GB2481527A

GB2481527A - Randomisation apparatus for lottery game

Info

Publication number: GB2481527A
Application number: GB201110561A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sorin Gabriel Chiriac; Mihai Chiriac
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-25
Filing date: 2011-06-22
Publication date: 2011-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-22
Also published as: GB2481527B; GB201110561D0; GB2481440A; GB201010684D0

Abstract

A randomisation apparatus comprises a bowl A, a case Cs, a housing Ci, a mixer or agitator E, balls B which preferably have indicia such as numbers applied to them, and air nozzles e, f provided at the entrance to housing Ci. Also included are slides H and J which are both in an extended condition at the start of a selection process. In use, the balls B are loaded into case Cs and are held by slide H. The slide H can then be retracted and the balls B fall in the bowl A and are mixed by agitator E. Slide J can then be retracted meaning that the balls B are able to fall into columnar compartments L within the housing Ci. Air currents from air nozzles e, f increase the randomness of the ball motion as they fall into the compartments by applying lateral forces to the balls B. All of the balls B are contained within housing Ci at the end of the selection process. Closing mechanisms M are used to shut the compartments L. Each of the compartments L represents a different combination of symbols. The apparatus can be used for lotteries and other gambling games.

Description

RANDOMISATION APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to randomisation apparatus and, in particular, although not exclusively, to a ball game used in the lottery-like gambling game industry and in those areas in which, in order to perform specific activities, draws are required.

BACKGROUND

It is known, so far, that in order to make a combination of n numbers out of a total of K numbers (field of events) of a lottery game system a bowl was used inside which a number of K balls are mixed, each ball carrying a unique number (event) out of which n balls were drawn one after the other for a combination.

It is also known that, for an optimal ongoing of some sports competitions, for example, a draw was required which consisted of manually drawing, one by one, some balls, each ball carrying a unique symbol, out of one or more bowls.

We seek to provide in accordance with one embodiment, a game-ensemble which can generate, without draws, n combinations through successive stages of presenting the field of events, mixing and randomly repositioning balls.

SUMMARY

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for randomisation of ball objects, the apparatus comprising a housing to hold the ball objects in randomised positions and a nozzle arrangement, the apparatus arranged to allow the ball objects to fall through a mixer device towards an entrance of the housing, wherein the nozzle arrangement arranged to direct air currents across the entrance to the housing which subject the ball objects to lateral forces and thereby distribute the ball objects within the housing prior to receipt within the housing.

Preferably the nozzle arrangement arranged to produce air currents which result in substantially oppositely directed forces.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of randomisation of plurality of ball objects towards a mixer device, and then subjecting the ball objects' air currents across the entrance to a housing which air currents subject the ball objects to lateral forces, where after the balls are received in the housing.

One embodiment of the invention may be viewed as a total lotto ball game for various lottery systems and for other various areas which, for different purposes, use draws, characterised in that, in successive stages, presents a field of events made of n balls disposed next to each other, each ball carrying a unique symbol, inside a case, subdues them to a mixing process inside a bowl, and to the intermittent actions of some air currents inside a space situated at the entrance of a case after which exposes them, with the purpose to achieve a random disposal, as well as a certain completion of all the compartments to form a new field of events made of n combination of n balls, combinations out of which the game is then capable of validating, also randomly, one or more as being the winning one/ones, and the players which succeeded in guessing either its/their composition, either which ball will hold, in the end, a certain position, will be declared winners.

The ball game may be arranged to allow in an enclosed space, the stages of presenting, mixing and repositioning of balls to take place in a successive manner, a game-ensemble is used, made of bowl which has attached to its upper side a first case with n balls, and to its lower side a second case.

The ball game may be such that in order to ensure the storing, presenting and releasing of a field of events made of n balls, the first case is a rectangular parallelepiped which is built from a transparent plastic material and which has the side applicable to bowl replaced by a slide of a mechanism, situated outside, and is provided with elements in order to connect to the bowl.

The ball game may be such that in order to ensure the receiving, visible mixing and release of the balls, the bowl is an ellipsoid built from a transparent plastic material which has, on the inside, palettes mounted on a spindle of an engine situated outside, bowl which presents on the upper side a slit and some clamps and on the lower side a slit normally closed by a slide of a mechanism, situated outside, and some clamps.

