A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device including slidable award indicator disks.
Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment, entertainment and excitement as possible to players. Providing interesting and exciting primary games and secondary games in which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits is one way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement. Another way to enhance a player's enjoyment, entertainment and excitement with a gaming device is by including lights, sounds and other visual or audio or audio-visual effects in the gaming machines.
Some known gaming devices use mechanical devices such as reels or wheels to enhance the attraction of the machines to players and also to enhance the player's game playing experience. These mechanical devices enable a player to see a physical representations of a game or a portion of a game, which increases the player's enjoyment of the game.
Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is desirable to provide new and different mechanical devices in conjunction with gaming devices.
The present invention is directed to a gaming device including a plurality of slidable indicator disks. More specifically, the gaming device includes a disk display which is part of or attached to the cabinet of the gaming device. The disk display includes slidable indicator disks which each display a symbol to a player based upon a triggering event in a game. The disk display may be employed in any type of game such as a primary or base game, secondary or bonus game, sub-game or in another mode of the gaming device.
In one embodiment, the disk display includes a housing mounted on top of a cabinet of the gaming device, a support mounted in the housing and at least one indicator disk that moves relative to the support. In one presently preferred embodiment, the indicator disks slideably engage the support. A suitable actuator moves the disks relative to or causes the disks to move relative to the support to indicate awards to a player. In the presently preferred embodiment, the disks are cylindrical. However, the disks may be any suitable shape. The disks may include award symbols to indicate one or more awards in a game. The awards may be any type of awards such as credits, values, multipliers, free games or free spins. Alternatively, the disks may include symbols which are each employed as a game element or function in a primary game, secondary game or sub-game.
In one embodiment, a disk storage enclosure is mounted on the top of the cabinet of the housing to store and initially hide the disks from the player. The disks are then released from the disk storage enclosure and move or slide relative to the support in the housing. In one embodiment, the housing preferably includes a transparent portion that enables a player to view the disks through the housing. In another embodiment, the housing defines an opening that enables the player to view the disks.
In one embodiment, the disk display includes a single disk having one or more symbols. The symbol indicated to the player is based on a triggering event in the game. In one embodiment, the symbols are award symbols and represent a single award or several different types of awards such as credits, multipliers and free games as desired by the game implementor. The symbols may also represent game elements or functions in a game.
In another embodiment, the disk display includes a plurality of slidable disks which indicate different awards or game elements in a game. The disks each include a symbol which indicates an award or game element to the player.
In a further embodiment, the disk display includes a plurality of disks wherein each disk includes a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, the symbols on each disk represent different awards. In one aspect of this embodiment, the indicated symbol is the symbol that is facing the player when the disk is displayed to the player. In another aspect of this embodiment, a suitable actuator such as a motor rotates the support to indicate one or more of the symbols on the disk. The support rotates incrementally to indicate the different symbols on the disk.
It should be appreciated that the disk display of the present invention may be employed as part of a primary game, secondary or bonus game, sub-game, or any suitable type of wagering game. Additionally, it should also be appreciated that a single disk display or a plurality of disk displays may be employed in a gaming device. In one embodiment including multiple disk displays, a single disk is included in each of the disk displays. The disks in the displays include different symbols. In another embodiment, a plurality of disks are included in each of the disk displays. In this embodiment, the disk displays may include disks having the same symbols or different symbols. Furthermore, the disks may include symbols associated with relatively small awards, relatively large awards or any combination therein.
In a further embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of disk displays and an input such as a select button associated with each of the disk displays. The player presses or activates the input, such as the button to select and activate one of the disk displays in a game. The player then obtains the symbols indicated by the disks in the disk display picked by the player. It should be appreciated that the player may select one or more disk displays in a game.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device including an award indicator display that provides new visual stimuli to a player.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a physical award indicator which increases a player's excitement and enjoyment of a game.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.
Referring now to the drawings, three embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in
Gaming device 10 can incorporate any suitable primary game such as slot, poker, blackjack or keno, any of the bonus triggering events and any of the bonus round games associated with these primary games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electrical, electronic or video form.
As illustrated in
As shown in
A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button 26. When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray 28. The gaming device 10 may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the player's credits.
Gaming device 10 also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment shown in
Each reel 34 displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device 10. Furthermore, gaming device 10 preferably includes speakers 36 for making sounds or playing music.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other hardwired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor 38 and memory device 40 is generally referred to herein as the “computer” or “controller.”
