US20060284371A1

US20060284371A1 - Novelty coin

Info

Publication number: US20060284371A1
Application number: US11/443,711
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry Flannery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-16
Filing date: 2006-05-31
Publication date: 2006-12-21

Abstract

A novelty coin is disclosed herein. The coin has a plurality of numbers around the perimeter of the coin, either sequentially or in a random order. The coin allows a user to somewhat randomly choose numbers, such as for a lottery or the like. The coin may also have indicia placed upon one or both sides of the coin, as well as a mechanism that allows the coin to be selectively affixed to an item.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to games of chance and the like, and more particularly to a novelty coin allowing one to make desired selections among a plurality of possible choices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some gains of chance, such as lotteries require individuals to choose from a set of numbers. Different individuals have various techniques for choosing what they consider to be winning or lucky numbers. For example, individuals may use birthdays, addresses, dates of other special occasions, etc., as a basis for choosing their numbers. Lottery tickets, for example, may also be purchased with random numbers automatically chosen at the point of purchase. However, no device exists that facilitates having some type of control over a choice of numbers that are nevertheless chosen somewhat at random.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Present invention pertains to a novelty coin that facilitates a random choice of numbers from a group of numbers. The device allows an individual to exercise some degree of personal control over the choice of numbers. This is in contrast to automated or computerized machines or mechanisms that randomly generate numbers for an individual at the point of purchase (e.g., a cash register).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary side of a novelty coin according to one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another top view of an exemplary side of a novelty coin according to one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is yet another top view of an exemplary side of a novelty coin according to one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is still another top view of an exemplary side of a novelty coin according to one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more aspects of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally utilized to refer to like elements throughout, and wherein the various structures are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects of the present invention. It may be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that one or more aspects of the present invention may be practiced with a lesser degree of these specific details.
The novelty coin disclosed herein facilitates randomly choosing lottery (or other types of) numbers, while also allowing an individual to retain some degree of control over the particular numbers chosen. The novelty coin may contain indicia of gambling locations, institutions, etc., as well as providers of gambling services, messages of encouragement or inspiration, messages to other gamblers (such as, “keep away from this machine, I just went for change and will be back in a flash”) and/or any other type of suitable indicia. Turning to FIG. 1, for example, an exemplary novelty coin 100 in accordance with one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention is depicted. One side of the coin 100 has a plurality of numbers 104 formed around its perimeter. The numbers can be a group of random numbers or a group of sequential numbers or any other suitable grouping of numbers, such as numbers divisible by the number five, for example. Additionally, the numbers can be listed in order, randomly and/or in any other suitable manner, such as by all even numbers followed by all odd numbers within the grouping, etc. The numbers facilitate choosing a set of numbers from the grouping of numbers. For example, a user can close his or her eyes and rotate the coin in his or her hand while placing a finger or fingernail along the edge of the coin. A number is chosen when the rotation is stopped and the finger or fingernail points to a particular number. This process can be repeated until a sufficient number of choices have been made. A user thus has some control over the set of numbers that are randomly chosen.
It will be appreciated that the numbers 104 can be formed on one or more sides of the coin 100 and/or on a perimeter edge of the coin. Some or all of the numbers can exist on one or both sides of the coin and around the entire perimeter of the coin, and may or may not be repeated on the sides and/or perimeter. The numbers can be spaced equidistance (e.g., equi-radius) from one another so that there is no greater probability of picking one number over another number. The numbers can also be formed randomly all over one or more surfaces of the coin, rather than merely around the perimeter of the coin. The numbers may nevertheless be evenly distributed/spaced from one another on the coin to yield an equal chance of picking any number. The numbers can be formed on the coin in any suitable manner, such as by stamping, pressing, etching, extrusion, being glued on, etc. Further, the numbers may or may not be raised on the coin. For example, the coin may have a smooth coating (of a polymer/lacquer, for example) formed over its entire surface such that a user can not ‘feel’ which number he or she is choosing. Additionally, the coin may have any suitable dimensions, such as having a diameter of between about ½ to 6 inches and a thickness of between about 1/32 to ¼ of an inch to accommodate numbers that may or may not be raised on the coin and may or may not be covered with a substantially uniform coating. Moreover, the coin can be formed from any one or more suitable materials, such as plastic, silver, brass, gold and/or other materials, etc. The coin may also be other than circular, such as elliptical, octagonal, etc., for example.
FIGS. 1-4 also illustrate that the coin can also contain one or more types of indicia 106 on one or more of its sides. Such indicia 106 can come to be present on the coin in any number of suitable manners, such as by printing, painting, stamping, being adhered to the coin etc. The indicia 106 may also be covered in a smooth protective coating, for example. The indicia can comprise, for example, advertisements, vacation destinations, hotels, theme parks, casinos, contact information such as name, address, phone number(s) and the like, lucky symbols such as four leaf clovers, three cherries, three bars, three bells, etc., words of encouragement, slogans, trademarks, servicemarks, the names of games of chance, messages to others such as ‘please proceed to the next machine, this one is in use’, as well as any other suitable indicia. With reference to FIG. 2, the coin may also have one or more types of mechanisms or features 108 that would allow it to be selectively adhered to an item, such as an article of clothing, a purse, lapel, a video gaming machine, etc. Such feature(s) may comprise buttons, suction cups, snaps, lengths of material (e.g., string, chord, rope, twine), glue, tape or other adhesive type/based items, magnets, zippers, hook and latch (e.g., Velcro) arrangements, clasps, clips, elastic type bands, belts, pins, keepers etc., for example.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The invention includes all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In addition, while a particular feature or aspect of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature or aspect may be combined with one or more other features or aspects of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Also, the term “exemplary” is merely meant to mean an example, rather than the best. It is also to be appreciated that features and/or elements depicted herein are illustrated with particular dimensions relative to one another for purposes of simplicity and ease of understanding, and that their actual dimensions may differ substantially from that depicted herein.

