Variable speed gaming device

• US 4,373,727 A
• Filed: 04/03/1980
• Issued: 02/15/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp. (Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.)
• Inventors: Hooker, Donald E., Tojza, Roman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US06/136,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/143 C, 273/138 A
• US Class Current: 273/143.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An improved amusement or game device is disclosed which is of the type that has a number of rotatable reels having symbols or other indicia on the outer surface thereof, which reels are rotated and subsequently preferably sequentially stopped during each play. The game device has an operating handle that is pulled through its operating stroke by a player and the reels are rotating at a speed that is directly proportional to the speed with which the handle is pulled. Electrical circuitry detects the speed of movement of the handle and varies the strength of an electrical signal that is applied to a drive mechanism which accordingly drivingly rotates the reels at a speed that is proportional to the strength of the signal. The circuitry is also adapted to vary the time duration of rotation of the reels as a function of the detected speed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for rotating the reels of a slot machine at a speed that is directly proportional to the speed in which the operating handle is pulled through its forward stroke and for stopping the reels after a period of rotation wherein the period of rotation of each reel is inversely proportional to the speed with which the handle is pulled through its forward stroke, comprising:

means for detecting the speed of forward movement of said operating handle and for generating electrical signals whose value varies in proportion to the detected speed;

means for driving said reels in response to said electrical signals, said driving means initially rotating said reels at a speed that varies in proportion to the value of said electrical signals; and

means for stopping each of the reels in response to the value of said electrical signals, the period of rotation of said reels varying in accordance with the value of said electrical signals.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said stopping means stops said reels in response to the value of said electrical signals, the period of rotation being inversely proportional to the value of said electrical signals.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said driving means initially rotates said reels at a speed that varies in direct proportion to the value of said electrical signals.

4. In a slot machine of the type which has at least one rotatable reel and an operating handle that is pulled to actuate the machine;

means for detecting the speed of movement of said operating handle during pulling by a player and for generating electrical signals that vary in proportion to the detected speed;

means for stopping each of the reels in response to receiving an electrical actuating signal for actuating each of the same; and

circuit means for providing said actuating signal to each reel in response to the value of the electrical signals generated by said detecting means, wherein said actuating signals are generated after a delay period corresponding to the time during which the reels are rotating, the period varying in inverse proportion to the detected speed.

5. A game apparatus of the type which has a plurality of symbols moving through an area viewed by the player, which symbols moved through the area for a period of time in response to a player pulling an operating handle through its operating stroke, comprising:

means for detecting the speed of movement of said operating handle through its operating stroke;

means for causing said symbols to move through said area at a speed that is directly proportional to the speed that is detected by said detecting means;

means for stopping the movement of said symbols through said area after a period of time, said period being proportional to the speed that is detected by said detecting means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said period of time is inversely proportional to the speed that is detected by said detecting means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said symbols are positioned on the periphery of a rotating reel.

8. A game apparatus of the type which has a plurality of symbols moving through an area viewed by the player, which symbols move through the area for a period of time in response to a player pulling an operating handle through its operating stroke, comprising:

means for detecting the speed of movement of said operating handle though its operating stroke;

means for causing said symbols to move through said area at a speed that is directly proportional to the speed that is detected by said detecting means.

9. In a slot machine of the type which has at least one rotatable reel and an operating handle that is pulled to actuate the machine:

means for detecting the speed of movement of said operating handle when pulled to actuate the machine and for generating electrical signals that vary in proportion to the detected speed; and

means for driving said reel in response to said electrical signals, said driving means rotating said reel at a speed that varies in proportion to said electrical signals.

10. Apparatus for rotating the reels of a slot machine in response to the operating handle being pulled through its forward operating stroke and for stopping the reels after a period of rotation wherein the period of rotation of each reel is inversely proportional to the speed with which the handle is pulled through its forward stroke, comprising:

means for detecting the speed of forward movement of said operating handle and for generating electrical signals whose value varies in proportion to the detected speed;

means for driving said reels in response to the apparatus being actuated by pulling the operating handle through its forward stroke; and

means for stopping each of the reels after a period of rotation in response to the value of said electrical signals, the period of rotation of said reels varying in accordance with the value of said electrical signals.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said stopping means sequentially stops the reels.

12. A game apparatus of the type which has a plurality of symbols moving through an area viewed by the player, which symbols move through the area for a period of time in response to a player pulling an operating handle through its operating stroke, comprising:

means for detecting the speed of movement of said operating handle through its operating stroke;

means for causing said symbols to move through said area in response to said operating handle being pulled;

means for stopping the movement of said symbols through said area after a period of time, said period being proportional to the speed that is detected by said detected means.

13. A game apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said period is inversely proportional to the speed that is detected by said detecting means.