US4540175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game of chance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-08-27
•
Granted: 1985-09-10
•
Expires: 2004-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A game of chance wherein there are several rows of spaces, say three, arranged in columns and containing symbols placed at random. All of the spaces are masked to render the symbols invisible. A symbol for the various columns is called out periodically and a player attempts to guess that space in which the symbol called out is located. A successful attempt is called a match. There is an array of further spaces, one for each row and, as the last column is uncovered there is called out a desired relative performance of matches, e.g. "most" or "least," and the player seeks to select that row in which the desired relative performance occurs, based on symbols already uncovered.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Wallace Coppock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; A63F3/0665; A63F9/00; A63F9/18; A63F2009/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A game of chance comprising: a game card for each player having delineated thereon a plurality of rows of first spaces arranged in columns; a plurality of symbols, one marked at random in each first space of a column thereof; a removable mask covering each of said first spaces to render a symbol therein invisible; one mask in a column thereof being removable by the player in an attempt to uncover that symbol which is called out; a successful attempt being deemed a match; a group of further spaces equal in number to the number of said rows of first spaces; an identification mark adjacent each of said further spaces, each to represent one of said rows; a success marking in the further space representing that one of said rows in which occur the desired relative number of matches; and a removable mask covering each of said further spaces to render a success marking therein invisible so that a player may unmask one of said further spaces in an attempt to uncover the success masking based on symbols in said first spaces previously unmasked.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A game of chance comprising: a game card for each player having delineated thereon a plurality of rows of first spaces arranged in columns; a plurality of symbols, one marked at random in each first space of a column thereof; a removable mask covering each of said first spaces to render a symbol therein invisible; one mask in a column thereof being removable by the player in an attempt to uncover that symbol which is called out; a successful attempt being deemed a match; a group of further spaces equal in number to the number of said rows of first spaces; an identification mark adjacent each of said further spaces, each to represent one of said rows; a success marking in the further space representing that one of said rows in which occur the desired relative number of matches; and a removable mask covering each of said further spaces to render a success marking therein invisible so that a player may unmask one of said further spaces in an attempt to uncover the success masking based on symbols in said first spaces previously unmasked.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The game of chance defined by claim 1 wherein: the success marking is in that further space that represents that one of said rows in which occur the most matches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The game of chance defined by claim 1 wherein the success marking is in that further space representing the row in which occurs the least number of matches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The game of chance defined by claim 1 wherein: a symbol to be uncovered is called out during commercial breaks of a television program; and the desired relative number of matches is called out when the symbol for the last column is called out so that the player may choose the further space to be unmasked based on all first spaces previously unmasked.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |