Coin counter prize-awarding method and apparatus using promotional coins
US5909793A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F1/06
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention uses promotional coins to encourage use of a coin counter. The promotional coins are minted in such a way that an unaided human is not likely to distinguish a first prize coin from other promotional coins, e.g., because all promotional coins have substantially identical size, weight and appearance. Due to the apparent similarity between the various promotional coins, the participant is required to use a coin counter to distinguish prize coins from other promotional coins. In one embodiment, the promotion is implemented using a coin counter. Promotional coins are distributed to potential customers who are thereby enticed into using the coin counter as desired. The coin counter accepts and discriminates among government-minted coins of multiple denominations, various promotional coins and unknown debris. The denominations of the government-minted coins and the various promotional coins are distinguished using at least one non-visible characteristic, such as mass, conductivity, and/or magnetic permeability. At least any winning promotional coins are recognized by the coin-counter and the participant is notified. When the coin counter finishes counting all the coi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.