Ball selector and display device for use with gaming devices

• US 6,338,678 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AC Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc., IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company Incorporated (Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service)
• Inventors: Seelig, Jerald C., Henshaw, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/535,075
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/144.R, 273/144.A, 273/144.B, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/22, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/062 Bingo games, e.g. Bingo card games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/048 used for generating random numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes

Abstract

A ball selector and display device comprising a plurality of prize balls, a ball holder adapted to hold the balls in an individually controlled manner, a controller adapted to select a prize ball, a display mechanism adapted to display the selected prize ball to the player; and a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller adapted to position the selected prize ball relative to the display mechanism. The ball selector and display device may be combined with a jumbled ball display wherein the balls displayed by the ball selector and display device appear to originate from the jumbled ball display. The ball selector and display device may also be combined with a game apparatus that is adapted to allow players to play a game. In this embodiment, the ball selector and display device may provide a bonus award for the player. Several games are also provided that may be used with the ball selector and display device.

Claims

1. A gaming device, the gaming device comprising:

(A) a game apparatus, the game apparatus being adapted to allow a player to play a game;

(B) a plurality of display balls;

(C) at least one container, the container being adapted to hold the display balls, the container having at least one portion that is at least partially transparent, wherein the player may view the display balls in the container;

(D) at least one agitator, the agitator being adapted to agitate the display balls inside of the container;

(E) a plurality of prize balls;

(F) at least one ball holder, the ball holder being adapted to hold the prize balls in an individually controlled manner, wherein prize balls in the ball holder are hidden from view of the player;

(G) a controller in communication with the game apparatus, the controller being adapted to select at least one prize ball in the holder; and

(H) a display mechanism in communication with the controller, the display mechanism being adapted to display the selected prize ball to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller and attached to the ball holder, the positioning mechanism being adapted to position the selected prize ball relative to the display mechanism, whereby the display mechanism may display the selected ball.

3. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the game apparatus is adapted to produce a bonus activating event.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to detect a bonus activating event.

5. The gaming device of claim 4 wherein the bonus-activating event is at least one predetermined outcome of the game apparatus.

6. The gaming device of claim 4 wherein the controller is further adapted to activate the agitator after the controller detects a bonus-activating event.

7. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising an input device in communication with the controller, the input device being adapted to enable the controller to cause the display the selected prize ball when the player activates the input device.

8. The gaming device of claim 7 wherein the controller is adapted to detect a bonus activating event, wherein the input device is enabled after the controller has detected a bonus activating event.

9. The gaining device of claim 8 wherein the controller automatically causes the display of the selected prize ball if the player does not activate the input device within a predetermined time period after a bonus-activating event has been detected by the controller.

10. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the selected prize ball displayed by the display mechanism determines a prize to be awarded to the player.

11. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the game apparatus is further adapted to award a prize, wherein the ball displayed by the display mechanism determines a bonus prize to be awarded to the player in addition to the prize awarded by the game apparatus.

12. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the game apparatus is further adapted to award a prize and the ball displayed by the display mechanism determines a multiplier, the player being awarded a multiple of the prize awarded by the game apparatus.

13. A display device for playing a game, the display device comprising:

(A) a plurality of display balls;

(B) at least one container, the container being adapted to hold the display balls, the container comprising a wall, at least a portion of the wall being at least partially transparent, wherein a player can view all of the display balls in the container;

(C) at least one agitator, the agitator being adapted to agitate the display balls inside of the container;

(D) a plurality of prize balls;

(E) a ball holder, the ball holder being adapted to hold the prize balls in an individually controlled manner, wherein prize balls in the ball holder are hidden from view of the player;

(F) a controller, the controller being adapted to select a prize ball in the holder; and

(G) a display mechanism, the display mechanism being adapted to communicate with the controller and display the selected prize ball to the player.

14. The display device of claim 13 further comprising a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller, the positioning mechanism being adapted to position the selected prize ball relative to the display mechanism, whereby the display mechanism may display the selected prize ball.

