Gaming device and method of use

• US 8,608,541 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Seelig, Jerald C., Henshaw, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/052,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming device including a game apparatus configured to allow a player to play a game including moveable prize objects is disclosed. The gaming device may also include a prize object holder configured to hold the prize objects where the prize objects are allowed to move within the prize object holder. A controller may be in communication with the game apparatus. The controller may be configured to determine a game outcome and to move the prize object holder to display the game outcome to the player. In another embodiment, a dynamic prize object which is distinguishable from all other prize objects may be included among the moveable prize objects where the dynamic prize object may be used to convey special prizes to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

(A) a housing;

(B) a plurality of moveable prize objects, the prize objects being configured to communicate a game outcome;

(C) at least one moveable prize object holder mounted in the housing, the prize object holder having a plurality of chambers, each chamber configured to non-rigidly contain at least one of the plurality of prize objects, wherein the chambers allow the prize objects to move within the chambers and each chamber has a viewable portion, wherein a player may see the at least one prize object within the chamber; and

(D) wherein the housing and the prize object holder are configured to allow a player to view the chambers and more than one prize object at a time within the chambers.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the game player can view at least two of the prize objects in at least two of the chambers.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the prize object holder further comprises:

a disc having the chambers arranged around an outer periphery of the disc, each of the chambers being separated by a wall.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a display holder, the display holder being adapted to receive at least one prize object from the prize object holder and to display the prize object to the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein a transporter mechanism is communicated with the display holder and the prize object holder, the transporter mechanism being adapted to move the prize object between the prize object holder and the display holder.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each chamber of the moveable prize object holder is configured to allow the prize objects contained therein to bounce and ricochet within the chambers.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein each chamber is further configured to allow moving the prize objects to provide noise to attract and entertain players.

8. A gaming method comprising, but not necessarily in the order shown:

(A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;

(B) determining a first game outcome, the first game outcome comprising a prize qualifying event; and

(C) if the first game outcome comprises the prize qualifying event;

(a) activating a display comprising a plurality of prize objects contained in a plurality of prize object holders, the prize object holder having a plurality of chambers that non-rigidly contain the prize objects, the prize objects being viewable within the chamber, a subset of the prize objects being simultaneously viewable by the player;

(b) moving the prize object holder such that the prize objects are allowed to move within the chambers during movement of the prize object holder;

(c) stopping the prize object holder, the stopped prize objects conveying a second game outcome; and

(d) awarding a prize to the player.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising allowing a player to provide input to cause movement of the prize object holder.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising moving the prize object from the prize object holder to a display holder.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising moving the prize object from the display holder to the prize object holder.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein moving the prize object holder further comprises allowing the prize objects contained therein to bounce and ricochet within the chambers.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing noise by moving the prize objects to attract and entertain players.

14. A gaming device comprising:

(A) gaming means for allowing a player to play a game;

(B) at least one moveable prize object means for at least partially conveying a game outcome;

(C) at least one moveable prize object holder means for holding the moveable prize object means, the moveable prize object holder means having a plurality of chambers for non-rigidly containing at least one of the prize object means, the chambers allowing the prize object means to move within the chambers;

(D) view means for allowing a player to view a set of the prize object means within the chamber;

(E) actuator means for moving the moveable prize object holder means; and

(F) controller means for determining the game outcome and activating the actuator means according to the game outcome.

15. The gaming device of claim 14 further comprising:

(A) at least one display holder means for presenting the prize object means to the player; and

(B) transport means for moving the prize object means between the prize object holder means and the display holder means.

16. The gaming device of claim 14 wherein the moveable prize object holder means further comprises:

(A) a disc having an outer peripheral surface, the chambers arranged about the outer peripheral surface of the disc; and

(B) a plurality of walls separating the chambers.

17. The gaming device of claim 16 wherein the outer peripheral surface of the disc is covered with a transparent material such that the prize object means is visible within the chamber.

18. The gaming device of claim 16 wherein the disc is mounted in a case and the chambers are open.

19. The gaming device of claim 14 wherein the moveable prize object holder means further comprises:

(A) a conveyor belt having an outer peripheral surface, the chambers arranged about the outer peripheral surface; and

(B) a plurality of walls separating the chambers.

20. A gaming device comprising:

(A) a housing;

(B) a plurality of prize object holders mounted in the housing;

(C) the prize object holders having a plurality of chambers;

(D) at least one prize object positioned within each of the chambers, the prize object being moveable within the chamber, the chamber non-rigidly containing the prize object while at the same time allowing the prize object to move;

(E) a window located in each chamber, the window allowing the prize object within the chamber to be visible to a game player;

(F) a set of at least two of the chambers being visible to the game player;

(G) an actuator connected to the prize object holder, the actuator adapted to move and to stop the prize object holder; and

(H) a controller in communication with the actuator, the controller being adapted to control the actuator such that the prize object indicates a game outcome.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, further comprising at least one display holder, the display holder being adapted to receive the prize object from the prize object holder and to display the prize object.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein a transporter mechanism is communicated with the display holder and the prize object holder, the transporter mechanism being adapted to move the prize object between the prize object holder and the display holder.

23. The gaming device of claim 20 wherein the prize object holder is a disc having the chambers arranged around an outer periphery of the disc, each of the chambers being separated by a wall.

24. The gaming device of claim 20 wherein the prize object holder is a conveyor belt having an outer peripheral surface, the chambers arranged about the outer peripheral surface, each of the chambers being separated by a wall.