Patents Examined by D Collins
  • Patent number: 7316396
    Abstract: A card game machine using plural cards on front surface sides of which distinctive information for identifying itself from others is displayed and designs of back sides of which have a commonality is provide. The card game comprises a holding unit for holding the plural cards with a same shape in a stacked state, a distribution unit for distributing the plural cards held by the holding unit one by one in a state where the card is placed face down, a tilt surface for sliding the card distributed by the distribution unit, a stop unit for stopping the card sliding on the tilt surface at a specified position of the tilt surface and a card reversing unit for forcibly reversing the card stopped by the stop unit so that the front surface side is exposed and display contents depicted on the surface of the card can be visually seen, wherein a specified profit is given to a player on the basis of the distinctive information of the reversed card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignees: Ohiragiken Industry Co., Atlas Co.
    Inventor: Teruo Ohira
  • Patent number: 7017904
    Abstract: A token-operated game machine enabling continuous insertion of tokens without stop of a game such that a player can enjoy the game without troublesome motions such as crouching or reaching out. A game is played by inserting a token into a token entrance, and a token is paid out based on the game result. The token-operated game machine 10 has a token receiving section for receiving paid-out tokens, and a entryway 40 for slidably moving tokens from the token receiving section to the token entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Namco Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Ohara, Kiyotaka Maeno, Hideyuki Kaneko, Keizo Wada
  • Patent number: 7017909
    Abstract: A video poker machine provides images of five card poker hands. A player may make a draw whereby selected cards of a poker hand are replaced by newly dealt cards thereby forming a second poker hand. The player may make a wager that the first poker hand has a rank greater than a known rank. The player may additionally wager that the rank of the second poker hand is higher than the rank of the first poker hand. A bonus payout may be made based upon the rank of one of the hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Yehia Awada
  • Patent number: 6983937
    Abstract: A dynamic non-static game board is formed at the beginning of each game by the players each placing tiles having playing spaces which may have side walls. The walls create a maze configuration through which pieces move. To win, one must move all of one's pieces, 1–5 depending on difficulty level, from one side of the board and off the opposite side. A random number selection means such as dice indicates the number of spaces to be moved. On some turns at least one visual indicator for a “stack” move and another for side a “slide” move appear simultaneously with a number. A stack allows a player to stack a tile on top of an existing tile to alter the configuration of the maze. A slide allows a player to slide another tile into one end of one row, thus pushing an existing tile off the other end of the row and possibly altering the maze configuration. The strategy game may be programmed and displayed on a visual media such as a video game or on the world wide web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Joel S. Levinson
  • Patent number: 6926280
    Abstract: This is a card game with an object of reaching a count of nine. In this card game, the player completes playing his/her hand before knowing the count value of the dealer's hand. The player makes all the decision on the play of his/her hand while the dealer has limited or no option in the play of his hand. The game allows for additional rules or features that can increase the excitement in playing the game or swing the odds of winning either for the player or the dealer such as splitting or giving special payouts on certain hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Ramoncito D. Abuan
  • Patent number: 6824137
    Abstract: A method of playing a casino table version of cribbage using at least one deck of conventional playing cards, having at least one player making a wager and a dealer that deals the cards. The method includes having at least one player making a wager to receive a plurality of cards. Next, the cards are dealt to each player and the dealer is dealt a plurality of cards, wherein four random cards are dealt to create the dealer hand. The players discard either one or two cards depending on the method chosen. The dealer then exposes his cards and discards two cards. Next, the starter card is exposed. Finally, the players' cards are exposed and values of the hands are computed and compared to the dealer's hand. The method includes determining whether the players win or lose their wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: MultiShift, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Foster, Mark John Spur
  • Patent number: 6817612
    Abstract: A game using one die, a dice cup, a point marker, and a game board is disclosed. The game is similar to Craps. There is a come-out roll. If a six is rolled the player is paid, if a one is rolled the player loses. Any other number becomes the point. Three chances are given to roll the point again. If the point is rolled on the first opportunity, the player is paid two-to-one. If the point is rolled on the second or third opportunity, the player is paid one-to-one. If the point is not rolled in three tries, the player loses. If a one is rolled while trying to roll the point, the player also loses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth Ross Coleman
  • Patent number: 6808173
    Abstract: An underlying game of Blackjack or a variant of Blackjack is played with an initial wager by a player on the underlying game and an optional wager on a side game can be made. The side wager is made before any cards are displayed. The side wager is made on whether a specific rank of card will be shown in either of the two player's cards (the player who has made the wager) or in the dealer's exposed card. The probabilities of a specific rank of a card (as opposed to value of card, which would render 10's, Jacks, Queens and Kings equivalent) is the same, whichever card is selected, but a preferred game from an advertising standpoint, marketing standpoint or the like is the use of Jacks, with the game titled Jack Magic™ blackjack or Jacks Magic™ blackjack. The player places a wager on an identified wager area, and after the player's cards and the dealer's cards have been dealt, the wager is resolved according to the rules of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger M. Snow
  • Patent number: 6755421
    Abstract: A method of playing a variation of seven card stud poker. A venue is provided at which not less then three players and not more than six players compete for a jackpot against each other and not against a house. Play is commenced using a 54 card deck consisting of 52 regular playing cards and two wild cards. The players ante toward a jackpot and are dealt a first card face up, a second card face down and a third card face down. Each player is allowed to view the faces of the second card and the third card dealt to them. As each subsequent card is received, the players can elect to either fold or place a bet toward the jackpot. After a number of betting rounds, the winner of the jackpot is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Tortugas Trading Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Ron Benjamin Aftergood
  • Patent number: 6726204
    Abstract: In a game machine, a reel unit is disposed behind each display window. The reel unit has an outer reel and an inner reel which coaxially rotate. The inner reel carries plural inner symbols at a certain pitch. The outer reel carries plural but less outer symbols. The outer symbol has a larger size than the inner symbol, and is opaque. The outer symbol on the inner symbol hides the inner symbol. A symbol combination is formed of only plural inner symbols, or at least one of the inner symbols and at least one of the outer symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Dragon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruo Inoue
  • Patent number: 6698756
    Abstract: An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously. The shuffler is controlled by a processing unit in communication with multiple internal sensors. An audio system communicates voice outputs regarding shuffler malfunctions and instructions to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: VendingData Corporation
    Inventors: Thompson Baker, Steven J. Blad, Lynn Hessing, Phil Price, Carl W. Price
  • Patent number: 6663107
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a means and method for playing a card game while perceiving a sporting event, such as a baseball game. According to the present invention, each card game player is dealt a certain number of cards at the beginning of the card game and before a play in the sporting event being perceived. Before the play begins, each card game player selects and plays a card from the cards he has been dealt with the description of a result which the card game player thinks has the best chance of duplicating the result of the play in the sporting event being perceived. If the outcome of the play corresponds with the description of the result depicted on the card, the player is awarded points. After all card game players have played their cards, the play is completed, and points, if any, have been assessed, each card game player is dealt a new card before the next play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony J. Fisher, Daryle R. Simpson
  • Patent number: 6655690
    Abstract: A method of playing a card game comprising the step of providing at least one set of playing cards comprising a plurality of different card suits. Each suit includes a plurality of cards wherein each card has a particular value. All of the suits having in common cards with the same values. The method further includes the step of each player placing an initial game bet and, if desired, an optional bet. Next, the dealer deals, in an initial deal, a face-up card to each player. The dealer does not deal himself a card in the initial deal. The dealer then removes a single card from the set of playing cards, places the single card face up and designates this card as a community card. Next, the value of the community card is summed with the value of each card held by each player to produce a an opening hand value for each player. The community card and each player's opening dealt card determine the outcome of any optional bets made by those players. Payoffs are made or withdrawn by the dealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony Oskwarek
  • Patent number: 6651984
    Abstract: A deck of cards and a method of playing a card game with the deck are disclosed. The deck of cards includes 15 distinct 3-card sets of cards with matching indicia and 7 wild cards with matching indicia. The matching indicia may include representations of people, animals, birds, objects or symbols, or intangible concepts like ideas or services. The game is played by matching a three-card set, which can include wild cards, and by laying matching cards against other players' three-card matches to accumulate points until a player runs out of cards. Although the game can be played for recreational purposes, the game may also be played for educational, training or promotional purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Jennifer Luken
