Rotating Disk Patents (Class 273/142R)
  • Patent number: 6164646
    Abstract: To provide a ball game machine which can prevent unevenness of the drawing result by improving a way of allotting property to each of the ball holding portions provided on a wheel device, the ball game machine includes: a wheel device rotatable along a circumferential direction thereof and provided with a plurality of ball holding portions along the circumferential direction; and a feeding device for feeding a ball toward the wheel device; a property setting device for setting a property to each of the ball holding portions in such a manner that the property set to at least one of the ball holding portions is distinguishable from the property set to another one of the ball holding portions. The property setting device is capable of changing a setting state of the property. The game machine further includes a drawing result issuing device for issuing a drawing result signal corresponding to the property set to one of the ball holding portions in which the ball is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Uehara, Takahiro Sakiyama, Yutaka Yamana
  • Patent number: 6164647
    Abstract: A roulette assembly is provided including a lower wheel divided into a plurality of sections each representative of at least one of a unique number and a unique color. Also included is an upper wheel rotatably mounted on the lower wheel and divided into a plurality of sections each representative of at least one of a unique number and a unique color. Upon the upper wheel and the lower wheel being spun, the upper wheel slows to engage with the lower wheel and a unique number and color combination is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Ah-Him Chong Toc Chee
  • Patent number: 6161805
    Abstract: An ergonomic hand rest assembly for attachment to a gaming machine that includes a housing having a pair of upright, oppositely facing panels. A pair of support arms are mounted to the panels, and support bar is arranged to extend between the support arms spaced apart from the housing. A frame is mounted to the support bar, and a pad is mounted on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: John C. Wells
  • Patent number: 6152447
    Abstract: An amusement machine, with prizes, combines a game of chance with a game of skill. The game of skill incorporates a crane mechanism to grab a prize. A win on the game of chance allows the player to operate the crane mechanism of the game of skill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Showcase Projects Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Henry Stanley
  • Patent number: 6129355
    Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes a reel structure adapted for rotation about a motor output shaft. A drive lever is adapted for connecting the output shaft to the reel structure at a point radially spaced from the output shaft to provide a resilient, radially extending coupling between the output shaft and the reel structure. The drive lever is of sufficient length to allow flexing thereof and is capable of storing energy at the start of rotation to cause the reel structure to be suddenly rotated by the restored energy. The drive lever has a terminal end mounted to said reel structure in a manner that prevents tangential movement of said terminal end relative to said reel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lee Hahn, Herbert H. Hausmann, Wayne H. Rothschild, James M. Rasmussen, Samuel P. Amdahl
  • Patent number: 6105962
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus has rotatable disks turning about a common axis of rotation and having annular bands of indicia of different diameters on faces of the disks which extend toward the axis of rotation. A player's winnings are determined by alignment of particular indicia along one or more radii of the disks after a period of rotation. In one form of the invention, the disks are supported, driven and held in a centered relationship with the axis of rotation by gear sets situated at angular intervals around the periphery of the disks which engage gear teeth at the rims of the disks. In another form, the disks are axially spaced apart flat plates of progressively greater diameter extending from drive shafting at the axis of rotation. In another form, the disks are at least partially formed of transparent material enabling viewing of indicia on disks which are behind other disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Alex J. Malavazos, Gregory A. Malavazos, Constantine Malavazos
  • Patent number: 6083105
    Abstract: A roulette playing machine which is designed for an individual player with the use of a single circulating playing ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Paul Ronin
    Inventors: Paul Ronin, Mikhail Spitkovsky, Jozef Galanter, Ilya Ronin
  • Patent number: 6082734
    Abstract: To provide a ball game machine that may simplify the structure by improving the position of balls, the ball game machine includes: a wheel device which has a plurality of ball holding portions along an inner circumference thereof and which is rotatably provided along a predetermined swivel path having a difference in height; a receiving device disposed on a side of an upper end of the swivel path of said wheel device for receiving a predetermined number of balls; a throwing device for throwing the balls received in said receiving device downwardly from the side of the upper end of the swivel path; a guide device for leading the balls thrown by said throwing device to the ball holding portions of said wheel device fed on the side of the lower end of the swivel path; and a collection device disposed on the side of the upper end of the swivel path of said wheel device for collecting the balls, which are held in the ball holding portions, to said receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Uehara, Takahiro Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 6047965
    Abstract: In a roulette wheel assembly, canoes, which equiangularly spaced around a circle intermediate a wheel and an upper track where travel of a roulette ball begins, are modified. Air outlets are provided in each canoe. Air from a source is controlled to provide randomized outputs of air from each canoe in order to affect the travel of a ball in a vicinity of a canoe in order to increase randomization of travel of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventors: Paul Thomas Mollo, Peter Joseph Ortiz
