Patents by Inventor Ross D. Wenker

Ross D. Wenker 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: 10373423
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer secondary game having an outcome determined based on play of a primary game of at least one, but not all, of the secondary game players. In various embodiments, play of a primary game of a designated one of a plurality of players of a secondary game controls play of the secondary game independent of any play of any primary games of the other players of the secondary game. Put differently, play of the secondary game depends on play of the primary game of the designated player and does not depend on any play of any primary games of the other. Thus, while multiple players participate in the secondary game and may concurrently play individual primary games, play of the primary game of one, but not all, of those players controls play of the secondary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Publication number: 20180374300
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer secondary game having an outcome determined based on play of a primary game of at least one, but not all, of the secondary game players. In various embodiments, play of a primary game of a designated one of a plurality of players of a secondary game controls play of the secondary game independent of any play of any primary games of the other players of the secondary game. Put differently, play of the secondary game depends on play of the primary game of the designated player and does not depend on any play of any primary games of the other. Thus, while multiple players participate in the secondary game and may concurrently play individual primary games, play of the primary game of one, but not all, of those players controls play of the secondary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Patent number: 10068415
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer secondary game having an outcome determined based on play of a primary game of at least one, but not all, of the secondary game players. In various embodiments, play of a primary game of a designated one of a plurality of players of a secondary game controls play of the secondary game independent of any play of any primary games of the other players of the secondary game. Put differently, play of the secondary game depends on play of the primary game of the designated player and does not depend on any play of any primary games of the other. Thus, while multiple players participate in the secondary game and may concurrently play individual primary games, play of the primary game of one, but not all, of those players controls play of the secondary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Patent number: 10002496
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including an object removal feature that may trigger a secondary award. In one embodiment, the keno game is associated with a plurality of keno numbers and a plurality of sets of objects. Each object is associated with one of the keno numbers. The gaming system displays the sets of objects in different layers stacked one atop the other. If an object removal event occurs during play of the keno game, the gaming system removes (at least) one of the displayed objects such that the object is no longer displayed, and determines if a secondary award triggering event occurred based on the removal of the object. If so, the gaming system determines and provides a secondary award. The occurrence of the object removal event thus provides an opportunity for the secondary award triggering event to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Patent number: 9978219
    Abstract: A method for providing a casino cribbage game includes receiving a bet from a player, dealing a plurality of player cards from at least one deck of cards to the player, dealing one or more crib cards from the at least one deck to a crib hand, receiving at least one discard from the player cards to define a player hand from the player cards remaining, moving the at least one discard to the crib hand, exposing a starter card from the at least one deck of cards, totaling a value of the player hand in conjunction with the starter card, totaling a value of the crib hand in conjunction with the starter card, and determining a payout by comparing at least one of the value of the player hand and the value of the crib hand to a pay table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Bryan D. Wolf, Lance M. Orner
  • Patent number: 9875618
    Abstract: A gaming system which includes a plurality of overlapping game plays each configured to activate zero, one or more features. Following any activation of one or more features of at least one of the overlapping game plays, the gaming system causes such activated features to also be activated in one or more of the other overlapping game plays independent of which specific game play such features were activated initially for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dylan B. SeLegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Patent number: 9691228
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for keno game play. A keno board is displayed having a plurality of spots. A player selection of a plurality of player spots is received. One or more modifications to a three-dimensional structure of the keno board are determined, with the one or more modifications including changes in position of one or more spots from the plurality of spots. The display of the keno board is updated with the one or more modifications to the three-dimensional structure of the keno board. A plurality of draws are determined and displayed on the keno board. Three dimensional movement of a draw, from the plurality of draws, landing on a spot included in the one or more spots whose positions changed is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 9460585
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided keno game play. A keno board is displayed showing a set of available spots. A player selection of a plurality of player selected spots is received. A set of removed spots to be removed from play is determined from the set of available spots. A plurality of drawn spots is selected from at least some of the set of available spots, where the plurality of drawn spots exclude the set of removed spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20160267741
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including an object removal feature that may trigger a secondary award. In one embodiment, the keno game is associated with a plurality of keno numbers and a plurality of sets of objects. Each object is associated with one of the keno numbers. The gaming system displays the sets of objects in different layers stacked one atop the other. If an object removal event occurs during play of the keno game, the gaming system removes (at least) one of the displayed objects such that the object is no longer displayed, and determines if a secondary award triggering event occurred based on the removal of the object. If so, the gaming system determines and provides a secondary award. The occurrence of the object removal event thus provides an opportunity for the secondary award triggering event to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Publication number: 20160027251
    Abstract: A gaming system which includes a plurality of overlapping game plays each configured to activate zero, one or more features. Following any activation of one or more features of at least one of the overlapping game plays, the gaming system causes such activated features to also be activated in one or more of the other overlapping game plays independent of which specific game play such features were activated initially for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Dylan B. SeLegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Publication number: 20150287276
