Patents by Inventor Timothy B. Richards

Timothy B. Richards 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: 8795050
    Abstract: A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of game elements is provided. The gaming system provides a quantity of the game elements to a player and a dealer. The gaming system forms a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand from the provided game elements according to one of a plurality of element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to manually form a first player hand and a second player hand from the provided game elements or to instruct the gaming system to automatically do so according to one of the element setting rules. If the player manually sets the player hands, the gaming system indicates whether the player's hands were formed in accordance with any of the element setting rules. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player hands with the dealer hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Patent number: 8795049
    Abstract: A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of game elements is provided. The gaming system provides a quantity of the game elements to a player and a dealer. The gaming system forms a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand from the provided game elements according to one of a plurality of element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to manually form a first player hand and a second player hand from the provided game elements or to instruct the gaming system to automatically do so according to one of the element setting rules. If the player manually sets the player hands, the gaming system indicates whether the player's hands were formed in accordance with any of the element setting rules. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player hands with the dealer hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Patent number: 8641515
    Abstract: A gaming system and method that enables players to sequentially wager in a casino-style table tournament on gaming machines. The gaming system provides real-time wagering information and bankroll information of each player to the other players of the tournament so that players may determine their wagers based on what other players wager. The gaming system enables players to make one or more secret wagers during the tournament that are not immediately indicated or displayed to other players to try to gain an advantage in the tournament. All normal wagers are displayed to the players in real-time but the secret wagers are not displayed to players until after the close of wagering creating excitement in the tournament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Timothy B. Richards, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20120282996
    Abstract: A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of game elements is provided. The gaming system provides a quantity of the game elements to a player and a dealer. The gaming system forms a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand from the provided game elements according to one of a plurality of element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to manually form a first player hand and a second player hand from the provided game elements or to instruct the gaming system to automatically do so according to one of the element setting rules. If the player manually sets the player hands, the gaming system indicates whether the player's hands were formed in accordance with any of the element setting rules. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player hands with the dealer hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Publication number: 20120276971
    Abstract: A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of game elements is provided. The gaming system provides a quantity of the game elements to a player and a dealer. The gaming system forms a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand from the provided game elements according to one of a plurality of element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to manually form a first player hand and a second player hand from the provided game elements or to instruct the gaming system to automatically do so according to one of the element setting rules. If the player manually sets the player hands, the gaming system indicates whether the player's hands were formed in accordance with any of the element setting rules. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player hands with the dealer hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Patent number: 8216039
    Abstract: A gaming system having a game with game elements is provided. The game includes a number of game elements provided to the player and the dealer, where the game elements are subsequently divided into two or more groups or hands. The gaming system sets the dealer game elements to form a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand, according to a set of “House-Way” game element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to either manually set the player game elements to form the first player hand and the second player hand, or elect to have the gaming system automatically set the player hands according to one of several different “House-Way” and/or “Expert-Way” methods. If the player elects to manually set the player hands, the gaming system indicates to the player whether the player's game element setting selections are in accordance with any of the “House-Way” or “Expert-Way” rules. For the player and dealer hands, the first hand must have a rank greater than or equal to the rank of the second hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Publication number: 20100035676
    Abstract: A gaming system having a game with game elements is provided. The game includes a number of game elements provided to the player and the dealer, where the game elements are subsequently divided into two or more groups or hands. The gaming system sets the dealer game elements to form a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand, according to a set of “House-Way” game element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to either manually set the player game elements to form the first player hand and the second player hand, or elect to have the gaming system automatically set the player hands according to one of several different “House-Way” and/or “Expert-Way” methods. If the player elects to manually set the player hands, the gaming system indicates to the player whether the player's game element setting selections are in accordance with any of the “House-Way” or “Expert-Way” rules. For the player and dealer hands, the first hand must have a rank greater than or equal to the rank of the second hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Publication number: 20090280904
    Abstract: A gaming system and method that enables players to sequentially wager in a casino-style table tournament on gaming machines. The gaming system provides real-time wagering information and bankroll information of each player to the other players of the tournament so that players may determine their wagers based on what other players wager. The gaming system enables players to make one or more secret wagers during the tournament that are not immediately indicated or displayed to other players to try to gain an advantage in the tournament. All normal wagers are displayed to the players in real-time but the secret wagers are not displayed to players until after the close of wagering creating excitement in the tournament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Timothy B. Richards, Anthony J. Baerlocher