Patents by Inventor Daniel L. DeFrance

Daniel L. DeFrance 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: 9472062
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno-type primary game including designated values that may be accumulated to trigger one or more bonuses. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a keno-type primary game and a plurality of bonuses. Each bonus is associated with a different one of a plurality of different designated values. The gaming system accumulates the designated values upon the occurrence of certain events during play of the primary game. When the gaming system accumulates a designated quantity of a particular designated value during play of the primary game, the gaming system provides the bonus associated with that designated value. The gaming system thus enables accumulation of designated values across a plurality of plays of the primary game and, in some instances, over a plurality of gaming sessions to attempt to trigger the bonuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Daniel L. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20160042586
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno-type primary game including designated values that may be accumulated to trigger one or more bonuses. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a keno-type primary game and a plurality of bonuses. Each bonus is associated with a different one of a plurality of different designated values. The gaming system accumulates the designated values upon the occurrence of certain events during play of the primary game. When the gaming system accumulates a designated quantity of a particular designated value during play of the primary game, the gaming system provides the bonus associated with that designated value. The gaming system thus enables accumulation of designated values across a plurality of plays of the primary game and, in some instances, over a plurality of gaming sessions to attempt to trigger the bonuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel L. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 9196127
    Abstract: A keno game may be provided during which at least some of the drawn numbers are redrawn. A keno board may display a set of available numbers. Upon the player's selection of numbers on the keno board, a set of drawn numbers may be generated. The drawn numbers that match the player selected numbers may be locked on the keno board, while the generated numbers that are not matches may re-drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paul P. Lovaas, Toby F. Naylor, Daniel L. DeFrance
  • Patent number: 9053609
    Abstract: A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D Wenker, Bradford D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150065222
    Abstract: A keno game may be provided during which at least some of the drawn numbers are redrawn. A keno board may display a set of available numbers. Upon the player's selection of numbers on the keno board, a set of drawn numbers may be generated. The drawn numbers that match the player selected numbers may be locked on the keno board, while the generated numbers that are not matches may re-drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Paul P. Lovaas, Toby F. Naylor, Daniel L. DeFrance
  • Publication number: 20140274275
    Abstract: A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K. Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D. Wenker, Bradford D. Brown