Patents Examined by Eric M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10332350
    Abstract: A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Vincent P. Smith, Cameron A. Filipour, Mark S. Ross, Joseph Masinter, Shara C. Miller
  • Patent number: 10332352
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 10311679
    Abstract: Various aspects described for implementing hybrid arcade/wager-based gaming techniques via computer networks, including one or more casino gaming networks. The hybrid arcade/wager-based game may include a non-wager based gaming portion and a wager-based gaming portion. One or more players are able to concurrently engage in continuous game play of the non-wager based gaming portion during execution of wager-based gaming events which are automatically triggered based on events which occur during play of the non-wager based gaming portion. In some embodiments, the outcomes of the wager-based gaming events are predetermined (before triggering of the wager-based game events) using a random number generator (RNG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Synergy Blue, LLC
    Inventors: Georg Washington, Joe Serra, Tom Stankevich, Justin MacAuley
  • Patent number: 7347764
    Abstract: A racing toy game comprises a multi-track closed circuit, a respective starting gate for each respective track of the circuit, a finishing post for each respective track of the circuit. There are multiple movable elements each respectively being for traversing a respective track of the circuit and thereby racing in relation to other movable elements in other tracks. A starter is associated with each respective starting gate, the starter having been for operating the respective gates substantially simultaneously to permit initiation of the race. Initiating of the race permitting the respective movable elements to traverse a respective track from the starting gate towards the finishing post. The movable elements are represented by animals, selectively horses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kei Fung Choi
  • Patent number: 7326113
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 7311611
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for analyzing a golfer's individual swing attributes and determining, based on that analysis, a suitable golf club configuration for that golfer. The swing analysis apparatus include video cameras for obtaining video images of a golfer swinging a golf club, such as a putter, at a golf ball. Images obtained from the video cameras may then be analyzed to determine what golf club dimensions will provide improved results in combination with the golfer's individual swing characteristics. The apparatus may additionally include a golf club having predetermined dimensions. When such a golf club is included, images from the video cameras may be analyzed to determine how the golf club of known dimensions must be adjusted to provide the golfer with desirable swing results. The apparatus may also include a method for confirming the dimensions that it is believed will provide a golfer with improve swing results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Don T. Cameron, August L. Slivnik
  • Patent number: 7309283
    Abstract: An interactive presentation and/or entertainment system, such as interactive personal computer software and/or interactive, live theater, allows participants to determine the events that occur throughout a story. Given simulated environments and story characters within them, the player introduces elements, picked from a list, which advances the narrative, event by event. Feedback about the current state of the situation or characters provides motivation to choose subsequent events. These events change situations, environments, and/or the characters within the narrative. As a result, greater flexibility and control with less confusion is achieved over previous methods and apparatuses. The story can be rewound and/or played with different choices, resulting in different outcomes. Source image/sound/description data may include prerecorded video, prerecorded audio, prewritten description, live acting, computer-based audio, computer-based imagery, computer-generated dialogue, and/or computer-generated characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Keith Nemitz
  • Patent number: 7303472
    Abstract: In an interactive contest system which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants as a professional wrestling fantasy league, a method employing a database storage means for storing a preferred wrestling team roster and rating scores attributable thereto in determining winners and losers of a scheduled competition in accordance with a predetermined set of identifying criteria and point values in a second database associated with performances of a wrestler before, during and after any arranged match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Anthony V. Guagliardo