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: 10536772Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Inventors: Andrew Wyer, Peter James Herring, Daryl Bridges, Joseph Ronald Crepaldi, Norman R. Wurz, Robert A. Wand, Bruce Weisberg, Richard M. Walborn
-
Publication number: 20180310095Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Andrew WYER, Peter James HERRING, Daryl BRIDGES, Joseph Ronald CREPALDI, Norman R. WURZ, Robert A. WAND, Bruce WEISBERG, Richard M. WALBORN
-
Patent number: 8894487Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Toriono A. Granger, Eric T. Miner, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: 8747225Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: 8454436Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Gregory E. Klostermann, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: 8376842Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: 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: 20120322564Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2011Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Toriono A. Granger, Eric T. Miner, Norman R. Wurz
-
Publication number: 20120302323Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Norman R. Wurz, Paul J. Radek, Benjamin T. Gomez, Ralph M. Beerhorst
-
Patent number: 8226459Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Shawn O. Barrett, Jared L. Fritts, James M. Rasmussen, Norman R. Wurz
-
Publication number: 20120129611Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Inventors: James M. Rasmussen, Norman R. Wurz, Mark B. Gagner, William C. Cesaroni, Shawn O. Barrett, Vladimir I. Arezina, Jim Motyl
-
Publication number: 20120115589Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: 8172677Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Charles R Bleich, Stephen A Canterbury, Eric M Pryzby, James M Rasmussen, Norman R Wurz
-
Patent number: 8113517Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: D678955Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: D678956Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: D678957Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: 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: D678958Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: 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: D681130Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: D691666Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz
-
Patent number: D704275Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz