U.S. Patent No. 11,017,635: System and Method for an Interactive Drinking Game
Issued May 25, 2021, to Patrick Furlong
Filed: October 10, 2019 (claiming priority to October 11, 2018)
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 11,017,635 (the ‘635 patent) relates to an interactive drinking game machine. The ‘635 patent details a drink selecting game operated with an activator, which upon activation by a player, displays a randomized drink selection which one or more players must then consume. When the activator is activated, three reels cycle through outcomes until an outcome is selected when the reels stop cycling and the outcome is indicated by at least one outcome indicator. Upon selection of a drink, the machine could print out a redemption slip for players to exchange for the drink selection, connect to a network to send a drink order based on the outcome, or the machine could be connected to a drink dispensing device in some embodiments.
The machine uses three reels; in one embodiment: a booze selection reel for alcohol type, a cordial selection reel for liqueur selection, and a mixer selection reel for the mixer. In another variation the three selection reels are a ‘what’ selection reel, a ‘who’ selection reel, and a ‘how’ selection reel which randomize what the drink is, who drinks, and how they drink respectively. Some variations may include configurations of reels which result in jackpots, LED lights that flash or emit a continuous light when game events or status changes occur, or an alarm with a speaker. The ‘what’ ‘who’ ‘how’ variation may even include wearables configured to notify players of one or more game events. The ‘635 patent could be for home or commercial bar use. Sounds fun! Please drink responsibly.
Abstract:
A system and method for a drinking game, the method including providing a gaming machine having a series of selection reels corresponding to various outcomes occurring within the game session such as possible types of alcohol, possible types of cordials, possible types of mixer, what type of drink, which player consumes the drink, and how the player consumes the drink, whereby a player pulls a lever and the selection reels land on a specific selection and the player consumes a drink based on the selection indicator after the stopping mechanism stops the selection reels.
Illustrative Claims:
- A drink selection game comprising; a gaming machine configured to randomly display a drink selection of a plurality of drink selections indicating which drink one or more players playing with the gaming machine will then need to consume, the game machine comprising; an activator; a plurality of selection reels having a plurality of selections wherein the activator when activated causes the plurality of selection reels to cycle through outcomes corresponding the plurality of drink selections until an outcome of the outcomes is indicated by at least one outcome indicator when the selection reels stop cycling through the outcomes; wherein activation of the activator, produces a specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator for the one or more players to consume the drink corresponding to the specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator.
- A drink selection game comprising; a gaming machine, configured to randomly display a selection of a plurality of selections indicating which drink one or more players playing with the gaming machine will then need to consume, how the one or more players playing with the game machine will consume the drink and who of the one or more players playing with the game machine will need to consume the drink, the game machine comprising; an activator; a plurality of selection reels having a plurality of selections wherein the activator when activated causes the selection reels to cycle through outcomes corresponding the plurality of selections until an outcome of the outcomes is indicated by at least one outcome indicator when the selection reels stop cycling through the outcomes; wherein the first selection reel of the plurality of selection reeling is a what selection reel, the what selection reel having a plurality of encoded possible types of drinks wherein an outcome of the what selection reel determines what type of drink the one or more players drink; a who selection reel, the who selection reel having a plurality of encoded possible types of individuals that would consume the drinks wherein an outcome of the who selection reel determines who of the one or more players drink; a how selection reel, the how selection wheel having a plurality of encoded possible actions of how to consume the drinks wherein an outcome of the how selection reel determines how the one or more players consumes the drink; wherein activation of the activator, produces a specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator for the one or more players to consume the drink corresponding to the specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator in a manner corresponding to the specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator by a subset of the one or more players corresponding to the specific outcome indicated by the at least one outcome indicator.