Claims

1. A novelty coin comprising:

a plurality of numbers formed substantially equidistant from one another around the entire perimeter of the coin allowing a user to randomly choose one or more numbers by pointing to one or more points on the perimeter of the coin without looking at the coin.

2. The coin of claim 1, further comprising:

indicia on one or more sides of the coin.

3. The coin of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for selectively fastening the coin to an item.

4. The coin of claim 2, having a diameter of between about ½ to 6 inches and a thickness of between about 1/32 to ¼ of an inch.

5. The coin of claim 4, where the surface of the coin is uniform so that the numbers can not be felt by a user.

6. The coin of claim 4, further comprising:

means for selectively fastening the coin to an item.

7. The coin of claim 6, where the surface of the coin is uniform so that the numbers can not be felt by a user.

8. A novelty coin comprising:

a plurality of numbers formed substantially equidistant from one another on one or more sides of the coin so that a user can randomly choose one or more numbers by pointing to one or more points on the coin without looking at the coin.

9. The coin of claim 8, where the numbers are located substantially around the entire perimeter of the coin.

10. The coin of claim 9, where the surface of the coin is uniform so that the numbers can not be felt by a user.

11. The coin of claim 10, further comprising:

indicia on one or more sides of the coin.

12. The coin of claim 8, further comprising:

indicia on one or more sides of the coin.

13. The coin of claim 11, further comprising:

means for selectively fastening the coin to an item.

14. The coin of claim 8, further comprising:

means for selectively fastening the coin to an item.

15. The coin of claim 11 having a diameter of between about ½ to 6 inches and a thickness of between about 1/32 to ¼ of an inch.

16. The coin of claim 13 having a diameter of between about ½ to 6 inches and a thickness of between about 1/32 to ¼ of an inch.

17. A novelty coin comprising:

a plurality of numbers formed on at least one of

one side of the coin, and

a perimeter edge of the coin;

indicia on at least one side of the coin; and

means for selectively fastening the coin to an item on at least one side of the coin.

18. The coin of claim 17, where the numbers are spaced equidistant from one another so that a user selecting a number by pointing at the coin without looking at the coin has no greater probability of picking one number over another number.

19. The coin of claim 18, where the indicia comprises at least one of advertisements, vacation destinations, lodging names, park names, casino names, game names, contact information, symbols, messages, trademarks and servicemarks.

20. The coin of claim 19, where the means for selectively fastening comprises at least one of buttons, suction cups, snaps, string, chord, rope, twine, glue, tape, magnets, zippers, hook and latch arrangements, clasps, clips, elastic bands, belts, pins and keepers.