Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Kaminkow

Joseph E. Kaminkow 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).

  • Gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game
    Patent number: 7153208
    Abstract: A gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game. One embodiment includes a mechanical die shaker mounted directly adjacent to the reels of the gaming device. The die shaker includes a suitable container that houses at least one die. In one embodiment, the gaming device activates the mechanical die shaker to shake or actuate the die simultaneously with the spinning of the reels. If the player obtains one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player obtains an award associated with the position of the shaken die. In this embodiment, if the player does not obtain one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player will not obtain any award based on the shaken die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Michael MacVittie
  • Gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game
    Patent number: 7153207
    Abstract: A gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game. One embodiment includes a mechanical die shaker mounted directly adjacent to the reels of the gaming device. The die shaker includes a suitable container that houses at least one die. In one embodiment, the gaming device activates the mechanical die shaker to shake or actuate the die simultaneously with the spinning of the reels. If the player obtains one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player obtains an award associated with the position of the shaken die. In this embodiment, if the player does not obtain one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player will not obtain any award based on the shaken die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Michael MacVittie
  • Gaming device having wild indicators
    Patent number: 7137888
    Abstract: A gaming device having wild indicator symbols associated with symbols displayed within a display device on a set of reels. The wild indicator symbols may also be associated with a card or plurality of cards within a display device. A processor determines whether the wild indicators will be associated with the symbols or cards and also determines if the wild indicators will be activated. If the wild indicators are activated, the processor transforms those symbols or cards associated with the wild indicators into wild symbols or wild cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Glavich, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Gaming device having independent bonus reels
    Patent number: 7014560
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming device having a plurality of reels each having a plurality of award symbols, a terminating condition, at least one award indicator and a processor connected to the reels. The processor activates the reels and randomly stops one of the reels. An award is provided to the player if an award symbol is indicated on the stopped reel. If a terminating condition occurs with respect to a reel, the reel is deactivated. If a terminating condition does not occur, the processor re-activates the reel. The gaming device continues to activate the reels until all of the reels are deactivated. The player then receives the total accumulated award for the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Glavich, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game
    Patent number: 7004836
    Abstract: A gaming device having a die or dice directly associated with the reels in the primary game. One embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanical die shaker mounted directly adjacent to the reels of the gaming device. The die shaker includes a suitable container that houses at least one die. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device activates the mechanical die shaker to shake or actuate the die simultaneously with the spinning of the reels. If the player obtains one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player obtains an award associated with the position of the shaken die. In this embodiment, if the player does not obtain one or more predetermined symbols or combinations of symbols on one or more paylines of the reels, the player will not obtain any award based on the shaken die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Michael MacVittie
  • Gaming device having symbols with transformation probabilities
    Patent number: 6997808
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes symbols having a transformation probability. The gaming device in one embodiment includes an activator symbol. When the activator symbol is displayed, a processor of the gaming device determines the transformation probability of each of the displayed symbols and randomly determines which, if any, symbols are to be transformed into wild symbols or other functional symbols based on the transformation probability of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Rodgers, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Shawn Van Asdale
  • Gaming device having an interactive matrix game
    Patent number: 6983935
    Abstract: A gaming device and method having a bonus game including a matrix defining a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of members that engage the receptacles. The object of the game is to obtain at least one winning combination of members in the receptacles of the matrix. The gaming device provides a number of activations to the player. The player may choose members to eject or displace from the receptacles after each activation. The player continues to select members to eject from the receptacles in the matrix until the player obtains one or more winning combinations of members in the receptacles or until there are no activations remaining. The player receives at least one award for each winning combination of members that occur in the receptacles in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Gaming device having value selection bonus
    Patent number: 6966833
