Patents by Inventor Lawrence M. Henshaw

Lawrence M. Henshaw 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: 20080167109
    Abstract: A gaming device including a game apparatus configured to allow a player to play a game including moveable prize objects is disclosed. The gaming device may also include a prize object holder configured to hold the prize objects where the prize objects are allowed to move within the prize object holder. A controller may be in communication with the game apparatus. The controller may be configured to determine a game outcome and to move the prize object holder to display the game outcome to the player. In another embodiment, a dynamic prize object which is distinguishable from all other prize objects may be included among the moveable prize objects where the dynamic prize object may be used to convey special prizes to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080153577
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a moveable display surface and an actuator that is coupled to the display surface for moving the display surface. A transparent organic light emitting display is positioned adjacent to the display surface. The transparent organic light emitting display is configured to display a presentation and to allow a player to view at least a portion of the display surface through the transparent organic light emitting display. A controller is in communication with the actuator and the transparent organic light emitting display. The controller is configured to control the position of the display surface and to control the presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080139282
    Abstract: A gaming device is provided that may include several gaming apparatuses. A rotatable container is coupled to the gaming apparatuses. At least one moveable object moves within the container. The moveable object has a moveable object symbol. A server is in communication with the gaming apparatuses. A selectable object is in communication with the server. The selectable object can be displayed and is similar in appearance to the moveable object. The display of the selectable object provides an illusion that the selectable object is the moveable object. A game display is in communication with the server. The game display displays a display symbol in the display position. A game outcome depends on the display position of the display symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080132326
    Abstract: A gaming display device includes a moveable video display. The moveable video display can display video presentations. An actuator may be coupled to the moveable video display. The actuator is configured to move the moveable video display. A memory device stores several video presentations. A controller is in communication with the moveable video display and the actuator. The controller can select one or more of the video presentations and display the selected video presentation on the moveable video display. The controller can also direct movement of the moveable video display. A method of operating a gaming device including a moveable video display is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7381136
    Abstract: A gaming device for playing a game by a game player. The gaming device allows the game player to place a telephone call. A controller generates a prize. Several images of persons who may receive the telephone call are displayed to the game player. The telephone call is placed to one of the images. The prize is announced by the selected image to the game player. A second telephone call is placed to a telephone number in order to select a multiplier. The controller generates the multiplier. The multiplier is the last digit of the telephone number. The prize is multiplied by the multiplier to obtain a total prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080125214
    Abstract: A gaming device has a matrix of symbols with several rows and columns. At least one of the symbols is configured to communicate a game outcome. A row indicator can selectively indicate each one of the plurality of rows and a column indicator can selectively indicate each one of the plurality of columns. A controller can select at least one of the symbols. The selected symbol is located in a symbol row in the plurality of rows and in a symbol column in the plurality of columns. The controller causes the row indicator to indicate the symbol row and the column indicator to indicate the symbol column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080096626
    Abstract: A video poker gaming apparatus and method of playing a game in which a player is allowed to place a first wager and a portion of a first card hand is displayed to the player. The player can choose to play the first card hand or to place a second wager to play an additional second card hand. The second card hand is dealt identical to the first card hand. If the player chooses to place the second wager and play the second card hand, all of the first card hand and all of the second card hand are displayed to the player. The player selects cards to keep or discard from each of the first and second card hands. Replacement cards are dealt for each of the cards that were discarded. An award is paid for the card hands according to a pay table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080085764
    Abstract: A progressive gaming system includes a gaming device and a non-gaming device. A controller is in communication with the gaming device and the non-gaming device. The controller is configured to receive a first wager from the gaming device, play a first game on the gaming device and apportion a first percentage of the first wager to a progressive jackpot. The controller further can award a first prize on the gaming device, receive a second wager through the non-gaming device and play a second game. The outcome of the second game is communicated to the non-gaming device. The controller may apportion a second percentage of the second wager to the progressive jackpot, award a second prize and communicate the award of the second prize to the non-gaming device. In addition, the controller determines if a progressive jackpot-winning event has occurred for either the gaming device or the non-gaming device, communicates the occurrence of the progressive jackpot-winning event, and awards a progressive jackpot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080085762
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a first and second gaming device. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices. The controller is configured to receive a wager on the first gaming device and play a base game on the first gaming device. The controller can determine if a bonus qualifying event has occurred on the first gaming device and play a first bonus game on the first gaming device. The controller can further award a first bonus prize and transmit a signal to the second gaming device that the second gaming device has qualified for a second bonus game. The controller indicates that the second gaming device has qualified for a second bonus game and plays the second bonus game on the second gaming device. A second bonus prize is awarded. A method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080081689
    Abstract: A gaming device allows a player to play a game. A controller is in communication with the gaming device. The controller is configured to receive a wager and allow a player to play several games. The controller records at least one variable about the games played. The controller determines a play level for the player from several play levels based upon the recorded variable or variables. Several pay-tables are provided. Each of the pay-tables is associated with a play level. The controller can change the pay-table used by the gaming device to the pay-table associated with the player's play level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: ATLANTIC CITY COIN & SLOT SERVICE COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080070679
