Patents by Inventor Norman R. Wurz

Norman R. Wurz 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).

  • Patent number: 10536772
    Abstract: Described embodiments generally relate to an audio system comprising at least one display device configured to display images; at least two speakers configured to generate audio output; housing structure configured to accommodate the at least one display device and the at least one speaker, the housing structure defining at least one sound delivery aperture extending at least partially along at least two sides of a perimeter of the at least one display device; and a waveguide defined within the housing structure and configured to guide the audio output generated by the at least one speaker through the at least one sound delivery aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Wyer, Peter James Herring, Daryl Bridges, Joseph Ronald Crepaldi, Norman R. Wurz, Robert A. Wand, Bruce Weisberg, Richard M. Walborn
  • Publication number: 20180310095
    Abstract: Described embodiments generally relate to an audio system comprising at least one display device configured to display images; at least two speakers configured to generate audio output; housing structure configured to accommodate the at least one display device and the at least one speaker, the housing structure defining at least one sound delivery aperture extending at least partially along at least two sides of a perimeter of the at least one display device; and a waveguide defined within the housing structure and configured to guide the audio output generated by the at least one speaker through the at least one sound delivery aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew WYER, Peter James HERRING, Daryl BRIDGES, Joseph Ronald CREPALDI, Norman R. WURZ, Robert A. WAND, Bruce WEISBERG, Richard M. WALBORN
  • Patent number: 8894487
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming machine and a gaming chair for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes at least one display configured to display outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming machine further includes at least one wager input device configured to receive wagers from players. The gaming chair includes a seat assembly attached to a base, a cable harness for providing electrical input, and a backrest assembly having an inner structure and a back housing. The back housing is mounted to the inner structure and has a modular mounting feature for receiving one of at least two modular back panels. The modular back panels are received one at a time and include a non-illuminated back panel and an illuminated back panel. The illuminated back panel has a connector for accepting the cable harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Toriono A. Granger, Eric T. Miner, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: 8747225
    Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: 8454436
    Abstract: A method, implemented by an electronic gaming machine (EGM), includes providing an electronic display mounted to the cabinet of the EGM and disposed in a normal operational position to portray a wagering game to a user, the display in the normal operational position having an orientation of one of landscape or portrait. The display is moved from the normal operational position to a maintenance position in order to permit access for a technician to components in a space in the cabinet behind the display when the latter is in the normal operational position, the display in the maintenance position having an orientation of the other of landscape or portrait, the display in the maintenance position displaying information to the technician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory E. Klostermann, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: 8376842
    Abstract: This description describes wagering game systems that include docking stations. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a presentation unit configured to present a wagering game and a docking controller configured to detect when the apparatus is docked with a docking station and to detect when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. The apparatus can also include a docking port, the docking port including at least one of a dock power unit configured to receive power via the docking station and a dock communication unit configured to receive wagering game content associated with the wagering game, the dock communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the apparatus is docked with the docking station. The apparatus can also include a wireless communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the docking controller when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Rasmussen, Norman R. Wurz, Mark B. Gagner, William C. Cesaroni, Shawn O. Barrett, Vladimir I. Arezina, Jim Motyl
  • Publication number: 20120322564
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming machine and a gaming chair for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes at least one display configured to display outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming machine further includes at least one wager input device configured to receive wagers from players. The gaming chair includes a seat assembly attached to a base, a cable harness for providing electrical input, and a backrest assembly having an inner structure and a back housing. The back housing is mounted to the inner structure and has a modular mounting feature for receiving one of at least two modular back panels. The modular back panels are received one at a time and include a non-illuminated back panel and an illuminated back panel. The illuminated back panel has a connector for accepting the cable harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Toriono A. Granger, Eric T. Miner, Norman R. Wurz
  • Publication number: 20120302323
    Abstract: Haptic gaming chairs and wagering game systems and machines with a haptic gaming chair are presented herein. A gaming system is disclosed for playing a wagering game. The gaming system includes an input device for receiving wagers from players to play the wagering game. A display device displays an outcome of the wagering game, which is randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes. The gaming system also includes a gaming chair, which can include a seat portion and an optional backrest portion that are supported by a base. An array of tactors is at least partially embedded within the seat portion and/or backrest portion. The tactors are configured to generate tactile stimulation. A controller is in operative communication with the array of tactors. The controller synchronizes actuation of the array of tactors to coincide with aspects of the wagering game being displayed via the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Norman R. Wurz, Paul J. Radek, Benjamin T. Gomez, Ralph M. Beerhorst
  • Patent number: 8226459
    Abstract: Embodiments of a handheld wagering game machine and docking station are described herein. In one embodiment, the wagering game docking station is configured to dock with a handheld wagering game machine. The docking station can include a docking port configured to receive and adjustably hold the handheld wagering game machine at any of a plurality of viewing angles. The docking station can also include a plurality of buttons configured to send input to the handheld wagering game machine. The docking station can also include a mounting member configured to mount the docking station to a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn O. Barrett, Jared L. Fritts, James M. Rasmussen, Norman R. Wurz
  • Publication number: 20120129611
    Abstract: This description describes wagering game systems that include docking stations. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a presentation unit configured to present a wagering game and a docking controller configured to detect when the apparatus is docked with a docking station and to detect when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station. The apparatus can also include a docking port, the docking port including at least one of a dock power unit configured to receive power via the docking station and a dock communication unit configured to receive wagering game content associated with the wagering game, the dock communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the apparatus is docked with the docking station. The apparatus can also include a wireless communication unit configured to receive the wagering game content when the docking controller when the apparatus is undocked from the docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: James M. Rasmussen, Norman R. Wurz, Mark B. Gagner, William C. Cesaroni, Shawn O. Barrett, Vladimir I. Arezina, Jim Motyl
  • Publication number: 20120115589
    Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: 8172677
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system is disclosed including at least one community display and a plurality of personal media terminals. The at least one community display is adapted to display a community event thereon. The plurality of personal media terminals has a player positioning device and a plurality of speakers. At least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide frontal audio to the player positioning device and at least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide rear audio to the player positioning device. The plurality of speakers is positioned so as to provide a 360-degree sound field relative to the player positioning device. The 360-degree sound field for each of the plurality of personal media terminals differs based on the location of the personal media terminal in relation to the community display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R Bleich, Stephen A Canterbury, Eric M Pryzby, James M Rasmussen, Norman R Wurz
  • Patent number: 8113517
    Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D678955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D678956
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D678957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Cesaroni, Bradley D. Cornell, Jared Fritts, Morad Ghassemian, Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D678958
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Cesaroni, Bradley D. Cornell, Jared Fritts, Morad Ghassemian, Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D681130
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D691666
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
  • Patent number: D704275
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz