Patents by Inventor Shane Littlefield

Shane Littlefield 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).

  • Gaming machine with upper and lower symbol matrices and shared center reel
    Patent number: 9607482
    Abstract: On a display screen in a gaming device is displayed an upper set of reels, a lower set of reels, and a larger shared reel that extends between the upper set of reels and the lower set of reels, the shared reel containing special symbols, wherein symbols on an upper section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the upper set of reels; and wherein symbols on a lower section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the lower set of reels. The special symbols may include wild symbols, free spin symbols, instant awards, mystery wild symbols, and secondary game play symbols. Since the player can focus on only one reel, the shared reel, which frequently determines whether the player wins, the player becomes more involved in the game and enjoys it more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IGT Canada Solutions ULC
    Inventors: Ginette Mckay, Shane Littlefield
  • GAMING MACHINE WITH UPPER AND LOWER SYMBOL MATRICES AND SHARED CENTER REEL
    Publication number: 20150072754
    Abstract: On a display screen in a gaming device is displayed an upper set of reels, a lower set of reels, and a larger shared reel that extends between the upper set of reels and the lower set of reels, the shared reel containing special symbols, wherein symbols on an upper section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the upper set of reels; and wherein symbols on a lower section of the shared reel are combinable with symbols on the lower set of reels. The special symbols may include wild symbols, free spin symbols, instant awards, mystery wild symbols, and secondary game play symbols. Since the player can focus on only one reel, the shared reel, which frequently determines whether the player wins, the player becomes more involved in the game and enjoys it more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: GTECH Canada ULC
    Inventors: Ginette Mckay, Shane Littlefield