minute for this "conversation" .
Thus,
one telephone receiving center could handle up to about 5,000 entries in seven
12-hour days.
To handle 500,000 entries, therefore, will require at least about 1,000
receiving centers and
on a 16 to 1 ratio about 63 processors. The layout shown in Figure 11 can be
combined with
5 the layout shown in Figure 12 by tying together the central processor 404
shown in Figure 11
and the central computer 510 shown in Figure 12. Alternatively, the two
processors could be
tied to a third central processor. Preferably, the sweepstakes game will be
played on a national
and possibly international scale with millions of players and large grand
prizes. However, the
present invention can also be implemented at a low cost on a very small scale.
For example,
1o a single local retailer can sponsor the sweepstakes game for local patrons.
In this case, while
the prizes may be small, the game can be structured to give the participants a
correspondingly
better chance of winning. Similarly, on a local scale, the sweepstakes could
be implemented
without the use of central processors 404 and 510 shown in Figures 11 and 12.
The equipment
needed would be reduced to as few as one card reader 400 and a personal
computer 402, as
15 shown in Figure 11, alI of which could be purchased for less than $5000.
Alternatively, a
single Model 6386E computer 506 and one to four voice power boards 504 as
illustrated in
Figure 12 would be adequate. The cost of such a system would be only a few
thousand
dollars. The cost could be reduced even further by renting the equipment.
There are many ways to determine the winners of the sweepstakes game in
2 o addition to the one described above. While it is convenient to utilize
geometric patterns in the
nature of a tic-tac-toe grid, this is not a critical aspect of the invention.
In addition, instead of
determining the sweepstakes winner on one predicted batting performance of an
entire baseball
team, the sweepstakes winner could be based on the results of the batting
performance of each
batter throughout the entire game during each of their at-bats. As in the
above embodiment,
2 5 this would require that entries would be submitted prior to the start of
the ball game.
On the other hand, the sweepstakes game can be based upon the performance
of selected players during a single inning of a ball game. In this case, the
entries would need
to be submitted for validation just prior to the playing of that particular
inning. The game
could obviously be changed to require the prediction of the batting
performance and/or fielding
3 o performance of any number of players. Prizes could be awarded on many
different criteria.
For example, a single grand prize could be offered for the winner with the
highest number of
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31
points in a point system of the type described below. On the other hand, in
addition to a grand
prize, prizes of lesser magnitude could be awarded to contestants who predict
a certain number
of correct batting performances or who receive over a certain score in a point
system of the
type described below. Greater prizes could be given to those who correctly
predict larger
numbers of batting performances or who receive greater point values.
Alternatively, as discussed above, all game cards having geometric patterns of
correct predictions as illustrated on the game card could be winners of small
prizes, while the
award of a grand prize is dispensed with. In this case, for example, if a
grand prize were to
be awarded, it could be based upon other factors.
1 o Some sponsors may want to open the game up to anyone who wants to play.
In this case, an access number would not be required. The rules could be
changed to require
the player to shade in his social security number or his telephone number.
Using the social
security number might discourage players from submitting more than one entry
or engaging
in fraud.
As will be appreciated, while the sweepstakes game is preferably played in
conjunction with an on-going baseball game, it is not so limited. Previously
played games or
simulated games (e.g., by computer) can similarly be specifically or randomly
selected. In
such case, the outcome of such games would determine the winning contestants
in the same
manner as an on-going game.
2 0 Another variation of the game is one in which each of the potential
batting
performance possibilities is assigned a weighted point value which may be
arbitrarily selected
or statistically determined based upon the frequency of such plays during many
baseball games.
