U.S. patent application number 12/525161 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for amusement and gaming machines.
Invention is credited to Yevgen Savytskyy.
Application Number | 20100120488 12/525161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38616260 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100120488 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Savytskyy; Yevgen |
May 13, 2010 |
AMUSEMENT AND GAMING MACHINES
Abstract
An amusement or gaming machine has a gamble wheel assembly which
comprises a gamble wheel rotatably mounted in a machine cabinet
about an axis inclined at an acute angle or at a right angle to the
vertical, the wheel being formed with a plurality of
circumferentially arranged ball carrying pockets, so arranged that
when a ball is in a pocket at least part of the ball is visible
from the front side of the wheel, a fixed part-annular ball
retainer extending circumferentially about the wheel axis adjacent
to the pockets to retain captive a ball that has been captured in a
pocket in a ball capture region of the rotational path of the
pockets, a ball supply unit for delivering a ball directly or
indirectly to the ball capture region for capture in a pocket.
Controllable release means is provided for releasing a captured
ball from the pockets to be received in a ball outlet.
Inventors: |
Savytskyy; Yevgen; (Odessa,
UA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt;PACWEST CENTER, SUITE 1900
1211 SW FIFTH AVENUE
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
38616260 |
Appl. No.: |
12/525161 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
January 31, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2008/000316 |
371 Date: |
November 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17 ;
273/142E; 463/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3216 20130101;
G07F 17/38 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/17 ; 463/46;
273/142.E |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24; A63B 71/00 20060101 A63B071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 1, 2007 |
GB |
PCT/GB2007/000333 |
Claims
1. A gamble wheel assembly for use in an amusement or gaming
machine comprising a gamble wheel rotatably mounted with respect to
a stationary support about an axis inclined at an acute angle or at
a right angle to the vertical, the wheel being formed with a
plurality of circumferentially arranged ball carrying pockets, so
arranged that when a ball is in a pocket at least part of the ball
is visible from the front side of the wheel, a part-annular ball
retainer mounted on the support and so arranged to extend
circumferentially about the wheel axis adjacent to the pockets to
retain captive a ball that has been captured in a pocket in a ball
capture region of the rotational path of the pockets, a ball supply
unit mounted on said support and so arranged so as to deliver a
ball to the wheel, the arrangement being such that the delivered
ball is fed directly or indirectly to said ball capture region for
capture in a pocket, controllable release means for releasing a
captured ball from the pockets, and ball outlet means for receiving
balls released from the pockets.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the pockets are
defined at least in part by a plurality of circumferentially
equally-spaced radial vanes projecting from the body of the
wheel.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the pockets are each
defined in part by respective concave pocket surfaces provided on
the radially outwardly facing side-wall of a hub of the wheel.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the radially outer
region of the wheel face adjacent to each pocket is marked with
indicia and/or a symbol to allot a value or property to the
pocket.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising means to determine
the identity of the pocket in which a ball has become trapped.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which a ball settling
chamber is provided adjacent to said ball capture region, the ball
settling chamber being configured to permit some bouncing around
and/or oscillation of a ball before the ball settles in a pocket to
be captured by the wheel.
7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the ball settling
chamber is defined by chamber walls that extend upwardly from the
top of the wheel, and the ball supply delivers balls into the
chamber which can then bounce around and/or oscillate in the
chamber until they are captured by pockets exposed to, or fed by,
the lower end of the ball settling chamber.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the ball settling
chamber is defined by a chamber wall that is positioned in front of
the upper portion of the wheel and is sufficiently spaced therefrom
to allow balls to bounce around in the chamber before settling in a
pocket.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the ball settling
chamber is positioned on or adjacent to a region of the wheel
margin that is laterally displaced from the top of the wheel.
10. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the ball settling
chamber is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the wheel.
11. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which the ball settling
chamber is defined by a pair of oppositely directed ramp surfaces
extending upwardly and outwardly from one another, and connected by
an intermediate platform provided with a cut-out slot that overlies
an arcuate portion of the path of the disc pockets and extends over
one or more of the pockets, the slot being of a transverse
dimension greater than the diameter of a ball to enable a ball to
drop into a pocket.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which the ball is led to
the ramp surfaces by falling through a labyrinth assembly.
13. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the ball retainer
comprises a transparent plate and a part-annular ball track which
encircles the wheel pockets, said slot being bounded on one side by
the transparent plate.
14. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which the ball settling
chamber is defined between the wheel face and an arcuate hopper
wall mounted on said support to confront the wheel face in said
upper region of the wheel.
15. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 in which a front wall of the
hopper defines with the front face of the disc face a downwardly
tapering gap, and the hopper comprises two hopper end walls that
lie substantially in radial planes of the wheel.
16. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 in which the dimensions of
the hopper are such that the hopper extends across a plurality of
pockets of the wheel.
17. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the dimensions of
the hopper are such that a ball fed into the hopper can bounce
between pockets within said chamber before settling in a
pocket.
18. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the pockets in the
wheel face radially inwardly of the wheel axis.
19. An assembly as claimed in claim 18 in which an air jet is
provided for removing a ball from the wheel.
20. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 in which the ball supply is
arranged to deposit a ball onto the outer face of the wheel so that
the ball proceeds down the wheel face to reach the ball settling
chamber.
21. An assembly as claimed in claim 20 in which the front face of
the wheel is provided with one or more protrusions that can be
struck by a ball, so as to provide some randomness in the path
followed by a ball in proceeding to the ball settling chamber.
22. An assembly as claimed in claim 20 in which the ball supply is
a tube issuing through the centre of a hub on which the wheel is
journalled.
23. An assembly as claimed in claim 20 in which the ball settling
chamber is bounded by an arcuate upwardly facing ball track
surface, and the ball track surface slopes towards the wheel so as
to direct a ball that has lost momentum, through oscillation and/or
bouncing in the chamber, into a pocket exposed to the chamber.
