Patents by Inventor Jesse E. Pierce

Jesse E. Pierce 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: 7284756
    Abstract: A method for operating a mechanical casino bonus game to provide a constant player expected value for play of a mechanical casino bonus game in the presence of mechanical bias. When play of the bonus game commences, a bonus payoff is randomly assigned from a set of bonus payoffs to each game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Progressive Gaming International Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 7052011
    Abstract: A bonus game for an underlying base casino machine played by a player wherein the bonus game provides a Pachinko playing field, a ball propelled onto the Pachinko playing field when a bonus condition occurs during play of an underlying casino game. The Pachinko playing field having a row of lanes so that the ball, after traversing the playing field, travels through one of the lanes. A display at said row of lanes on said playing field for displaying at the lanes, targets, digits used to form a decimal number, graphic symbols used to perform a mathematical operation, symbols appearing in the underlying game outcome, so as to provide awards, wild symbols, extended game play, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6896261
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6851674
    Abstract: A bonus game for an underlying base casino machine played by a player wherein the bonus game provides a Pachinko playing field, a ball propelled onto the Pachinko playing field when a bonus condition occurs during play of an underlying casino game. The Pachinko playing field having a row of lanes so that the ball, after traversing the playing field, travels through one of the lanes. A display at said row of lanes on said playing field for displaying at the lanes, targets, digits used to form a decimal number, graphic symbols used to perform a mathematical operation, symbols appearing in the underlying game outcome, so as to provide awards, wild symbols, extended game play, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Publication number: 20040178574
    Abstract: A bonus game for an underlying base casino machine played by a player wherein the bonus game provides a Pachinko playing field, a ball propelled onto the Pachinko playing field when a bonus condition occurs during play of an underlying casino game. The Pachinko playing field having a row of lanes so that the ball, after traversing the playing field, travels through one of the lanes. A display at said row of lanes on said playing field for displaying at the lanes, targets, digits used to form a decimal number, graphic symbols used to perform a mathematical operation, symbols appearing in the underlying game outcome, so as to provide awards, wild symbols, extended game play, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Publication number: 20030052453
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6398219
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6340158
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Publication number: 20010011797
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6220593
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6139013
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura
  • Patent number: 6047963
    Abstract: A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse E. Pierce, Olaf Vancura