Patents by Inventor Howard M. Marks

Howard M. Marks 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: 6869360
    Abstract: A device and method are set forth for a video slot machine where a player makes a wager to enable one or more pay lines for a game matrix. Game symbols are randomly selected and assigned into the matrix to define winning and losing game symbols combinations for each activated pay line. An active border at least partially surrounding the matrix is displayed and configured to randomly select and display game multipliers, pay line multipliers, free plays and a bonus condition to be fulfilled by the selection of one or more game symbols. A scatter bonus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Daniel M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20040195773
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols where a plurality of paylines are associated with the reels. Each of the paylines includes a fixed modifier, such as a fixed multiplier, which multiplies any awards associated with winning symbol combinations on that to enhance the awards provided to the player. In one embodiment, the paylines are numbered and the values of the multipliers are based on the payline numbers. Any winning symbol combinations occurring on the paylines are modified or multiplied by the multiplier associated with those paylines. The enhanced award is then provided to the player in the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph D. Masci, Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Daniel M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20040192431
    Abstract: A video slot machine including a plurality of reels forming a single set of reels, a plurality of symbols on the reels, a plurality of different paylines associated with that set of reels, wherein the set of reels is separately and simultaneously displayed a plurality of times, and each different payline is displayed in association with one of the separate displays of the set of reels to enable a player to view and easily determine each of the winning symbol combinations that occur on the reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Daniel M. Marks, Joseph D. Masci, Howard M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20040155405
    Abstract: The present invention is a variant of traditional Twenty-One in which the dealer and players attempt to build a hand with a value of twenty-one, or as close to twenty-one as possible without exceeding twenty-one, using cards that are known to players and the dealer as they are dealt and common cards that remain unknown until all player and/or dealer decisions are completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Michael Wood, Daniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Publication number: 20030236116
    Abstract: A slot machine issues a percentage of one or more progressive awards based upon any wager level (“Percentage Progressive”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 6604740
    Abstract: A slot machine enables a player to select one or more symbols as wild symbols (“Select-A-Wild”). In one embodiment, the game displays three spin buttons. Each spin button is permanently associated with a symbol. All of the associated symbols have matching symbols on the reel strips. Each of the associated symbols have the same probability of appearing on the reel strips. The player selects a wild symbol by pressing a spin button. The symbol associated with the pressed spin button acts as a wild symbol for that spin. After each spin, the player receives awards for all winning combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Joseph D. Masci, Howard M. Marks, Daniel M. Marks
  • Patent number: 6604998
    Abstract: A video poker game system and method includes dealing a card to a player for placement into one position of a hand having a predetermined number of positions. The player then arranges the dealt card in one position of the hand with an object of obtaining a hand having cards placed in a predetermined order. These steps are repeated until all of the predetermined number of positions in the player's hand are filled with dealt cards. A first payout is awarded to the player if the dealt cards of the hand are arranged in the predetermined order. In addition, a second payout is awarded to the player if the dealt cards of the hand constitute a payable hand as determined according to a winning hand payout schedule. The system and method also allow the player to optionally play a number of other games of the game which may result in additional payouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20030054875
    Abstract: A device and method are set forth for a video slot machine where a player makes a wager to enable one or more pay lines for a game matrix. Game symbols are randomly selected and assigned into the matrix to define winning and losing game symbols combinations for each activated pay line. An active border at least partially surrounding the matrix is displayed and configured to randomly select and display game multipliers, pay line multipliers, free plays and a bonus condition to be fulfilled by the selection of one or more game symbols. A scatter bonus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Daniel M. Marks
  • Publication number: 20020198039
    Abstract: A slot machine allows the interaction of objects displayed outside a symbol matrix with objects displayed inside a symbol matrix (“Interactive Symbols”) to generate new forms of awards. Interactions include “bouncing” in which logarithmic functions accounting for the objects' shapes, sizes, and velocities, control the result of two objects colliding inside of the symbol matrix, and “catching” in which the collision of two objects does not cause a “bounce” effect, but instead results in the disappearance of one object into the other object. Awards may be issued for each “bounce,” “catch” or other interaction of objects inside the symbol matrix, according to an Interactive Symbols award schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Park Place Entertainment Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 6371851
    Abstract: A video poker game method and apparatus for extending the play of a hand of poker includes optionally initializing a credit tally, and optionally determining whether a sufficient wager has been deposited before starting a round of video poker. The game includes associating the deposited wager with a respective payoff table from which the payoff for the chosen payable subset is obtained. At the beginning of a round of the modified poker game, the game includes dealing, for example, five playing cards from at least one deck of cards. The game includes determining payable subsets of the playing cards. The game includes ending the round of modified poker, if payable subsets do not exist. The game includes displaying, some or all, of the payable subsets, if payable subsets exist. The game includes determining which of the displayed payable subsets is chosen by a user, and adding a payoff associated with the chosen payable subset to the credit tally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 6113102