24. An automatic gamble wheel machine comprising a credit means for
release of the machine, a gamble wheel rotatably mounted within a
machine cabinet about an axis inclined at an acute angle to the
vertical, or about an axis directed horizontally, and visible to a
player through the cabinet window, a motor for rotating the gamble
wheel, a tortuous ball supply unit mounted in the cabinet above the
wheel, the ball supply unit defining one or more tortuous paths
down which a ball or balls fed to the upper end of the ball supply
unit passes under gravitational force in order to reach the lower
end of the ball supply unit, the tortuous path or paths being
visible to a player through a cabinet window, the lower end of the
ball supply unit leading to the wheel, a part-annular ball retainer
mounted on the support in register with the disc, closely spaced
therefrom, and so arranged as to retain balls in the pockets once
captured, detection means for detecting a pocket of the gamble
wheel in which a ball comes to rest, and reward means responsive to
the detection means to provide a player with a reward in dependence
upon which pocket or pockets the ball or balls comes to rest,
controllable release means for releasing balls from the pockets in
a lower region of the wheel, and ball outlet means for receiving
balls released from the pockets, ball return means for returning a
ball from the wheel to a ball elevating means, the ball elevating
means being adapted, when operated, to deliver a ball to the upper
end of the ball supply unit.
25. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the ball elevating
means is a ball projecting means.
26. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the ball supply unit
comprises a zig-zag, or spiral, ball pathway.
27. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the ball supply unit
comprises a labyrinth which defines a plurality of tortuous paths
between an array of protrusions.
28. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the lower end of the
ball supply unit leads into a ball guiding unit in register with an
arcuate portion of the path of the pockets, the ball guiding unit
being adapted to guide a ball received in the ball guiding unit
into a pocket of the wheel.
29. A machine as claimed in claim 28 in which the ball guiding unit
accommodates some initial bouncing of the ball from the pockets
until the ball can settle in a pocket.
30. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the ball guiding unit
comprises a stationary ball supply chamber defined between the disc
face and an arcuate hopper mounted on said support to confront the
disc face in said upper region of the disc.
31. A machine as claimed in claim 24 in which the ball guiding unit
comprises a pair of oppositely directed ramp surfaces extending
upwardly and outwardly from one another, and connected by an
intermediate platform provided with a cut-out slot that overlies an
arcuate portion of the path of the disc pockets and extends over
one or more a plurality of the pockets, the slot being of a
transverse dimension greater than the diameter of a ball to enable
a ball to drop into a pocket.
32. A machine as claimed in claim 31 in which the slot is provided
along one margin of the platform, and the platform is sloped to
direct the ball into the slot.
33. A machine as claimed in claim 31 in which the ball retainer
comprises a transparent plate and a part-annular ball track which
encircles the wheel pockets, said slot being bounded on one side by
the transparent plate, and said ball track extending substantially
from opposite ends of the slot, whereby a ball that has entered
said slot and settled in a pocket is then retained in the pocket as
the pocket moves away from the slot, by the ball being trapped
between the pocket wall, the transparent plate and the ball track.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to amusement and gaming machines and
particularly, but not exclusively, to machines that are released
for playing by means of some form of credit, such as payment by a
coin, token or debit/credit card transaction.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention stems from some work to design a machine with
significant player-appeal, and is based upon our appreciation that
machines that have mechanical components visible to the machine
player and that move during playing of a game often give more
satisfaction to a machine player than machines that display
movements solely by a video display and/or by sequentially lit
portions of a display behind a machine glass.
[0003] In the following description the term `ball` is used to
indicate a rolling element which will usually be a ball but may
possibly be a coin or a token.
[0004] We have appreciated that a pocketed gamble wheel, such as a
roulette wheel, housed in a machine cabinet that is suitable for
use in, for example, an arcade or public house would have a
significant player appeal. Such cabinets are generally upright and
have a relatively small footprint in order to accommodate the
machine in a small floor space, or to be able to arrange several
machines next to one another in an arcade or casino. The machine
player stands or sits in front of the machine cabinet.
[0005] Relatively bulky automatic roulette wheel machines are known
in which the wheel is surrounded by an inclined wall, and the ball
is propelled tangentially of the wall, usually by a blast of air,
and the rolling ball does circuits around the inclined wall and
then as it loses momentum proceeds down the inclined wall to
encounter the rotating wheel, and eventually settles in a pocket of
the wheel. The presence of the ball in a pocket may be detected in
order to control the payout or credit mechanism of the machine.
[0006] Such machines are generally quite bulky because they are
designed for use by several players that stand or sit around the
machine.
[0007] Players are often suspicious that automatic machines may not
be truly random, and the present invention in some of its aspects
is concerned with providing a ball delivery mechanism in an
automatic gamble wheel machine in which the ball delivery
mechanisms can be seen by the machine player to be relatively
random in delivering the ball to the pocketed gamble wheel.
SUMMARIES OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention a gamble wheel
assembly for use in an amusement or gaming machine comprises a
gamble wheel rotatably mounted with respect to a stationary support
about an axis inclined at an acute angle or at a right angle to the
vertical, the wheel being formed with a plurality of
circumferentially arranged ball carrying pockets, so arranged that
when a ball is in a pocket at least part of the ball is visible
from the front side of the wheel, a part-annular ball retainer
mounted on the support and so arranged to extend circumferentially
about the wheel axis adjacent to the pockets to retain captive a
ball that has been captured in a pocket in a ball capture region of
the rotational path of the pockets, a ball supply unit mounted on
said support and so arranged so as to deliver a ball to the wheel,
the arrangement being such that the delivered ball is fed directly
or indirectly to said ball capture region for capture in a pocket,
controllable release means for releasing a captured ball from the
pockets, and ball outlet means for receiving balls released from
the pockets.
[0009] The ball retainer enables the gamble wheel to hold captive a
ball in a pocket whereas the ball would roll out of a pocket of a
conventional roulette wheel if the wheel were to be mounted in an
inclined position.
[0010] Thus a ball that is guided into a pocket of the disc will,
possibly after bouncing, come to rest in a pocket, and as the wheel
rotates, the ball is carried away from the ball capture region.
[0011] The pockets may be defined at least in part by a plurality
of circumferentially equally-spaced radial vanes projecting from
the body of the wheel.
[0012] In some embodiments the pockets are each defined in part by
respective concave pocket surfaces provided on the radially
outwardly facing side-wall of a hub of the wheel.
[0013] The concave pocket surfaces may be of part-spherical shape,
or of part-cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction of
the hub but terminating short of the front face of the hub.
[0014] The location of the pockets may correspond to the position
of a captured ball on a conventional horizontally-mounted roulette
wheel.
[0015] The radially outer region of the wheel face adjacent to each
pocket is preferably marked with indicia and/or a symbol to allot a
value or property to the pocket.
[0016] Although the indicia may be numerals, as with a conventional
roulette wheel, dice symbols, fruit symbols, playing card symbols
may be used for example.
[0017] Means is preferably provided to determine the identity of
the pocket in which a ball has become trapped.
[0018] A ball sensing means, for example a capacitative sensor, may
be associated with the wheel to monitor which pockets contain a
ball.
[0019] Alternatively, the balls may be released from the wheel by
providing an opening in the lower part of the ball retainer, and
the passage of a ball through said opening may be monitored in
conjunction with the output of a encoder on the wheel to determine
from which pocket a ball has rolled out.
[0020] A ball settling chamber is preferably provided adjacent to
said ball capture region, the ball settling chamber being
configured to permit some bouncing around and/or oscillation of a
ball before the ball settles in a pocket to be captured by the
wheel.
[0021] We have several preferred locations for the ball settling
chamber:
[0022] In a first location, the ball settling chamber is defined by
chamber walls that extend upwardly from the top of the wheel, and
the ball supply delivers balls into the chamber which can then
bounce around and/or oscillate in the chamber until they are
captured by pockets exposed to, or fed by, the lower end of the
ball settling chamber.
[0023] In a second location, the ball settling chamber is defined
by a chamber wall that is positioned in front of the upper portion
of the wheel and is sufficiently spaced therefrom to allow balls to
bounce around in the chamber before settling in a pocket. In that
case the walls of the ball settling chamber constitute a ball
guiding means for directing the balls to the pockets.
[0024] In a third location, the ball settling chamber is positioned
on or adjacent to a region of the wheel margin that is laterally
displaced from the top of the wheel.
[0025] In a fourth location, the ball settling chamber is
positioned adjacent to the bottom of the wheel.
[0026] Preferably at least the front wall of the ball settling
chamber is transparent to enable a machine player to see the ball
or balls bouncing and/or oscillating in the ball settling chamber.
This can add attraction to the machine game and demonstrates to the
player the random nature of the game being played.
[0027] A ball settling chamber in one embodiment, located in said
first location, is defined by a pair of oppositely directed ramp
surfaces extending upwardly and outwardly from one another, and
connected by an intermediate platform provided with a cut-out slot
that overlies an arcuate portion of the path of the disc pockets
and extends over one or more of the pockets, the slot being of a
transverse dimension greater than the diameter of a ball to enable
a ball to drop into a pocket.
[0028] The slot is preferably provided along one margin of the
platform, and the platform is sloped to direct the ball into the
slot.
[0029] The ball is preferably led to the ramp surfaces by falling
through a labyrinth assembly and will usually oscillate by rolling
from one ramp surface and across the platform to the other ramp
surface, and back again until the ball speed has reduced
sufficiently to allow the ball to settle in a pocket without
bouncing out again.
[0030] In one embodiment the ball retainer comprises a transparent
plate and a part-annular ball track which encircles the wheel
pockets, said slot being bounded on one side by the transparent
plate, and said ball track extending substantially from opposite
ends of the slot, whereby a ball that has entered said slot and
settled in a pocket is then retained in the pocket as the pocket
moves away from the slot, by the ball being trapped between the
pocket wall, the transparent plate and the ball track.
[0031] In other embodiments of the invention the ball retainer in a
part-annular form on a ball track.
[0032] In some embodiments of the invention having the ball
settling chamber in the second location said chamber is defined
between the wheel face and an arcuate hopper wall mounted on said
support to confront the wheel face in said upper region of the
wheel.
[0033] The arcuate hopper may be formed of a transparent plastics,
or constructed as a welded wire basket.
[0034] The arcuate hopper preferably comprises a hopper front wall
that defines with the front face of the disc face a downwardly
tapering gap and two hopper end walls that lie substantially in
radial planes of the wheel.
[0035] The dimensions of the hopper are preferably such that the
hopper extends across a plurality of pockets of the wheel, for
example eight pockets, but in some embodiments the hopper outlet
may extend across a single pocket only.
[0036] The dimensions of the hopper are preferably such that a ball
fed into the hopper can bounce between pockets within said chamber
before settling in a pocket. This, in effect, simulates to a degree
the bouncing around of a ball on a conventional roulette wheel
before the ball settles in a pocket.
[0037] The pockets in the wheel face radially outwardly of the
wheel in most embodiments of the invention, but they may face
radially inwardly of the wheel axis, in which case it is preferred
to provide a blow-off means for releasing the ball from the
wheel.
[0038] When the ball settling chamber is located in said fourth
location, adjacent to the bottom of the wheel, the ball supply
means may be arranged to deposit a ball onto the outer face of the
wheel so that the ball proceeds down the wheel face to reach the
ball settling chamber. The front face of the wheel may be provided
with one or more protrusions that can be struck by a ball, so as to
provide some randomness in the path followed by a ball in
proceeding to the ball settling chamber.
[0039] When the ball settling chamber is in said fourth location,
the ball supply may be a tube issuing through the centre of a hub
on which the wheel is journalled.
[0040] When the ball settling chamber is in said fourth location
the chamber is preferably bounded by an arcuate upwardly facing
ball track surface, and the ball track surface slopes towards the
wheel so as to direct a ball that has lost momentum, through
oscillation and/or bouncing in the chamber, into a pocket exposed
to the chamber.
[0041] According to a second aspect of the invention an automatic
gamble wheel machine comprising a credit means for release of the
machine, a gamble wheel rotatably mounted within a machine cabinet
about an axis inclined at an acute angle to the vertical or
directed horizontally, and visible to a player through the cabinet
window, a motor for rotating the gamble wheel, a tortuous ball
supply unit mounted in the cabinet above the wheel, the ball supply
unit defining one or more tortuous paths down which a ball or balls
fed to the upper end of the ball supply unit passes under
gravitational force in order to reach the lower end of the ball
supply unit, the tortuous path or paths being visible to a player
through a cabinet window, the lower end of the ball supply unit
leading to the wheel, a part-annular ball retainer mounted on the
support in register with the disc, closely spaced therefrom, and so
arranged as to retain balls in the pockets once captured, detection
means for detecting a pocket of the gamble wheel in which a ball
comes to rest, and reward means responsive to the detection means
to provide a player with a reward in dependence upon which pocket
or pockets the ball or balls comes to rest, controllable release
means for releasing balls from the pockets in a lower region of the
wheel, and ball outlet means for receiving balls released from the
pockets, ball return means for returning a ball from the wheel to a
ball elevating means, the ball elevating means being adapted, when
operated, to deliver a ball to the upper end of the ball supply
unit.
[0042] Preferably the ball elevating means is a ball projecting
means.
[0043] The machine player is therefore able to see a ball follow
the tortuous path or paths before being delivered to the gamble
wheel.
[0044] The ball supply unit may comprise a zigzag, or spiral, ball
pathway in the form of a zigzag or spiral tube, or in the form of a
series of elongate troughs connected by reversing bends. Such ball
pathways were commonly used in early upright slot machines.
[0045] Alternatively, or in addition, the ball supply unit
comprises a labyrinth which defines a plurality of tortuous paths
between an array of protrusions in the form of pins, blocks, or
vanes for example.
[0046] A relatively random supply of balls may utilise a labyrinth
supply. The labyrinth ball supply may take many forms, some of
which may correspond to the labyrinths that were employed in
traditional mechanical pin-ball machines of the kind having a slim
vertical cabinet housing a labyrinth behind a vertical machine
glass, and a finger-operated lever for projecting the ball along a
track to the upper region of the labyrinth down which the ball then
tumbles to be received in one or more winnings cups, or in a no-win
receptacle. Such machines were extremely popular many years ago,
partly because of the attraction provided by the unpredictable path
of the ball passing through the labyrinth.
[0047] Thus one preferred embodiment of the invention is aimed at
utilising the combination of the player appeal of a labyrinth
structure for a falling ball, and that of a pocketed gamble wheel,
by feeding an inclined gamble wheel machine having a pocketed
gamble wheel by means of a labyrinth structure.
[0048] A lower portion of the machine preferably comprises a game
information display.
[0049] The game information display is preferably provided on a
forwardly projecting portion of the machine cabinet that extends
from substantially the base of the machine glass behind which the
roulette wheel is located to the front of the machine.
[0050] The game information display may incorporate player-operable
control pads or buttons, which may be implemented by means of a
touch-sensitive portion of the display.
[0051] The player may be afforded the ability to select between
different available games, which may be associated with changes in
the indicia/symbols displayed by the gamble wheel. For that purpose
the radially outer region of the roulette machine disc face would
be provided with a respective switchable display, such as a liquid
crystal display.
[0052] The game information display can provide information on bets
placed and accounting records.
[0053] One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an
upright machine cabinet having an upper substantially vertical
window through which is visible a ball supply assembly, a sloping
middle window behind which is the pocketed gamble wheel, and a
forwardly projecting information display. Such a machine can
combine the attributes of mechanical game features which are
visible through the windows with software-implemented game features
associated with the information display panel.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0054] Various amusement and gaming machines, and component
assemblies thereof, all in accordance with the invention, will now
be described by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] In the drawings:
[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine,
[0057] FIG. 2 is a front view of the machine of FIG. 1,
[0058] FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-section taken on the
line 3-3 of FIG. 2,
[0059] FIG. 4 is an axial view of the roulette wheel of the machine
of FIG. 1 and displaying numbers in association with the wheel
pockets,
[0060] FIG. 5 shows how the wheel of FIG. 1 can instead display
dice symbols, playing card symbols for playing the game of Black
Jack, Poker and other card games, or fruit symbols,
[0061] FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of a modified machine in
accordance with the invention and showing the ball return
tubes,
[0062] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the roulette wheel
assembly of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 4 showing the raised central
hub and ball pockets defined adjacent to the hub,
[0063] FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the gamble wheel assembly and
showing a ball in a pocket in the upper right-hand quadrant of the
wheel, the ball being held captive to the wheel by a part-circular
ball-retaining cage,
[0064] FIG. 9 is an enlargement of the portion B of FIG. 8 showing
the ball seated in a pocket,
[0065] FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the portion C of FIG. 8 showing
the cage door in a closed position,
[0066] FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the roulette wheel
assembly looking in the axial direction of the wheel, and with the
ball in the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hub of the wheel
being partially cut-away to show the ball seated in a pocket of the
wheel,
[0067] FIG. 12 is an enlarged radial cross-section of the gamble
wheel assembly taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11,
[0068] FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view of a labyrinth structure
that can be used in the upper part of the machine of FIGS. 1 to 3,
and comprising a tapered array of fixed deflector pins,
[0069] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 of an alternative
labyrinth structure comprising a series of fixed deflector
blocks,
[0070] FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 9 of an alternative
labyrinth structure in which the deflecting elements in the lower
rows are rotatable, gear mechanism for rotating three of the
elements being indicted in outline,
[0071] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 9 of a further labyrinth
which comprises a plurality of fixed pins and some pivoted
paddles,
[0072] FIG. 17 shows labyrinth structure comprising pivoted paddle,
fixed pins and rotating deflector elements, gear trains for
rotating the rotating elements being shown in outline,
[0073] FIG. 18 shows a ball supply assembly suitable for use in the
upper part of the machine of FIG. 1 comprising a spiral
ball-conveying track mounted above a small tapered labyrinth of
fixed deflector pins,
[0074] FIGS. 19 and 20 show schematically a modification in
accordance with the invention of the machine of FIG. 1 in which the
roulette wheel is arranged vertically, FIG. 20 representing a
vertical cross-section on the line 20-20 of FIG. 19,
[0075] FIGS. 21 and 22 shows schematically modifications in
accordance with the invention of the machine of FIG. 1 in which the
gamble wheel is arranged at 45.degree. to the horizontal, or at any
other angle, FIG. 22 representing a vertical cross-section on the
line 22-22 of FIG. 21,
[0076] [FIGS. 23 to 26 have been deleted]
[0077] FIG. 27 is a front elevation of the vertical gamble wheel
assembly of the machine in accordance with the invention, and
showing a ball that is just being captured in a pocket at the top
of the wheel, the ball guiding unit in the form of oppositely
directed ramps being shown above the wheel,
[0078] FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-section on the line 28-28 of
FIG. 27 and showing the annular transparent ball-retaining front
plate,
[0079] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the roulette wheel and
V-shaped ball supply ramps of the machine of FIG. 27,
[0080] FIG. 30 is an enlargement of the portion P of FIG. 29
showing a ball that has just settled in the uppermost pocket of the
wheel,
[0081] FIG. 31 is a view similar to FIG. 27 of a machine with a
slightly modified ramp and showing the ball having been carried
round with the wheel to the 3 o'clock position,
[0082] FIG. 32 is a partial horizontal cross-sectional view on the
line 32-32 of FIG. 31,
[0083] FIG. 33 is a front elevation, similar to FIG. 22 but showing
the ball being released from the wheel at the 6 o'clock
position,
[0084] FIG. 34 is a vertical cross-section on the line 34-34 of
FIG. 33,
[0085] FIG. 35 is a perspective view from above and to one side, of
a modified ramp similar to that of FIGS. 29, 30,
[0086] FIG. 36 is a view similar to FIG. 32 but of a modification
in which the ball is retained in a pocket by a part-annular form on
the ball track 86,
[0087] [FIG. 37 is now deleted],
[0088] FIG. 38 is a front perspective view of the upper part of a
machine, with the front cabinet glass raised, showing a further
labyrinth assembly, and the ramp of FIG. 35,
[0089] FIG. 39 is a front elevation of an inclined wheel assembly
in accordance with the invention in which a ball settling chamber
is located laterally from the top of the wheel, and in which the
balls can bounce before being captured by the wheel,
[0090] FIG. 40 is a vertical cross-section of the wheel assembly of
FIG. 39,
[0091] FIG. 41 is a perspective view from the front, of the wheel
assembly of FIGS. 39, 40,
[0092] FIGS. 42 and 43 are a front view and vertical cross-section
respectively of an inclined wheel assembly in which balls initially
oscillate on a ramp before falling across the front face of the
wheel, to be caught by an arcuate wheel surround in the form of a
track that is inclined in transverse cross-section and which
defines a ball oscillation zone at the base of the wheel,
[0093] FIGS. 44 and 45 are a front view and vertical cross-section
respectively of an inclined wheel assembly in which the ball
pockets face radially inwardly of the wheel axis, and a ball
bouncing zone is positioned in the lower part of the wheel,
[0094] FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly of FIGS.
44, 45,
[0095] FIGS. 47 and 48 are a front view and vertical cross-section
respectively of an inclined wheel assembly similar to that of FIGS.
42, 43 but in which the balls are supplied to the wheel through the
wheel hub,
[0096] FIGS. 49 and 50 are a front view and vertical cross-section
respectively of an inclined wheel assembly which is generically
similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8, and
[0097] FIG. 51 is a perspective view of the main parts of the
assembly of FIGS. 49 and 50.
[0098] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a
coin-released gamble wheel machine 1 which comprises an upright
machine cabinet of a relatively conventional shape that is suitable
for use in arcades or in public houses. That is, it is suitable for
playing by standing machine players. Any well-known kind of
coin-release mechanism can be provided.
[0099] As seen in FIG. 2, the machine can be considered to comprise
an upper portion 3, a middle portion 4 and a lower portion 5. The
upper portion 3 comprises some form of tortuous ball supply unit
that receives a ball in its top from the free end 6 of a ball
supply tube 7, that extends upwardly from a ball projector unit 8
of the kind commonly used in pin-ball machines, in which the user
pulls a plunger outwards against the force of a spring, and on
release of the plunger, a ball is projected up the tube 7 to be
dispensed at the tube outlet 6. Alternatively, the ball can be
dispensed by electric, magnetic or pneumatic devices in response to
the player pressing a button.
[0100] The ball can be hollow to reduce its weight.
[0101] The middle portion 4 of the machine is in the form of a
novel gamble machine assembly in which the roulette wheel 9 is
rotatable about an axis Z-Z which is inclined at an acute angle to
the vertical.
[0102] The lower portion 5 of the machine comprises a display panel
10, which may be touch-sensitive panel. The panel 10 can be
arranged to display the progress of a game on the machine, such as
accumulated winnings and/or provides some additional gambling
features.
[0103] The front of the cabinet, beneath the projecting portion 5
is provided with a conventional pay-out means or prize-awarding
means, not shown.
[0104] The upper portion of the machine lies behind an upper,
vertical machine glass 11, the middle portion 4 lying behind a
lower machine glass 12, which extends in a plane substantially
parallel to the plane of the gamble wheel, from the lower edge of
the upper machine glass 11 to the rear edge of sloping cabinet
shelf 13 which mounts the display panel 10.
[0105] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 the gamble wheel comprises a
central raised hub 14, an annular disc 15 surrounding the hub 14,
and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart radial vanes 16
of generally elongated triangular outline projecting forwardly from
the face of the disc 15, as viewed on a radial cross-section of the
wheel, so as to contribute to defining a series of ball pockets
18.
[0106] The radially outer peripheral side-wall of the hub 14 is
formed with a plurality of circumferentially equally-spaced
part-cylindrical surfaces 16' which, as shown in FIG. 12, stop
short of the outer face 30 of the hub 14, so as to define a
retaining flange 31. The surfaces 16' extend between adjacent pairs
of the radially inner ends of webs 16.
[0107] The combination of the part-cylindrical surfaces 16' with
the radially inner ends of the webs 16, and the front face of the
radially inner portions of disc 15 define a plurality of
circumferentially equally-spaced pockets 32 in which a ball may be
located, such as the ball 24 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0108] The gamble wheel 9 is rotatably mounted on a roulette wheel
chassis, not shown, which is normally fixed in place within the
cabinet 2, and is provided with a drive motor, not shown, which can
be activated for a predetermined, or random, period of time to
cause the gamble wheel to be spun for a short period of time.
[0109] A part-annular ball guiding unit 20 covers an upper region
of the wheel 9 and is shaped to feed a ball or balls entering the
ball guiding unit 20 from the upper machine portion 3 into the
pockets 32 of said upper region of the wheel, and is preferably
dimensioned to permit a ball to bounce around within the ball
settling chamber defined between the walls of the unit 20 and the
disc.
[0110] One embodiment of a ball guiding unit 20 constructed of
welded wires in the form of an arcuate hopper is shown in FIGS. 7
to 12, and comprises a part-annular hopper front wall 21 which is
substantially normal to the wheel axis Z-Z and extends radially
inwardly to the hub 9, but is spaced slightly therefrom so as not
to impede rotation of the wheel, and a pair of circumferentially
spaced-apart hopper end walls 22 of substantially elongated
triangular shape constituted by a series of L-shaped wires 22' of
progressively increasing length that extend up to the path of the
vanes 16 but are closely spaced therefrom. The ball guiding unit 20
defines with the disc front face a ball settling chamber which is
sufficiently wide, in the direction normal to the disc, to permit a
ball to bounce within the chamber, to enable a ball that falls into
the chamber to bounce from one pocket to another on occasion,
before the ball comes to rest in one of the pockets of the wheel.
The width of the chamber, between the front wall of the hopper and
the disc face, tapers downwardly, to direct the ball towards the
pockets 32.
[0111] Once a ball has become seated in a pocket 32, the ball will
be conveyed by the wheel past the end wall 22, and will be carried
round with the wheel.
[0112] The ball in the pocket is retained in the pocket during
rotation by a part-annular ball retaining strips 23 and by the
flange 31.
[0113] The ball retaining strips 23 each extend from a position 35
at the end wall 22 of the hopper to a position 38 adjacent to the
respective end 36 of a release strip 37, FIG. 10, and are each
supported on respective wire arms 23'. The strips 23 in transverse
cross-section are curved as shown in FIG. 12, to increase their
rigidity, and they effectively provide part-circular cages to
retain a ball in a pocket whilst the ball pocket is travelling for
the arcuate lengths of the strips 23.
[0114] The movable strip 37 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 in its
normal position in which it is contiguous with the fixed strips 23,
so as to retain a ball in a pocket during rotation of the wheel.
When it is desired to release a ball from a pocket, the strip 37 is
moved downwards by a vertically movable actuating rod 40. Thus,
strip 37 provides a cage door.
[0115] When a ball is released from the wheel it falls into a
collection funnel 45, seen in FIG. 7, which returns the ball to the
ball projector unit 8.
[0116] In FIG. 4, the gamble wheel disc is shown carrying indicia
in the form of numerals that each are positioned in the radially
outer part of a respective pocket. The numerals are in a random
order around the wheel, and it can be arranged that the `starting
position` of the wheel is a random one.
[0117] A suitable ball detector means is provided to detect the
pocket in which the ball has lodged. Such detector means are known
in automatic roulette machines of the usual types.
[0118] The ball detector means could be an optical detector or a
capacitive sensor, and the output of the ball detector is
transmitted to the lower portion 5 of the machine for a
determination of the effect on the overall game being played.
[0119] The ball released from the wheel will roll down a collection
apron 25, FIG. 3, that is positioned behind the display 10 and is
shaped to direct the ball to the inlet of the ball projector unit
8.
[0120] In the modified machine of FIG. 6 a return tube 45' conveys
balls released from the gamble wheel to a ball projector button by
the machine player.
[0121] FIG. 5 shows dice, card symbols and fruit symbols that may
alternatively be provided on the wheel to enable various games to
be played on the machine. In particular, Black Jack and Poker may
be played.
[0122] Preferably the outer margin of the wheel disc face is in the
form of switchable display elements, for example LCD elements, to
enable the type of indicia displayed on the disc to be selected by
the player at the beginning, or at an intermediate stage of playing
the machine.
