Gaming device and method of use

• US 8,777,711 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Seelig, Jerald C., Henshaw, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US11/421,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,968 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/1, 463/19, 463/22, 463/46, 273/143, 273/144
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming apparatus having a display area with a prize object holder that releasably holds a plurality of prize objects in an individually controlled manner; a rotatable display element having a cavity to receive at least one of the prize objects; and a positioning mechanism which transfers a selected prize object from the prize object holder to the rotatable display element, is disclosed. A controller causes the positioning mechanism to transfer the selected prize object from the prize object holder to the rotatable display element. In one embodiment, the cavity of the rotatable display element may include a plurality of barrier elements which at least partially impede movement of a selected prize object disposed within the rotatable display element. A method of playing a game using the aforementioned apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game of chance having a randomly determined game outcome;

a display area comprising;

a first mechanical display area including an object container having a plurality of three-dimensional non-prize objects therein, wherein the first mechanical display area is visible to the player;

a prize object holder configured to hold a plurality of three-dimensional prize objects in an individually controlled manner, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional prize objects are hidden from view from the player while in the prize object holder;

a second mechanical display area including a rotatable display element comprising a cavity to receive at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional prize objects; and

a positioning mechanism configured to transfer a selected three-dimensional prize object from the prize object holder to the rotatable display element; and

a controller in communication with the gaming device and the positioning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to cause the positioning mechanism to transfer the selected three-dimensional prize object from the prize object holder to the rotatable display element, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional non-prize objects have a similar appearance to the plurality of three-dimensional prize objects.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the rotatable display element comprises a plurality of barrier elements configured to partially impede movement of the selected prize object disposed within the rotatable display element.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotatable display element further comprises a plurality of display segments.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 3 wherein each display segment is defined by spacing between any two consecutive barrier elements.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of display segments is configured to be activatable by the controller to display a plurality of game related indicia.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 3 wherein the prize object holder is at least partially circular and the display segments of the rotatable display element are located adjacent to a circular portion of the prize object holder.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 6 wherein the prize object holder and the rotatable display element are arranged in a concentric relationship to each other.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 3 wherein the controller is configured to select one of the plurality of display segments of the rotatable display element in order to at least partially convey the game outcome.

9. The gaming apparatus of claim 8 wherein the game outcome is conveyed when the selected prize object comes to rest in one of the plurality of display segments of the rotatable display element after movement of the rotatable display element is terminated.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mechanical display area is a jumbled ball display.

11. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the similar appearance is configured to provide an illusion that the prize object selected for display in the rotatable display element has been selected from the moveable objects within the moveable object container.

12. The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotatable display element comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of toroid and cylindrical forms.

13. A gaming method for use by a gaming device having a processor, comprising:

allowing a player to place a wager on a game of chance;

presenting the player with the game of chance;

determining a game outcome;

displaying, to the player, a plurality of three-dimensional non-prize objects in an object container;

displaying at least one game related indicium in a rotatable display element;

releasably holding a plurality of three-dimensional prize objects in an individually controlled manner in a prize object holder, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional prize objects are hidden from view of the player while in the prize object holder, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional non-prize objects have a similar appearance to the plurality of three-dimensional prize objects;

moving a selected three-dimensional prize object from the prize object holder to the rotatable display element such that the selected three-dimensional prize object is displayed to the player; and

allowing the selected three-dimensional prize object to move freely within the rotatable display element during movement of the rotatable display element.

14. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising locating a plurality of display segments in the rotatable display element.

15. The gaming method of claim 14 further comprising selecting one of the display segments that at least partially conveys the game outcome to the player.

16. The gaming method of claim 14 further comprising providing a plurality of barrier elements configured to partially impede movement of the selected prize object in the rotatable display element and defining each display segment by spacing between any two consecutive barrier elements.

17. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising moving a plurality of moveable objects in a moveable object container.

18. The gaming method of claim 17 further comprising providing an illusion that the selected prize object in the rotatable display element has been selected from the plurality of moveable objects.

19. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising moving the prize object holder.

20. The gaming method of claim 19 further comprising locating a plurality of display segments in the rotatable display element, stopping the prize object holder and causing the selected prize object to enter into a display segment of the rotatable display element, wherein combination of the selected prize object and the display segment receiving the selected prize object conveys the game outcome.

21. The gaming method of claim 20 further comprising allowing the player to provide input using a player input device, the player input at least apparently allowing the player to influence movement of the prize object holder.

22. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising moving the rotatable display element.

23. The gaming method of claim 22 further comprising allowing the player to provide input using a player input device, the player input at least apparently allowing the player to affect movement of the rotatable display element.

24. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising moving the rotatable display element and stopping the rotatable display element so the game related indicium may convey the game outcome.

25. The gaming method of claim 13 further comprising allowing the player to provide input using a player input device, the player input at least apparently allowing the player to affect the game outcome.

26. The gaming method of claim 13 wherein determining the game outcome comprises providing a bonus qualifying event.