  • Patent number: 6612575
    Abstract: A game having a bonus feature and a gaming apparatus for presenting the game are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of a player placing a wager, spinning a plurality of first reels having indicia thereon, determining if indicia displayed by the plurality of first reels associated with a first pay line comprises a predetermined winning combination, and if so, paying a first award and then associating that first award with at least one bonus reel, permitting a player to spin the at least one bonus reel or otherwise participate in the bonus event, and determining if an award associated with the at least one bonus reel is associated with a second pay line, and if so, paying a bonus award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Colepat, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cole, Elia Rocco Tarantino
  • Patent number: 6578848
    Abstract: A game with moveable play space. The invention allows any user playing the game to modify the play space at any number of given times and in response to any number of different conditions. Certain spaces (tiles or blocks) within the play space are wildcard spaces that independently initiates modification of the game play space. Any game play space can benefit from the invention, including conventional game boards including chess and checker boards. The modifications of the game play space include any number of manipulations including column shuffling, rotating, flip-flopping, and other types of manipulation. The selection of which portion of the game play space is made by the players of the game. If desired, the selection of which portion of the game play space is governed by the space on which a game piece resides, or the particular type of game piece that is being moved or used in that game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Team Smartypants!, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario M. Champion, Mark Christopher Zatopek, Frank Matthew Champion
  • Patent number: 6575465
    Abstract: The invention is a seven-card-stud poker game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one but preferably one Joker. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand and/or one to seven side bets betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards. The Players and the Banker each then selects and keeps his best 5-card poker hand and discards two other cards from his own seven cards. To win a Poker Bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must rank higher than the Banker's best 5-card poker hand. To win a side-bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must be one of the predetermined winning hands of the type of the side bet he bets on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Henry T. Lo
  • Patent number: 6565084
    Abstract: A variety of games and methods for enhancing game play are provided. In one aspect, a secondary or ancillary game is played in parallel with a first game, such as a lottery ball draw. Yet another game involves the selection of items which a player or participant believes had been selected by an audience as not being the most popular. In yet another aspect, an interstitial progressive sequencing of programming is provided, such as where a series of short segments are presented at differing times throughout an evening of prime time programming. Audience participation may be enhanced by permitting Internet access to the game system, and to permit remote users to play along as if they were in studio participants or part of the studio audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Milestone Entertainment
    Inventors: Randall Mark Katz, Gary Dawson, Andrew Felsher
  • Patent number: 6565092
    Abstract: A hockey card game is described which can be played with a combined three fifty-two card playing deck to simulate real ice hockey matches. The hockey card game incorporates a wide variety of various circumstances such as, major and minor penalties, penalty shots, goal shots, puck passes, one man power plays, two man power plays, offensive and defensive open net, and breakaway situations. The hockey card game also incorporates various performance factors which can be used to mimic a real ice hockey team by weighting the fictitious teams in the hockey card game with the real statistics from the real ice hockey teams from the previous season. In this way, after the various statistical weights are established, then the hockey card game can be played to simulate matches between any real ice hockey teams by combining three standard fifty two card decks together to form a play deck and a miscellaneous deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: John Paul McCarthy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6561514
    Abstract: A multiplication, addition and subtraction card game for strengthening multiplication, addition and subtraction skills. In a preferred embodiment, the card game utilizes a 124-card deck including 100 multiplication factor cards, each of which displays a multiplication equation on one face thereof and is grouped into one of five color-coded categories. The card deck further includes multiple strategy cards, typically including 8 FREE cards and 16 SUBTRACT cards. To maximize his or her point gain, each player attempts to play a card which displays an equation the product of which is the same as the product of the equation displayed on the card played by the previous player, and the sum of the products is added to the player's score. For a smaller number of points, a player may play a card which displays an equation having a different product than that of the equation displayed on the card played by the previous player but has the same color as the previous player's card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Wanda F. Myles