Patents by Inventor Keith Rucker
Keith Rucker 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).
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Patent number: 12183169Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventor: Keith Rucker
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Publication number: 20230377426Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventor: Keith Rucker
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Patent number: 11651661Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventor: Keith Rucker
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Publication number: 20210264742Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventor: Keith Rucker
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Patent number: 10839654Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Patent number: 10810844Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.Inventor: Keith Rucker
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Publication number: 20190228613Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Patent number: 10290188Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having dynamic position functionality
Patent number: 10255767Abstract: The game machine comprising a display device and a controller is provided. The display device is configured to display a game. The controller is configured to display a plurality of reels, the reels reach displaying a plurality of symbols. Each reel includes at least one activation zone with each activation zone have at least one symbol. The controller is configured to determine the number of symbols within the activation zone, randomly determine an outcome of the game, and display the outcome of the game including the activation zone. The activation zone includes a determined number of symbols.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventor: Keith Rucker -
Publication number: 20180332850Abstract: The invention relates to methods and combinations of Fluopyram, optionally in combination with at least one insecticide, in particular a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist for improving earliness in cotton, wherein Fluopyram, optionally in combination with at least one insecticide, in particular at least one nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist is applied to the cotton plants, plant parts thereof, plant propagation material or the soil which the plants are grown or intended to be grown in an effective amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2016Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Heiko RIECK, Lee HALL, Stephen KRUEGER, George MUSSON, Keith RUCKER, Gareth SCHWARZLOSE
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Patent number: 9911268Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The controller is configured to: establish a first reel layout and a second reel layout, the second reel layout having a blank symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions and at least one identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions; randomly shift the second reel layout by a number of symbol positions in relation to the first reel layout; combine the second reel layout with the first reel layout to create a combined reel layout; and assign the combined reel layout to one of the reel strips.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Publication number: 20180018857Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having dual symbol game functionality
Patent number: 9799172Abstract: The game machine comprising a display and a controller is provided. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each with an associated reel, an associated reel strip, a plurality of symbol positions, and each symbol position populated by a game symbol. The controller is configured to initiate a game and detect a trigger condition. In response the trigger condition the control then establishes a number of symbols in a set of symbols, selects a set of symbols based on the established number of symbols, with the set of symbols including a plurality of game symbols, and replaces each of the symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on at least one of the reel strips with the selected set of symbols. The controller then establishes a predetermined combination of symbols within the grid.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventor: Keith Rucker -
Patent number: 9792774Abstract: A method of allowing a player to play a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes the steps of displaying a game including a plurality of reels including a reel strip having a plurality of normal symbols positions and a plurality of special symbol positions. The method includes randomly generating a first outcome of a game, responsively awarding a first award to the player based on the first game outcome, and determining if a triggering condition occurs in the first game outcome, wherein the triggering condition including a plurality of adjacent special symbol positions being displayed in at least one reel within the display area. The method includes randomly selecting a special symbol and replacing the symbols being displayed in each adjacent special symbol position with the selected special symbol to generate a subsequent second game outcome including the selected special symbol.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Patent number: 9728049Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Publication number: 20170061729Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The controller is configured to: establish a first reel layout and a second reel layout, the second reel layout having a blank symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions and at least one identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions; randomly shift the second reel layout by a number of symbol positions in relation to the first reel layout; combine the second reel layout with the first reel layout to create a combined reel layout; and assign the combined reel layout to one of the reel strips.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Patent number: 9520016Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The controller is configured to: establish a first reel layout and a second reel layout, the second reel layout having a blank symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions and at least one identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions; randomly shift the second reel layout by a number of symbol positions in relation to the first reel layout; combine the second reel layout with the first reel layout to create a combined reel layout; and assign the combined reel layout to one of the reel strips.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda
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Publication number: 20160078711Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventor: Keith Rucker
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SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ALLOWING A PLAYER TO PLAY GAMING MACHINES HAVING DYNAMIC POSITION FUNCTIONALITY
Publication number: 20160063802Abstract: The game machine comprising a display device and a controller is provided. The display device is configured to display a game. The controller is configured to display a plurality of reels, the reels reach displaying a plurality of symbols. Each reel includes at least one activation zone with each activation zone have at least one symbol. The controller is configured to determine the number of symbols within the activation zone, randomly determine an outcome of the game, and display the outcome of the game including the activation zone. The activation zone includes a determined number of symbols.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventor: Keith Rucker -
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ALLOWING A PLAYER TO PLAY GAMING MACHINES HAVING DUAL SYMBOL GAME FUNCTIONALITY
Publication number: 20160063801Abstract: The game machine comprising a display and a controller is provided. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each with an associated reel, an associated reel strip, a plurality of symbol positions, and each symbol position populated by a game symbol. The controller is configured to initiate a game and detect a trigger condition. In response the trigger condition the control then establishes a number of symbols in a set of symbols, selects a set of symbols based on the established number of symbols, with the set of symbols including a plurality of game symbols, and replaces each of the symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on at least one of the reel strips with the selected set of symbols. The controller then establishes a predetermined combination of symbols within the grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventor: Keith Rucker