The ball game may be arranged to ensure the appropriate and necessary spaces for the random disposal of balls on top of each other in order to compose and present a new field of events, case is a rectangular parallelepiped built from a transparent plastic material which presents on the side attachable to the bowl a space situated immediately above the entrances to some compartments separated by some walls and Side which the access of the balls can be allowed or not by the opened-closed position of some slides driven by some mechanisms.

The ball game is preferably such that in order to determine an alternating left-right motion of the balls which are crossing the space, at its sides, the case is provided with valves which close-open nozzles connected to a compressed air source.

The ball game is such that in order to determine the completion of all compartments when one or more ball/balls hasn't/haven't found the way towards the open slide/slides, the space can be formed, by reclosing the slide, into a corridor in which the captive ball/balls Ware shifted, in alternating left-right motions by the intermittent actions of some aft currents on the surface of those slides which are already closed.

The ball game is preferably such that out of the a combinations of a balls each, it can validate one or more as the winning one/ones depending on the position of the balls according to any of the lines or shapes which can be imagined as creating the new

field of events.

The ball game is preferably such that in order to validate one or more of the resulting combinations as being the winning combination/combinations, the surface of the case presents a specific hallmark/hallmarks or other indicia.

The ball game is preferably such that in order to validate one or more of the resulting combinations as being the winning combination/combinations, the random positioning of a ball chosen beforehand and specifically destined for this purpose, also called a decisive ball, is used.

The ball game may be such that in order to validate one or more of the resulting combinations as being the winning combination/combinations, the decisive ball matches, as symbol, a ball drawn from another bowl with a set of balls identical with the one used by the game-ensemble.

The apparatus may comprise (depending on the game situation) a case or housing used for storing and presenting of a field of events made of balls, each ball carrying a unique symbol, a bowl used to mix them and a case used for disposing and re-presenting them in the shape of a new field of events and, additionally, a second bowl with an identical set of balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, view of bowl A; Figure 2, side view from C of bowl A; Figure 3, view of case Cs with balls B; Figure 4, side view from K of case Cs with balls B; Figure 5, view of case Ci; Figure 6, side view from 0 of case Ci; Figure 7, view of the game-ensemble; Figure 8, side view from I of the game-ensemble; Figure 9, view of the game-ensemble in the ball mixing phase; Figure 10, view of the game-ensemble in the phases of mixing, crossing space S and disposal of the balls; Figure 11, view of the game-ensemble in the phase of transforming space S into a corridor for the left-right movement of the last balls; Figure 12, view of the game-ensemble after depletion of the game phases; Figure 13, view of case Ci, which presents the new field of events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The game according to an example using the 7 numbers (6 + 1 bonus) out of 49 numbers lottery system, can be constituted using a game-ensemble and a second bowl with an identical set of balls, as well as (also see Figure 7) using just the game-ensemble.

The game-ensemble according to the example used, is composed of a case Cs (also see Figure 3) built from a transparent plastic material in the shape of a regular parallelepiped which has the face applicable to a bowl A (also see Figure 1) replaced by a slide H of a mechanism F with balls B captive inside, each ball carrying a unique number (1 to 49), attached by connecting clamps b with clamps a to the superior part of bowl A over a slit Ks, where bowl A is an ellipsoid built from a transparent plastic material, provided inside with some palettes E, mounted on a spindle h of an (exterior) engine D and presents on the inferior side a slit Ki closed by a slide J of an exterior mechanism G and some clamps c to which clamps d of a case Ci are attached (also see Figure 5), where Ci is a regular parallelepiped built from a transparent plastic material without the face attachable to bowl A, with the interior occupied by some compartments L separated by some walls p and inside which the access of the balls is granted or not by some slides N of some mechanisms M, after the chicaned transit through a space S provided on the side with nozzles e andf which can emit air currents by the intermittent opening of valve t and valve r respectively.

