Progressive bonus ticket redemption arcade game

• US 6,244,595 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US09/351,408
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 273/118.R, 273/118.A, 273/118.D, 273/123.R, 273/123.A, 273/138.1, 273/142.R, 273/142.B
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• 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 single-player game apparatus comprising:

a game unit capable of dispensing awards based upon a skilled operation performed by a player of said game unit; and

a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said game unit by a data bus, where said progressive bonus apparatus is capable of being simultaneously coupled to a plurality of game units and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said game unit and further operative to provide a bonus award based upon said progressive score to a player of said game unit when said player accomplishes a predetermined task.

2. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said game unit is receptive to a token of monetary value to initiate a skilled game play for a player.

3. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said award is non-monetary.

4. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said award consists of at least one redemption ticket.

5. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said progressive score includes the sum of said contributions from said player station over successive repetitions of said skilled game play.

6. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said award consists of at least one redemption ticket.

7. A single-player game apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said progressive score includes the sum of said contributions from said player station over successive repetitions of said skilled game play.

8. A single-player game apparatus comprising:

a player station, said player station being receptive to a token of monetary value to initiate a skilled game play for a player; and

a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said player station and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said player station and further operative to provide a non-monetary bonus award based upon said progressive score to said player at said player station when said player accomplishes a predetermined skilled task.

9. A single-player game apparatus comprising:

a player station, said player station being receptive to a token of monetary value to initiate a skilled game play for a player;

a mechanical guide associated with said player station to allow said player to influence said initiation of said skilled game play in a skilled manner; and

a progressive bonus device coupled to said player station and operative to accumulate a progressive score that can persist after said player at said player station has completed said skilled game play if a bonus award has not been awarded to said player, said progressive bonus being further operative to provide said bonus award in the form of at least one redemption ticket to a player at said player station when said player is to be awarded said bonus award, where the magnitude of said bonus award is related to the magnitude of said progressive score.

10. A single-player game system comprising:

a game station including an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game of skill in a skillful manner on said game station after the receipt of monetary value, and wherein an outcome of said game of skill at said game station is substantially influenced by the eye-hand coordination of said player, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when a goal is achieved; and

a bonus apparatus coupled to said game unit by a data bus, where said bonus apparatus is capable of being simultaneously coupled to a plurality of game units and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said game unit and further operative to provide a bonus award based upon said progressive score to a player of said game unit when said player accomplishes a predetermined task.

11. The single-player game system of claim 10 wherein said eye-hand coordination is directed to the use of electrical controls for aiming at a target.

12. A non-gambling game system with bonus apparatus comprising:

a game station including an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game of skill in a skillful manner on said game station after the receipt of monetary value, and wherein said game of skill at said game station is substantially influenced by the eye-hand coordination of said player, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when a goal is achieved; and

a bonus apparatus coupled to said game unit by a data bus, where said bonus apparatus is capable of being simultaneously coupled to a plurality of game units and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said game unit and further operative to provide a bonus award based upon said progressive score to a player of said game unit when said player accomplishes a predetermined task.