[0123] It should be appreciated that when the ball is supplied to
the wheel by following a tortuous path, there are many possible
devices that may be used for producing one or more tortuous paths
for the ball moving down the upper region 3 of the machine under
gravitational force from the upper end 6 of ball supply 7. The
progress of the ball down the tortuous path is visible to the
machine player through a window, such as upper machine glass 11 in
the machine cabinet. This displays to the machine player a degree
of randomness in the delivery of the ball to the roulette wheel
9.
[0124] Some examples of arrangements for producing a tortuous path
are shown in FIGS. 13 to 18.
[0125] In FIG. 13 the upper portion 3 is provided with a labyrinth
in the form of an array of forwardly projecting pins 3' laid out in
a generally funnel outline. Each horizontal row of pins is
staggered with respect to the row above to cause a ball to bounce
around as it proceeds down the array, thereby to execute a tortuous
path. As is well known the path of the ball through the labyrinth
will vary according to the initial velocity of the ball is it
leaves the end 6 of the tube 7 and this is not be controlled
precisely.
[0126] FIG. 14 shows a labyrinth of forwardly projecting blocks 50
bounded by funnel walls 51 for directing the ball towards the
roulette wheel.
[0127] FIG. 15 shows a labyrinth comprising alternate rows of
blocks of different shapes. There is an upper row of triangular
blocks 53, above a row of cylindrical blocks 54, beneath which is a
row of triangular blocks 55, and finally a row of square blocks 56.
The blocks 55 and 56 are rotatable about respective horizontal axes
by means of gears, indicated at 57, 58 for example. This
arrangement in which some non-round elements of the labyrinth
rotate increases, in a very visible manner, the randomness of the
tortuous path of a ball down the labyrinth.
[0128] FIG. 16 shows a labyrinth comprising fixed pins, tiltable
vanes 59, and flippers 60 which are driven in a cyclic manner by a
suitable drive motor.
[0129] FIG. 17 shows a compact labyrinth comprising tiltable or
rotatable vanes 59, and a row of rotatable blocks 61, 62, 63, 64 of
very different shapes, all driven by gearing 65 indicated in broken
outline. Since the blocks 61 to 64 are of very different shapes,
the path of the ball down the labyrinth is unpredictable.
[0130] FIG. 18 shows the use of a spiral tube indicated by line 65
mounted above a labyrinth of pins 3'. The lower end 66 of the tube
65 is directed at a central upper pin 67 and a ball leaving tube
end 66 will bounce randomly according to the speed of the ball
leaving the tube end 66, which will vary according to the speed of
the ball, which is not controlled in any precise manner.
[0131] Referring now to FIGS. 19 to 26 these show various
modifications to the machine of FIG. 1, and corresponding reference
numbers have been applied to corresponding parts in the different
Figures of the drawings.
[0132] In the modified machine of FIGS. 19 and 20 the roulette
wheel 9 is mounted vertically, for rotation about a horizontal
axis. In this machine a tortuous path for the ball is provided by a
series of elongate sloping troughs 70 arranged in a zig-zag manner,
the ends of the troughs being connected by ball reversing bends
71.
[0133] The embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22 is similar to that of FIG.
19, 20 but the wheel 9 is shown mounted at an angle of 45.degree.,
but the wheel can be mounted at other angles in the range 0.degree.
to 90.degree.
[0134] Referring now to FIGS. 27 to 34, these show one particularly
preferred construction in accordance with the invention
incorporating an advantageous ball guiding unit defining a ball
settling chamber for allowing the ball to be captured by the wheel.
The machine of FIGS. 27 to 34 is provided with ball settling unit
in the form of a ball ramp assembly 80 which comprises oppositely
directed ramp surfaces 81, 82 connected by an intermediate platform
83, the surfaces 81, 82 extending upwardly and outwardly from one
another. The ramp surfaces 81, 82 and the upper surface of platform
83, are sloped towards a transparent plate 84, conveniently a glass
plate, which forms part of a ball retainer for retaining captured
balls in pockets of the wheel, such as ball 85 in FIG. 31, but also
defines a front wall bounding the ball settling chamber.
[0135] The modified ramp assembly 80 of FIG. 35 incorporates a
front flange 80' for abutting a machine glass.
[0136] The gamble wheel 9 of the construction of FIGS. 27 to 34 is
provided with part-spherical pockets of lozenge shape which
interrupt the front edge of the margin of the wheel, the centres of
the pockets each facing outwardly of the wheel at a angle of
approximately 45.degree. to the axis of the wheel.
[0137] A part-annular ball track 86, best seen in section in FIG.
32, has a ball-guiding surface 87 that faces forwardly and radially
inwardly of the wheel, so that the ball 85 is retained in a pocket
by the combination of the ball-guiding surface 87 and the
transparent plate 84.
[0138] The platform 83 is provided in the front margin thereof with
an elongate cut-out 90 which defines with the plate 84 an elongate
slot extending over about three pocket-lengths of the margin of the
wheel 9. The ball track 86 is interrupted at ends 92 for a
corresponding arcuate length to enable a ball that passes through
the slot to enter one of the exposed pockets 32.
[0139] A labyrinth of pins, blocks etc, not shown, or other
tortuous ball supply, is mounted above the ramp assembly 80, such
that when a ball issues from the labyrinth it is caught by the ramp
assembly 80, in whatever position it issues from the labyrinth, and
then rolls down one of the ramps 81, 82. Usually the velocity of
the ball on encountering the platform 83 is such that the ball will
not settle in an exposed pocket, but instead will bounce out and
proceed up the opposite ramp. The player will thus see the ball
oscillate by executing one or more traverses of the ramps 81, 82
before it settles into an exposed pocket. Once a ball has settled
in a pocket, such as ball 91 in FIGS. 29, 30, the ball will be
carried by the wheel to pass under the free end 92 of the ball
track 86, this being facilitated by the curved ends 93, FIG. 30, of
the cut-out 90. The ball is then carried round with the wheel until
it is released therefrom by a gate 37 operated by a solenoid
actuator 94, as shown in FIG. 34, where a ball 95 is being
released.
