Patents by Inventor Craig M. Schaefer

Craig M. Schaefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170132876
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein provides a player one or more chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides the player one or more opportunities to win a progressive award in association with a first game sequence. If the player does not win the progressive award in association with the first game sequence, the gaming system determines whether to provide the player any additional chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award in a second game sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Brian A. Johnson, Victoria A. Fuller, Cameron A. Filipour, William Jay Foster, Dirk Geere, Misty Ann Johnson, Joseph Louis Masinter, II, Vincent Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 9558629
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein provides a player one or more chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides the player one or more opportunities to win a progressive award in association with a first game sequence. If the player does not win the progressive award in association with the first game sequence, the gaming system determines whether to provide the player any additional chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award in a second game sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Brian A. Johnson, Victoria A. Fuller, Cameron A. Filipour, William Jay Foster, Dirk Geere, Misty Ann Johnson, Joseph Louis Masinter, II, Vincent Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 9076299
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a progressive award in association with an offer and acceptance game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Daniel J. Uomini, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Publication number: 20150080119
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein provides a player one or more chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award. In these embodiments, the gaming system provides the player one or more opportunities to win a progressive award in association with a first game sequence. If the player does not win the progressive award in association with the first game sequence, the gaming system determines whether to provide the player any additional chances or opportunities to win the same progressive award in a second game sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Brian A. Johnson, Victoria A. Fuller, Cameron A. Filipour, William Jay Foster, Dirk Geere, Misty Ann Johnson, Joseph Louis Masinter, II, Vincent Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 8795048
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides gaming systems, devices, and methods providing a multi-stage bonus game. When a first stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a first bonus game stage. During the first stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and determine any first stage awards based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a second bonus game stage. During the second stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and may provide the player with elements, which the player accumulates during the second stage, based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage termination event occurs, the gaming system determines any second stage awards based on a total quantity of elements accumulated by the player, provides the player with any determined awards, and terminates the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Vincent P. Smith, Brian A. Johnson, Mathew T. Planet
  • Patent number: 8764557
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a progressive award in association with an offer and acceptance game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Daniel J. Uomini, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Publication number: 20130337902
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a progressive award in association with an offer and acceptance game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Daniel J. Uomini, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Publication number: 20130337903
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a progressive award in association with an offer and acceptance game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Daniel J. Uomini, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Publication number: 20130143645
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides gaming systems, devices, and methods providing a multi-stage bonus game. When a first stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a first bonus game stage. During the first stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and determine any first stage awards based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a second bonus game stage. During the second stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and may provide the player with elements, which the player accumulates during the second stage, based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage termination event occurs, the gaming system determines any second stage awards based on a total quantity of elements accumulated by the player, provides the player with any determined awards, and terminates the bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Vincent P. Smith, Brian A. Johnson, Mathew T. Planet
  • Patent number: 8454434
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a progressive award in association with an offer and acceptance game. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system initiates a multiple round offer and acceptance game, wherein each round is associated with a progressive award token. After either accepting a final offer or participating in a selection game for a final round of the offer and acceptance game, based on the player's total quantity of accumulated progressive award tokens, one of a plurality of progressive awards is provided to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Christopher B. Drake, Daniel J. Uomini, Cameron A. Filipour
  • Patent number: 6932340
    Abstract: A wagering game utilizing multiple dice is disclosed. In an electronic gaming machine embodiment, a player causes five dice to be rolled a first time. The player then selects which dice to hold and discard and re-roll. The discarded dice are re-rolled and a sum of the five dice determines a payout. Larger payouts are provided for small and large sums with moderate sums resulting in losing wagers. Outcomes of five of a kind trigger a bonus round. Bonus rounds are played in similar fashion to non-bonus rounds. A system of tiered bonus rounds facilitate jackpots, including progressive jackpots. In an alternative bonus round embodiment, players are able to select a level of risk/reward related to a winning outcome. The player may select levels corresponding to conservative, aggressive and high-risk. A live table game version of the game is also implementable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: West Coast Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Schaefer, Micheal S. Schneweis
  • Patent number: 6554282
    Abstract: A modified game of cribbage is played by betting the point score of each hand against a predetermined table of betting odds. In this form the game may be played in a casino setting, on a table provided with designated areas for the placement of bets by each player, the placement of the dealt cards to each betting player and the placement of the cards dealt into the crib. The table top may further include imprints of the payout table along with the display of selected rules of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin VanderKley, Craig M. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20030034610
    Abstract: A modified game of cribbage is played by betting the point score of each hand against a predetermined table of betting odds. In this form the game may be played in a casino setting, on a table provided with designated areas for the placement of bets by each player, the placement of the dealt cards to each betting player and the placement of the cards dealt into the crib. The table top may further include imprints of the payout table along with a display of selected rules of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin E. VanderKley, Craig M. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6196548
    Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game between a dealer and one or more players includes the step of each player placing a first wager based on one or more card combinations selected from a fixed number of types of card combinations. One or more first cards are revealed. The dealer appropriates wagers which are no longer winnable in view of these first cards. One wagering player may place a second wager based on the one or more card combinations. One or more second cards are revealed. The dealer appropriates wagers which are no longer winnable in view of the one or more second cards. Preferably there are four types of combinations, namely four cards of a single suit, four cards all of a different suit, one pair, two pairs and three cards of a single suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Craig M. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5882009
    Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game between a dealer and one or more players includes the step of each player placing a first wager based on one or more card combinations selected from a fixed number of types of card combinations. One or more first cards are revealed. The dealer appropriates wagers which are no longer winnable in view of these first cards. One wagering player may place a second wager based on the one or more card combinations. One or more second cards are revealed. The dealer appropriates wagers which are no longer winnable in view of the one or more second cards. Preferably there are five types of combinations, namely four cards of a single suit, four cards all of a different suit, one pair, two pairs and three cards of a single suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Craig M. Schaefer