Amusement devices: games – Chance devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-27
2002-04-16
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Chance devices
C273S138200, C273S139000, C273S14800B, C463S017000, C463S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371482
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating numbers based upon prior events, where such numbers will be used for betting in lottery games. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for selecting lottery numbers based upon the relationship between recently drawn numbers in a current lottery and previously drawn lottery numbers in a comparison lottery and astronomical data such as the phases of the moon and the relative position of the planets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lottery games are well known. In a typical lottery game a player pays money for the right to select a number (“selected number”) for a drawing to be held in the future. If the player's selected number matches the number drawn in the lottery (the “drawn number”) the player wins a prize.
The chances of picking the drawn number in a lottery game is generally discussed in terms of “odds” or probabilities. For example, according to probability theory, each possible number in the pool of potential numbers in a lottery has the same probability of being drawn as any other number, i.e., the drawing of a number is viewed as a random event. Thus, according to probability theory, the odds of selecting a winning lottery number depends upon (1) how many different possible numbers could be drawn, i.e., how large the “pool” from which the number to be drawn is; (2) how many numbers will be drawn from the pool, i.e., will only a single number be drawn or will there be multiple draws; (3) how many numbers the player elects to play; and (4) whether the player must select the numbers in the specific order they are drawn or whether any combination of the digits of the drawn number wins. For example, if the number to be drawn must have three digits, i.e. the possible drawn numbers are 000 through 999, only one number will be drawn, the player selects a single number to play, and the player must select the correct sequence of numbers in order to win, then the probability that the selected number is the same as the drawn number is 1/1000 or 0.001.
Despite the seemingly small odds of winning, lottery games are very popular. Many states, have daily drawings, including “Cash 3” or “Cash 4” games in which the player selects 3 digit and 4 digit numbers, respectively. The methods of drawing numbers may vary but often involve the drawing of a series of balls numbered 0 through 9 from containers. For example, in a Cash 3 drawing, 3 containers, each containing balls numbered 0 through 9, are rotated so as to jumble the balls within. The drawer then draws a single numbered ball from each container, with the number on each ball corresponding to one digit of the drawn number. Of course, various rules may apply to lotteries, thus varying the number of digits in the drawn number, whether a player can win by having any combination of the digits of the drawn number, and how many numbers the player must match. The larger the number of digits in the drawn number, the smaller the odds of correctly selecting the drawn number and typically the larger the prize.
People often have difficulty deciding which numbers to play in a lottery. Devices for generating numbers for lottery games are known in the art. These, prior art devices however, are generally random number generating devices. These devices may generate completely random numbers or generate random numbers from a subset of preferred numbers supplied by the user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,863 to Moosz discloses a random number generating device which allows a user to enter a series of “preferred numbers” from which a random number will be generated. Such devices provide for the quick selection of numbers, which is especially helpful where a player wishes to make many selections. The operators of lottery ticket outlets often have such devices, often referred to as “quick picks,” so that players may quickly select multiple numbers for play. However, these methods and apparatuses do not allow the user control of determining a number by naturally occurring events, such as the position of the planets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,129 to Alvarez discloses a number selecting device for darkening a predetermined amount of numbered boxes on a lottery computer game card in accordance with a picked selection of numbers selected from a group of lucky numbers stored in a computer within the device wherein the lucky numbers are associated with a particular subject of interest to the user. However, that patent does not disclose using the position of the planets and previously drawn lottery numbers as the current invention. Alvarez discloses using information cards to aid the user in choosing “lucky numbers” for a quick pick.
Of course, the key to winning a lottery game is selecting the correct number. Many people believe that numbers are not merely drawn at random, as discussed above, but are affected by certain events or relationships. For example, many people select a numerical representation of their name when playing the lottery, or will play a combination of their birthday or some other event as their “lucky” number. Oftentimes “hot sheets” of lucky numbers are sold to customers for use in playing a lottery.
Numerology is the study of the occult significance of numbers and letters. Some believe that numbers are interrelated and not truly random. Or in other words, that numbers flow in certain patterns. Thus, under numerology the drawn numbers of a lottery are interconnected. Under this belief, the drawn numbers previously drawn in other lotteries would also be related, and show particular patterns of the interrelationship of the numbers. The identification of such patterns would aid in the selection of new numbers to be played.
Furthermore, it is well known that the positions of the planets affect events on earth. For instance, the tides, eclipses, the phases of the moon and the seasons, are all affected by the relationship between the planets. Thus, many believe that such interplanetary relationships also affect or determine other events on earth such as changes in the crime rate and births. Astrology concerns this supposed influence of the stars and planets on human affairs by their positions and aspects. An aspect is the position of planets and stars with respect to one another which is held by astrologers to influence human behavior. For instance, in astrology there are twelve signs of the zodiac, which are based upon the position of the sun, moon and planets. Astrologers believe that a person's life is affected by the relationship between the position of the planets on the day a person is born with the current position of the planets.
If event A on earth is determined or affected by the position of the planets at the time of occurrence of event A then event B, which may not be closely related in time may nevertheless be related to Event A in an astronomical sense, that is, it may be related based upon a similar position of the planets as that at the time of event B. For instance, if events on earth are affected by a full moon on a particular date, then, even though an event may occur years later, i.e. not close in time, the event may occur under similar cosmic circumstances, i.e. a full moon. Thus, because the relationships between the planets can recur over time, two events, which may be distant in a temporal sense, may nevertheless be closely related in an astronomical sense.
If in a numerological sense numbers are related, then a relationship would exist between drawn numbers in a lottery. Thus, according to the above, the number drawn in a lottery is affected by the interrelationship of numbers as well as the position of the planets. Thus, the invention does not entail a random number generator as disclosed in the prior art but a method of generating lottery numbers based upon previous events.
The generation of numbers based upon previously drawn numbers and astronomical events is time consuming and difficult. For instance, one must review much historical data as to the previously drawn numbers as well as determine the time
Hanegan Herbert M.
Layno Benjamin H.
Lunsford III J. Rodgers
Smith , Gambrell & Russell, LLP
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