    Abstract: A gaming system including at least one server configured to access and/or store at least one primary and at least one secondary game pay table. The primary game pay table can be adapted to provide a first payout percentage while the secondary game pay table can be adapted to provide a second payout percentage. The gaming system can include at least one gaming device in communication with the server, the gaming device being configured to allow a player to place a wager and initiate a game, download the primary game pay table from the server, use the primary game table to produce an outcome of a game, download the secondary pay table from the server after occurrence of a predetermined event (e.g., player qualification) and use the secondary pay table to produce a game outcome (e.g., higher valued payout, alternate prize, progressive prize), which can be produced for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080064489
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus allows players to collect accumulated credits at a future date in return for larger prizes or higher payback percentages during game play. The gaming apparatus includes a gaming device for playing a game. A display is coupled with the gaming device. A controller is in communication with the gaming device and the display. The controller is configured to receive a wager and determine a game outcome. The controller can determine a credit balance based on the game outcome. The controller receives a request to cashout the credit balance and determines a first and second payout. The first payout is paid at the present time and the second payout is paid at a future time. The first and second payouts are displayed to the player and the player is allowed to choose one of the payouts. The payout chosen by the player is awarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080058051
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a display device that has a several display surfaces that are visible to a game player. The display surfaces are formed by one or more organic light emitting diode displays. A controller is in communication with the display device and can display at least one game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20080058098
    Abstract: In a progressive gaming system, a progressive prize winning event triggers the awarding of a primary progressive prize to at least one primary player. In addition, a secondary progressive prize is awarded to a subset of the current players. The secondary progressive prize may be awarded to selected current players, such as those players of a particular gaming device, or to players that have been playing for a predetermined period of time. In examples where the progressive game is played across multiple establishments, the secondary progressive prize may be awarded to a current player in a different establishment than that of the primary player to ensure the excitement and publicity of winning the progressive prize is spread across multiple establishments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7335103
    Abstract: A gaming device having at least one tubular display container, a display object holder disposed to hold a plurality of movable display objects in an individually controlled manner, a display object actuator and a controller, is disclosed. Game-related indicia on the tubular display container convey the outcome of a game when the display object actuator is activated to propel a selected movable display object into the tubular display container where the object may activate a game outcome portion of the tubular display container or the object may be captured in a selected compartment of the tubular display container. Optionally, player input devices may be used to enhance player participation by enabling the player to select a movable display object or a specific tubular display container before the movable display object is propelled into the tubular display container or a plurality of tubular display containers. A method of playing a game using the above device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7316610
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a gaming device including a game apparatus adapted to allow a player to play a game. The gaming device may include a prize holder adapted to releasably hold a prize object in a controllable manner. The gaming device may also include a controller in communication with the game apparatus and adapted to cause the prize object holder to release the prize object. A display mechanism may be in communication with the controller and may be adapted to display the prize object to the player. The display mechanism may comprise at least one prize object receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin and Slot Service Company, Inc
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20070281784
    Abstract: A gaming device provides several progressive jackpots that can be randomly funded. The gaming device includes a gaming apparatus that allows a player to play a game and a controller. The controller can determine if a jackpot qualifig event has occurred. A display device displays several progressive jackpots. A random number generator and the controller select at least one of the progressive jackpots to be awarded to a player. The invention also includes a gaming method. A player is allowed to place a wager and play a game of chance. A game outcome is determined. The game outcome can be a jackpot qualifying event and a game payout. If the game outcome is the jackpot qualifying event, several progressive jackpots are displayed to the player. At least one of the progressive jackpots is selected to be awarded to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7300350
    Abstract: A gaming device is provided that may include a gaming device housing having a rotatable container coupled thereto. At least one moveable object is configured to move within the container. The moveable object comprises at least one moveable object symbol. A controller is provided that is in communication with at least one controller selectable object. The controller selectable object comprises at least one controller selectable object symbol that is substantially similar in appearance to the moveable object. The controller selectable object may be displayed to the player and provide an illusion to the player that the controller selectable object is the moveable object. A game display is also provided and may be in communication with the controller. The game display is configured to display a display symbol in at least one display position. A game outcome at least partially depends on the display position of the display symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7258610
    Abstract: A gaming device having a container, at least one movable object situated within the container and a transport device configured to transport the movable object, is disclosed. The transport device further may include a transport component for receiving the movable object and the container may simulate a popcorn popper. A method of use, including a gaming method, and a method for moving one or more movable objects in a gaming device which includes providing a gaming device having a container with at least one movable object and a transport device configured to transport the movable object, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: D572770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw