U.S. patent application number 09/731443 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-28 for gaming apparatus.
Invention is credited to Boulton, Anthony.
Application Number | 20010005690 09/731443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10865764 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010005690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boulton, Anthony |
June 28, 2001 |
Gaming Apparatus
Abstract
Gaming apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) on which is
presented a tangible or virtual roulette-type wheel (14), a
plurality of tangible or virtual balls (16) locatable on the wheel
(14), sensor means (18) operable to sense location of the balls
(16) on the wheel (14) and comparison means (20) operable to
compare the location of the balls (16) and pre-selected locations
inputted into the apparatus (10) by a player, whereby to enable
determination of the success of the player.
Inventors: |
Boulton, Anthony; (Surrey,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMITH-HILL AND BEDELL
12670 N W BARNES ROAD
SUITE 104
PORTLAND
OR
97229
|
Family ID: |
10865764 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731443 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 ;
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2009/2442 20130101;
A63F 5/00 20130101; A63F 5/0088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 ;
463/20 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 1999 |
GB |
9928766.6 |
Claims
1. Gaming apparatus comprising: a body, a roulette-type wheel
presented on said body, a plurality of balls locatable on the
wheel, a sensor means operable to sense location of the balls on
the wheel, and a comparison means operable to compare the location
of said balls and pre-selected locations inputted into the
apparatus by a player, whereby to enable determination of the
success of a player.
2. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a control means
is provided to enable selective introduction of the balls to the
wheel.
3. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which a means is
provided to enable removal of balls from location on the wheel for
supply to the control means.
4. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the ball
removal means comprises a moveable base of the wheel on which balls
rest when located and which is moveable to a position in which it
enables the balls to move from the wheel.
5. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which a collection
means is provided to collect balls removed from the wheel.
6. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the control
means provides for selective blowing of balls from the collection
means for reintroduction to the wheel.
7. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the balls are
permanently resting on the wheel to be selectively moveable for
random location during use.
8. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the balls are
moveable upon rotation of the wheel.
9. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the apparatus
comprises a selection means to enable a player to pre-select
locations on the wheel before or during movement of the balls.
10. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the selection
means enables a player to pre-select the same number of areas as
balls on or to be introduced to the wheel.
11. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the number of
areas is determined by the value of credit inserted in the
apparatus.
12. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the apparatus
comprises a selection means to enable a player to pre-select
locations on the wheel before or during introduction of the
balls.
13. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the selection
means enables a player to pre-select the same number of areas as
balls on or to be introduced to the wheel.
14. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the number of
area is determined by the value of credit inserted in the
apparatus.
15. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the comparison
means comprises a processing unit operable to receive signals from
the sensor means indicating the location of balls on the wheel and
signals from the selection means indicating the area(s)
pre-selected by a player, to compare these and to determine whether
the player has successfully pre-selected one or more areas on which
one or more balls have located, and to control the award or win
according to the degree of pre-selection success.
16. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a removal
means is provided to remove the balls from location in the
respective areas following completion of the game.
17. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the removal
means comprises means to move the wheel sufficiently quickly or
otherwise to dislodge or allow for movement of the balls from
location on the wheel.
18. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the roulette
wheel comprises the image of a wheel such as a video image.
19. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the balls
comprise images of balls or similar such objects.
Description
[0001] Gaming apparatus in this specification means apparatus,
usually electrically powered and usually requiring credit for play,
which provides entertainment for one or more players. There are
many known types of gaming apparatus, including apparatus providing
automated games of roulette.
[0002] However, the traditional game of roulette is not attractive
as the theme for gaming apparatus provided in a gaming arcade,
because of the relatively long play time involved with each game.
Moreover, the traditional game of roulette is often unfavourably
received by in particular younger players of such apparatus.
[0003] According to the present invention there is provided gaming
apparatus comprising a body, a roulette-type wheel presented on
said body, a plurality of balls locatable on the wheel, sensor
means operable to sense location of the balls on the wheel and
comparison means operable to compare the location of said balls and
pre-selected location(s) inputted into the apparatus by a player,
whereby to enable determination of the success of a player.
[0004] Preferably the roulette type wheel is suitable to enable the
conventional rules of roulette to be played and may be of generally
traditional roulette wheel design. The wheel may comprise a base on
which areas are defined, preferably with upwardly extending
formations, where the balls can locate during use. Preferably each
area only provides for location of a single ball therein. Control
means may be provided to provide selective introduction of the
balls to the wheel. Preferably the wheel rotates upon or prior to
the introduction of the balls thereto, and stops spinning after a
pre-determined period of time.
