Game machine

• US 5,152,529 A
• Filed: 07/30/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aruze Corp. (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Universal
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US07/560,583
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/143 A, 273/143 B, 273/143 C, 273/143 D, 273/143 E, 273/138 R, 273/138 A, 273/142 R, 273/142 HA, 273/DIG. 28, 273/142 H, 364/410-412
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

A game machine displays in a display window a first and a second series of symbols in a column such that the first series of symbols are movingly displayed and thereafter a predetermined number of stationary symbols of the first series are displayed in a display window when the first series stops. If at that time a specific symbol of the first series, e.g. an opening or a transparent area, stops in the display window, the second series of symbols displayed in the position of the specific symbol are moved, and then a symbol of the second series is stopped in that position, whereby an additional game can be played in connection with the second symbol series.

Claims

1. Game machine comprising:

display window means;

a first and a second series of symbols, each series comprising a plurality of different symbols;

first display control means for displaying in said window means the first series of symbols in motion and for stopping said first series and for thereafter displaying in said window means a predetermined number of stationary symbols of the first series there being a gap in said first series in which no symbol is present;

second display means for selectively displaying the second series of symbols in motion through said gap only when said gap stops within said window means, and for stopping said second series and for thereafter displaying through said gap only a stationary symbol of the second series.

2. Game machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second series of symbols are displayed on a CRT screen.

3. Game machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a manually actuated button for selecting the activation of said second display control means when said gap in the first series of symbols stops within said window means.

4. Game machine as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of symbol columns are provided, of which at least one symbol column contains the first symbol series, the first and second symbol series overlapping each other.

5. Game machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said second display control means is activated when said gap stops on a winning line of symbols across said symbol columns, the second series of symbols moving while the other symbols remain stationary.

6. Game machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said gap simulates a blank.

7. Game machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said blank is displayed by a liquid crystal display panel driven by a drive unit to display first said blank and then the second series of symbols.

8. Game machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said drive unit is controlled by a display data transmitter for outputting optical signals representative of symbols to be displayed on said display panel.

9. Game machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said optical signals are transmitted through optical fibers.

10. Game machine comprising:

a first rotatable inner reel having a plurality of symbols arranged in a series on its outer periphery;

an outer reel rotating around and arranged C-radially and relative to said inner reel and having a second outer periphery and having both a second plurality of symbols and at least a transparent portion which are arranged in a series on its outer periphery, said transparent portion being at least dimensionally as large as a portion of said outer periphery of said outer reel upon which one of said second plurality of symbols is arranged and being free from any said symbol thereon; and

reel control means for selectively and individually controlling the starting and stopping of the rotation of said inner and outer reels each independently of the other and for enabling at least one of said first plurality of symbols to be co-radially aligned with said transparent portion when said inner and outer reels are stationary.

11. Game machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said transparent portion is an opening.

12. Game machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said outer reel is more than one reel disposed coaxially with said inner reel.

13. Game machine as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said inner and outer reels is independently driven by a stepping motor.

14. Game machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said inner and outer reels are rotatably mounted on a shaft, each of said reels being connected with said stepping motor through a transmission means.

15. Game machine as defined in claim 14, wherein said transmission means is a toothed timing belt.