Gaming device with animated figure and movable object display

• US 7,572,185 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• 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: Henshaw, Lawrence M., Seelig, Jerald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US11/241,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/46, 463/12, 463/13, 463 16- 19, 463/32, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

An animated gaming system that includes a housing configured to hold gaming components, a game controller, a three-dimensional animated figure and at least two display containers located in the housing, is disclosed. The display containers are configured to hold and agitate moveable display objects, for example display balls. The containers are at least partially transparent allowing players to view the moveable display objects, such as in a jumbled ball display. The three-dimensional animated figure includes at least one animated element that is movable and the animated figure can be made to appear to indicate at least one of the containers and subsequent display of a prize object. A gaming method involving use of the animated figure and containers with moveable display objects is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An animated gaming system comprising:

(A) at least one game apparatus configured to allow a player to play a game;

(B) at least one housing coupled to the game apparatus;

(C) a plurality of moveable display objects displaying game related indicia;

(D) at least two containers coupled to the housing, each configured to hold the plurality of moveable display objects, wherein each container comprises at least one portion that is at least partially transparent, and wherein the player may view the moveable display objects in the container;

(E) at least one agitator associated with the containers and configured to agitate the moveable display objects inside each of the containers;

(F) a plurality of prize objects displaying game related indicia;

(G) at least one prize object holder located in the housing, the prize object holder being configured to hold the prize object in an individually controlled manner;

(H) a prize display mechanism operatively coupled to the prize object holder, the prize display mechanism being configured to display a selected prize object to the player;

(I) at least one three-dimensional animated figure coupled to the housing, the animated figure comprising at least one animated element being at least part of, or operatively coupled to, the animated figure, wherein the animated element is moveable between at least two positions, and wherein in at least one position, the animated element indicates at least one of the containers; and

(J) at least one controller in communication with the game apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to present the game to the player, to determine a game outcome and select a prize object from the prize object holder corresponding to the game outcome, and wherein the controller is further in communication with the prize display mechanism to cause the prize display mechanism to display the selected prize object.

2. The animated gaming system of claim 1 wherein the animated figure further comprises a second animated element being at least part of, or operatively coupled to, the animated figure, wherein the second animated element is moveable between at least two positions.

3. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller and attached to the prize object holder, wherein the positioning mechanism is configured to position the selected prize object for display by the prize display mechanism.

4. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising an input device in communication with the controller, the input device being configured to enable the controller to cause display of the selected prize object when the player activates the input device.

5. The animated gaming system of claim 1 wherein the selected prize object appears to originate from the plurality of moveable display objects in the container.

6. The animated gaming system of claim 1 wherein the at least one prize object holder is configured such that the prize object in the prize object holder is hidden from view of the player.

7. The animated gaming system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of moveable display objects are balls and the at least two containers comprise a jumbled ball display.

8. The animated gaming system of claim 1 wherein the animated figure is selected from the group consisting of representations of all or part of an animal, a bird, a human, a human-like figure, a boat, an automobile and a train car, and wherein the animated figure is configured to display spontaneous life-like motion.

9. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator-located in the housing, in communication with the controller, and coupled to the animated element wherein the actuator moves the animated element in response to a signal sent by the controller.

10. The animated gaming system of claim 9 wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a gear motor, a worm gear and a DC motor.

11. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a changeable display portion located in the housing that displays changing images to the player.

12. The animated gaming system of claim 11 wherein the game related indicia displayed on the prize object is correlated with the images displayed on the changeable display portion.

13. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a display covering disposed over at least a portion of the housing wherein the animated figure may be viewed from outside the housing through the display covering, the display covering being configured to provide an aperture through which a portion of the animated figure extends from an interior of the housing and outside the display covering.

14. The animated gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least two container rotating drives in association with the housing and the at least two containers, whereby the container rotating drives may rotate the at least two containers.

15. A method for operating an animated gaming system comprising the following steps, but not necessarily in order shown:

(a) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game of chance having a random game outcome;

(b) determining the random game;

(c) displaying a plurality of moveable display objects in at least two containers, the moveable display objects displaying game related indicia, and the containers allowing the player to see the moveable display objects;

(d) providing a plurality of prize objects displaying game related indicia wherein the prize objects are separated from the moveable display objects;

(e) moving at least a portion of a moveable three-dimensional animated figure to indicate one of the at least two containers;

(f) selecting a prize object from a prize object holder wherein a selected prize object corresponds to the random game outcome; and

(g) displaying the selected prize object.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising storing the plurality of prize objects in an individually controlled manner.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying the selected prize object such that the selected prize object appears to the player to originate from the plurality of moveable display objects in the containers.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising hiding the plurality of prize objects in the prize object holder from view of the player.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising allowing the player to control movement of the moveable three-dimensional animated figure to indicate one of the containers by use of an input device.

20. An animated gaming system comprising:

(A) at least one game apparatus means for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;

(B) at least one housing means for displaying components of the game;

(C) a plurality of moveable display object means for providing game activity;

(D) at least two container means for retaining the moveable display object means, the container means comprising at least one portion that is at least partially transparent;

(E) at least one agitator means for moving the moveable display object means in the container means;

(F) a plurality of prize object means for displaying game related indicia;

(G) at least one prize object holder means for holding the prize object means in an individually controlled manner;

(H) a prize display means for displaying a selected prize object means to the player;

(I) at least one three-dimensional animated figure means comprising at least one animated element means for providing movement between at least two positions to indicate at least one of the container means; and

(J) at least one controller means for presenting the game to the player, determining a game outcome, selecting a prize object means from the prize object holder means, and causing the prize display means to display the selected prize object means.

21. The animated gaming system of claim 20 further comprising a positioning mechanism means for positioning the selected prize object means for display by the prize display means.

22. The animated gaming system of claim 20 further comprising an input device means for enabling the controller means to display the selected prize object means when the player activates the input device means.

23. The animated gaming system of claim 20 further comprising at least one actuator means for moving the animated element means of the three-dimensional animated figure means in response to a signal sent by the controller means.

24. The animated gaming system of claim 20 further comprising a changeable display means for displaying changing images to the player.

25. A gaming device comprising:

(A) a plurality of containers that are adapted to hold a plurality of moveable display objects, the display objects having game related indicia, wherein each container comprises at least one portion that is at least partially transparent, and wherein the player may view the moveable display objects in the container;

(B) at least one prize object holder, the prize object holder being configured to hold a plurality of prize objects, the prize objects displaying game related indicia;

(C) a prize display mechanism coupled to the prize object holder, the prize display mechanism being configured to display a selected prize object to the player;

(D) at least one animated figure mounted adjacent the containers, the animated figure being adapted to indicate at least one of the containers; and

(E) a controller, wherein the controller is in communication with and is configured to control the animated figure, the prize object holder and the prize display mechanism.

26. The gaming device of claim 25 wherein the animated figure has at least one animated element, the animated element being moveable.

27. The gaming device of claim 26 wherein the animated element is adapted to point to one of the containers.