[0005] Preferably means is provided to enable removal of balls from
location on the wheel for supply to the control means The means may
comprise a moveable base of the wheel on which balls rest when
located and which is moveable to a position in which it enables the
balls to move from the wheel, preferably to collection means. The
control means may provide for selective blowing of balls from the
collection means for re-introduction to the wheel. Alternatively,
or in addition, the balls may be permanently resting on the wheel
to be selectively moveable for random location during use. The
balls may be moveable upon rotation of the wheel.
[0006] Alternatively the roulette wheel may comprise the image of a
wheel such as a video image, and the balls may comprise images of
balls or similar such objects.
[0007] Preferably the control means introduces balls to the wheel
and/or the balls are moved over the wheel upon activation thereof,
desirably following insertion of credit into the apparatus by a
player.
[0008] The apparatus preferably comprises selection means to enable
a player to pre-select locations on the wheel before or during
movement or introduction of the balls. The selection means may
comprise buttons, touch sensitive surface(s) on which an
illustration of the wheel or a related illustration is provided or
other such suitable arrangement. Preferably the selection means
enables a player to pre-select the same number of areas as balls on
or to be introduced to the wheel, which number may be determined by
the value of credit inserted in the apparatus.
[0009] Preferably the sensor means comprises a sensor at in a
predetermined position relative to the wheel and operable to sense
the location of the balls in respective areas. The sensor means may
comprise weight, magnetic and/or light-sensitive sensors.
Alternatively or in addition a sensor may be provided in each of
said areas and operable to sense the presence of a ball in the
respective area.
[0010] Preferably the comparison means comprises a processing unit
operable to receive signals from the sensor means indicating the
location of balls on the wheel and signals from the selection means
indicating the area(s) pre-selected by a player, to compare these
and to determine whether the player has successfully pre-selected
one or more areas on which one or more balls have located, and to
control the award or win according to the degree of pre-selection
success.
[0011] Removal means may be provided to remove the balls from
location in the respective areas following completion of the game.
The removal means may comprise means to move the wheel sufficiently
quickly or otherwise to dislodge or allow for movement of the balls
from location on the wheel.
[0012] According to the further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of automating a roulette-type game
comprising inputting to apparatus a pre-selection of one or more of
a plurality of areas defined on a roulette-type wheel apparatus,
providing for random movement of a plurality of balls on the wheel
for random location of the balls in a plurality of defined areas,
sensing the areas in which balls have located, comparing these to
the pre-selected area(s) inputted and determining the degree of
success of a player in predicting the areas in which balls
locate.
[0013] The apparatus may be substantially as hereinbefore described
in any of the previous ten paragraphs.
[0014] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of gaming apparatus
according to the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
from above.
[0017] Referring to the drawings there is provided gaming apparatus
10 comprising a body 12 a roulette-type wheel 14 presented on said
body 12, a plurality of balls 16 (FIG. 2) locatable on the wheel
14, sensor means 18 (FIG. 2) operable to sense location of the
balls 16 on the wheel 14 and comparison means 20 operable to
compare the location of said balls 16 and pre-selected locations
inputted into the apparatus 10 by a player, whereby to enable
determination of the success of the player.
[0018] In more detail, the body 12 comprises a cabinet have a
generally upstanding back portion 21 and a lower portion 22
presenting a generally horizontal surface 24 on which is rotatably
mounted the roulette wheel 14.
[0019] The wheel 14 is of generally traditional roulette wheel
design, but it will be appreciated that although it is proposed the
principal application of the apparatus 10 is to provide an
improvement on the traditional rules of roulette, the apparatus
could be used to provide for the play of variations on this.
[0020] The wheel 14 (FIG. 2) comprises an inner section 25 around
the circumference of which are defined a series of areas 26 between
upstanding projections 28 which areas are where balls can locate in
use, as will be explained. The sensor 18 is in fixed location
beneath the wheel 14 to sense the location of the balls in the
respective areas 26 in which they settle. The sensor may be of any
suitable type, such as weight, magnetic and/or light sensor. The
predetermined relative positions of the sensor 18 and the areas on
the wheel 14 enable the sensor 18 to determine in which areas balls
have located.
[0021] The wheel comprises an outer section 30 which is sloped
generally toward the areas 26 to direct the balls towards location
in the areas 26. The inner section 25 is also sloped toward the
areas 26 to also direct the balls toward location.
