Patents Examined by Alan Cross
  • Patent number: 7195558
    Abstract: A game of reasoning having a triangular game board is disclosed. Players are given a pre-defined time limit to respond to questions based on scenarios likely to be encountered by the game's preferred teenage players. Points and penalties correspond to the selected responses. By correctly responding, players advance from a base of the game board to a zenith thereof. Once all players of a participating team reach the zenith, that team is declared the winner. Responses to questions are input by means of a game pad. The game board is formed of independent blocks stacked in a triangular shape divided into two sides. Each block includes at least one viewable face sectioned into equal parts corresponding to the number of team players. The sections include means of unique color illumination such that the progress of each player can be monitored. The game is also playable in a computer environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventor: Denise E. Perez
  • Patent number: 7192342
    Abstract: An amusement device characterized by a crane mechanism maneuverable within a target bin by a player includes targets having a circular profile of varying diameters. A game value is associated with each target according to the diameter size of the target, and a ticket dispenser is provided for dispensing tickets of a number or value corresponding to the value of a captured target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Stephen P. Shoemaker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7172508
    Abstract: A parimutuel betting game based on events unfolding during a live sporting event, a principal objective being to acquire the largest number of betting tokens by the end of the sporting event. An administrator conducts a plurality of betting events based on events occurring during the sporting event. One or more betting lines are opened in each betting event. Players are allowed to bet tokens on an open betting line until it is closed by the administrator. Once a line is closed, a new line opens within the betting event. When a termination event occurs in the sporting event for a given betting event, the betting event is terminated and all lines are paid off in parimutuel style. Payoffs are preferably made in hierarchical manner, such that players placing riskier bets in a betting line receive a higher parimutuel style payoff. The game may be played over the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventors: Burton Simon, Brian Van Duzee
  • Patent number: 7147560
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selection of a target for attachment. In one implementation, a method of selecting a target for attachment by a moving character in a video game, wherein the character has a position and a velocity, includes: selecting one of a plurality of attachable objects as a candidate object, wherein each attachable object is of an object type from among one or more object types; determining if the candidate object is available according to the current position of the character and the object type of the candidate object; and if the candidate object is available, determining a cost for the candidate object according to the position and velocity of the character and the object type of the candidate object, wherein the cost represents an acceleration to attach the character to the candidate object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Zimmerman