With reference to
In addition to winning credits in this manner, preferably gaming device 10 also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round or bonus game. This type of gaming device 10 will include a program which will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The gaming device 10 may use a video-based central display device 30 to enable the player to play the bonus round. The qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia appearing on a plurality of reels 34. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, a support such as a cylindrical support 108 is mounted in the housing 102. The support 108 is manufactured from a suitable material and is substantially vertically positioned inside the housing 102 and substantially in the center of the housing 102. It should be appreciated that the support 108 may be any suitable shape or configuration.
In one embodiment, a disk 110 is adapted to slidable move relative to the support 108. The disk 110 is preferably cylindrical. However, it should be appreciated that the disk may be any suitable shape or configuration. Each disk 110 defines an aperture or opening 112 which extends through the disk. The opening 112 is sized to correspond to the size of the support 108. In one embodiment, the opening 112 in the disk 110 includes a diameter that generally corresponds to the diameter of the cylindrical support 108. The diameter of the disk 110 is sized such that the opening 112 on the disk 110 is received by the support so that the disk is able to move relative to the support. Accordingly, one or more disks 110 may slideably engage the support 108. It should be appreciated that the disks do not have to directly engage the support. The disks may be attached to a suitable actuator which is separate from the support 108 and moves the disks relative to the support. The disks and actuator may also be attached to the housing so that the disks may be positioned in and move relative to the housing.
Each disk 110 includes at least one symbol such as an award symbol 114. The award symbols 114 represent any type of an award such as values, credits, multipliers, free spins or free games. The award symbols 114 may be included on one surface of the disk 110 or on multiple surfaces of the disk 110. Furthermore, the awards associated with the award symbols may vary in value as desired by the game implementor. For example, the awards in
Alternatively, the disks 110 may include one or more symbols which represent game elements or functions in a game. The symbols on the disk are employed as part of a function of the game such as providing an additional symbol to a combination of symbols on a set of reels. It should be appreciated that the disks include one or more symbols and provide one or more functions in a game. It should also be appreciated that the disks and symbols may be employed as part of a primary game, bonus game, or sub-game.
In one embodiment, the disk displays 100 include a plurality of disks 110. In this embodiment, each of the slidable disks includes a different symbol such as the award symbol 114. In another embodiment, one or more of the disks 110 in the disk display include a plurality of award symbols 114. In one aspect of this embodiment, the award symbols represent the same award. Therefore, the award symbol on the disk 110 may be viewed by the player regardless of the position of the disk inside of the housing 102. In another aspect of this embodiment, the disk 110 includes a plurality of different award symbols 114. Each award symbol 114 represents a different award. In this aspect of the embodiment, the award indicated by the disk display 100 is the award that is primarily viewable by the player or the award symbol that faces the player.
In another embodiment, the support 108 rotates within the housing 102. In this embodiment, the support 108 is attached to a suitable actuator or motor which rotates the support to indicate one or more of the award symbols 114 on the disk 110. The awards provided to the player in a game are based on the award symbols 114 indicated on the disk 110, which rotates to be viewable by the player on the support 108. It should be appreciated that the support 108 may rotate incrementally to indicate the different award symbols 114 on the disk 110.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In another embodiment, a plurality of disk displays 100 are mounted to the top portion of the cabinet of the gaming device 110 as shown in
In a further embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of disk displays and at least one selector such as a select button (not shown) associated with the disk displays. The player presses or touches the selector to select and activate one of the disk displays. The player then receives the award indicated by the disks in the selected disk display. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may also include a plurality of selectors where at least one selector is associated with each of the disk displays. The player selects a disk display by pressing or touching the corresponding selector associated with the desired disk display.
Referring to
The mounting plate 201 is secured or fastened to the top of the cabinet of the gaming device using suitable fasteners. The mounting plate 201 provides support for the first housing and the moving components of the embodiment. The first housing 202 as shown in
In one embodiment the top end cap 204 defines an opening 205 or a see-through area, which enables a player to view the award symbols on the award disks 210. In another embodiment, the top end cap is a solid unit where the disks 210 are not viewable in the housing. A second housing 212, which is generally adjacent to the first housing 202, is integrally formed from a suitable material and includes a transparent member 209. The transparent member 209 enables a player to see through the second housing 212 to see the award symbols on the disks 210.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the second housing 212 is substantially cylindrical and is formed as a tube having a hollow interior portion. A cylindrical support 208 slideably engages the disks 210 so that the disks move relative to the support 208. The support 208 and the disks 210 are manufactured to fit within the second of the housing 212 as shown in
The disk mover 213 is mounted on the opposing side or surface of the mounting plate 201 and controls the movement of the disks within the second housing as illustrated in
Each disk 210 includes a disk arm 225 which is integrally formed with the disk and transversely extends from each of the disks 210 through a slot 218 defined by the mounting plate 201 as shown in
In addition, a rotation generator (not shown) moves or rotates the transport shaft 215 to move the disk transport housing and disk transport plate along the support. The rotation generator includes a first actuator 230 which engages the disk transport plate 228. The first actuator 230 may be any suitable actuator such as a suitable electric stepper motor, where the first actuator 230 rotates the disk transport plate 228. The first actuator 230 is also mounted to the disk transport housing using suitable fasteners.
