U.S. patent application number 12/986818 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-12 for roulette wheel having reduced bias.
Invention is credited to Joseph Zerga.
Application Number | 20120175840 12/986818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46454663 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120175840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zerga; Joseph |
July 12, 2012 |
ROULETTE WHEEL HAVING REDUCED BIAS
Abstract
A roulette wheel includes a central spindle, a wheelhead and
turret unit freely rotatable around the central spindle, a cone
freely rotatable around the central spindle independently of the
wheelhead and turret unit, and a lower ball track. The lower ball
track can be stationary or can be freely rotatable around the
central spindle independently of the wheelhead and turret unit and
of the cone.
Inventors: |
Zerga; Joseph; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Family ID: |
46454663 |
Appl. No.: |
12/986818 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/142E |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/142.E |
International
Class: |
A63F 5/02 20060101
A63F005/02 |
Claims
1. A roulette wheel including: a central spindle; a wheelhead and
turret unit freely rotatable around the central spindle; a cone
freely rotatable around the central spindle independently of the
wheelhead and turret unit; and a lower ball track.
2. The roulette wheel of claim 1 wherein the lower ball track is
stationary.
3. The roulette wheel of claim 1 wherein the lower ball track is
freely rotatable around the central spindle independently of the
wheelhead and turret unit and of the cone.
4. The roulette wheel of claim 1 wherein the wheelhead and turret
unit is rigidly attached to a sleeve that freely rotates around the
central spindle.
5. The roulette wheel of claim 4 wherein the wheelhead and the
turret are connected to each other by the sleeve.
6. The roulette wheel of claim 1 wherein the cone is supported by a
shoulder formed on the sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an improved
roulette wheel with less bias. It has been estimated that about 30%
of all roulette wheels will show some bias. That is to say certain
numbers will win more times in a given number of spins than
statistically predictable. Roulette wheels can have a bias, or
develop a bias, due to faulty manufacture, loose pocket dividers
and/or wear. Players have been known to clock wheels to identify
wheels having a large enough bias to guarantee winning in a
reasonable number of spins.
[0002] In order for a roulette wheel to be fair to all players,
there is a need for an improved roulette wheel that reduces the
probability of bias.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An improved roulette wheel with less chance of bias in
accordance with the present invention includes an independently
spinning wheelhead, an independent spinning cone and can also
include an independent spinning lower ball track. Adding additional
random elements that affect the path of the ball reduces the affect
that any single element will have on the outcome.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] For a fuller understanding of the present invention
reference should be made to the following detailed description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, not drawn to
scale, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or
similar parts.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional roulette
wheel.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top view of an illustrative roulette wheel
according to the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of an illustrative roulette
wheel according to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a close-up cross section view of the bearing and
support assembly of an illustrative roulette wheel according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
following description of the present invention is illustrative only
and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention
will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a conventional roulette wheel 10. To play
roulette, the croupier (dealer) first spins the wheelhead 14 in one
direction and then spins the ball (not shown) in upper ball track
11 in the opposite direction. Upper ball track 11 is slightly
tilted toward the middle, so that as the ball slows in the upper
ball track 11, gravity will cause the ball to fall out onto the
lower ball track 12. Rigidly mounted on the lower ball track are
horizontal and vertical ball deflectors 13 designed to disrupt the
smooth path of the ball and add a random variable to the path of
the ball. As the ball continues to slow, gravity causes it to move
toward the wheelhead 14. Mounted as part of the wheelhead are
thirty-eight pockets 15 separated by pocket dividers 16. The ball
may then fall into any pocket 15, hit a pocket divider 16 and
bounce either back onto lower ball track 12, onto cone 17 or into
another pocket 15. Eventually a ball will fall into a pocket and
stay there. The winning number is the number associated with the
pocket in which the ball finally comes to rest. Turret 18 is
primarily decoration that covers internal parts. All of the various
parts are supported and contained in bowl 19.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of an
improved roulette wheel 10 showing the relationship of lower ball
track 12, ball deflectors 13, wheelhead 14, pockets 15, pocket
dividers 16, turret 18 and bowl 19.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a section view of FIG. 2 showing the construction
of the roulette wheel 10. Part of the upper portion of bowl 19 is
upper ball track 11. Inside bowl 19 is lower ball track 12. Inside
lower ball track 12 is wheelhead 14. Inside wheelhead 14 is cone
17. Mounted on cone 17 is turret 18.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a detailed section view of the support and
bearing assembly shown in FIG. 3. Spindle 20 is rigidly affixed to
bowl 19 by nut 21. Lower ball track lower bearing 22 is affixed to
lower ball track 12 allowing lower ball track 12 to freely rotate
around spindle 20. Lower ball track lower bearing 22 is separated
from bowl 19 by shims 23. Shims 23 provide separation between the
stationary upper surface of bowl 19 and the lower rotating surface
of lower ball track 12. In addition, shims 23 provide lower ball
track 12 height adjustment depending on how many shims are
installed. Lower ball track upper bearing 24 is rigidly attached to
lower ball track 12 allowing lower ball track 12 to freely rotate
around spindle 20 and also helps provide stability to lower ball
track 12.
[0014] Sleeve 25 is rigidly affixed to wheelhead 14. Sleeve lower
bearing 26 is affixed to sleeve 25 allowing sleeve 25 to freely
rotate around spindle 20. Shims 27 separate the upper rotating
surface of lower ball track 12 from the lower rotating surface of
wheelhead 14. In addition, shims 27 provide height adjustment
between the upper rotating surface of lower ball track 12 and the
lower rotating surface of wheelhead 14 depending on how many shims
are installed. Sleeve upper bearing 28 is rigidly attached to
sleeve 25 allowing sleeve 15 to freely rotate around spindle 20 and
also helps to provide stability to sleeve 25.
[0015] Cone lower bearing 29 is rigidly attached to cone 17
allowing cone 17 to freely rotate around sleeve 25. Cone lower
bearing 29 rests on shims 31, which rest on, and are supported by,
sleeve shoulder 32. In addition, shims 31 provide height adjustment
between lower ball track 12 and cone 17, depending on how many
shims are installed. Cone upper bearing 33 is rigidly attached to
cone 17 and allowing cone 17 to freely rotate around sleeve 25 and
also helps provide stability to cone 17.
[0016] Turret 18 is rigidly attached to sleeve 25. Since wheelhead
14 is also rigidly attached to sleeve 25, when wheelhead 14
rotates, wheelhead 14, sleeve 25 and turret 18 all rotate together.
The lower rotating surface of turret 18 is separated from the upper
surface of rotating cone 17 by shims 34. Shims 34 also provide
height adjustment to turret 18.
[0017] In the roulette wheel 10 of the present invention, the lower
ball track 12, wheelhead 14 and turret 18 as a unit, and cone 17
all rotate independently of one another. In another version of
roulette wheel 10, lower ball track lower bearing 22, lower ball
track upper bearing 24 and shims 23 are removed, and lower ball
track 12 is rigidly affixed to bowl 19. In this version only cone
17, and wheelhead 14, sleeve 28 and turret 18 as a unit, rotate
independently of one another.
[0018] While embodiments and applications of this invention have
been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in
the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are
possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The
invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit
of the appended claims.
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