Patents by Inventor Richard Vermaak

Richard Vermaak 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: 10019866
    Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a predetermined symbol and a set of symbols selected from a global symbol set. A first symbol position can be randomly selected for displaying the predetermined symbol, which can include a multiplier meter to display a multiplier value randomly selectable from multiple multiplier values. A second symbol position can be randomly selected for displaying the predetermined symbol after moving along a path from the first symbol position. The predetermined symbol can be displayed as part of a predetermined number of outcome events earned upon determination that a trigger event occurred. A server machine can select symbol positions, multiplier values and symbol sets and provide data indicating the symbol positions, multiplier values and symbol sets to a client machine. The client machine can include a display to display the symbol sets, and multiplier values within a predetermined symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Pridefield Limited
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Jonathan Bruce Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20160203671
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes: selecting a first symbol-set from a global symbol-group, wherein the first symbol-set includes at least two symbols; displaying on the display the selected first symbol-set; making a determination that a second symbol-set, satisfies a trigger condition; after making the determination, (i) selecting a first supplementary-symbol from a first supplementary symbol-group different from the global symbol-group and (ii) selecting a second supplementary-symbol from a second supplementary symbol-group different from the global symbol-group; displaying on the display the selected first supplementary-symbol; displaying on the display the selected second supplementary-symbol; determining a first amount based on the selected first symbol-set; determining a second amount based on the selected first supplementary-symbol and the selected second supplementary-symbol; determining a payout amount based on a function of the determined first amount and the determined second amount; and displaying
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Richard VERMAAK, Rory Angus HARPUR
  • Patent number: 9355517
    Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a particular symbol at a corresponding symbol position for multiple consecutive outcome events, such as outcome events including a wager game played on a stand-alone machine located within a casino or a machine within a client-server architecture. After displaying the particular symbol for a first outcome event, the particular symbol can be displayed at the same symbol position within a symbol-display-portion for one or more successive outcome events without the particular symbol being selected to be displayed at the same symbol position. Other symbols displayed within the symbol-display-portion for the first and successive outcome events can be determined or selected by a processor using a random selection process. The particular symbol can be a Wild symbol. A data structure can include data for tracking whether the particular symbol is locked down for an outcome event after the first outcome event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Pridefield Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Bruce Wortmann, Richard Vermaak, Terence Igesund
  • Patent number: 9196124
    Abstract: Methods, machines, and systems for additional movement of one or more symbols of a reel-type game after the reels are spun for a turn of the reel-type game, but before a next turn of the game, are described. The symbol(s) moved after the reels are spun may comprise a scatter symbol or a symbol other than a scatter symbol. A tip of an off-reel-display symbol positioned outside of a reel-display area may be visible within the reel-display area to notify a player of the reel-type game that additional movement of the off-reel-display symbol is imminent. The off-reel-display symbol may be moved, onto a symbol that is being displayed within the reel-display area, after payment of any award(s) earned for certain combinations of symbols occurring on paylines with the reel-display area and/or after payment of any awards earned for a prescribed number of scatter symbols being displayed within the reel-display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cork Group Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Theo Naicker, Brendan Clyde Walton, Terence Igesund
  • Publication number: 20150248810
    Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a particular symbol at a corresponding symbol position for multiple consecutive outcome events, such as outcome events including a wager game played on a stand-alone machine located within a casino or a machine within a client-server architecture. After displaying the particular symbol for a first outcome event, the particular symbol can be displayed at the same symbol position within a symbol-display-portion for one or more successive outcome events without the particular symbol being selected to be displayed at the same symbol position. Other symbols displayed within the symbol-display-portion for the first and successive outcome events can be determined or selected by a processor using a random selection process. The particular symbol can be a Wild symbol. A data structure can include data for tracking whether the particular symbol is locked down for an outcome event after the first outcome event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan Bruce Wortmann, Richard Vermaak, Terence Igesund
  • Publication number: 20150248811
    Abstract: An example method includes determining, for a first outcome event, a first symbol set to display within a symbol-display-portion of a display of the machine; displaying, by the display for the first outcome event, the first symbol set; determining, by the machine for a second outcome event occurring after the first outcome event, a second symbol set to display within the symbol-display-portion of the display; determining, by the machine for the second outcome event, for each instance of the particular symbol in the first symbol set, a corresponding second symbol position in the symbol-display-portion of the display; and displaying, by the display for the second outcome event, each instance of the particular symbol in the first symbol set randomly selected for the first outcome event at the corresponding second symbol position and each symbol of the second symbol set within the symbol-display-portion of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan Bruce Wortmann, Richard Vermaak, Terence Igesund
