Patents by Inventor Robert F. Bigelow

Robert F. Bigelow 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).

  • Publication number: 20110312406
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, JR., James A. Vasquez, Paulina Glavich, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 8029358
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, Jr., James A. Vasquez, Paulina Glavich, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20090117993
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a multi-player wheel game. The game includes a wheel having a plurality of sections. Each of the sections is associated with an award symbol. Each of the sections is also associated with a characteristic independent of the award symbol, such as a color. The gaming system enables each of a plurality of active players to select at least one of the characteristics associated with the wheel. The gaming system activates the wheel and indicates at least one section of the wheel. The gaming system and at the gaming devices associated with the gaming system provide an award associated with the award symbol of the indicated section. For each active player that selected the characteristic associated with the indicated section, the gaming system and the gaming devices associated with the gaming system provide a modified award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, JR., Christiaan R. Champagne, Dwayne A. Davis, Damien C. Ennis, Michael P. Khamis, Marcos A. Mello, David N. Myers, Michael M. Oberberger, David M. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20090111572
    Abstract: An embodiment of a gaming device includes a game having at least three choices, wherein each of the choices either trumps or is trumped by one of the other choices, and a processor programmed to determine if an outcome enhancing condition is satisfied, enable a player to elect to enhance an outcome if an outcome enhancing condition is satisfied, enable the player to select one of said choices, select one of said choices, determine an outcome based on a comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice, provide a win outcome if the player elected to enhance an outcome and the comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice results in a draw determination, provide a draw outcome if the player elected to enhance an outcome and the comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice results in a lose determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, JR., Damien C. Ennis, Michael P. Khamis
  • Publication number: 20080200237
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a free spins game including a plurality of reels, an outcome and a plurality of sections associated with the outcome. The gaming device or player activates the reels to indicate a designated symbol combination including at least two section indicator symbols. When a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the reels, the gaming device obtains the corresponding section. The gaming device or player continues to activate the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the game or until all of the sections are obtained. The gaming device then provides the outcome to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Robert F. Bigelow, James A. Vasquez, Paulina Rodgers, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 7381134
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a free spins game including a plurality of reels, an outcome and a plurality of sections associated with the outcome. The gaming device or player activates the reels to indicate a designated symbol combination including at least two section indicator symbols. When a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the reels, the gaming device obtains the corresponding section. The gaming device or player continues to activate the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the game or until all of the sections are obtained. The gaming device then provides the outcome to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Robert F. Bigelow, Jr., James A. Vasquez, Paulina Rodgers, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20080032787
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that offer a personalized set of recommended games to an individual. The systems and methods collect personal game selection information for a person, such as demographic information and/or previous gaming experience data. The collected information is then analyzed and used to select a set of recommended games from all possible games (e.g., offered by a gaming establishment) that the person is likely to enjoy. The set of recommended games is then offered to the person when they are identified at or near a gaming machine or when the person provides the personal game selection information to a gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Low, Dwayne Davis, Robert F. Bigelow
  • Publication number: 20080020845
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that offer a personalized set of recommended games to an individual. The systems and methods collect personal game selection information for a person, such as demographic information and/or previous gaming experience data. The collected information is then analyzed and used to select a set of recommended games from all possible games (e.g., offered by a gaming establishment) that the person is likely to enjoy. The set of recommended games is then offered to the person when they are identified at or near a gaming machine or when the person provides the personal game selection information to a gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Low, Dwayne Davis, Robert F. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 7258611
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, Jr., James A. Vasquez, Paulina Glavich, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20040087359
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a free spins game including a plurality of reels, an outcome and a plurality of sections associated with the outcome. The gaming device or player activates the reels to indicate a designated symbol combination including at least two section indicator symbols. When a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the reels, the gaming device obtains the corresponding section. The gaming device or player continues to activate the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the game or until all of the sections are obtained. The gaming device then provides the outcome to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Robert F. Bigelow, James A. Vasquez, Paulina Rodgers, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20030162585
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Robert F. Bigelow, James A. Vasquez, Paulina Glavich, Anthony J. Baerlocher