U.S. patent application number 12/498384 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for skill game for amusement for use in a casino.
Invention is credited to STEVE BULLOCK, MICHAEL FIELDS, DAVID L. HOYT, ERNEST W. MOODY.
Application Number | 20100048277 12/498384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41696885 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100048277 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOODY; ERNEST W. ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
SKILL GAME FOR AMUSEMENT FOR USE IN A CASINO
Abstract
A matrix is populated with playing cards, dice symbols, or slot
machine symbols at cell locations in the matrix. The player
attempts to select symbol combinations in either horizontal rows,
vertical columns or diagonal lines. The game may be played as a
single player game, may include specific poker hand categories to
find, may include time periods, may include scoring points, may
include multiple rounds of play and may include single or multiple
player versions.
Inventors: |
MOODY; ERNEST W.; (LAS
VEGAS, NV) ; HOYT; DAVID L.; (Chicago, IL) ;
FIELDS; MICHAEL; (HENDERSON, NV) ; BULLOCK;
STEVE; (CHAPEL HILL, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN EDWARD ROETHEL
769 Basque Way #200
Carson City
NV
89706
US
|
Family ID: |
41696885 |
Appl. No.: |
12/498384 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61079424 |
Jul 9, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/0421 20130101;
A63F 2001/005 20130101; A63F 2003/0428 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a game comprising: a) providing a matrix
having a plurality of cell locations, the cell locations being
arranged as a group of vertical columns, horizontal rows and
diagonal lines; b) providing a deck of playing cards, each playing
card having a unique suit and rank, and populating each cell
location with a playing card selected from the deck; c) a player
selecting in the matrix at least one combination of playing cards
along a vertical column, along a horizontal row or along a
diagonal.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the combination of playing cards
is at least a five card poker hand.
3. The method of claim 2 in which a scoring table is provided that
lists points that a player may achieve for each five card poker
hand that is selected by the player.
4. The method of claim 3 in which a plurality of preselected five
card poker hands are displayed to the player and the player
attempts to select each of the plurality of preselected five card
hands within a predetermined time period.
5. The method of claim 1 in which at least two players compete
against each other in selecting poker hand combinations.
6. The method of claim 1 in which a) each playing card is provided
with a numerical value based on the rank of the playing card, b)
each playing card that is an Ace having a numerical value of one or
eleven, each playing card that is a King, a Queen, or a Jack having
a numerical value of ten and any other playing card having a
numerical value equal to the number of pips on the playing card;
and c) the combination of playing cards has a total numerical value
of twenty-one.
7. The method of claim 1 in which the matrix has seven cell
locations along each vertical column and seven cell locations along
each horizontal row.
8. A method of playing a game comprising: a) providing a matrix
having a plurality of cell locations, the cell locations being
arranged as a group of vertical columns, horizontal rows and
diagonal lines; b) providing a group of dice symbols, each dice
symbol being a die face having a value of One, Two, Three, Four,
Five, or Six, and populating each cell location with a dice symbol
selected from the group; c) a player selecting in the matrix at
least one dice symbol combination along a vertical column, along a
horizontal row or along a diagonal.
9. The method of claim 8 in which the dice symbol combination is at
least a group of five dice symbols.
10. The method of claim 8 in which the matrix has seven cell
locations along each vertical column and seven cell locations along
each horizontal row.
11. A method of playing a game comprising: a) providing a matrix
having a plurality of cell locations, the cell locations being
arranged as a group of vertical columns, horizontal rows and
diagonal lines; b) providing a group of slot machine symbols and
populating each cell location with a slot machine symbol selected
from the group; c) a player selecting in the matrix at least one
slot machine symbol combination along a vertical column, along a
horizontal row or along a diagonal.
12. The method of claim 11 in which the slot machine symbol
combination is at least a group of five slot machine symbols.
13. The method of claim 11 in which the matrix has seven cell
locations along each vertical column and seven cell locations along
each horizontal row.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/079424, filed Jul. 9, 2008, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
[0002] This invention relates primarily to a skill game, and more
particularly to a skill game that can be played in an amusement
format or in a wagering format in a gaming casino.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Skill games have been popular pastime for many years. Some
of the best known skill games are word games such as crossword
puzzles and word search games.
[0004] A classic word search game uses a matrix of letters. A
player is given a list of words to find among the matrix of
letters. The player visually searches through the matrix and
circles the words that he finds from the list of words. The words
are formed vertically, horizontally or on a diagonal line.
[0005] A representative PRIOR ART word search game is shown
generally at A in FIG. 1. A letter matrix B, in this example a
10.times.10 matrix, is populated with letters. A word list C shows
the ten words that the player should find in the letter matrix B.