[0022] The base 27 of the wheel 14 is moveable between a first
position as shown in FIG. 1 in which it supports balls in location
on the wheel 14, and a second position in which it enables balls to
move from location on the wheel to a collecting trough 29. The
trough 29 is sloped to direct the balls falling therein to
accumulate in a position above a blower 31 which when actuated
blows balls up a passage 33 for re-introduction to the wheel 14
through the inlet 35 as will be explained.
[0023] The lower portion 22 also provides a surface 32 generally
facing a player of the apparatus on which is provided a series of
buttons 34, 36 which provide for the selection of areas on the
wheel by a player as will be described.
[0024] The selection buttons 34, 36 are electrically connected to
the comparison means 20 as shown diagramatically at 38. The sensor
18 is connected by a connection shown diagramatically at 40 to the
comparison means 20.
[0025] The apparatus comprises slot 42 in which credit can be
inserted into the apparatus for activation and play thereof. Credit
inputted into the slot 42 is channelled in generally conventional
manner to a credit store 44 which is connected to a credit payout
slot 46. The comparison means 20 is connected as shown
diagramatically at 48 to control the dispensing of credits from the
store 44 as will be described.
[0026] In use, the apparatus 10 requires the insertion of
appropriate credit in the way of tokens, coins, credit cards or the
like into the apparatus 10 for activation. Once sufficient credit
has been inserted, the apparatus 10 is activated. In the embodiment
shown in the drawings, three balls are used during play, but it
will be appreciated that any number in a plurality of balls could
be used.
[0027] Once the credit has registered in the apparatus 10 and the
apparatus 10 activated, a player pre-selects one or more areas 26
using the selection buttons 34, 36. In the conventional rules of
roulette, the areas defined on the wheel alternate in colour,
usually red and black, and the buttons 34 provide for selection of
an appropriate colour.
[0028] The areas 26 are also sequentially numbered, either in order
or randomly, and the numeral buttons 36 provide for selection of
one or more areas by number. The selection buttons 34, 36, and any
other selection button considered appropriate, should provide for
the usual combinations of area pre-selection/gamble as provided for
according to the conventional roulette rules. Alternatively, of
course, appropriate selection buttons can be provided according to
variations on the traditional roulette rules.
[0029] Once a player has pre-selected one or more area on the
wheel, the wheel begins movement and balls 16 are introduced to the
wheel 14. The blower 31 is actuated and blows balls up the passage
33 to exit the inlet 35 onto the wheel 14. Ideally the angle of
entry of balls 16 onto the wheel 14 is such to direct them
generally around the periphery of the wheel 14.
[0030] After a pre-determined period of time, rotation of the wheel
stops and the balls 16 are allowed to settle generally randomly
into three area locations.
[0031] The sensor 18 senses in which areas 26 the balls 16 have
located and appropriate signals are sent to the comparison means
20, in the form of a processing unit. The signals relating to the
pre-selected areas are also transmitted to the processing unit 20.
The processing unit 20 then compares the locations pre-selected by
the user and the areas in which the balls have actually located,
and determines whether the player has successfully pre-selected one
or more areas in which the balls have located, and if so what
payout should be made to the player. Generally the more correctly
pre-selected areas per game, the greater the payout. The processing
unit 20 then sends a signal to the store 44 for an award to be
dispensed through the payment slot 46.
[0032] It will be appreciated that the use of a plurality of the
balls provides considerable advantage over traditional roulette and
provides for considerably more entertainment and variation than
conventional roulette.
[0033] Once play is complete, the balls are released from location
on the wheel 14 by movement of the base 27. The balls collect in
the trough 29 for reintroduction upon further actuation of the
apparatus 10.
[0034] Various modifications may be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the roulette
wheel and balls may be images of a roulette wheel or a
roulette-type wheel and balls or similar objects. As mentioned
above, the embodiment described above is described with reference
to three balls in use, but it will be appreciated that any number
in a plurality can be used. The wheel may be rotating as the player
enters selection of areas during pre-selection.
[0035] In the embodiment described above, the balls are introduced
to the wheel during use, and in this embodiment the number of balls
introduced could be varied, perhaps according to the amount of
credit inputted into the apparatus. However, in accordance with an
alternative embodiment the balls could be permanently sited on the
wheel 14. In use, the balls are dislodged from location upon
initial movement of the wheel 14 in use, whereby the balls move
randomly over the top of the wheel 14. The balls will then settle
generally randomly into location as they do in the previously
described embodiment.
[0036] Further, a sensor may be provided in each of the areas to
sense the presence or otherwise of a ball in each respective
area.
[0037] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw
attention to those features of the invention believed to be of
particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant
claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or
combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in
the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed
thereon.
* * * * *