Game piece

Abstract

A game piece for playing a promotional game and a method of playing a promotional game. The game piece includes a housing, a battery, a signaling device, a removable tab, and a timing circuit. Once activated, the timing circuit is set to wait a predetermined amount of time before illuminating the signaling device. The game is played by distributing game pieces to patrons of an establishment. Some game pieces are functional while other game pieces are not functional; however all game pieces are identical. Patrons of the establishment remove the removable tab on the game piece to potentially start the timing circuit. After waiting the predetermined amount of time, the signaling device on the functional or “winning” game pieces will activate. The establishment will award prizes to patrons holding an activated game piece.

1 . A promotional gaming method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing pre-made game pieces;   (b) distributing game pieces to players;   (c) activating said game pieces;   (d) waiting a predetermined amount of time to see which, if any, of said game pieces are winners; and   (e) awarding prizes to each player who possesses a winning game piece and redeems said game piece at a predetermined location.   
   
   
       2 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  wherein prior to said providing step, the method comprises the step of determining a number of winning game pieces. 
   
   
       3 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  wherein prior to said providing step, the method comprises the step of determining an amount of time to wait to see if a game piece is a winner. 
   
   
       4 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  wherein said distribution step further includes randomly distributing game pieces to players. 
   
   
       5 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  wherein said distributing step further includes distributing game pieces to every player within a venue. 
   
   
       6 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  wherein prior to said providing step, the method comprises applying promotional indicia to each game piece. 
   
   
       7 . The promotional gaming method of  claim 1  further including the step of deactivating winning game pieces. 
   
   
       8 . A game piece comprising:
 (a) a housing with at least one opening formed therein;   (b) a timing circuit disposed in said housing and connected to a battery; and   (c) at least one signaling device connected to said circuit and being positioned in said opening.   
   
   
       9 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said housing includes a pin. 
   
   
       10 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said housing is a button. 
   
   
       11 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said housing is a fob. 
   
   
       12 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said housing is attached to a necklace. 
   
   
       13 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said signaling device comprises a light. 
   
   
       14 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said signaling device comprises means for making noise. 
   
   
       15 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said signaling device comprises an LED. 
   
   
       16 . The game piece of  claim 8  wherein said game piece further includes a reset button. 
   
   
       17 . The game piece of claim of  claim 16  wherein said housing has an additional opening, said reset button being positioned in said additional opening. 
   
   
       18 . A game piece comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a timing circuit disposed in said housing and connected to a battery; and   (c) at least one signaling device connected to said circuit.   
   
   
       19 . The game piece of  claim 18  wherein said signaling device comprises a light. 
   
   
       20 . The game piece of  claim 18  wherein said signaling device comprises means for making noise.