  • Patent number: 6042114
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus is provided including a rotating wheel assembly having an inner portion with a plurality of sections and an outer portion with a plurality of ball receiving areas. A spinning assembly is rotatably mounted on the rotating wheel assembly for selecting one of the sections of the inner portion of the rotating wheel assembly. Further included is a ball for being randomly deposited in one of the ball receiving areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Wilkinson C. Phillip
  • Patent number: 5947472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a game board on which to play an entertainment game. The game consists of 12 zodiac animal symbols and 13 playing card characters, which are Ace Diamond, Two Diamond, Three Diamond, Four Diamond, Five Diamond, Six Diamond, Seven Diamond, Eight Diamond, Nine Diamond, Ten Diamond, Jack Diamond, Queen Diamond, and King Diamond. This game utilizes a rotatable wheel, like a Big 6 Wheel, and a game board like that used on a Roulette table. The game is a combination of Roulette and Big 6 that is played with zodiac animal symbols and playing card characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Matthew Tang
  • Patent number: 5911418
    Abstract: A card game particularly suited for gaming wherein, in addition to payouts determined by the rank of a player's hand against a predetermined payout schedule or against the hands of a dealer or other players, a player may qualify for a payout determined by a movable payout indicator, preferably in the form of a rotatable wheel. A player can qualify for a spin of the wheel which indicates a prize by attaining a predetermined hand or one of a plurality of a predetermined hands. As an additional condition, the player may be required to place more than a minimum wager in order to qualify for a payout determined by the movable payout indicator. A player who has won a prize from a spin of the wheel may also be provided with an opportunity to double his winnings with an additional actuation of the movable payout indicator or in some other fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Anchor Gaming
    Inventor: William R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5879235
    Abstract: A roulette-like ball game machine has a rotary disk with a plurality of pockets arranged in a peripheral direction and assigned a number respectively, and a guide circle provided around the rotary disk at a somewhat higher position and joining to the rotary disk through an inclined surface. While the rotary disk is turned, a ball rolled along the guide circle falls inside and enters one of the pockets to decide a prize number. In such a ball game machine, a plurality of operation stands are arranged around the guide circle, the rotary disk is formed in an annular shape having a large inner diameter, a large-sized picture surface is provided within the central space of the rotary disk and various pictures are projected on the picture surface by an image projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kaneko, Yasuo Jin, Shingo Kataoka, Takanori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5848932
    Abstract: Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Anchor Gaming
    Inventor: William R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5845903
    Abstract: A game of chance based on random distribution of game pieces utilizes a plurality of spheres or discs, which may be generally the size of marbles or checkers, visually divided into two types, such as by two different colors. The game pieces are used in particular to play a bingo-type game. The pieces are contained between two parallel planes spaced apart slightly wider than a game piece, with at least a part of the front plane being transparent. The space between the two planes is circumscribed by a rotatable ring, defining a chamber within which the game pieces remain. With the parallel planes vertical or at least tilted, the lower portion of the chamber is used to randomly mix the game pieces, while at an upper end of the chamber there is located a holding section or display matrix within which the game pieces are all ultimately stored in parallel columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Randy Sloan
  • Patent number: 5801766
    Abstract: A security system for use at a gambling table capable of monitoring the gambling table, determining the end of each game played at the gambling table, detecting movement with a predefined area of the gambling table and indicating when movement occurs at or immediately after the end of each game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Aristocrat (Europe) Limited
    Inventor: John Robin Alden
  • Patent number: 5746432
    Abstract: Games which use a plurality of distinct random value selectors for generating values. The relationship of the independently generated values is considered to determine whether one of a predetermined plurality of possible winning outcomes has occurred. According to one embodiment of the invention, a game is started by spinning a wheel having a plurality of indicia thereon. The indicia obtained from spinning the wheel establishes a first value. At least one, and preferably a plurality of cards, are then displayed and their values added. Cards are displayed until the cumulative value of the cards exceeds the first value obtained by the wheel. If the cards attain a value greater than the value obtained from the wheel without exceeding a predetermined value, for example, twenty-one (21), then the cards are determined to be winning. Otherwise, the wheel is considered to be winning. Players are also advantageously provided with a plurality of other wagering options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: John Feola
  • Patent number: 5743523
    Abstract: An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: RLT Acquisition, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Norman B. Petermeier, Matthew F. Kelly, J. Richard Oltmann