The disk transport housing 226 is secured to a support transport member 224 on a transport shaft 215. The support transport member 224 is secured to the top surface of the disk transport housing 226. The support transport member 224 is generally cylindrically shaped and is manufactured to engage the shaft 215. The interior portion of the support transport member 224 includes threads, which engage corresponding threads integrally formed on the shaft 215. Thus, the disk transport housing 226 moves relative to the shaft 215 as the threads of the support transport member 224 engage the threads on the shaft 215.
The transport shaft or shaft 215 includes the top support member 220 and a bottom support member 222 which fit onto and engage the shaft 215. The top support member and bottom support members 220 and 222, respectively, are secured to a top support surface (not shown) and a bottom support surface (not shown). The top and bottom surfaces are suitably mounted to the mounting plate 201. Therefore, the top and bottom support surfaces support or secure the shaft 215 in place. An intermediate plate 232 is secured to the back of the disk transport housing 226. The intermediate plate 232 enables electrical connections such as electrical cables to be secured to the disk transport housing 226. In this manner, the processor 38 communicates with the first actuator 230 to rotate the disk transport plate relative to the disk transport housing 226.
A second actuator 236 includes a rotator pin 237 and is mounted in a second actuator housing 234. The second actuator housing 234 is mounted to the mounting plate 201 using suitable fasteners. The second actuator 236 may be any suitable actuator such as a suitable actuator such as an electric stepper motor, which causes the rotator pin 237 to rotate. The second actuator 236 fits within the second actuator housing 234 so that the rotator pin 237 extends down through the second actuator housing 234 and extends from the bottom of the housing. A first pulley support 238 is secured to the rotator pin 237. Similarly, a second pulley support 242 is secured to the shaft 215. A pulley belt or belt 240 fits within a channel or groove integrally formed on each of the pulley supports 238 and 242. The belt 240 is manufactured of a suitable durable material such as rubber, which will extend between the pulley supports.
In operation, the disk transport plate 228 engages one of the disk arms 225. The processor 38 communicates with the second actuator 236 to activate the second actuator and cause the actuator to rotate the rotator pin 237. As the rotator pin 237 rotates, the first pulley support 238 rotates, which in turn rotates the belt 240. The belt 240 thereby rotates the second pulley support 242, which is secured to the shaft 215. The rotation of the second pulley support 242 causes the shaft 215 to rotate. As the shaft 215 rotates, the support transport member 224 moves the disk transport housing, which includes the disk transport plate 228, relative to the shaft 215. The rotation of the shaft 215 causes the threads of the shaft 215 to engage the corresponding threads of the support transport member 224. This causes a corkscrew effect which causes the support transport member 224 to move along the threads relative to the shaft 215. As the disk transport housing 226 moves relative to the shaft 215, the disk transport plate 228 also moves. This causes the disk transport plate 228 to push up against the disk arm 225 which is engaged with or rests on top of the disk transport plate 228. Accordingly, the disk or disks 210 which are adjacent or positioned on top of the disk including the disk arm 225 which is engaged with the disk transport plate 228, move in accordance with that disk transport plate 228. In a game, the above components move the disks up or down the shaft 215 within the second housing 212 to indicate an award symbol 214 on one of the disks 210 on or relative to the payline 207 shown in
A first actuator 230 is secured to the bottom of the disk transport housing 226 and is activated by the processor 38 to rotate the disk transport plate 228. The disk transport plate 228 is configured so that when the disk transport plate 228 rotates it may engage and disengage from one or more of the disk arms 225. The disk transport housing 226 and the disk transport plate 228 then may move along the shaft 215 to engage a different disk arm 225. Once the disk transport plate 228 is positioned adjacent to a desired disk arm 225, the first actuator 230 is activated or energized and rotates the disk transport plate 228 so that the disk transport plate 228 engages the desired disk arm 225. In this manner, the disk transport plate 228 may move along the shaft 215 to engage one or more of the disk arms 225. Thus, any one of the disks, several of the disks or all of the disks 210 can be moved in a game.
It should also be appreciated that the embodiments disk displays illustrated in
While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims.
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