Gaming display device

• US 6,764,396 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 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:
  US10/027,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 273/144.R, 273/144.A, 273/144.B, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/274, 273/138.2, 463/20, 463/22, 463/16, 463/17
• 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 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 display device may be combined with a jumbled ball display wherein the balls displayed by the display device appear to originate from the jumbled ball display. The display device may also be combined with a game apparatus that is adapted to allow players to play a game. In this embodiment, the display device may provide a bonus award for the player. Several games are also provided that may be used with the display device. In an alternative embodiment, the jumbled ball display is replaced with a video display device that displays the balls in video form. The display device may also be replaced by the video display device in which case a prize ball appears to be randomly selected from the agitated display balls.

Claims

1. A gaming device, comprising:

(A) a game apparatus, the game apparatus being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance; and

(B) a display device in communication with the game apparatus, the display device comprising;

(a) at least one object;

(b) an outer surface, the outer surface being at least partially spherical;

(c) an inner surface defining a partially spherical cavity, the object being movably retained within the cavity, the inner surface further having no settlement pocket adapted to select the object by receiving the object;

(d) a transparent material, wherein the player may see the object in the cavity.

2. The gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device is substantially non-movable relative to the game apparatus.

3. The gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device comprises a substantially continuous wall defining the outer surface and the inner surface.

4. The gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one object is nondeterministic of an outcome of the game.

5. The gaming device as recited in claim 1 wherein the object comprises indicia displayed thereon, the indicia representing possible outcomes of the game.

6. A gaming device, comprising:

(A) a game apparatus, the game apparatus being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;

(B) an object; and

(C) a container attached to the game apparatus, the container comprising;

(a)an outer surface, the outer surface being at least partially spherical;

(b)an inner surface defining a partially spherical cavity, the object being movably held within the cavity, the inner surface further having no settlement pocket adapted to select the object by receiving the object;

(c) at least a partially transparent material, wherein the player may see the object in the cavity.

7. The gaming device as recited in claim 6 wherein the container is substantially non-movable relative to the game apparatus.

8. The gaming device as recited in claim 6 wherein the container comprises a substantially continuous wall defining the outer surface and the inner surface.

9. The gaming device as recited in claim 6 wherein the at least one object is nondeterministic of an outcome of the game.

10. The gaming device as recited in claim 6 wherein the object comprises indicia displayed thereon, the indicia representing possible outcomes of the game.

11. A gaming device, comprising:

(A) a game apparatus, the game apparatus being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;

(B) an object; and

(C) a wall, the wall comprising;

(a) an outer surface, the outer surface being at least partially spherical;

(b) an inner surface defining a partially hemispherical cavity, the object being movably held within the cavity, the inner surface further having no settlement pocket adapted to select the object by receiving the object; and

(c) at least a partially transparent material, wherein the player may see the object in the cavity.

12. The gaming device as recited in claim 11 wherein the wall is substantially non-movable relative to the game apparatus.

13. The gaming device as recited in claim 11 wherein the wall is substantially continuous.

14. The gaming device as recited in claim 11 wherein the object is nondeterministic of an outcome of the game.

15. The gaming device as recited in claim 11 wherein the object comprises indicia displayed thereon, the indicia representing possible outcomes of the game.

16. A method of conducting a game on a game apparatus, the method comprising:

(A) allowing a player to initiate a game on the game apparatus;

(B) providing a container, the container comprising;

(a) an outer surface, the outer surface being at least partially spherical;

(b) an inner surface, the inner surface defining a partially spherical cavity; and

(C) displaying a moveable object inside the cavity, the inner surface further having no settlement pocket adapted to select the object by receiving the movable object.

17. The method of conducting a game on a game apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the container is substantially non-movable relative to the game apparatus.

18. The method of conducting a game on a game apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the container comprises a substantially continuous wall defining the outer surface and the inner surface.

19. The method of conducting a game on a game apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the movable object is nondeterininistic of an outcome of the game.

20. The method of conducting a game on a game apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the object comprises indicia displayed thereon, the indicia representing possible outcomes of the game.