15. The display device of claim 13 wherein the agitator comprises an air blower.

16. The display device of claim 15 wherein the display mechanism comprises an air duct, the air duct conducting a stream of air from the container to the ball holder, wherein the selected prize ball is moved by the stream of air.

17. The display device of claim 13 wherein the controller is adapted to activate the agitator.

18. The display device of claim 17 wherein the controller is adapted to activate the agitator before the selected prize ball is displayed by the display mechanism.

19. The display device of claim 13 wherein the selected prize ball appears to originate from the jumbled ball display.

20. The display device of claim 13 wherein the ball holder comprises a plurality of chambers each chamber being adapted to hold a prize ball.

21. A display device for playing a game, the display device comprising:

(A) a plurality of prize balls;

(B) a ball holder, the ball holder being adapted to hold the prize balls in an individually controlled manner, wherein prize balls in the ball holder are hidden from view of the player;

(C) a controller, the controller being adapted to select a prize ball in the holder;

(D) a display mechanism, the display mechanism being adapted to communicate with the controller and display the selected prize ball to the player;

(E) a plurality of display balls;

(F) at leant one container, the container being adapted to hold the display balls, the container comprising a wall, at least a portion of the wall being at least partially transparent, wherein a player can view the display balls in the container; and

(G) at least one agitator, the agitator being adapted to agitate the display balls inside of the container.

22. The display device of claim 21 further comprising a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller, the positioning mechanism being adapted to position the selected prize ball relative to the display mechanism, whereby the display mechanism may display the selected ball.

23. The display device of claim 21 wherein the ball holder comprises at least one chamber, is the chamber being adapted to hold at least one ball.

24. The display device of claim 23 wherein the ball holder is cylindrical, the chamber being positioned outwardly from a central axis of the ball holder.

25. The display device of claim 23 wherein the chamber comprises an opening, the opening being adapted to allow the ball to be removed from the chamber.

26. The display device of claim 25 wherein the opening is located on a lower surface of the ball holder, wherein the display mechanism further comprises a gate, the gate being adapted to selectively allow the selected prize ball to fall out of the chamber.

27. The display device of claim 26 wherein the display mechanism comprises a display window, the display window being positioned below the chamber and adapted to receive the selected prize ball.

28. The display device of claim 27 further comprising a blower, the blower being adapted to produce a stream of air in the display window, wherein the stream of air lifts the selected prize ball into the chamber.

29. A method of playing a game with a player, the method comprising the following steps:

(A) providing a plurality of prize balls;

(B) storing the prize balls in an individually controlled manner, the stored prize balls being hidden from view of the player;

(C) selecting a prize ball;

(D) displaying the selected prize ball to the player;

(E) providing a jumbled ball display, the display comprising a container and a plurality of display balls in the container, the container permitting the player to see the display balls;

(F) jumbling the balls in the container; and

(G) allowing the player to view the display balls as there are jumbled.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the selected prize ball is selected based at least in part on a random event.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of awarding a prize to the player based at least in part on the random event.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the selected prize ball displayed to the player appears to originate from the jumbled ball display.

33. A method of playing a game with a player, the method comprising the following steps:

(A) providing a jumbled ball display, the display comprising a container and a plurality of display balls in the container, the container allowing the player to see the display balls;

(B) jumbling the balls in the container and allowing the player to view the display balls as the display balls are jumbled;

(C) providing a plurality of prize balls, the prize balls being separated from the jumbled ball display;

(D) selecting a prize ball;

(E) displaying the selected prize ball to the player; and

(F) storing the prize balls in an individually controlled manner, the stored prize balls being hidden from view of the player and only the selected prize ball being viewable by the player.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the selected prize ball appears to the player to originate from the jumbled ball display.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of generating a predetermined event before displaying the selected prize ball.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of awarding a prize to the player.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the prize awarded to the player is related to the selected prize ball.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of selecting a prize ball comprises randomly selecting the prize ball.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of randomly selecting the prize ball comprises generating a random number.