Alternatively, the point values may be based, in whole or part, on the past
performance of the
individual ball players in the particular baseball game. It is noted that a
winning card may be
2 5 determined to be one which first achieves a given geometrical pattern of
predicted playing
areas or sections. However, instead of just straight line arrangements of
areas or sections 28a-
28i, other geometrical patterns may be used, such as squares, crosses,
circles, etc. A further
variation of the game of the present invention is one in which the winning
card is determined
by the maximum point value corresponding to the total of all the correct
performance
3 o possibilities which have been accurately predicted and marked at the end
of the game,
irrespective of the geometrical patterns of the accurately predicted areas or
section. In a still
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32
further embodiment or variation of the invention, the aforementioned
variations or
embodiments may be combined so that only the highest point value of those
cards which have
achieved a predetermined geometrical pattern becomes the winning cards or
where a repeat of
the performance predicted occurs during the play of the same game within the
same player
section adds point values within the section.
Figure 13 depicts a ninth embodiment of the invention in the form of a contest
that would be played by contestants that are attempting to predict the exact
"hole-by-hole"
performances of individual golfers who would be playing in a golf match or in
a golf
tournament.
The golf sweepstakes game is played with a pre-printed game card 700
imprinted with first indicia 714 which defines three rows 716, 178, 720 and
three columns
722, 724, 726 to form a grid of playing areas or "squares" 728a-728i.
Each square is separated into two sections at a diagonal forming two
triangles.
Each of the two individual triangle sections of a square depicts a "golf
green" with its
identifying numbered "flag" and "hole" . The number of strokes that denote
"Par" for each
of the 18 holes of the course is shown within each section of the contest
card. There are
numbered marking circles within each of these "holes" where the golfer's
stroke prediction
will be registered by the contestant.
The contestant is to select one golfer, by number, from a pre-printed list of
2 o golfers 730 on the card prior to the beginning of the competition. The
contestant is challenged
to predict the future outcome of the selected golfer's play in each of the 36
triangle sections
that make up the nine squares on the contest cardform. The contestant does
this by marking,
with pen or pencil, the selected golfer's stroke performance by covering the
numbered circle
at each "hole" . The contestant must make a correct prediction of the chosen
golfer's play in
both "holes" depicted in the triangles that make up each of the nine squares.
~ If this is
accomplished, the square is deemed "filled" or "covered", as in regular
"Bingo". In other
words, a "scoring factor" is earned when both predictions in a square are
correctly predicted.
When there are three correctly "filled" squares that form any "Bingo" pattern
40a - 40h that is either vertical, horizontal or diagonal, that contestant
wins a prize from the
3 0 appropriate "prize" billboards 12a - 12h that surround the 18 hole golf
course which shows
that winning "Bingo" pattern.
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33
The contest card 700 is designed to allow the contestant to participate
without
making any predictions at all. Each individual's card has a randomly "pre-
picked" golfer
along with "pre-picked" performance selections 732. These pre-picked
selections are shown
on the card as a dark square surrounding a numbered circle within the golfer
list 730, as well
as within the numbered circles that denote the "strokes" that have been pre-
picked for the
contestant within each hole selection.
To participate in the contest with a contestant's own selections, the
contestant
simply darkens in the numbered circle that denotes the golfer selection. The
contestant
proceeds to darken in the numbered circle within each "hole" to represent the
prediction of the
1 o number of strokes that the selected golfer will perform at each of the 18
holes of the course.
This must be completed and submitted for judging prior to the start of the
golf match. A
contestant's actual choices will cancel the pre-predicted selections that are
pre-printed on the
card.
The route of the golf course begins with Hole No. 1, which is located in one
of
the two triangle shaped halves of the upper, left square. After completing the
choices for Hole
No. 1, the contestant then proceeds to Hole No. 2 to mark the next selection.
After completing
the Hole No. 9 selection, the contestant moves up to Hole No. 10 which shares
the square with
Hole No. 1. If the stroke performance of these two holes are correctly
predicted, a "filled"
square or scoring factor is earned. To be correct in the prediction of the
golf strokes of only
2 o one of the two holes that make up a square does not qualify as a "filled"
square and cannot be
used in a winning "Bingo" pattern.
It is to be understood that while certain presently preferred forms of the
present
invention have been illustrated and described herein by way of example, the
present invention
is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts described
and shown.