  • Patent number: 5716050
    Abstract: A blackjack play option response indicator which presents the 350 card combinations and the appropriate play option response for each card combination, composed of two disk rotatably connected to each other. The back disk has thereon a plurality of radially arranged rows of play option response indicia, wherein "B" designates "blackjack"; "H" designates "hit"; "S" designates "stand"; "D" designates "double down"; and "SP" designates "split". There are 350 play option response indicia which correspond to the recommended play option responses uniquely corresponding to each and every one of the 350 card combinations possible in blackjack. Adjacent the perimeter of the back disk, dealer's up card value indicia are provided thereon. The front disk is provided with a view port in the form of, preferably, four radially arranged slots for being selectively aligned with the aforementioned play option response indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Doris Incorporated
    Inventor: Gerald J. Jagosz
  • Patent number: 5687967
    Abstract: To make it more difficult for system gamblers to predict their chances of successfully placing their chips, the number ring in roulette equipment is an independent component that rests on the bottom of the bowl and can be angularly displaced from outside against inherent resistance. The ring is re-adjusted from time to time by the casino personnel to contaminate the probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Anette Klaus
    Inventor: Willi Klaus
  • Patent number: 5655965
    Abstract: A slot machine comprising display means (110) having a display surface provided on a plane opposed to a player, display control means (401) for controlling the display means (110) so as to display a still condition and a game play condition for each display window, start instruction means (108) for accepting a game play start instruction and instructing the display control means to start operation, stop instruction means (109) for accepting an instruction for stopping symbol change for each display window and instructing the display control means (401) to stop operation, and game control means (403) for controlling game progress, wherein the improvement comprises storage means for storing a plurality of symbol patterns and a plurality of flow condition patterns for providing a seemingly flowing condition in a state in which the symbol patterns move, the display control means (401) for alternating the pattern read from the storage means between the symbol and flow condition patterns in response to the game pro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
    Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto, Kazunari Kawashima, Taizo Higaki
  • Patent number: 5639089
    Abstract: A bingo game machine in which signs on bingo cards are compared with a plurality of randomly selected specific signs to decide the winner of a game in accordance with the correspondence of the signs. The bingo game machine includes a chance device for randomly selecting the specific signs. The chance device includes a plurality of objects, and a vertically mounted roulette unit which rotates about a horizontal axis. The roulette unit has a catching portion including a plurality of containers arranged in the form of a circle on the rotating roulette unit. Each container is affixed with a specific sign, and each container is adapted for catching an object. A supply unit supplies objects to the top of the rotating roulette unit, the objects then fall to the lower portion of the rotating roulette unit. At the lower portion, the objects are caught by the containers, one object per container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kusuo Matsumoto, Shiro Majima
  • Patent number: 5605330
    Abstract: A portable container for playing games of chance comprises a box combined by a cover and a base, a rotatable means whose components are disposed in the cover and the base when carried. A number of bouncers are provided on the base for playing. Disks are inserted in the bouncers and bounced by the springs within the bouncers to the assembled rotatable means so that the positions of the rotatable means in which the disks drop determine the scores of the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventors: Wonder Huang, Victoria Ho, Wei-po Hsu
  • Patent number: 5603499
    Abstract: A blackjack play option response indicator which presents the 350 card combinations and the appropriate play option response for each card combination, composed of two disk rotatably connected to each other. The back disk has thereon a plurality of radially arranged rows of play option response indicia, wherein "B" designates "blackjack"; "H" designates "hit"; "S" designates "stand"; "D" designates "double down"; and "SP" designates "split". There are 350 play option response indicia which correspond to the recommended play option responses uniquely corresponding to each and every one of the 350 card combinations possible in blackjack. Adjacent the perimeter of the back disk, dealer's up card value indicia are provided thereon. The front disk is provided with 4 radially arranged rows of apertures for being selectively aligned with the aforementioned play option response indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Doris G. Jagosz
    Inventor: Gerald J. Jagosz
  • Patent number: 5524896
    Abstract: A game using a chance selection device being a circular disk having an outer rim and an open circular central portion in which central portion are disposed cross hairs extending perpendicular to one another, the intersection of the cross hairs corresponding to the center of the circular disk, the disk in use being spun on an indicia selection surface having a plurality of indicia arrayed thereon, such disk slowing down, falling over and coming to rest on such surface with the intersection of the cross hairs indicating the randomly selected indicia located immediately below the intersection of the cross hairs. The indicia selection surface can be on a planar sheet, a planar board or a substantially circular concave game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 5494294