By visually inspecting the letter matrix B, the player circles the
words that he finds. As shown in FIG. 1, the player has circled the
words "word search" at D and the word "sleuth" at E. The words to
be found by the player can be in a vertical column, a horizontal
row or a diagonal line.
[0006] The typical word search game is played as a solitaire game
by a single player. The game is simply a skill game with the player
achieving the satisfaction of finding all of the words on the
list.
[0007] The present invention adopts the word search skill aspects
into a more challenging method that can be played as a wagering
game or as an amusement game. The features of winning points or
money is added to the method of play. Multiple player features have
also been added as well as the feature of playing the game with
time limits imposed or by adding multipliers for finding the result
quickly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A matrix is populated with playing cards, dice symbols, or
slot machine symbols at cell locations in the matrix. The player
attempts to select symbol combinations in either horizontal rows,
vertical columns or diagonal lines. The game may be played as a
single player game, may include specific poker hand categories to
find, may include time periods, may include scoring points, may
include multiple rounds of play and may include single or multiple
player versions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a word search game that is prior art.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a single player game using poker hand
combinations as the objects to be found.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a single player game using Twenty-One game
numerical counts as the objects to be found.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a single player game using dice combinations as
the objects to be found.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a single player game using slot machine symbol
combinations as the objects to be found.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a two player game using poker hand combinations
as the objects to be found.
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a single player game using poker hand
combinations as the objects to be found with a time period for
completing the game.
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a single player game using a number of specific
poker hand combination as the objects to be found with a time
period for completing the game.
[0017] FIG. 9 shows the game of the present invention displayed on
a monitor that can be connected to a computer and may also be used
for online play.
[0018] FIG. 10 shows the game of the present invention displayed on
a cell phone and may also be used for online play.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The present invention is a skill game that uses playing
cards, dice faces, or slot machine symbols that a player is
required to find among a matrix of symbols.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a first embodiment of the present
invention uses a 7.times.7 matrix 10 that has a plurality of cell
locations arranged as a group of seven vertical columns, seven
horizontal rows and a plurality of diagonal lines. A deck of
playing cards is provided, each playing card having a unique suit
and rank. Each cell location in the matrix 10 is populated with a
playing card. The playing cards are preferably selected from a
standard fifty-two card poker deck. The player searches for and
selects one or more combinations of playing cards, such as five
card poker hand combinations, along vertical columns, horizontal
rows or along diagonal lines. As shown by way of example in FIG. 2,
the player has found a Straight 20 along a diagonal line, a Flush
30 along a diagonal line, a Four-of-a-Kind 40 along a vertical
column and a Three-of-a-Kind 50 along a vertical column.
[0021] Preferably the five card poker hand combinations are
conventional poker hand rankings such as a Royal Flush, a Straight
Flush, a Four of a Kind, a Full House, a Flush, a Straight, a Three
of a Kind, a Two Pair and a Pair of Jacks or Better. The matrix may
be larger or smaller than the 7.times.7 matrix 10 shown in FIG. 2
and does not have to be a symmetrical matrix.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a variation of the present invention in which
the player searches for card count combinations that add up to
twenty-one based on the manner in which card counts are determined
in the game of Twenty-One. The matrix 100 shown in FIG. 3 is
populated by a playing card at each cell location. Using
conventional Twenty-One game card numerical values in which Aces
are worth one or eleven, face cards (Kings, Queens, and Jacks) are
worth ten and all of the other cards are worth their pip values,
each playing card is provided with a numerical value based on the
rank of the playing card. The player selects those card
combinations in the matrix that add up to a numerical count of
twenty-one. As shown in the example in FIG. 3, the player has found
a two card twenty-one count at 110, a two card twenty-one count at
120, a three card twenty-one count at 130, a three card twenty-one
count at 140, a three card twenty-one count at 150, a three card
twenty-one count at 160 and six card twenty-one count at 170. In
the preferred embodiment of this version, the cards must be
adjoining in either a vertical column, a horizontal row or a
diagonal line.
[0023] Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4.
The matrix 200 is populated with dice symbols, each dice symbol
being a die face from conventional dice having six sides with a
value of One, Two, Three, Four, Five, or Six. The player searches
for dice symbol combinations such as four or more of a kind of dice
symbols or straights of dice symbols. As shown in the example in
FIG. 4, the player has found a dice symbol combination of seven
Fives in a row at 210, a straight combination of six dice with
values One through Six at 220, a dice combination of five Threes in
a row at 230 and a dice combination of four Fives in a row at 240.
In the preferred embodiment of this version, the dice must be
adjoining in either a vertical column, a horizontal row or a
diagonal line. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the dice symbol
combination must be a group of at least five dice symbols.
[0024] Another version of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5.
