Patents by Inventor Dougal Austin

Dougal Austin 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: 9589414
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming machine touch screen system incorporating a flat transparent or nearly transparent layer that contains a series of active elements/actuators/chambers that enable a vertical displacement of the touch screen top surface. These active elements displace the top surface of the touch screen upon command of the gaming machine to provide features perceptible to the player's touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen E. Patton, Julia M. Childs, Sean C. Martin, Martin S. Lyons, Michael J. Mitchell, William R. Wadleigh, David B. Schultz, Kimberly J. Cohn, John R. Vallejo, Joanna Musick, Scott T. Hilbert, Dougal Austin, Amy Lynn Monette
  • Patent number: 9355526
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, Michael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Patent number: 9177287
    Abstract: A networked system that provides group play features for respective end users of a plurality of game machines is provided. The gaming machines may be connected together through a peer-to-peer environment or through a network controller or other device. An eligibility score may be maintained by each gaming machine, and the eligibility score indicates eligibility to participate in the group-play bonus feature. The group-play bonus feature is initiated when a triggering event is detected. Intermediate and final results of the group-play bonus feature are provided by the eligible gaming machines to all other eligible gaming machines. Each gaming machine apportions a bonus award from a bonus pool associated with the group-play bonus feature to each player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kisenwether, Dougal Austin
  • Publication number: 20140235320
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming machine touch screen system incorporating a flat transparent or nearly transparent layer that contains a series of active elements/actuators/chambers that enable a vertical displacement of the touch screen top surface. These active elements displace the top surface of the touch screen upon command of the gaming machine to provide features perceptible to the player's touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Stephen E. Patton, Julia M. Childs, Sean C. Martin, Martin S. Lyons, Michael J. Mitchell, William R. Wadleigh, David B. Schultz, Kimberly J. Cohn, John R. Vallejo, Joanna Musick, Scott T. Hilbert, Dougal Austin, Amy Lynn Monette
  • Patent number: 8771053
    Abstract: Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods are disclosed that include a randomly selected feature game. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren T. Nelson, Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin
  • Publication number: 20140162770
    Abstract: Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods that include a randomly selected feature game are disclosed. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren T. Nelson, Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin
  • Publication number: 20140141855
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, MIchael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Patent number: 8657659
    Abstract: Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods that include a randomly selected feature game are disclosed. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren T. Nelson, Michael DePalma, Charles Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin
  • Patent number: 8613647
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, Michael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Patent number: 8545303
    Abstract: Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods are disclosed that include a randomly selected feature game. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren T. Nelson, Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin
  • Publication number: 20130252722
    Abstract: Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods that include a randomly selected feature game are disclosed. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren T. Nelson, Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin
  • Publication number: 20100124984
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, Michael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Publication number: 20100124978
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, Michael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Publication number: 20100124963
    Abstract: Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a primary game award at least partially based on the outcomes of one or more sub-games. The outcomes are related according to a pay table associated with the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DePalma, Ryan Leach, Dougal Austin, Michael Delaney, Joseph Kisenwether
  • Publication number: 20100069149
    Abstract: A networked system that provides group play features for respective end users of a plurality of game machines is provided. The gaming machines may be connected together through a peer-to-peer environment or through a network controller or other device. An eligibility score may be maintained by each gaming machine, and the eligibility score indicates eligibility to participate in the group-play bonus feature. The group-play bonus feature is initiated when a triggering event is detected. Intermediate and final results of the group-play bonus feature are provided by the eligible gaming machines to all other eligible gaming machines. Each gaming machine apportions a bonus award from a bonus pool associated with the group-play bonus feature to each player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Kisenwether, Dougal Austin