[0140] It will be appreciated that the motion of the ball on the
ramp assembly 80 will provide further interest to the machine
player, and the degree of randomness will be apparent to the
player.
[0141] FIG. 35 shows a wire cage ball funnel 96 which is suitable
for use in feeding a ball 97 from an upright tortuous ball supply
to the margin of a horizontal gamble wheel.
[0142] In the embodiments described thus far, utilising an inclined
or vertical wheel, the ball settling chamber was located at or
adjacent to the top of the wheel. Various embodiments will now be
described which are provided with ball settling chambers in other
regions of the wheel.
[0143] FIGS. 39 to 41 show schematically how a ball settling
chamber 100 can be located generally in a region 101 laterally
displaced from the top of the wheel. In the illustrated
construction the ball settling chamber 100 is defined by a rear
plate 102, funnel walls 103, 104, and a glass cover-plate 106, the
balls being supplied to chamber 100 down an incline 105.
[0144] The ball or balls fed down incline 105 bounce around in the
ball settling chamber 100 until they settle in a pocket and are
carried around by the wheel, in the clockwise direction of FIG. 39,
to be retained by the profile of the part annular ball-retaining
surface 107. The wheel is desirably spun for long enough to permit
a captured ball to be carried round by more than one complete
revolution of the wheel before the release gate 37 is opened to
allow the ball to drop into the collection funnel 45.
[0145] FIGS. 42 and 43 show schematically how a ball settling
chamber 100 can be located generally in a region 101 adjacent to
the lower part of the wheel. Desirably balls are fed to the ball
settling chamber 100 by passing down the front face 108 of the
wheel. In the illustrated construction the balls are initially
supplied to a ball ramp assembly 80 positioned above the wheel. A
ball fed to one end of the ramp oscillates on the ramp before
slowing down to drop through a feed tube 109 leading to the upper
part of the front face 108 of the wheel. The front face 108 is
provided with a protruding central capstan 110 and a series of
triangular protrusions 111 which define a labyrinth for balls
falling down the front face 108 of the wheel. The balls are
confined by a domed glass cover 112 and are directed by the cover
112 into the ball settling chamber 100 at the lower margin of the
wheel.
[0146] The ball settling chamber 100 in the construction of FIGS.
42, 43 comprises an arcuate chamber portion defined by an arcuate
upwardly facing ball track surface 113, the ball track surface
sloping towards the wheel, as shown in FIG. 43, so as to direct a
ball that has lost momentum towards the wheel to become seated in a
pocket of the wheel.
[0147] A ball that is initially received in the chamber 100 will
have freedom to oscillate along the chamber, as indicated by the
double-ended arrows in FIG. 42, but then will settle towards the
wheel, become trapped in a wheel pocket, and then be carried around
by the wheel.
[0148] The clearance 114 between the lower part of the glass cover
112 and the lower part of the wheel is sufficient to permit some
energetic balls to bounce upwards out of the chamber 100, up in
front of the disc face 108, before settling against the track
surface 113 to oscillate therealong.
[0149] FIGS. 44 to 46 show a wheel in which the pocket surfaces 114
on the wheel 9 face radially inwardly with respect to the axis of
the wheel, and a part-annular, fixed ball-retaining strip 115 is
located radially inwards from the pockets 114.
[0150] Balls are fed to the front face of the wheel at the top of
the wheel by a supply tube 109 which can be associated with a
random supply 115 indicated in FIG. 45, such as a labyrinth or ramp
assembly.
[0151] The ball or balls will bounce around against the lower
portion of the front face of the disc, jumping in and out of the
pockets in the region chamber 100 that is bounded by the free ends
116 of the retaining strip 115. As a ball loses momentum it will
settle in a pocket and be carried around with the wheel, confined
by the strip 115.
[0152] In order to release a ball from a pocket, an air jet 120 is
positioned behind the lower part of the wheel, and the wheel is
provided with a hole for each pocket to enable a ball to be blown
out of the pocket when the air jet 120 is operated, the ball then
falling into funnel 45.
[0153] FIGS. 47 and 48 show a construction similar to that of FIGS.
42, 43 but in which the ball supply comprises a tube 121 extending
through a stationary hub 122 on which the wheel 9 is journalled.
The tube 121 may extend downwards behind the wheel, as shown in
full outline in FIG. 48, or upwards as shown in broken outline in
FIG. 48. Balls emitted by the tube 121 will then fall down the
front face 108 of the disc, and will encounter the protrusions 111
before entering the chamber 100, as previously described with
reference to FIGS. 42, 43.
[0154] FIGS. 49 to 51 show a gamble wheel assembly which is
generically similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8, and corresponding
reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. In
this construction the pockets 32 face radially outwardly of the
axis of the wheel and are formed in the radially outer portion of a
ring 130 which projects from the front of the wheel 9.
[0155] The ball retainer in FIGS. 49 to 51 comprises a part-annular
rigid strip 23 provided with outwardly flared ends 23a, 23b, that
guide balls towards the wheel pockets and define opposite ends of
ball settling chamber 100. The broken outline 101 indicates
generally the region that can be used to provide such a ball
settling chamber 100, but the detail of construction of the front
wall of the ball settling chamber have not been shown and, indeed,
many possibilities exist.
[0156] Although the machines have been described as employing a
single ball, it is possible to use a plurality of balls in a game,
the balls being released into the ball supply either simultaneously
or in turn.
* * * * *