Gaming device having an unveiling award mechanical secondary display

• US 20040023710A1
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kaminkow, Joseph E., McGahn, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,238,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming device, which awards an initial award to a player, discloses to a player that a higher valued enticement award is available and selectable, and enables the player to selectively swap the initial award for an opportunity to select the enticement award. The game preferably discloses the value of the initial award and the enticement award. The game masks the enticement award in a pattern along with one or more masked consolation awards, the consolation awards having values less than the value of the initial award. The game reveals the awards using a secondary display having mechanical doors that open and close.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a game operable upon a wager by a player;

a primary display supported by the cabinet;

a secondary display supported by the cabinet;

at least one movable member which selectively masks said secondary display; and

at least one actuator operable to move the movable member reveal the secondary display.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a processor operable to cause the actuator to move said movable member to reveal said secondary display.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor causes the actuator to move said movable member to reveal said secondary display upon the occurrence of said triggering event.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of movable members which mask the secondary display, wherein said actuator causes said movable members to move to reveal the secondary display.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of movable members which mask the secondary display and a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator causes one of the movable members to move to reveal the secondary display.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of symbols adapted to be displayed by said secondary display, wherein at least one of said symbols is revealed when said moveable member is moved to reveal said secondary display.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein said plurality of symbols includes a plurality of award indicia.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one speaker operable to generate a sound effect when the movable member reveals said secondary display.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said movable member to reveal said secondary display after a player activated device is activated.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein said movable roller displays at least one award indicia.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one award indicia.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a directional indicator displayed by said primary display which directs a player to said secondary display.

18. A gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a game operable upon a wager by a player;

a primary display mounted in said housing;

a secondary display mounted in said housing;

a directional indicator adapted to be displayed by said primary display, said directional indicator adapted to directs a player to said secondary display;

at least one movable member connected to the housing which is operable to selectively mask said secondary display;

at least one actuator operable to cause said movable member to reveal the secondary display; and

a processor operable to cause said directional indicator to direct the player to said secondary display, and cause the actuator to cause the movable member to reveal said secondary display.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes a plurality of symbols, wherein said processor is operable to randomly select one of said symbols and cause said secondary display to display said selected symbol after said directional indicator directs the player to said secondary display.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

21. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said movable member is formed from a non-transparent material.

22. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the actuator to cause the movable member to reveal said secondary display upon the occurrence of said triggering event.

23. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said movable member to reveal said secondary display after the player activated device is activated.

24. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes at least one speaker which said processor causes to generate a sound effect when the movable member reveals said secondary display.

25. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said secondary display is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

26. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

28. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein said movable roller displays at least one award indicia.

30. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one award indicia.

32. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a primary display device including a first display;

a secondary display device including a second display;

a movable first member masking a first portion of the second display;

a movable second member masking a second portion of the second display;

at least one actuator operable to cause said first and second members to selectively reveal said masked portions of said second display;

a plurality of symbols; and

a processor operable to select one of said plurality of symbols, cause said secondary display device to display said selected symbol, and cause the actuator to move said first member and said second member to reveal said second display.

33. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said first member and second member are formed of a non-transparent material.

34. The gaming device of claim 32, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the actuator to move said first member and second member to reveal said second display upon the occurrence of said triggering event.

35. The gaming device of claim 32, which includes a player activated device, wherein the actuator causes said first member and said second member to reveal said second display after the player activated device is activated.

36. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said secondary display device is selected from the group consisting of:

a video monitor, a television screen, a dot matrix display, a cathode ray tube, a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, and a electro-luminescent display.

37. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said secondary display device includes at least one mechanical reel.

38. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein said mechanical reel displays at least one award indicia.

39. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said secondary display device includes at least one movable roller.

40. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein said movable roller displays at least one symbol which is an award indicia.

41. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein said secondary display device includes at least one movable wheel.

42. The gaming device of claim 41, wherein said movable wheel displays at least one symbol which is an award indicia.

43. The gaming device of claim 32, which includes at least one speaker which said processor is operable to cause to generate a sound effect when said first member and said second member reveal said second display.

44. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a first display;

a second display juxtaposed next to said first display;

a directional indicator adapted to be displayed by said first display and to direct a player to said second display;

a slideable first member which masks a first portion of the second display;

a slideable second member which masks a second portion of the second display;

a first motor connected to said first member;

a second motor connected to said second member; and

a processor operable to cause said directional indicator to direct the player to said second display, and to cause the first motor and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said masked first and second portions of the second display.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes a plurality of symbols from which said processor is operable to select one of said symbols and cause said symbol to be displayed by second display after said directional indicator directs the player to said second display.

46. The gaming device of claim 45, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

47. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes a first sensing device and a second sensing device, wherein the first sensing device is operable to send a signal to the processor to cause said processor to stop the first motor from sliding the first member, and the second sensing device is operable to send a signal to the processor to causes said processor to stop the second motor from sliding the second member.

48. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein said first sensing device and second sensing device include a pair of optical switches which are positioned to detect when said second display is revealed.

49. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein said first member and second member are formed of a non-transparent material.

50. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes a triggering event, wherein said processor is operable to cause the first and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said second display upon the occurrence of said triggering event.

51. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes a player activated device connected to the processor, wherein said processor is operable to cause the first motor and second motor to respectively slide said first member and said second member to reveal said second display when the player activated device is activated.

52. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the secondary display device includes a medium exhibiting a plurality of symbols which is coupled between a drive roller connected to said processor and a follower roller so that one of the symbols is shown in said second display, wherein said processor is operable to cause the drive roller to move said medium so that a symbol on said medium selected by said processor is displayed by said second display.

53. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein said plurality of symbols include award indicia.

54. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes at least one speaker which said processor is operable to cause to generate a sound effect when the said first member and said second member reveal said second display.

55. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the secondary display device includes a paystop display which includes at least one mechanical reel which exhibits a plurality of symbols and at least one of said symbols is displayed by said second display.

56. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the secondary display device includes a spinning wheel which exhibits a plurality of symbols and at least one of said symbols is displayed by said second display.

57. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a game operable upon a wager;

a primary display supported by the cabinet;

a secondary display supported by the cabinet;

at least one movable member having a closed position at which said movable member masks the secondary display and an open position at which said movable member reveals the secondary display; and

means for moving said movable member between the closed position and the open position.

58. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, a primary display and a secondary display, said method comprising:

(a) masking the secondary display with at least one moveable member;

(b) selecting a symbol from a plurality of symbols;

(c) displaying said symbol on the secondary display; and

(d) revealing said symbol displayed on the secondary display by moving said moveable member.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said plurality of symbols includes award indicia.

60. The method of claim 58, which includes generating a sound effect during revealing said symbol displayed on the secondary display.

61. The method of claim 58, which includes directing a player to the secondary display.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

63. The gaming device of claim 58, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller displaying at least one of said symbols.

64. The gaming device of claim 58, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel displaying at least one of said symbols.

65. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a secondary display juxtaposed adjacent to said primary display;

(b) masking said secondary display with at least one slideable member;

(c) selecting a symbol from a plurality of symbols;

(d) displaying said symbol on said secondary display;

(e) directing a player to said secondary display; and

(f) sliding said member to reveal said symbol displayed on the secondary display.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said plurality of symbols includes award indicia.

67. The method of claim 65, which includes generating a sound effect during revealing said symbol displayed on the secondary display.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein said secondary display includes at least one mechanical reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable reel displaying at least one of said symbols.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable roller displaying at least one of said symbols.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein said secondary display includes at least one movable wheel displaying at least one of said symbols.

72. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a primary game operable upon a wager;

a primary wagering game display supported by the cabinet and operable to display said primary wagering game;

a secondary game operable after a triggering event in said primary wagering game;

a secondary game display supported by the cabinet and operable to display at least part of the secondary game;

an award adapted to be provided to the player, said award obtainable in the secondary game and displayable by the secondary game display;

a first movable member which selectively masks a portion of said secondary game display; and

a first actuator operable to move the first movable member to unmask the secondary game display.

73. The gaming device of claim 72, which includes a second movable member which selectively masks a portion of the secondary display, and a second actuators operable to move the second movable member to unmask the secondary game display.

74. The gaming device of claim 73, wherein the award is a higher value enticement award which is selectable by the player.