    Abstract: An interactive amusement game and redemption system in which a central processing unit, control panel and plurality of players' desks are interconnected such that the operator of the control panel and the game is aware of the money deposited by each individual player, the number of cards selected by the player and the identity of those cards for play in the game, and the amount of the award to be dispensed and to which player(s), the same information being available to the player at each individual player's position through instantaneous display, the players seeking an award by starting and stopping a random number generator selectively, to match an indicia on the random number generator with an indicia on the player's playing card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Louis Cappetta
  • Patent number: 5429507
    Abstract: The present invention will utilize refreshing braille pins to form the symbols displayed on a slot machine. The braille pins will move vertically and independent of each other. A read only memory (ROM) will send the information to the braille pin cluster that will form the braille symbol. At this time of conception of the invention, the play of the slot machine will utilize one coin per play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Edward B. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5409225
    Abstract: An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Lazer-Tron Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Norman B. Petermeier, Matthew F. Kelly, J. Richard Oltmann
  • Patent number: 5385347
    Abstract: In a coin operated amusement device, an inclined track is provided to receive a rolling coin. A rotating wheel is positioned adjacent the lower end of the track. The wheel is rotated at a constant low speed and defines payoff positions distributed around the wheel. Payoffs to the player are provided when a coin passes by the wheel in the track opposite a payoff position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Benchamark L.C.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Halliburton
  • Patent number: 5351967
    Abstract: A flying toy consisted of rotary disk having vacuum mounts, a base shaped like a flying saucer type and revolvably mounted on the rotary disk, a top cover covered on the base, a score board supported on a swivel bar and received in between the base and the top cover, whereby throwing the flying toy into the air toward the smooth surface of an upstanding object causes the vacuum mounts to stick to the smooth surface, and the score board is carried by the swivel bar to rotate on its center axis and then stopped to show either of a series of numbers or patterns through a convex lens on the top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventor: Tsung-Pin Yang
  • Patent number: 5340105
    Abstract: A rotatable gaming device for randomly selecting data through analog means. The device includes a base assembly which supports a rotatable platform having a plurality of indicia thereon. A rotatable center shaft projects through the platform and supports a cup member at a top end thereof. A point is secured to the center shaft in a plane parallel to that defined by the rotatable platform. The device may be utilized for playing a game in which a bet, such as poker chips, money, or the like, is placed in the cup and the pointer is caused to rotate with respect to the platform, whereby a portion of the bet may be won by opposing players as a result of the relative placement of the pointer with respect to the platform indicated by the indicia upon a termination of the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Bernie J. Gostyla
  • Patent number: 5316309
    Abstract: A game apparatus is provided for playing a game which tests the memories of game players. The apparatus includes a base, a rotatable disk mounted on the base, and a cover mounted on the base above the disk. A clutch mechanism is provided for rotating the disk, and a braking mechanism is provided for stopping rotation of the disk in one of a plurality of predetermined positions. The cover includes a plurality of spaced apertures and the disk includes a plurality of groups of matched pictures which are oriented so that a plurality of matched pairs of pictures are aligned with the apertures when the disk is stopped in one of the predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Corporation
    Inventor: Sano Takeshi
  • Patent number: 5292127
    Abstract: An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Lazer-Tron Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Norman B. Petermeier, Matthew F. Kelly, J. Richard Oltmann
  • Patent number: 5284344
    Abstract: A reel for a gaming or amusement machine has a support structure for supporting the reel strip of a significantly lower moment of inertia than a standard reel drum. This is achieved by making the reel strip of stiff material and supporting it only at spaced-apart points, and relying on the strip to support itself between the supported points. The reel support for the strip may be in the form of one or two spiders, each having a plurality of radial spokes. For further support for the strip a ring member may be provided connecting the ends of the spokes. If two such spiders are used, the ring members may be interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Bell-Fruit Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Terence Howard
  • Patent number: 5249807
    Abstract: An apparatus to exercise, sharpen, and test extrasensory perception capacity of individuals is provided to include various categories of testing events about a game path, with points awarded relative to correct responses to award various levels of extrasensory perception capacity to a player or a plurality of players of the game structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Mark S. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5238440
    Abstract: A toy top comprises a base plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a rotatable disk which is mounted beneath the base plate, a plurality of balls which are received on the base plate and a transparent dome enclosing the balls and the base plate. The device is operative by depressing a central plunger to rotate the disk beneath the base plate. The rotatable disk has a plurality of projections thereon which pass beneath the apertures in the base plate so that they engage any of the balls received in the apertures to bump or pop the balls out of the apertures as the disk is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Playskool, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew T. Morin
  • Patent number: 5222738
    Abstract: A gambling device has a base plate (1') and attached to the latter a spring rod (2) to be set moving in bending oscillations. Several disks (15 to 18) are arranged on the latter. The lowermost disk is formed as a catch disk (18) to which pin-shaped spacers (21) and upwards protruding catching pins (22) are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Muller
  • Patent number: 5197736
    Abstract: Apparatus to increase chance predictions of lottery numbers. Said apparatus comprised of random means for selecting lottery outcomes from among fields weighted proportional to statistical data to reflect past lottery outcomes.Rotary means with peripheral fields sized based on moving averages of past lottery or game outcomes. Means to initiate and randomly terminate rotary motion of these rotary means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventors: Alan L. Backus, Scott Blum
  • Patent number: 5184821
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game apparatus for playing poker and similar card games, including a playing table having a plurality of images which may be selectively lit to indicate winning bets, an indicator board to indicate identified cards, and a switchboard for controlling the playing table. Also disclosed are a plurality of rotatable wheels driven by an electric motor and a plurality of different size sprockets connected to the electric motor by a series of chains, whereby the plurality of rotatable wheels may be simultaneously driven at different speeds of rotation. The rotatable wheels include a large wheel having randomly selected images of a complete deck of cards plus a Joker, the suits being arranged to alternate a red and a black card, and four smaller wheels mounted on the large wheel and having randomly selected images of thirteen cards from a second deck, the suits being arranged in a manner similar to the large wheel. Spring markers cooperate with pins on said wheel to identify selected cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond E. Korenek
  • Patent number: 5118110
    Abstract: A lottery selection number game board includes a base board and a plurality of concentric arrays having a common center. A first inner array has twelve spaces, one for the month and the second array has thirty-one spaces, one for each month day. The third and fourth arrays respectively include equispaced spaces, with one including numbers for a large lottery game and the other numbers for a small lottery game. Rotating pointers are mounted on a common center, with one aligned with a month space and the second aligned with the day to identify the users birthdate. A third pointer is mounted for fee spin movement over the two lottery number arrays. The third pointer is manually spun by the player to complete the lottery number array and comes to rest within the number array to identify a number within the array for selecting a lottery number. Sequential spins are made to select a lottery number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Roy A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5100140
    Abstract: A primarily African and African-American history education game device for several players having a stationary disc base with pins for alternately mounting two concentric rows of movable slot cards. Educational subject matter is inscribed on slot cards. Supported on the base is a smaller rotating disc having one radially located opening pointer to expose the "start" position at the start of a game and subject matter on slot cards mounted on the base smaller diameter concentric row when rotated. When the locking pin locks the smaller rotating disc relative to the base the rotating disc conceals all slot card subject matter and exposes the "start" position. No slot cards are in the exposed larger diameter concentric row when the rotating disc opening exposes the "start" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Frank E. Foy
  • Patent number: 4989873
    Abstract: A roulette playing device includes a hitting device for releasing a ball onto a circular runway which comprises a first rotatable roller disposed upstream of an outlet, a second rotatable roller opposed to the first roller and spaced therefrom by a distance smaller than the diameter of the ball, and a driver for rotating the first and the second rollers in opposite direction to each other. Such arrangement makes it easy to spin and release the ball and to control the spin of the ball. A release device for feeding a ball to the hitting device comprises a blower for sending forth air to the outlet through a release passage upstream of the outlet, and a feeder for feeding balls one by one to the release passage. Such arrangement enables the ball released on the circular runway to be accelerated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Sigma Enterprises, Incorporated
    Inventor: Katsuki Manabe
  • Patent number: 4948145
    Abstract: A market investment game includes a board providing a peripheral path containing directions on play of the game, a separate, segmented track used in determining the duration of the game, and a central spinner. Both the board and the spinner are divided into different investment category areas with the board areas indicating the number of spots available for investment and the spinner areas having alternately rising and falling angling graph lines providing both buy and sell prices for each type of investment. Each player is provided with a predetermined number of markers that are allocated by the player between movers on the path, up to a certain maximum number, and units of investment. Cards provide additional play directions including penalties that are exacted when a player is "audited" by an opponent unless the player has previously opted to pay a lesser penalty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow
  • Patent number: 4941665
    Abstract: A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data has a circular housing with a recess, and a base wheel rotatable within the housing recess upon a bearing arrangement. The base member has an upstanding handle member fitting over the bearing arrangement, and a circular retainer member having an inclined surface and a lip is mounted to the circular housing. A collar member is fitted to the upstanding handle member and has a plurality of detents as well as an indicia indicator for each detent area. A plurality of wheel or disc members carrying indicia such that each wheel member has one edge resting on the circular retainer and one edge resting on the base wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventor: Reuben B. Klamer
  • Patent number: 4911448
    Abstract: A spinner device which is designed for use in a game that tests both the imagination and association of one or more players in the course of building a vocabulary. The spinner device is characterized by a frame or stand designed to pivotally receive a disc, wherein the disc is manually pivoted with respect to the frame to indicate a letter of the alphabet at random. An hourglass is also provided, in order to provide a means for timing the game sequences. When a letter of the alphabet is selected at random by spinning the disc, the hourglass is rotated to begin a game sequence and a player attempts to enunciate the largest number of words of which he is capable, beginning with the designated letter of the alphabet during the time sequence as determined by the hourglass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Inventor: Benny Thomas
  • Patent number: 4906005
    Abstract: A roulette playing device includes a hitting device for releasing a ball onto a circular runway which comprises a first rotatable roller disposed upstream of an outlet, a second rotatable roller opposed to the first roller and spaced therefrom by a distance smaller than the diameter of the ball, and a driver for rotating the first and the second rollers in opposite direction to each other. Such arrangement makes it easy to spin and release the ball and to control the spin of the ball. A release device for feeding a ball to the hitting device comprises a blower for sending forth air to the outlet through a release passage upstream of the outlet, and a feeder for feeding balls one by one to the release passage. Such arrangement enables the ball released on the circular runway to be accelerated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Sigma Enterprises, Incorporated
    Inventor: Katsuki Manabe
  • Patent number: 4869505
    Abstract: A roulette playing device comprises a release opening for releasing a ball. The opening is formed in a circular wall at a position higher than the level where the ball runs on the outermost circumference thereof. The circular wall is preferably tilted from a vertical plane toward a roulette wheel. Such an arrangement prevents the ball from running astray and dropping into the release opening. The roulette playing device further comprises ball sensors for detecting the ball running on the circular runway, an average speed detector for detecting the time the ball takes to run between two of the ball sensors, and a control device for outputting an instruction for prohibiting any more betting when the detected value by the speed detector reaches a preset value. Such an arrangement enables the behavior of the ball to be detected accurately and NO BETTING operation to be timed stably, whereby roulette games are made more amusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Sigma Enterprises, Incorporated
    Inventor: Katsuki Manabe
  • Patent number: 4846479
    Abstract: A board game including a playing board, a plurality of markers and a plurality of cards. The board playing surface has a plurality of spaces forming a playing lattice along the perimeter portion of the board. Each space is colored by one of a plurality of various colors. A group of lines runs through the middle portion of the playing lattice and each line is also colored by one of the plurality of various colors. The lines make connections between the spaces. The markers indicate by symbols, characteristics or facts of nature and the cards have statements of physical, mental, philosophical, spiritual or emotional characteristics of human beings and natural phenomena. According to the rules, a player places markers on the spaces, selects a card, reads the statement and uses the statement to describe a relation between two or more placed markers. The markers used in the relationship can only be markers placed on similarly colored spaces wherein these spaces are connected by similarly colored lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Mary Anne Hanley
  • Patent number: 4834657
    Abstract: An apparatus for choosing a punishment for a child, and a method of its use, are disclosed. An assortment of adhesive-backed decals designating various punishments is provided. Decals selected from the assortment by the parents are positioned around a base wheel. The child spins a knob and pointer that are centrally and rotatably mounted on the base wheel. When the knob and pointer come to rest, that punishment is imposed as indicated by the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventors: Jose R. Gonzalez, Connie J. Vaughan, Mary Jo R. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 4832347
    Abstract: A board game comprises a board defining an enclosed track of adjacent spaces. A spinner positioned at the center of the board has elements which randomly identify at least one of the spaces by pointing to the spaces. The game further comprises a plurality of playing pieces to be moved from space to space by players, and a pair of dice to indicate the number of spaces the playing pieces can be moved. According to the rules, if a spinner element randomly points to a space occupied by a playing piece, that playing piece may be removed from the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Carlo G. R. Monticolombi