Apparatus and method for dispensing of awards

Abstract

A device for dispensing awards includes a housing having a set of compartments, the contents of which are visible from the outside. Each compartment contains a small but valuable award, such as a diamond. The housing is part of, or connected to, a gaming machine. When a player wins a game which entitles the player to select a tangible award, the device signals this fact to the player. The player then selects a compartment by pressing a input device located on the housing. An attendant opens an external door, and inserts an electronic key into a receptacle associated with the selected compartment, and enters a required code into the key. The compartment then opens, and the player obtains the award. The device provides enhanced security, because the compartment will not open unless the player has won the required game and has pressed the input device, and the attendant has properly opened the external door and has entered the correct code with the electronic key. The device also includes an inventory control system which preferably uses an RFID apparatus for monitoring the contents of each compartment, and for keeping records of an inventory of awards.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for awarding a prize to a player, comprising: 
 (A) at least one non-monetary prize; and    (B) a gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow the player to play a game, the gaming device comprising a vault, the vault being adapted to hold the prize and display the prize to the player, wherein the player may view the prize that is awarded to the player, the prize being awarded when a predetermined event occurs in the game.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vault further comprises at least one door, the door limiting access to the prize.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vault further comprises at least one lock, the lock limiting access to the prize.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a central computer in communication with the gaming device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the gaming device comprises at least one inventory sensor, the inventory sensor being adapted to sense the presence of the prize, wherein the gaming device is adapted to transmit inventory information to the central computer.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the vault comprises at least one compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold the prize.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the compartment comprises at least one lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the vault further comprises at least one door, the door limiting access to the prize, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the door.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the vault further comprises at least one lock, the lock limiting access to the prize, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the vault comprises a window, the window being adapted to allow a player to view the prize.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gaming device comprises at least one inventory sensor, the inventory sensor being adapted to detect a unique inventory identifier associated with the prize.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a central computer in communication with the gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to transmit the inventory identifier to the central computer.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the prize comprises a symbol that is redeemable for a good or service.  
     
     
         21 . A system for awarding prizes to a player, the system comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of non-monetary prizes;    (B) at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow the player to play a game; and    (C) at least one vault, the vault being adapted to hold the plurality of prizes and display the prizes to the player, wherein the player may view the prizes and select at least one of the plurality of prizes to be awarded to the player when a predetermined winning event occurs.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the gaming device is in communication with the vault and the gaming device is adapted to transmit information to the vault.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the information enables the vault to allow a player to select a prize.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the vault comprises a lock adapted to limit access to the prizes and the information enables operation of the lock.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a central computer in communication with the vault.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the vault comprises an inventory sensor, the sensor being adapted to sense the presence of prizes in the vault, wherein the vault is adapted to transmit inventory information to the central computer.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the information comprises a unique identifier associated with one of the plurality of prizes.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the vault comprises a lock and the central computer is adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the vault comprising a plurality of compartments, each compartment being adapted to hold at least one prize and comprising at least one lock, the lock being adapted to limit removal of the prize, the central computer is adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the vault further comprises at least one door, the door limiting access to the prizes, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the door.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the vault further comprises at least one lock, the lock limiting access to the prizes, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of prizes comprises at least one symbol that is redeemable for a good or service.  
     
     
         41 . A method of displaying and awarding prizes to a player, the method comprising: 
 (A) providing at least one non-monetary prize;    (B) providing at least one vault, the vault being adapted to hold and display the plurality of prizes;    (C) allowing the player to view the plurality of prizes in the vault;    (D) allowing a player to play a game; and    (E) producing a predetermined prize winning event in the game.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of providing at least one non-monetary prize comprises providing a plurality of non-monetary prizes, further comprising: 
 (A) allowing the player to select at least one of the plurality of prizes;  
 (B) removing the prize selected by the player from vault; and  
 (C) awarding the prize to the player.  
 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vault comprises at least one lock, the lock being adapted to limit access to the prizes, further comprising unlocking the lock before removing the prize selected by the player from the vault.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vault comprises a plurality of compartments, each compartment being adapted to hold at least one prize, at least one of the compartments comprising at least one lock, the lock being adapted to limit access to the prize, further comprising the step of unlocking the lock.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising providing at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to operate the game, further comprising operating the game on the gaming device.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the gaming device is in communication with the vault and the gaming device is adapted to transmit information to the vault, further comprising transmitting information from the gaming device to the vault, the information enabling selection of a prize.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising providing at least one gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to operate the game, further comprising operating the game on the gaming device.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the gaming device is in communication with the vault and the gaming device is adapted to transmit information to the vault, the vault comprising a lock, further comprising transmitting information from the gaming device to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising detecting a unique inventory identifier associated with the prize.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising 
 (A) providing a central computer; and  
 (B) transmitting the inventory identifier to the central computer.  
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the plurality of prizes comprises at least one symbol that is redeemable for a good or service.  
     
     
         61 . A system for awarding a prize to a player, the system comprising: 
 (A) a gaming device, the gaming device being adapted to allow a player to play a game;    (B) at least one non-monetary prize; and    (C) a vault, the vault being adapted to hold the prize and display the prize to the player, wherein the player may view the prize that is to be awarded to the player when a predetermined winning event occurs on the gaming device.    
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the vault comprises a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold the prize.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62  wherein the compartment comprises a lock, the lock limiting removal of the prize from the compartment.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the vault comprises at least one door, the door being adapted to limit access to the prize.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the vault further comprises at least one lock, the lock limiting access to the prize.  
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 61  further comprising a central computer in communication with the gaming device.  
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66  wherein the gaming device comprises at least one inventory sensor, the inventory sensor being adapted to sense the presence of the prize, wherein the gaming devices is adapted to transmit inventory information to the central computer.  
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 66  wherein the vault further comprises at least one door, the door limiting access to the prize, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the door.  
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 66  wherein the vault further comprises at least one lock, the lock limiting access to the prize, the central computer being adapted to transmit information to the vault, the information enabling operation of the lock.  
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the prize comprises a symbolic representation of a good or service.