Method of use: * Balls B are introduced and disposed one next to the other inside case Cs, and after slide H is closed by mechanism F, they become captive and can be read

from 1 to 49 (field of events);

* Case Cs is attached to the superior part of bowl A by connecting clamps b to clamps a; * Case Ci is attached to the inferior part of bowl A by connecting clamps d to clamps C; * Nozzles e and f are connected to the compressed air source, in which the pressure is calculated so that, by the intermittent opening of valve t and valve r respectively, the action of an air current on a ball/balls allows the fall in the first compartment found open, and time-wise, the emission will last as long as necessary so that one ball can cross space S from one side to the other; * Mechanism F is commanded to open slide H and, in consequence, balls B, in free fall through slit Ks, will penetrate to bowl A, and slide H will be re-closed; * Engine D is turned on which, through spindle I,, executes the spin of palettes E and mixes balls B inside bowl A (also see Figure 9); * It is commanded, by the intermittent opening of valve t, the emission of the compressed air through nozzle e; * Slit Ki will be opened through the action of mechanism G on slide J, so that the balls B, in continued mix, will start the fall through space 5, inside which the intermittent influence of some air currents in alternating left-right directions, by opening one or the other of valves t and r of nozzles e and f, have the purpose of chicaning the free fall of the balls, to prevent a potential blockage by their agglomeration on one side or the other, as well as, in the end, to determine a definite completion of all compartments L; * Once completed, compartments L will be closed by the respective slides N of the corresponding mechanisms M, and when there are no balls left inside bowl A, valves t and r are closed, which interrupt the compressed air emissions, and the ball/balls which has/have not found the way towards the still open slide/slides N will remain captive and in repose inside space S (also see Figure 11); Engine D is stopped, and then mechanism G is commanded the re-closing of slide J which together with the closed slides N will transform space S into a corridor inside which the remaining ball/balls will be shifted in alternating left-right motions by restarting the compressed air emission and so, all compartments L will certainly be completed; * For example, if (also see Figure 11) inside space S (transformed into a corridor) remain the balls which carry numbers 5 and 15 respectively, and the first air current comes from the left side (nozzle e), ball 5 will push ball 15, which will fall over ball 32, in the last compartment to the right of the case, and after interrupting the emission from nozzle e, an air emission from nozzlef will be commanded, which will determine ball 5 to move towards the left and will thus complete the last compartment, falling over ball 22.

The result of all these operations is the random formation of a new field of events, presented by case Ci (also see Figures 12 and 13), which can be read in 16 combinations (7 horizontal, 7 vertical and the two diagonal ones) of 7 numbers each, out of which the game is then capable of validating one combination, as well as, consecutively, more as being the winning one/ones.

If, for example, (also see Figure 13) for this purpose, the application of a specific mark/marks on the surface of case Ci has been previously decided, then the winning combination/combinations will be the corresponding one/ones. So, a mark applied according to axis X-Y will determine the winning combination as being made of numbers 16, 49, 20, 41, 45, 31, and 7 as a bonus number, according to axis V-U it will be 34, 27, 45, 9, 24, 17 + 39, and according to the two diagonals they will be, on axis R-P 23, 33, 20, 18, 24, 2 + 15, and according to axis T-Z 38, 3, 45, 18, 47, 22 + 30.

Examples can be extended to all 16 composing combinations, but the number of winning combinations will be determined according to the game situation.

To the total number of combinations which compose the new field of events can be added the combination made of the balls situated in the four corners taken or not together with the centrally situated one (30, 15, 23, 38 and 18) in which case the lottery game becomes a 5 out of 49 system, or any other combination/combinations made according to any other imaginary lines or shapes.

The second method of validating one or, consecutively, more combinations as being the winning one/ones is the decisive ball method which constitutes of extracting a ball out of another (conventional) bowl with an identical set of balls, ball whose corresponding symbol can decide as winning, depending on its position inside the new field of events, only one combination, two combinations consecutively, three combinations consecutively, as well as four combinations consecutively. If, for example, the decisive ball carries the number (symbol) 45 and the game situation imposed that only one combination (out of the horizontal ones) should be the winning one, that combination will be (axis X-Y) 16, 49, 20, 41, 45, 31 and 7 (also see Figure 13), and if the decision is to choose two consecutive combinations, added to this combination will be the one on the vertical axis U-V and (decisive) ball 45 will be common.

