Patents Examined by Dolores Collins
  • Patent number: 10052550
    Abstract: A device and method is provided for simulating an outcome of a game, the device including a die having a plurality of faces, each face of the die being associated with an index value, a first wheel having a surface for rolling of the die, and a randomization mechanism coupled to the wheel and configured to cause a randomized motion of the wheel and die for a period of time to generate an outcome of game play, the outcome of game play being defined at least in part based on the index value of an exposed face of the plurality of faces of the die after the completion of the randomized motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Las Vegas Sands Corp.
    Inventors: Andrew MacDonald, Kelvin Morin, Wayne Stevens
  • Patent number: 10039993
    Abstract: A toy that has a pair of wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. A non-ferrous support plate such as a flat piece of wood with a metal strip on its edges forms a track. The magnets associated with the axle causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. When the device is placed on the track, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Big Monster Toys, LLC
    Inventors: J. Vincente G. Antolin, Robert Annis
  • Patent number: 10035062
    Abstract: A roulette lottery apparatus with a novel configuration causes a player not to lose interest. The roulette lottery apparatus 1 for a roulette game comprises: plural roulette bodies that have plural ball pockets into which lottery balls enter, the plurality of roulette bodies being held so as to be rotatable about a horizontal or tilted rotation axis in a state where a rotation plane of the ball pockets is raisable, each of the plurality of the roulette bodies having different diameters; a drive source that rotationally drives the roulette bodies; and ball guide members that guide the balls to enter into any ball pocket among the ball pockets while causing the balls to be in pendular movement. The plural roulette bodies are arranged in a stepped state in which the roulette bodies are displaced in an axis direction on the rotation center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC.
    Inventors: Masaki Kawabata, Naoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10022618
    Abstract: A method including, manufacturing individual playing cards; shuffling, using a shuffling machine with multiple pockets, a multiple number of decks of the playing cards at random in a factory utilizing at least a first card feeding step and a second card feeding step; detecting, using an imaging device and an image processing unit, a rank and a suit of each of the cards; counting, using the image processing unit, the number of each rank and each suit; inspecting, using the image processing unit, during or after the shuffling of the decks of playing cards, but before packaging, whether or not there is an excess or deficiency in the number of the rank or the suit contained in the multiple number of decks of the playing cards; and, after the inspecting step, packaging a set of the shuffled decks of the playing cards in an individual package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: ANGEL PLAYING CARDS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10016695
    Abstract: The present invention is a mat-like structure with three-dimensional, inflatable motifs attached thereto. The mat-like structure is comprised of a surface layer and base layer, with a system of air ducts positioned between the two layers. The air ducts receive air from an air pump or other source, and are connected to the three-dimensional, inflatable motifs. The mat-like structure may include electronic lights, sound-producing components and/or three-dimensional elements connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: QUIRKY IP LICENSING LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Garcia, Julian R. Elias
  • Patent number: 9981179
    Abstract: A prize wheel assembly for facilitating interchanging the prize designations on the prize wheel. The prize wheel assembly includes a stand assembly; a display support assembly including a wheel member removably mounted to the stand assembly; and a signage support assembly removably mounted to the stand assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick T. Matthews, Michael B. Younes
  • Patent number: 9975036
    Abstract: A method of using a dealer shoe that is configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards from within the dealer shoe includes: a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, a top, and opposed sides joining the base, top, two sides and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity. The front plate further is associated with a light producing element configured to shine light (e.g., in patterns, in colors, and the like) over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and the wavelength and intensity and qualities of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card or otherwise disrupt optical viewing of printed images on the backs of playing cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventors: Brittney Rose Martino, Norbert Reiner
  • Patent number: 9978209
    Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games may involve accepting an ante wager and a blind wager from a player. Cards may be dealt to the player and a dealer hand. A play wager or an election to fold may be accepted from the player. A value of the play wager may depend on when the play wager is accepted relative to when the player discards and draws cards. The play wager may be accepted at a first value before the player discards any cards. The play wager may be accepted at a second, lower or equal value, after the player discards any cards. The dealer hand may discard and draw cards. The ante and blind wagers may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands. The blind wager may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands and comparing the player hand to a set of predetermined, blind-winning hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Snow, Ofir Ventura
  • Patent number: 9962601
    Abstract: A table game system for a game of chance includes a card shuffling machine for randomly selecting a single card from among a defined set of cards, the single card having indicia relevant to an outcome for the game of chance. The card shuffling machine is rotatable about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of trays uniformly spaced about an outer periphery thereof. Each of the defined set of cards is located in a respective one of the plurality of trays. A card retrieval device is disposed adjacent the card shuffling machine and configured to at least partially remove the single card from its tray. A controller is in communication with the card retrieval device to effectuate engagement of the card retrieval device with the single card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Mark Hamilton Jones and Sheryle Lynn Jones
    Inventor: Mark H. Jones
  • Patent number: 9937411