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer secondary game having an outcome determined based on play of a primary game of at least one, but not all, of the secondary game players. In various embodiments, play of a primary game of a designated one of a plurality of players of a secondary game controls play of the secondary game independent of any play of any primary games of the other players of the secondary game. Put differently, play of the secondary game depends on play of the primary game of the designated player and does not depend on any play of any primary games of the other. Thus, while multiple players participate in the secondary game and may concurrently play individual primary games, play of the primary game of one, but not all, of those players controls play of the secondary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
  • Publication number: 20150254923
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for keno game play. A keno board is displayed having a plurality of spots. A player selection of a plurality of player spots is received. One or more modifications to a three-dimensional structure of the keno board are determined, with the one or more modifications including changes in position of one or more spots from the plurality of spots. The display of the keno board is updated with the one or more modifications to the three-dimensional structure of the keno board. A plurality of draws are determined and displayed on the keno board. Three dimensional movement of a draw, from the plurality of draws, landing on a spot included in the one or more spots whose positions changed is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20150254925
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided keno game play. A keno board is displayed showing a set of available spots. A player selection of a plurality of player selected spots is received. A set of removed spots to be removed from play is determined from the set of available spots. A plurality of drawn spots is selected from at least some of the set of available spots, where the plurality of drawn spots exclude the set of removed spots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 9053609
    Abstract: A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D Wenker, Bradford D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150087373
    Abstract: A method for providing a casino cribbage game includes receiving a bet from a player, dealing a plurality of player cards from at least one deck of cards to the player, dealing one or more crib cards from the at least one deck to a crib hand, receiving at least one discard from the player cards to define a player hand from the player cards remaining, moving the at least one discard to the crib hand, exposing a starter card from the at least one deck of cards, totaling a value of the player hand in conjunction with the starter card, totaling a value of the crib hand in conjunction with the starter card, and determining a payout by comparing at least one of the value of the player hand and the value of the crib hand to a pay table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Bryan D. Wolf, Lance M. Orner
  • Publication number: 20140274275
    Abstract: A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K. Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D. Wenker, Bradford D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140256399
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a game in which symbols can be selected more than once. In one embodiment, the gaming system initiates a play of the game, displays a plurality of different symbols, and receives a selection of at least one of the symbols to form a player symbol set. The gaming system randomly selects a designated quantity of the symbols to form a gaming system symbol set. Each of the symbols can be selected more than once. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player symbol set with the gaming system symbol set, and provides any determined awards. If an additional award opportunity triggering event associated with the gaming system symbol set including a plurality of instances of a same one of the symbols occurs, the gaming system provides an additional award opportunity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, James M. Cole, Bradford D. Brown, Ross D. Wenker, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Robert W. Ruymann
  • Patent number: 8814651
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a game in which symbols can be selected more than once. In one embodiment, the gaming system initiates a play of the game, displays a plurality of different symbols, and receives a selection of at least one of the symbols to form a player symbol set. The gaming system randomly selects a designated quantity of the symbols to form a gaming system symbol set. Each of the symbols can be selected more than once. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player symbol set with the gaming system symbol set, and provides any determined awards. If an additional award opportunity triggering event associated with the gaming system symbol set including a plurality of instances of a same one of the symbols occurs, the gaming system provides an additional award opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, James M. Cole, Bradford D. Brown, Ross D. Wenker, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Robert W. Ruymann
  • Patent number: 8795053
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing one or more indications associated with a player-selected winning symbol combination for a play of a Pachisuro-style slot game. The gaming system includes a plurality of reels, each of which includes a plurality of symbols, and a separate stop input device associated with each reel. While each reel is spinning, the gaming system enables the player to activate the associated stop input device to cause the gaming system to stop that reel from spinning. For a play of the game, the gaming system enables a player to select a desired winning symbol combination. The gaming system spins the reels and, while the reels are spinning, indicates when the player should activate the stop input devices to cause the gaming system to stop the reels such that a probability of the desired winning symbol combination being displayed is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Christopher T. Brune, Ross D. Wenker, Meng Yang Oh
  • Publication number: 20140087820
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing one or more indications associated with a player-selected winning symbol combination for a play of a Pachisuro-style slot game. The gaming system includes a plurality of reels, each of which includes a plurality of symbols, and a separate stop input device associated with each reel. While each reel is spinning, the gaming system enables the player to activate the associated stop input device to cause the gaming system to stop that reel from spinning. For a play of the game, the gaming system enables a player to select a desired winning symbol combination. The gaming system spins the reels and, while the reels are spinning, indicates when the player should activate the stop input devices to cause the gaming system to stop the reels such that a probability of the desired winning symbol combination being displayed is maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Christopher T. Brune, Ross D. Wenker, Meng Yang Oh