Interactive slot machine

• US 8,808,082 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabil N. Ghaly Jr
• Original Assignee: Nabil N. Ghaly Jr
• Inventors: Ghaly, Nabil N. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/599,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,834 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

An interactive gaming device that employs a plurality of reels (mechanical or simulated) is disclosed, and includes means for the player to establish a movement direction for a reel after it comes to a complete stop. The player is also provided with a plurality of switches to establish a condition upon which the reel would move after it comes to a complete stop. The device includes a control mechanism that causes the reel to move after it comes to a complete stop when the condition established by the player is met. A determination is then made if a winning combination of symbols has occurred at a winning line.

Claims

1. A slot machine for presenting a game to a player comprising:

a plurality of reels, wherein each of the plurality of reels has a plurality of symbols along its perimeter, at least one pay line, a plurality of switches for the player to interact with the slot machine, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the slot machine, means for manually selecting, via one of the plurality of switches, at least one of the plurality of reels, and establishing, prior to activating a spinning of the plurality of the reels, a setting for the selected at least one reel to automatically move by one position in a player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop subsequent to the spinning, means for controlling the selected at least one reel to move by one position in the player-specified movement direction, and means for evaluating the symbol pattern at the at least one pay line for determining a winning combination.

2. A slot machine as recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing.

3. A slot machine as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by mechanical reels.

4. A slot machine as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for manually selecting at least one reel, and establishing a setting for selected reel to automatically move by one position in a specific movement direction includes the activation of at least one switch.

5. A slot machine as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for establishing precise condition for selected reel to move by one position in said specific movement direction, and means for controlling selected reel to move by one position only if the precise condition is met.

6. A slot machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by simulated video reels.

7. A slot machine as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for manually selecting at least one reel, and establishing a setting for selected reel to automatically move by one position in a specific movement direction includes the activation of at least one switch.

8. A slot machine as recited in claim 6, further comprising means for establishing precise condition for selected reel to move by one position in said specific movement direction, and means for controlling selected reel to move by one position only of the precise condition is met.

9. A slot machine as recited in claim 8, wherein said precise condition includes a pre-requisite for the presence of a selected symbol at a predetermined position relative to a pay line.

10. A slot machine as recited in claim 8, wherein said precise condition includes prohibiting the movement of a reel in a specific direction after it comes to a stop when a symbol is located at a pay line.

11. A slot machine for presenting a game to a player comprising:

a plurality of reels, wherein each of the plurality of reels has a plurality of symbols along its perimeter, at least one pay line, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the slot machine, a plurality of switches for the player to interact with the slot machine, at least one of the plurality of switches for the player to manually select at least one of the plurality of reels and establish, prior to activating a spinning of the plurality of reels, a setting for the selected at least one reel to automatically move by one position in a player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop subsequent to the spinning, a computer program segment that controls the selected at least one reel to move by one position in the player-specified movement direction, and a computer program segment to evaluate the symbol pattern at the at least one pay line for determining a winning combination.

12. A slot machine as recited in claim 11 further comprising a housing.

13. A slot machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by mechanical reels.

14. A slot machine as recited in claim 13, further comprising at least one switch to establish precise condition for selected reel to move by one position in said specific movement direction, and a computer program segment to control selected reel to move by one position only of the precise condition is met.

15. A slot machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by simulated video reels.

16. A slot machine as recited in claim 14, wherein said precise condition includes a pre-requisite for the presence of a selected symbol at a predetermined position relative to a pay line.

17. A slot machine as recited in claim 14, wherein said precise condition includes prohibiting the movement of a reel in a specific direction after it comes to a stop when a symbol is located at a pay line.

18. A slot machine for presenting a game to a player comprising:

a housing, a plurality of reels, wherein each of the plurality of reels has a plurality of symbols along its perimeter, a plurality of entry control mechanisms for the player to activate the slot machine, at least one pay line, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the slot machine, at least one switch for the player to manually select at least one of the plurality of reels and establish, prior to activating a spinning of the plurality of reels, a setting for the selected at least one reel to automatically move by one position in a player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop subsequent to the spinning, at least one switch for the player to manually establish a precise condition for selected at least one reel to automatically move by one position in the player-specified movement direction, a computer program segment that controls the selected at least one reel to move by one position in the player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop only if the precise condition is met, and a computer program segment to evaluate the symbol pattern at the at least one pay line for a winning combination.

22. A slot machine as recited in claim 18, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by mechanical reels.

23. A slot machine as recited in claim 18, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by simulated video reels.

19. A slot machine for presenting a game to a player comprising:

a housing, a plurality of reels, wherein each of the plurality of reels has a plurality of symbols along its perimeter, a plurality of switches for the player to activate the slot machine, at least one pay line, a microprocessor with a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program to control the operation of the slot machine, at least one switch for the player to manually select at least one of the plurality of reels and establish, prior to activating a spinning of the plurality of reels, a setting for the selected at least one reel to automatically move by one position in a player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop subsequent to the spinning, a computer program segment that controls the selected at least one reel to move by one position in the player-specified movement direction after it comes to a stop, and a computer program segment to evaluate the symbol pattern at the at least one pay line for a winning combination.

20. A slot machine as recited in claim 19, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by mechanical reels.

21. A slot machine as recited in claim 19, wherein said plurality of reels is implemented by simulated video reels.