    Abstract: A ball lottery apparatus include a discharger adapted for discharging individually multiple lottery balls, a lottery field including multiple holes in which the discharged lottery balls can enter, a host controller for executing various controls, a retrieval mechanism adapted for retrieving the lottery balls. When a bingo game is played, the host controller can set the ball lottery apparatus to a normal mode in which an input time point at which each of the lottery balls discharged from the discharger is input to the lottery field depends on a predetermined rule, and to a dealer mode in which the input time point depends on human action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Masato Okuaki, Takashi Uchiyama, Makoto Nakano, Shogo Azuma, Norifumi Kawai
  • Patent number: 9931581
    Abstract: A toy apparatus. The toy including a guide having one or more tracks formed by one or more links; a helical spring coil having first and second ends and a plurality of turns (T) situated about and defining a center axis between first and second ends of the helical coil spring; and/or a coupler which couples the and second ends of the helical spring coil to each other so as to form center opening configured to receive the one or more tracks, wherein an outer surface of one or more of the plurality of turns is in contact with the one or more tracks so that the helical coil spring rotates in a substantially poloidal direction about the central axis when traveling axially along the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Victor A. Grossman
  • Patent number: 9919194
    Abstract: A generally U- or oval shaped flexible plastic stance guide lies flat on terrain, regardless of terrain contour, and defines a central opening for placement of a foot on the terrain. Gently sloped leading and trailing edges with an arcuate or planar median between the leading and trailing edges provide a palpable low-profile periphery around the opening. Parallel and perpendicular guide markings facilitate positioning and orienting the guide and a foot for a particular task. The bottom may be textured with spikes to enhance frictional engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Chad Jasmine
  • Patent number: 9914044
    Abstract: The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANGEL PLAYING CARDS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 9914046
    Abstract: A system, device and method provide for the printing of an instant, scratch-off lottery ticket product on demand at a retail location. In various embodiments, a pre-activation printing process applies an active thermal layer and other coatings on a ticket substrate, but excludes any game indicia or security codes. An activator printer thermally applies game indicia and/or security code(s) at a retail location according to ticket selections made by a user and further according to data generated via a central host, wherein the activator printer applies the indicia and code(s) at least partially under one or more security coatings on the ticket substrate, where the coatings had been applied during the pre-activation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IGT Global Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Modawell, Thomas K. Oram, Donald L. Stanford, Mark Truman
  • Patent number: 9916774
    Abstract: A wearable device for simulating wounds and injuries received during a trauma event includes a raiment and vest for covering the torso of a person. The raiment has an outer surface with a color and a texture comparable to human skin. Mounted on the outer surface is at least one wound simulator formed with an orifice that is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Thus, the person can selectively expel a blood-like fluid from the reservoir, and through the wound simulator orifice, to simulate a trauma event. The vest includes an artificial rib cage and prosthetic internal organs juxtaposed with at least one wound simulator to simulate internal effects of a trauma event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Stuart Charles Segall
  • Patent number: 9901810
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Rynda, Feraidoon Bourbour, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 9895621
    Abstract: The invention is a multi-directional reactive pendulum object that is intended to be attached to any moving object such as the dashboard of a motor vehicle. The object is put into motion by the movement of the vehicle causing a pendulum to swing. The pendulum operates two levers that are on pivots which are perpendicular to each other. The object entertains occupants by mimicking the actions of the movement of the vehicle (i.e. turning left, right, stopping, accelerating). Placed on top of the pendulum object will be a toy consisting of various characters, models, or artistic renderings of existing items such as a car, motorcycle, or airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Keith Aaron Bradley
  • Patent number: 9895599
    Abstract: A method of using a dealer shoe that is configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards from within the dealer shoe includes: a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, a top, and opposed sides joining the base, top, two sides and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity. The front plate further is associated with a light producing element configured to shine light (e.g., in patterns, in colors, and the like) over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and the wavelength and intensity and qualities of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card or otherwise disrupt optical viewing of printed images on the backs of playing cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Brittney Rose Martino
  • Patent number: 9878231
    Abstract: A deck of cards includes eighty four playing cards. Each playing card has a front surface and a back surface. The front surface of all of the playing cards has the same design. The eighty four playing cards include four sets of twenty one playing cards. Each of the four sets corresponds to a branch of military service and each playing card within each of the four sets of twenty one playing cards corresponding to a rank within a respective branch of the military service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Harold L. Lunt
  • Patent number: 9878232
    Abstract: A playing card game machine with an anti-cheat device includes a shuffling machine and a robotic arm. The shuffling machine includes a drive mechanism to drive a movable board having a through hole to move left and right. The robotic arm is provided with a suction cup. The suction cup passes through the through hole of the movable board to suck playing cards. The movable board is provided with a sensing seat. The periphery of the sensing seat is provided with infrared receivers arranged in at least three directions. The infrared receivers of the sensing seat can sense an external infrared ray and prevent the playing cards from being marked, so that the player is unable to know the suit and numeric of the playing card passing through the through hole to bring a fair competition in the game. An infrared transmitter is provided to achieve a self-check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Tzu-Hsiang Tseng