    Abstract: A gaming device that provides a player with an opportunity to maximize a gaming device award. The gaming device presents the player with a display having a plurality of symbols and enables the player to choose one or more of the symbols. The game reveals the award(s) associated with the selected symbols but does not reveal which awards are associated with which symbols. The game then provides the player with one or more opportunities to upgrade the total award by deselecting one or more of the selected symbols and re-selecting another symbol for each deselected symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Jean M. Brossard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Joseph R. Hedrick, Lance R. Peterson
  • Gaming device having bonus game with multiple moving objects within partitionable channels
    Patent number: 6939225
    Abstract: A gaming device including plurality of aligned channels mounted to the cabinet and a movable object is positioned in each channel. An actuator for engaging the movable object is positioned at the base of each channel and a partitioner for partitioning each channel into a plurality of sections is connected to each channel. An award is provided to the player based on the sections the moveable objects are captured in after the partitioners partition the channels into a plurality of sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Gaming device with award and deduction proximity-based sound effect feature
    Patent number: 6935955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device which generates a sound effect when the player comes within a certain proximity of reaching an award or deduction but does not reach an award or deduction. The gaming device also generates sound effects when the player fails to reach an award a certain number of times. This feature, usable in primary games and bonus rounds, provides players with information and enhances the enjoyment and entertainment which players experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Jeffrey P. Laakso
  • Electronic gaming unit with virtual object input device
    Patent number: 6932706
    Abstract: An electronic gambling unit for allowing a user to play a video gambling game, may generally include a virtual object input device that allows the user to make a plurality of input selections and a display unit being capable of generating color images. The electronic gambling unit may further include a currency-accepting mechanism that is capable of allowing the user to deposit a medium of currency and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: International Game Technology
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Gaming device having a bonus scheme including a plurality of selection groups with win-group outcomes
    Patent number: 6932701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device with a bonus scheme including a plurality of groups of symbols and a plurality of bonus value outcomes and at least one win-group outcome associated with the symbols. The win-group outcome corresponds to a plurality of the bonus value outcomes. A player can select symbols and gain bonus values while advancing from group to group. If a player reaches a win-group outcome, the player receives all of the bonus value outcomes which correspond to the win-group outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Glavich, Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Gaming device having symbols with transformation probabilities
    Patent number: 6921335
    Abstract: A gaming device which includes symbols having a transformation probability. The gaming device in one embodiment includes an activator symbol. When the activator symbol is displayed, a processor of the gaming device determines the transformation probability of each of the displayed symbols and randomly determines which, if any, symbols are to be transformed into wild symbols or other functional symbols based on the transformation probability of the symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paulina Rodgers, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Shawn Van Asdale
  • Gaming device with traveling reel symbols
    Patent number: 6918832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device feature which involves one or more symbols which travel from location to location on one or more reels. The travel can occur at any time during a primary game or bonus round, however it preferably occurs to accompany an outcome such as a value award. This travel feature provides players with engaging entertainment and increases player enjoyment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Cari L. Blomquist, Joseph E. Kaminkow, Lance R. Peterson, Bayard S. Webb
  • Gaming device having multiple selectable changing awards
    Patent number: 6913535
    Abstract: A gaming device having a game that may be implemented in a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that enables the player to build a number of awards by selecting choices from one or more sets of choices and further enables the player to select a final award choice that randomly provides one of the awards when the player finishes building the awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Paulina Glavich
  • Gaming device having multiple symbol displays
    Patent number: D511549
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Lance R. Peterson
  • Gaming device having multiple symbol displays
    Patent number: D514168
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Lance R. Peterson
  • Gaming device having multiple symbol displays
    Patent number: D514170
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Lance R. Peterson
  • Gaming system having a shared symbol display
    Patent number: D523093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Michael MacVittie, Kehl T. LeSourd, Kirk A. Tedsen, Eric L. Wagner, Christopher D. Carlisle
  • Gaming system spacer assembly for a shared symbol display
    Patent number: D529101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kaminkow, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Kehl T. LeSourd, Kirk A. Tedsen, Eric L. Wagner, Christopher D. Carlisle