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).
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Patent number: 10373423Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: IGTInventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Publication number: 20180374300Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Patent number: 10068415Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Patent number: 10002496Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Patent number: 9978219Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Ross D. Wenker, Bryan D. Wolf, Lance M. Orner
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Patent number: 9875618Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: Dylan B. SeLegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Patent number: 9691228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey
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Patent number: 9460585Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey, Bryan D. Wolf
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Publication number: 20160267741Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Publication number: 20160027251Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Dylan B. SeLegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Publication number: 20150287276Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Thomas W. Allen, II, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker
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Publication number: 20150254923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey
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Publication number: 20150254925Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II, Thomas J. Humphrey, Bryan D. Wolf
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Patent number: 9053609Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D Wenker, Bradford D. Brown
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Publication number: 20150087373Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: IGTInventors: Ross D. Wenker, Bryan D. Wolf, Lance M. Orner
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Publication number: 20140274275Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGYInventors: Daniel L. DeFrance, Jerry L. Byrd, Christopher K. Sehy, Tyson Joehler, Ross D. Wenker, Bradford D. Brown
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Publication number: 20140256399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: IGTInventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, James M. Cole, Bradford D. Brown, Ross D. Wenker, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 8814651Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, James M. Cole, Bradford D. Brown, Ross D. Wenker, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 8795053Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Christopher T. Brune, Ross D. Wenker, Meng Yang Oh
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Publication number: 20140087820Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: IGTInventors: Christopher T. Brune, Ross D. Wenker, Meng Yang Oh