GAMING DEVICE HAVING A WHEEL-BASED GAME

• US 20070120320A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark, Miltenberger, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/143.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2442 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/00 Roulette games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/007 Details about the compartments or sectors, e.g. sectors having different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

A gaming device including at least one wagering station and a rotor. The rotor supports a series of symbols arranged about a center. The rotor also supports a series of landings arranged adjacent to the series of symbols. In operation, at least one ball travels along the rotor and eventually reaches a landing. One or more of the elements of the gaming device has a designated shape, construction or function to enable designated operations of a primary game, a secondary outcome determiner or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers; and

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame,

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a series of symbols arranged about the center, the series of symbols including;

(x) a plurality of game symbols, each one of the game symbols being associated with a game outcome, and

(y) at least one bonus symbol, the at least one bonus symbol being associated with an opportunity to reach a bonus outcome, and

(ii) a series of landings arranged about the center, the series of landings including;

(x) a plurality of game landings positioned adjacent to the game symbols, each one of the game landings defining an area, and

(y) a bonus landing positioned adjacent to the at least one bonus symbol, the bonus landing defining an area which is differently dimensioned than the area of each one of the game landings.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the bonus outcome is identical to or different from any one of the game outcomes.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the area of the bonus landing is wider than the area of each one of the game landings.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the area of the bonus landing includes a greater arc length than the area of each one of the game landings.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each one of the game landings and the bonus landing defines a space, the space of the bonus landing including a geometry which is different from the space of each one of the game landings.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wagering station and the wheel assembly collectively specify a variation of roulette.

7. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers;

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame,

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a series of symbols arranged about the center, the series of symbols including;

(x) a plurality of game symbols, each one of the game symbols being associated with a game outcome, and

(y) at least one bonus symbol, and

(ii) a series of landings arranged about the center, the series of landings including;

(x) a plurality of game landings positioned adjacent to the game symbols, and

(y) a bonus landing positioned adjacent to the at least one bonus symbol, the bonus landing defining an opening;

a ball routing assembly supported by the support structure, the ball routing assembly including;

(a) a receiver positioned adjacent to the bonus landing, the receiver being configured to receive a ball from the opening of the bonus landing;

(b) an outlet configured to output the ball, and

(c) a passageway between the receiver and the outlet, the passageway sized to receive the ball; and

a bonus device positioned adjacent to the support structure, the bonus device being supported by the support structure or a different structure, the bonus device including;

(a) a ball engager positioned adjacent to the outlet, the ball engager configured to engage or receive the ball, and

(b) a bonus outcome determiner operable to determine a bonus outcome based, at least in part, on the ball.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus device includes a randomizer operable with the bonus outcome determiner to determine the bonus outcome.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus outcome is identical to or different from any one of the game outcomes.

10. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus landing includes a floor, the floor being movable between an closed position and an open position, the floor defining the opening when in the open position.

11. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus outcome is determined by a computing device and displayed on a display device.

12. The gaming device of claim 7, which includes a signal generator supported by the ball engager of the bonus device, the signal generator being operable to produce a signal after the ball contacts the ball engager, the signal being associated with the bonus outcome.

13. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the ball engager includes an additional ball receiver, the additional ball receiver configured to receive the ball from the outlet of the ball routing assembly.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the bonus device includes at least one additional passageway connected to the additional ball receiver, the additional passageway configured to receive the ball.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the bonus device includes:

(a) a plurality of ball stations; and

(b) at least one ball sensor operable to sense which one of the ball stations is reached by the ball.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the ball sensor includes a signal generator, the signal generator being operable to produce a signal based on a presence of the ball in any one of the ball stations.

17. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus device includes:

(a) a second wall supported by the frame, the second wall including a sloped surface which surrounds the wall, and

(b) a second rotor coupled to the second coupler, the second rotor supporting;

(i) a second series of symbols including a plurality of second bonus symbols, and

(ii) a second series of landings including a plurality of second bonus landings positioned adjacent to the second bonus symbols.

18. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the bonus device includes:

(a) a plurality of light sources,

(b) a plurality of second bonus symbols positioned adjacent to the light sources, and

(c) a processor operable to control illumination of the light sources.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes a cone coupled to the rotor, the cone being surrounded by the series of landings, the light sources of the bonus device being connected to the cone.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the light sources of the bonus device are connected to the wall.

21. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the wagering station, the wheel assembly and the bonus device collectively specify a variation of roulette.

22. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers;

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame,

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a series of symbols arranged about the center, the series of symbols including;

(x) a plurality of game symbols, each one of the game symbols being associated with a game outcome, and

(y) at least one bonus symbol, and

(ii) a series of landings arranged about the center, the series of landings including;

(x) a plurality of game landings positioned adjacent to the game symbols, and

(y) a bonus landing positioned adjacent to the at least one bonus symbol;

a bonus device positioned adjacent to the support structure, the bonus device being supported by the support structure or a different structure, the bonus device including;

(a) a processor,

(b) a display device controlled by the processor, and

(c) a plurality of computer readable instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

 

(i) determine a bonus outcome, and

 

(ii) cause the display device to indicate the determined bonus outcome.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the bonus outcome is identical to or different from any one of the game outcomes.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the bonus outcome is based upon at least one of the game outcomes.

25. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the bonus outcome is determined by a computing device and displayed on a display device.

26. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the bonus device includes at least one input device, the input device being operable to produce an input signal, the input signal being readable by the processor to affect the determination of the bonus outcome.

27. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the wagering station, the wheel assembly and the bonus device collectively specify a variation of roulette.

28. The gaming device of claim 22, which includes at least one landing sensor operatively coupled to the processor, the landing sensor operable to produce a signal after a ball lands on the bonus landing.

29. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers;

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame;

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a series of symbols arranged about the center, the series of symbols including;

(x) a plurality of game symbols, each one of the game symbols being associated with a game outcome, and

(y) at least one bonus symbol, and

(ii) a series of landings arranged about the center, the series of landings including;

(x) a plurality of game landings positioned adjacent to the game symbols, and

(y) a bonus landing positioned adjacent to the at least one bonus symbol, the bonus landing defining an opening, the opening being larger than at least one of a plurality balls, the opening being smaller than a different one of the balls.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the bonus landing includes a floor, the floor being movable between a closed position and an open position, the floor defining the opening when in the open position.

31. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the game ball is larger than the bonus ball, the opening being smaller than the game ball.

32. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the game ball is smaller than the bonus ball, the opening being smaller than the bonus ball.

33. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the wagering station and the wheel assembly collectively specify a variation of roulette.

34. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers;

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame,

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a plurality of symbols arranged about the center,

(ii) a plurality of landings positioned adjacent to the symbols, at least one of the landings defining an opening sized to receive a ball; and

a ball holder positioned adjacent to the support structure, the ball holder being supported by the support structure or a different structure, the ball holder being configured to hold the ball after the ball passes through the opening.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein a portion of the ball holder is positioned adjacent to the opening.

36. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the ball holder is sized to hold a plurality of balls which sequentially pass through the opening over a period of time.

37. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the at least one landing has a see-through portion, at least part of the held ball being visible through the see-through portion.

38. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the see-through portion has a transparent characteristic or a translucent characteristic.

39. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the at least one landing includes a floor which is movable between a closed position and an open position, the floor defining the opening when in the open position.

40. The gaming device of claim 34, which includes a drop indicator supported by the support structure, the drop indicator operable to indicate information relating to the ball dropping fully or partially through the opening.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the drop indicator includes an output device selected from the group consisting of a visual output device, an audio output device and an audiovisual output device.

42. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the wagering station and the wheel assembly collectively specify a variation of roulette.

43. A gaming device comprising:

a support structure;

at least one wagering station visible on the support structure, the wagering station being formatted to specify one or more placed wagers;

a wheel assembly supported by the support structure, the wheel assembly including;

(a) a frame;

(b) a wall coupled to the frame, the wall including a sloped surface which surrounds a center, and

(c) a rotor rotatably coupled to the frame, the rotor supporting;

(i) a plurality of symbols arranged about the center, and

(ii) a plurality of landings positioned adjacent to the symbols,

a plurality of primary outcomes, each one of the primary outcomes being associated with a landing of a ball on one of the landings;

at least one visual output device supported by the frame; and

a processor operatively coupled to the visual output device, the processor programmed to;

(a) randomly determine a secondary outcome, and

(b) cause the visual output device to indicate the determined secondary outcome.

44. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the visual output device is selected from the group consisting of at least one light source, a series of light sources, at least one light emitting diode, a series of light emitting diodes, at least one liquid crystal display and a display device.

45. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the visual output device is connected to the wall.

46. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the visual output device is connected to the rotor.

47. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the visual output device is connected to at least one of the landings.

48. The gaming device of claim 43, which includes a cone coupled to the rotor, the cone being surrounded by the series of landings, the visual output device being connected to the cone.

49. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the wagering station and the wheel assembly collectively specify a variation of roulette.