    Abstract: A method of playing a modified twenty-one card game by at least a dealer includes the steps of placing a wager awarded when the player bets that the dealer will score at least one of a predetermined number of dealer outcomes, and playing the twenty-one game. The method also includes the steps of determining the score of the dealer, and comparing the score of the dealer to the predetermined number of dealer outcomes bet by the player. The player is awarded responsive to the wager and a coincidence between the dealer score and one of the predetermined number of dealer outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Patent number: 6093100
    Abstract: A modified poker card game allows a player to sequentially build a card hand after each round of play. The rules of play for the card game including dealing a first pair of cards to the player. The player then selects one of the pair of cards for the card hand, and discards the other card. The player repeats this process until the player has selected a predetermined number of cards that form the card hand. The resulting card hand is then compared to a predetermined winning schedule and/or to other players playing the modified poker game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 5897436
    Abstract: A modified poker card game allows a player to sequentially build a card hand after each round of play. The rules of play for the card game including dealing a first pair of cards to the player. The player then selects one of the pair of cards for the card hand, and discards the other card. The player repeats this process until the player has selected a predetermined number of cards that form the card hand. The resulting card hand is then compared to a predetermined winning schedule and/or to other players playing the modified poker game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Singer, Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 5882260
    Abstract: A method of playing a card game is provided where a player sequentially builds at least two card hands that intersect with each other in at least one card. The at least two card hands define a pattern. The method includes the steps of dealing at least one card to the player, placing the at least one card in an empty place in the pattern until the player has placed a predetermined number of cards that comprise the at least two card hands defining the pattern. The method also includes the steps of comparing individual hands in the at least two card hands to corresponding values in a predetermined winning schedule, totaling the values into a total value, and awarding the player and/or declaring the player a winner, responsive to the total value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Patent number: 5836586
    Abstract: A method of playing a modified twenty-one card game by at least a dealer includes the steps of placing a wager awarded when the player bets that the dealer will score at least one of a predetermined number of dealer outcomes, and playing the twenty-one game. The method also includes the steps of determining the score of the dealer, and comparing the score of the dealer to the predetermined number of dealer outcomes bet by the player. The player is awarded responsive to the wager and a coincidence between the dealer score and one of the predetermined number of dealer outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Patent number: 5772506
    Abstract: A modified card game provides a player the ability to sequentially become eligible for a bonus round of play. The game includes dealing a set of cards to the player for playing the modified card game in accordance with a predetermined number of positions, determining whether a designated card appears in cards dealt to the player, and if so, assigning a position corresponding to the dealt card with an indicator, and repeating this process until the card game is completed. The game also includes determining whether all of the predetermined number of positions have been assigned with the indicator, and if so, playing the modified card game in accordance with a bonus round for enhanced enjoyment/excitement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Patent number: 5755621
    Abstract: A modified poker card game allows a player to sequentially build a card hand after each round of play. The rules of play for the card game including dealing a first pair of cards to the player. The player then selects one of the pair of cards for the card hand, and discards the other card. The player repeats this process until the player has selected a predetermined number of cards that form the card hand. The resulting card hand is then compared to a predetermined winning schedule and/or to other players playing the modified poker game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard M. Marks, Anthony M. Singer
  • Patent number: 5655773
    Abstract: A game device includes a game board divided into a plurality of zones arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows and forming a plurality of diagonals. The game device also includes first and second sets of playing pieces respectively used by first and second players. At least three of the first and second sets of the playing pieces are placed into at least three of the plurality of zones of the game board until at least three of the first playing pieces or at least three of the second playing pieces have been placed in one of the plurality of rows, one of the plurality of columns or one of the plurality of diagonals. The game device also includes first and second sets of cards, respectively distributed to the first and second players. Each of the first and second cards having respective first and second rankings associated therewith. To determine which playing piece is to be placed in one of the zones of the game board, the rankings of the first and second cards are compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventor: Howard M. Marks
  • Patent number: 5580059
    Abstract: A game device includes a game board divided into a plurality of zones arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows and forming a plurality of diagonals. The game device also includes first and second sets of playing pieces respectively used by first and second players. At least three of the first and second sets of the playing pieces are placed into at least three of the plurality of zones of the game board until at least three of the first playing pieces or at least three of the second playing pieces have been placed in one of the plurality of rows, one of the plurality of columns or one of the plurality of diagonals. The game device also includes first and second sets of cards, respectively distributed to the first and second players. Each of the first and second cards having respective first and second rankings associated therewith. To determine which playing piece is to be placed in one of the zones of the game board, the rankings of the first and second cards are compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventor: Howard M. Marks