Arcade game

• US 5,318,298 A
• Filed: 07/09/1993
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lazer-Tron Corporation
• Inventors: Oltmann, J. Richard, Kelly, Matthew F., Petermeier, Norman B., Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/089,045
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 273/118, 273/119, 273/121, 273/122, 273/123, 273/124, 273/125, 273/127 R, 273/127 A, 273/85 G
• US Class Current: 273/122.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/0052 with a playstation for each participant, each with a separate playing field
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 5/045 using a rotating wheel and a fixed indicator, e.g. fortune wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0058 electric A63F7/027, A63F7/3065 take precedence
• 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 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a playing surface having a first and a second end;

at least two targets proximate to said second end of said playing surface, where each of said targets is receptive to a playing piece directed down said playing surface;

means for detecting which target received said playing piece;

rotatable wheel means for displaying a plurality of indicia associated with a game score;

wheel control means coupled to said wheel means and responsive to said means for detecting and operative to selectively control the rotational position of said wheel means; and

scoring means operative to accumulate said game score based upon said position of said wheel means.

2. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said targets proximate to said second end of said playing surface include apertures, and wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of sensors associated with said apertures.

3. A game as recited in claim 2 wherein said sensors include switch means activated by a playing piece.

4. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing piece is substantially spherical.

5. A game as recited in claim 1 wherein said wheel means comprises the image of a wheel on a video display.

6. A game comprising:

a playing surface having a first and a second end, wherein said playing surface includes an inclined plane where said first end is higher than said second end;

at least two targets proximate to said second end of said playing surface, where each of said targets is receptive to a playing piece directed down said playing surface;

means for detecting which target received said playing piece;

rotatable wheel means for displaying a plurality of indicia;

wheel control means coupled to said wheel means and responsive to said means for detecting and operative to selectively control the rotational position of said wheel means; and

scoring means operative to accumulate a game score based upon said position of said wheel means.

7. A game as recited in claim 6 further comprising dispenser means, where said dispenser means dispenses an award based upon said game score accumulated by said scoring means.

8. A game comprising:

a playing surface having a first and a second end;

at least two targets proximate to said second end of said playing surface, where each of said targets is receptive to a playing piece directed down said playing surface;

means for detecting which target received said playing piece;

rotatable wheel means for displaying a plurality of indicia, wherein said wheel means includes a plurality of radial segments, where at least some of said radial segments comprise a position score which may be added to said game score;

wheel control means coupled to said wheel means and responsive to said means for detecting and operative to selectively control the rotational position of said wheel means; and

scoring means operative to accumulate a game score based upon said position of said wheel means.

9. A game as recited in claim 8 wherein said wheel control means includes motor means coupled to said wheel means.

10. A game as recited in claim 9 wherein said wheel control means includes feedback means coupled between said motor means and said wheel means.

11. A method for playing a game comprising:

directing a playing piece towards a target end of a playing surface;

detecting the end position of said playing piece proximate said target end;

controlling the rotational position of a wheel means based upon said detected end position, said rotatable wheel means displaying a plurality of indicia; and

accumulating a game score based upon said rotational position of said wheel means.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of directing a plurality of said playing pieces towards said target end of said playing surface.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of directing a playing piece towards a target end of a playing surface includes a step of guiding said playing piece to said target end with a guiding means.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of detecting the end position of said playing piece at said target end of said playing surface includes the step of closing a switch with said playing piece.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of controlling the rotational position of said wheel means includes the step of rotating said wheel means as determined by said end position of said playing piece.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of accumulating a game score includes the step of adding to said game score a wheel position score based upon the position of said wheel after said wheel rotation step.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of dispensing an award based upon a final game score.

18. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said step of controlling the rotational position of said wheel means comprises displaying an image of a wheel on a video display which represents the rotational position of said wheel means.