The matrix 300 is populated with typical slot machine symbols. The
player searches for symbol combinations such as three or more in a
row. As shown in the example in FIG. 5, the player has found a
symbol combination of five Bells in a row at 310, three 7's in a
row at 320 and a symbol combination of three Cherries in a row at
330. In the preferred embodiment of this version, the dice must be
adjoining in either a vertical column, a horizontal row or a
diagonal line. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the slot machine
symbol combination must be at least a group of five slot machine
symbols.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a two player competition version of the present
invention. A matrix 400 is shown with each cell location being
populated by a playing card selected from a deck of playing cards.
A scoring table 35 is also provided that lists the points a player
may achieve for a five card poker hand that is selected by the
player. As shown in FIG. 6, the scoring table 35 may use
conventional poker hand rankings as the scoring poker hands. Player
One goes first and attempts to find a poker hand along a vertical
column, a horizontal row or a diagonal line. Player One has found a
Flush 410 and scores six points which is shown in the scoring box
420 for Player One. It now becomes Player Two's turn and Player Two
is given one minute in the Player Two timer box 450. Should Player
Two find a scoring poker hand within the allotted time, Player
Two's score would be recorded in the Player Two scoring box 450.
When Player Two's turn is over, a one minute time period would be
posted in Player One's timer box 430 and Player One's next turn
would begin.
[0026] The game would end when each player has a predetermined
number of turns, or when a player achieves a predetermined total
score or when all of the winning poker hand combinations displayed
in the matrix 400 are exhausted.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a single player game of the present invention
similar to the two player game shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, a matrix
500 is displayed which is populated with playing cards. A scoring
table 35 is provided that lists the points a player may achieve for
each five card poker hand that is selected by the player. The
scoring table may use conventional poker hand rankings as the
scoring poker hands.
[0028] The player is provided with a scoring box 510 and a timer
box 520. The player starts with a time period, say three minutes,
shown in the timer box 520 during which the player must find as
many scoring poker hand combinations in the matrix 500 as possible.
Each scoring hand has an associated score shown in the scoring
table 35. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the player has found a
Three-of-a-Kind 540 for thirty points, a Pair of Jacks 550 for ten
points, a Straight 560 for forty points, a Two Pair for twenty
points and a Flush 580 for fifty points. The total score box 530
shows the player's accumulated score of one hundred fifty
points.
[0029] The scoring box 510 shows one of the poker hands that is
still available for the player to find and the amount of scoring
points that the player can earn for finding that scoring hand. The
timer box 520 counts down the remaining time available.
[0030] FIG. 8 shows another variation of the present invention in
which a single player attempts to find particular poker hand
combinations. A matrix 600 is provided and is populated with
playing cards. A poker hand box 620 instructs the player as to what
type of preselected five card poker hand combinations the player is
looking for, the scoring value of the poker hand and how many poker
hands of that category the player must find. Each time the player
selects one of the five card poker hand combinations, a check box
630 is marked. A total points box 640 and a time box 650 are also
provided to show the progress of the game.
[0031] As shown in the example in FIG. 8, the player has found a
Straight 610 in the matrix 600 and has earned two hundred points
and has two minutes left as shown in the time box 650 to find three
more Straights. This game can be played as a single round game or,
once the player has successfully completed a round, a new matrix
and a new poker hand combination can be presented to the player in
the next round. The game can be played in multiple rounds.
[0032] Another variation that may be added to the methods of the
present invention that use the timer feature is bonus awards for
finding the results quickly. For example, certain category may be
designated as special categories that earn the player bonus awards
for finding that category in the matrix. In a playing card matrix,
a Flush could be designated as the special category and the player
could receive a bonus award for each Flush that is found.
[0033] Multiplier awards can be given for finding the one or more
of the categories quickly. A 4.times. multiplier can be designated
for finding the category in the first thirty second period, then a
3.times. multiplier can be designated for finding the category in
the next thirty second period and a 2.times. multiplier can be
designated for finding the category in the third thirty second
period.
[0034] The multiplier awards can be combined with the special
category awards to add additional excitement and skill to the play
of the methods of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows how the method of the present invention can be
presented to the player on a monitor 700. The monitor can be
connected to a stand alone computer (not shown) on which the games
described above are programmed to the be played. Alternatively, the
games can be played online and displayed to the player on the
monitor for single or multiple player game play.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows how the method of the present invention can be
displayed to the player on a cell phone 800. The game may be played
self contained in the cell phone 800 or the cell phone 800 may be
used for online single or multiple player game play.
[0037] While the invention has been illustrated with respect to its
various embodiments, these embodiments should be considered as
illustrative rather than limiting. Various modifications and
additions may be made and will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
* * * * *