  • Publication number: 20150199867
    Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a predetermined symbol and a set of symbols selected from a global symbol set. A first symbol position can be randomly selected for displaying the predetermined symbol, which can include a multiplier meter to display a multiplier value randomly selectable from multiple multiplier values. A second symbol position can be randomly selected for displaying the predetermined symbol after moving along a path from the first symbol position. The predetermined symbol can be displayed as part of a predetermined number of outcome events earned upon determination that a trigger event occurred. A server machine can select symbol positions, multiplier values and symbol sets and provide data indicating the symbol positions, multiplier values and symbol sets to a client machine. The client machine can include a display to display the symbol sets, and multiplier values within a predetermined symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Jonathan Bruce Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20150141115
    Abstract: A machine includes a display; a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause a set of functions to be performed that include: making a determination that a trigger event occurred; displaying a selected symbol table; responsive to making the determination, for each symbol cell in the selected symbol table: randomly selecting a multiplier symbol; adding the selected multiplier symbol to a symbol cell, wherein the selected multiplier symbol corresponds to a displayable image component, wherein the displayable image component is from an image component set, and wherein the image component set corresponds to an image; adding the displayable image component to a selected image component set when the image component is not in the selected image component set; displaying the added displayable image component; and determining whether the selected image component set includes each image component of the image component set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Theo Naicker, Terence Igesund
  • Patent number: 8827796
    Abstract: Machines, servers and reel-type games are disclosed which provide a player with a visible indication of progress being made towards award of a stacked or expanding symbol on a reel, thereby heightening anticipation and increasing excitement of the game. A trigger condition for appearance of the stacked or expanding symbol can be achieved (i.e. accumulated or collected) over multiple turns or spins of the game. Progress towards meeting the trigger condition is displayed to the player directly on the display of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Cork Group Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Theo Naicker, Brendan Clyde Walton, Terence Igesund
  • Publication number: 20130184045
    Abstract: Machines, servers and reel-type games are disclosed which provide a player with a visible indication of progress being made towards award of a stacked or expanding symbol on a reel, thereby heightening anticipation and increasing excitement of the game. A trigger condition for appearance of the stacked or expanding symbol can be achieved (i.e. accumulated or collected) over multiple turns or spins of the game. Progress towards meeting the trigger condition is displayed to the player directly on the display of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Waterleaf Limited
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Theo Naicker, Brendan Clyde Walton, Terence Igesund
  • Publication number: 20130184046
    Abstract: Methods, machines, and systems for additional movement of one or more symbols of a reel-type game after the reels are spun for a turn of the reel-type game, but before a next turn of the game, are described. The symbol(s) moved after the reels are spun may comprise a scatter symbol or a symbol other than a scatter symbol. A tip of an off-reel-display symbol positioned outside of a reel-display area may be visible within the reel-display area to notify a player of the reel-type game that additional movement of the off-reel-display symbol is imminent. The off-reel-display symbol may be moved, onto a symbol that is being displayed within the reel-display area, after payment of any award(s) earned for certain combinations of symbols occurring on paylines with the reel-display area and/or after payment of any awards earned for a prescribed number of scatter symbols being displayed within the reel-display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Waterleaf Limited
    Inventors: Richard Vermaak, Theo Naicker, Brendan Clyde Walton, Terence Igesund
  • Patent number: 8192271
    Abstract: Reel-type games are described in which a player's progress towards an award of a bonus game is displayed to the player. The required triggering event for an award of a bonus game may be accumulated over multiple turns of the game. A bonus indicator (e.g., icon) is provided on the display in association with each reel of the reels. After a spin of the reels, the bonus indicator for a given reel is activated if a symbol associated with an award of a bonus game is presented on the given reel. As the player continues to play, whenever the symbol associated with the bonus game appears for the first time on a given reel, the associated bonus indicator is activated and remains activated. When all the indicators have become activated, a bonus game is awarded to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Waterleaf, Ltd.
    Inventors: Theo Naicker, Terence Igesund, Richard Vermaak
  • Publication number: 20090111566
    Abstract: Reel-type games are described in which a player's progress towards an award of a bonus game is displayed to the player. The required triggering event for an award of a bonus game may be accumulated over multiple turns of the game. A bonus indicator (e.g., icon) is provided on the display in association with each reel of the reels. After a spin of the reels, the bonus indicator for a given reel is activated if a symbol associated with an award of a bonus game is presented on the given reel. As the player continues to play, whenever the symbol associated with the bonus game appears for the first time on a given reel, the associated bonus indicator is activated and remains activated. When all the indicators have become activated, a bonus game is awarded to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Waterleaf Limited
    Inventors: Theo Naicker, Terence Igesund, Richard Vermaak