Three consecutive combinations will only be capable of being chosen only if the decisive ball will be one of the balls situated in the four corners of the new field of events, so if the decisive ball carries number 15 (located in corner P), they can be read: 30, 5, 12, 25, 39, 21, 15 (axis Z-P), 38, 43, 7, 26, 44, 32, 15 (axis T-P), and 23, 33, 20, 18, 24, 2, 15 (axis R-P), and four winning combinations can be chosen only if the decisive ball is ball 18 located in the centre, in which case they will be made of the balls carrying the following numbers: 37, 28, 1, 18, 9, 48, 26 (horizontal combination), 29, 11, 41, 18, 35, 8, 25 (vertical combination), 23, 33, 20, 18, 24, 2, 15, and 30, 22, 47, 18, 45, 3, 38 (the two diagonals).

So, in the case of choosing, consecutively, two, three or four combinations the decisive ball will also be the common ball, and the bonus ball can be a different one for every combination (located in one of the extremities), as well as a common one (the decisive ball).

In the case of the 6 out of 49 balls (without bonus) lottery game the decisive ball will have the same purpose, but will not be considered as being a component of the winning combination/combinations or if it is decided that a null decisive ball (which does not carry a symbol) should be used, then the game will change to 6 out of 48 balls.

For any other lottery system, the game stages are identical, the only differences being the dimensions of the components of the game-ensemble and, respectively, the number of compartments L and the number of balls, and the example of execution for the 7 out of 49 game is also conclusive for an example of execution of a draw with the purpose of randomly composing a competitive table made of seven groups of seven teams.

Likewise and appropriate for this destination, the game-ensemble is capable of accepting any other situations by correspondingly sizing and by introducing or not a certain number of null balls, variable depending on the case, inside the field of events.

As such, if a draw which will compose seven groups out of a total of 45 teams is desired, then inside the field of events made of 49 balls will also be 4 null balls (without a symbol) and the resulting groups can be: 3 groups of seven teams and 4 groups of six teams, or 4 groups of seven teams, 2 groups of six teams and 1 group of five teams, or 5 groups of seven teams, 1 group of six teams and 1 group of four teams, or 5 groups of seven teams, 2 groups of five teams, or, with a lower probability, 6 groups made of seven teams and 1 group made of only three teams.

The game according to the invention, presents the following advantages: * It can generate, without draws, n combinations through the method of repositioning the balls; * It can be used for lottery systems; * It accepts conditions of variation of the game situation; * It can determine an optimal proportion of the number of winnings; * It can be used to replace draws; * It can give, with the same probability, any of the n combinations of the chosen game system; * It completes, for an optimal mix, the mix of the bowl with actions of some air currents in a specially designated space; * It also ensures the necessary conditions of an online ongoing.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for randomisation of ball objects, the apparatus comprising a housing to hold the ball objects in randomised positions and a nozzle arrangement, the apparatus arranged to allow the ball objects to fall through a mixer device towards an entrance of the housing, wherein the nozzle arrangement arranged to direct air currents across the entrance to the housing which subject the ball objects to lateral forces and thereby distribute the ball objects within the housing prior to receipt within the housing.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the nozzle arrangement arranged to cause alternating and substantially oppositely directed air currents.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the air currents are created above and across the entrance to the housing.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nozzle arrangement connected to a compressed air supply.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mixer device comprises a rotatable paddle located in a mixing chamber.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing comprises a window arranged to allow the positions of the ball objects received therein to be viewed.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing arranged to display the received ball objects in at least one aligned formation.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing arranged to display the ball objects in the form of a matrix comprising a row and a column.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing comprises a plurality of side-by-side compartments, each compartment arranged to receive a plurality of the ball objects in stacked formation.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nozzle arrangement arranged to subject the ball objects to substantially oppositely directed forces.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nozzle arrangement comprises two opposed nozzles.
12. A method of randomisation of plurality of ball objects towards a mixer device, and then subjecting the ball objects' air currents across the entrance to a housing which air currents subject the ball objects to lateral forces, whereafter the balls are received in the housing.
13. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.
14. A method of randomisation of ball objects substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.*::r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1110561.6 Examiner: Andrew Hole Claims searched: ito 12 Date of search: 20 October 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X l2at US5050880A least. (SLOAN) Please see abstract.X l2at US 6902479 Bi least. (D'AVANZO) Please see abstract.A -US 2007/0246883 Al (CUDLIPP) Please see abstract.Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC A63F; GO7C; GO7F The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report WPI, EPODOC, TXTE, TXTT, Internet International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From GO7C 0015/00 Oi/Oi/2006 A63F 0007/04 Oi/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk