Electronic wagering machine

• US 5,605,504 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Alpha, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sming Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Sming
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/431,275
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 273/85 CP, 273/138 A, 273/139, 273/292, 273/269, 364/412, 271/278, 271/292, 463/10-13, 463/16-19, 463/22, 232/1 R, 232/11, 232/23
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0041 in electronic form, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

The instant invention provides a method and apparatus for simulating a game of chance in which the player or players play a proactive role and in which the player may verify the probity of the device once play has been completed. This involves generating a sequence consisting of a finite number of hidden playing cards or numbers, randomizing the sequence and displaying the sequence in a predetermined arrangement. The improvement broadly includes enabling a player or players to select, and reveal if required, as many of the hidden playing cards or numbers of the arrangement sufficient to enable completion of the game, and revealing all of the playing cards or numbers of the arrangement only after the game is completed by the player or players.

The revealing improvement more specifically includes two (2) major variants: 1. (a) generating a printout of the revealed entirety of playing cards or numbers; (b) directly thereafter receiving the printout face-down in a locked enclosure; and, (c) opening the enclosure only after the game has been completed; or 2. (a) generating a printout of the revealed entirety of playing cards or numbers; (b) transferring the printout to a position under an opaque cover that is placed within a sealed transparent enclosure; and, (c) displacing the opaque cover from over the printout only after the game is completed. The improvement of (1) or (2) may result in a printout that is a long, narrow tape upon which each element of said entirety is printed in sequence or the improvement may provide at least one video monitor for displaying the predetermined arrangement before the game has started, and provide means for disclosing said entirety only after said game has been completed.

Claims

1. A microprocessor aided apparatus for simulating a game of chance for at least one player, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a sequence consisting of a finite number of hidden elements;

means associated with said generating means for randomizing said sequence;

means associated with said randomizing means for displaying said sequence in a concealed predetermined arrangement;

means associated with said displaying means for selecting by said player, and revealing as required, as many of said hidden elements of said arrangement to complete said game;

a printer for generating a printout of all of said hidden elements of said arrangement at a beginning of said game;

a locked enclosure for displaying or receiving said printout such that said hidden elements of said arrangement are inaccessible from view;

means for viewing said printout by said player wherein said viewing means is only after said game is completed;

a plurality of platforms; and

,

means for rotating said platforms amongst each other to conceal said printout at the beginning of and during said game and to reveal said printout only after said game is completed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said viewing means comprise means for transferring said printout from said printer to a position under an opaque cover located within the locked enclosure which is transparent;

and, means for displacing said opaque cover from over said printout only after said game is completed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one platform is transparent and at least one platform is opaque so that said printout is under said opaque platform during said game and under said transparent platform after completion of said game.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said platforms are transparent and said printout is fixedly attached to said platforms with a clip.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said displaying means and said viewing means comprise at least one video monitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sequence is selected from a group consisting of at least one deck of playing cards and a finite series of sequential numbers.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said game uses playing cards and is selected from the group consisting of black jack, poker and bridge.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said game of sequential numbers is selected from the group consisting of lottery, keno and roulette.

9. A method for simulating a game of chance for at least one player, the method comprising:

generating a sequence consisting of a finite number of hidden elements;

randomizing said sequence;

displaying said sequence in a concealed predetermined arrangement;

selecting by said player, and revealing as required, as many of said hidden elements of said arrangement to complete said game;

generating a printout from a printer of all of said hidden elements of said arrangement at a beginning of said game;

displaying or receiving said printout in a locked enclosure such that said hidden elements of said arrangement are inaccessible from view; and

,

viewing said printout by said player wherein paid viewing is only after said game is completed; and

, wherein said steps of displaying or receiving of said printout and said viewing of said printout are accomplished by the following step;

rotating a plurality of platforms amongst each other to conceal said printout at the beginning of and during said game and to reveal said printout only after said game is completed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said viewing step comprises;

transferring said printout from said printer to a position under an opaque cover, said opaque cover being located within the locked enclosure which is transparent; and

, displacing said opaque cover from over said printout only after said game is completed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one platform is transparent and at least one platform is opaque such that said printout is under said opaque platform during said game and under said transparent platform after completion of said game.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said platforms are transparent and said printout is held by said platforms by fixedly attaching said printout to said platforms with a clip.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said sequence consists of at least one deck of playing cards.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said game is selected from a group consisting of black jack, poker and bridge.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said sequence consists of a finite series of sequential numbers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said game is selected from a group consisting of lottery, keno and roulette.