Push-button with integrated or adjacent moveable outcome indicator

• US 20090312083A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

A push-button assembly for a gaming terminal implementing a wagering game is provided. The push-button assembly has a push-button actuated by a touch from a player of the wagering game. An outcome indicator indicates a randomly selected outcome in response to the push-button being actuated.

Claims

1. A push-button assembly for a gaming terminal implementing a wagering game, the push-button assembly comprising:

a push-button actuated by a touch from a player of the wagering game; and

an outcome indicator for indicating a randomly selected outcome in response to the push-button being actuated.

2. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator is a 3-dimensional object.

3. The push-button assembly of claim 2, wherein the 3-dimensional object is interchangeable.

4. The push-button assembly of claim 3, wherein the 3-dimensional object is selected from the group consisting of:

stationary, animated, and dynamic.

5. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the push-button is in a location selected from the group consisting of:

over the outcome indicator, and adjacent to the outcome indicator.

6. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator includes a representation of a moveable object.

7. The push-button assembly of claim 6, wherein the representation is a video representation.

8. The push-button assembly of claim 6, wherein the moveable object is selected from the group consisting of:

a miniature reel, a pointer, and a pendulum.

9. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator is a mechanical reel.

10. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator displays a game-enhancement parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a bonus payout;

a multiplier to multiply the payout awarded based on a winning symbol combination on main reels in the wagering game;

a re-spin feature to re-spin a winning symbol combination in the wagering game to the same winning symbol combination at least one time;

an automatic nudge feature; and

a re-spin to a higher award feature to re-spin the main reels in the wagering game to a higher-paying winning symbol combination in response to the winning combination being achieved in the wagering game.

11. The push-button assembly of claim 1, further including a removable transparent enclosure positioned over the outcome indicator.

12. The push-button assembly of claim 11, further including a touch-sensitive sensor positioned on the transparent enclosure

13. The push-button assembly of claim 1, further including a transmissive LCD display for displaying a video image superimposed over the outcome indicator.

14. The push-button assembly of claim 1, wherein the outcome indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical reel;

a keno board;

at least one light emitting diode;

a roulette wheel;

playing cards;

a pointer;

a pendulum; and

at least one die.

15. A push-button assembly for a gaming terminal implementing a wagering game, the push-button assembly comprising:

a push-button actuated by a touch from a player of the wagering game; and

a 3-dimensional object related to the wagering game.

16. The push-button assembly of claim 15, wherein the 3-dimensional object is selected from the group consisting of:

stationary, animated, and dynamic.

17. The push-button assembly of claim 15, wherein the push-button is in a location selected from the group consisting of:

over the 3-dimensional object, and adjacent to the 3-dimensional object.

18. The push-button assembly of claim 15, wherein the 3-dimensional object is selected from the group consisting of:

a mechanical reel;

a keno board;

at least one light emitting diode;

a roulette wheel;

playing cards; and

at least one die.

19. The push-button assembly of claim 15, wherein the 3-dimensional object indicates an outcome of the game.

20. A method of utilizing a push-button assembly for a gaming terminal implementing a wagering game, the method comprising:

receiving a player input via a push-button of the push-button assembly; and

indicating an outcome associated with the player input on an outcome indicator adjacent to or within the push-button.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the outcome indicator is a 3-dimensional object.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the outcome indicator includes a representation of a moveable object, the representation of the moveable object is selected from the group consisting of:

a miniature reel;

a pointer;

a pendulum;

a keno board;

at least one light emitting diode;

a roulette wheel;

playing cards; and

at least one die.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the outcome indicator is a mechanical reel.

24. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing the gaming terminal to perform the method of claim 20.

25. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a push-button assembly with a push-button and an outcome indicator;

a controller coupled to push-button assembly and programmed to randomly select an outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to the push-button being actuated by a player of the wagering game; and

indicating the outcome on the outcome indicator.