Handheld device for wagering games

• US 8,858,332 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Arezina, Vladimir I., Kopera, Thomas M., Pacey, Larry J., Pryor, David, Schwartz, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US12/159,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,833 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming system for playing a wagering game on a handheld gaming machine includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play the wagering game and an external system configured to regulate wagering game play on the handheld gaming machine.

Claims

1. A handheld gaming system, comprising:

a handheld gaming machine configured to play a wagering game;

a game controller configured to regulate wagering game play on the handheld gaming machine; and

an external module removably affixed to the handheld gaming machine and communicatively coupled to the handheld gaming machine via a connection between the handheld gaming machine and the external module, wherein the external module is configured to be carried along with said handheld gaming machine, the external module including at least one of a specialty player input and a miniature game outcome indicator, the specialty player input, when actuated, providing an input to the wagering game conducted on the handheld gaming machine, the miniature game outcome indicator presenting an outcome of the wagering game conducted on the handheld gaming machine.

2. The handheld gaming system of claim 1, wherein the connection between the external module and the handheld gaming machine is a mechanical connection.

3. The handheld gaming system of claim 2, wherein the miniature game outcome indicator has a moving component to simulate play associated with the wagering game.

4. The handheld gaming system of claim 3, wherein the moving component is a mechanical reel or mechanical wheel.

5. The handheld gaming system of claim 2, wherein the mechanical connection is accomplished by snap together, male-female connectors.

6. The handheld gaming system of claim 1, wherein the external module is smaller than the handheld gaming machine.

7. A handheld gaming system, comprising:

a handheld gaming machine configured to play a wagering game;

a game controller configured to regulate wagering game play on the handheld gaming machine; and

an external module removably affixed to the handheld gaming machine via a mechanical connection, wherein the external module is configured to be carried along with said handheld gaming machine, the external module including a mini-mechanical or electromechanical game outcome indicator with a moving component, the game outcome indicator presenting an outcome of the wagering game conducted on the handheld gaming machine.

8. The handheld gaming system of claim 7, wherein the game outcome indicator is a mechanical wheel or mechanical reel.

9. The handheld gaming system of claim 8, wherein the mechanical connection is accomplished by snap together, male-female connectors.

10. The handheld gaming system of claim 7, wherein the external module is smaller than the handheld gaming machine.

11. A handheld gaming system, comprising:

a handheld gaming machine configured to play a wagering game;

a game controller configured to regulate wagering game play on the handheld gaming machine; and

an external module including a specialty push button, wherein the external module is configured to be carried along with said handheld gaming machine, said external module removably affixed to the handheld gaming machine, the specialty push button, when actuated, providing an input to the wagering game conducted on the handheld gaming machine.

12. The handheld gaming system of claim 11, wherein the specialty input button, when actuated, overrides a randomly determined outcome for the wagering game and substitutes one winning outcome selected from a plurality of pre-determined winning outcomes.

13. The handheld gaming system of claim 12, wherein the specialty input button is configured to be actuated for a pre-determined number of actuations.

14. The handheld gaming system of claim 13, wherein the pre-determined number of actuations is conditioned upon a level of bets placed on the wagering game.

15. The handheld gaming system of claim 11, wherein the external module is smaller than the handheld gaming machine.