Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Lotto or bingo type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-04-24
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Lotto or bingo type
C273S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to games and more particularly to bingo and games similar to bingo.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Classic bingo, as the game is commonly played is purely a game of chance that incorporates the actual name “BINGO” as five separate distinct letters that are aligned with an assigned to fifteen separate numbers in and as part of each actual letter. The name “BINGO” appears both as a work and as a separately designated letter symbols at the top of every bingo card. Each letter is the guide call to each vertical column of five possible numbers from the fifteen assigned to each letter on any and all cards. The only other constant is “FREE” space in the center of each and every bingo card designated by the actual word symbol “FREE”.
Even though the “FREE” designation space is under the letter “N”, there are still fifteen separate distinct call numbers from thirty-one to forty-five even though only four number spaces are useable for play.
Traditionally, a bingo caller uses a mechanical and/or electronic draw to achieve the called letter number. The winner or winners are determined by covering only the numbers under the called letter in the word “BINGO” that completes or accomplishes a designated pattern on a specific game played. Even though the separate letters of the word “BINGO” at the top of every card along with the “FREE” space in the center of every card are constant (always and ever present and part of) designations and symbols used in every game of “BINGO”, they do not determine a winner. Only combinations and patterns of numbers determine winners.
Even though bingo is a widely played and popular game, various players may enjoy functions which could be performed by the players and allow them to be more active participants.
There is, therefore, a need for a game which, although similar to bingo, allows for a faster more active game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method of playing a game which includes the steps of:
(a) providing a first matrix having an array consisting of at least two columns of elements and at least two rows of elements, said columns and rows being arranged such that each of said elements is simultaneously included in one of said columns and one of said rows and is positioned adjacent to at least one of said elements so as to form primary predesignated sets of elements each of the elements in said primary predesignated sets being adjacent to at least one other of said elements in its said set and at least one of the columns has a designation selected form a first class of designation selected from a combination of said first class of designations and a second class of designations wherein the designation from the first class of designations is based on a special relationship of the elements and one of the designations used for the columns and rows;
(b) causing a first player to be associated by a physical means with said first matrix by having said first player assigned to a first position adjacent said first matrix; and
(c) generating a random set of elements by identifying a plurality of combinations of the first and second classes of designations and declaring a winning combination if said random set of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements and wherein if the random set of elements generated in this step does not match either any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements, further random sets of elements are successively randomly generated until one of said further random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements and the first player wins when one of said random sets of elements matches any one of the primary predesignated sets of elements.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5351970 (1994-10-01), Fioretti
patent: 5518239 (1996-05-01), Johnston
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patent: 5679077 (1997-10-01), Pocock et al.
patent: 5683295 (1997-11-01), Frain
patent: 5755619 (1998-05-01), Matsumoto et al.
patent: 5800269 (1998-09-01), Holch et al.
patent: 5830063 (1998-11-01), Byrne
patent: 5935002 (1999-08-01), Falciglia
3M drawing 5300-PPF6.11, dated Apr. 21, 1991, pp. 1-2.
Horan Michael J.
Layno Benjamin H.
Long Daniel J.
Sand & Sebolt
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