US4601471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Random number generator
Assignee: Lottery Games Inc
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Filing: 1985-07-03
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Granted: 1986-07-22
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Expires: 2005-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A random number generating device for randomly selecting one of a plurality of suspendable balls which are stirred and circulated in a chamber by an upflowing fluid stream. Upon termination of fluid flow one of the balls falls downwardly through a relatively narrow bottom trough into a lower pocket having a transparent wall. The device is provided with steeply sloping inclined facing sidewalls flaring outwardly from said trough and sufficiently steep so that upon termination of fluid flow non-selected balls are out of contact with the selected ball as it falls from the trough into the pocket. Thereby, any jamming of non-selected balls occurs at an elevated level and does not prevent a single, randomly selected ball from entering the pocket at the end of each cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Frank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:04
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/04; A63F7/048; G; G07; G07C; G07C15/00; G07C15/001; A63F7/22; A63F7/34; A63F2007/348; A63F9/00; A63F9/0079; A63F2009/0081; A63F2009/0087; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/04; A63F2250/0407; A63F2250/0414; A63F2250/0428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A random ball selector device comprising a chamber for mixing balls, said chamber having inlet opening means in the region of the bottom thereof for the admission of a fluid stream and separate discharge opening means for the discharge of said fluid stream, the lower region of said chamber comprising a trough means extending from the rear to the front of said chamber, ramp means within said trough means, pocket means at the front of said ramp means for receiving a randomly selected ball from said ramp means, said inlet opening means being near the bottom of said pocket means, partial enclosure means adjacent to said opening means and near the bottom of said pocket means for creating aspiration relative to said ramp means, inclined facing sidewall means defining said chamber and sloping upwardly and outwardly from said trough means, the depth of said trough means and the slope of said inclined facing sidewall means being adapted to permit a randomly selected ball to move from said ramp means into said pocket means underneath non-selected balls positioned along said inclined facing sidewall means upon cessation of said fluid stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A random ball selector device comprising a chamber for mixing balls, said chamber having inlet opening means in the region of the bottom thereof for the admission of a fluid stream and separate discharge opening means for the discharge of said fluid stream, the lower region of said chamber comprising a trough means extending from the rear to the front of said chamber, ramp means within said trough means, pocket means at the front of said ramp means for receiving a randomly selected ball from said ramp means, said inlet opening means being near the bottom of said pocket means, partial enclosure means adjacent to said opening means and near the bottom of said pocket means for creating aspiration relative to said ramp means, inclined facing sidewall means defining said chamber and sloping upwardly and outwardly from said trough means, the depth of said trough means and the slope of said inclined facing sidewall means being adapted to permit a randomly selected ball to move from said ramp means into said pocket means underneath non-selected balls positioned along said inclined facing sidewall means upon cessation of said fluid stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 including a fluid pumping device for pumping fluid through said bottom opening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 including a plurality of indicia-marked balls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 including a plurality of indicia-marked balls, said balls being larger than any opening of said device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 including an inclined deflecting wall in the upper region of said chamber for deflecting circulating balls from the front to the rear of said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 comprised of a transparent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said discharge opening means is at the top region of said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said discharge opening means is at the top and rear region of said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said facing inclined sidewalls are each inclined at an angle of about 45°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said ramp means is inclined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said ramp means is inclined downwardly from the rear to the front of said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said pocket means is at least partially below said ramp means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The random ball selector device of claim 1 wherein said partial enclosure means is located between said inlet opening means and said ramp means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A plurality of random ball selector devices as described in claim 1 arranged in side-by-side relationship.
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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) | 1989-07-21 | 1990-01-20 | 1990-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-21 | 1994-01-20 | 1994-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-21 | 1998-01-20 | 1998-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |