Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Kopera
Thomas M. Kopera 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: 9830775Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Thomas M. Kopera, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9814966Abstract: A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.Inventors: George A. Gomez, Thomas M. Kopera
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Publication number: 20170294077Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality s of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Thomas M. Kopera, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9721435Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Thomas M. Kopera, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
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Publication number: 20170095730Abstract: A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: George A. Gomez, Thomas M. Kopera
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Patent number: 9561430Abstract: A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.Inventors: George A. Gomez, Thomas M. Kopera
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Publication number: 20160121202Abstract: A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: George A. Gomez, Thomas M. Kopera
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Patent number: 9011251Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olson
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Patent number: 8858332Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game on a handheld gaming machine includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play the wagering game and an external system configured to regulate wagering game play on the handheld gaming machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2007Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Thomas M. Kopera, Larry J. Pacey, David Pryor, Richard T. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20140094289Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Thomas M. Kopera, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 8628405Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Thomas M. Kopera, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
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Publication number: 20130337897Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olson
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Patent number: 8545304Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game, whereby a player at one gaming terminal is allowed to link to other gaming terminals via a player-selectable option. The wagering game may include a basic game and a bonus game. Once linked, the player can enter a bonus game that is triggered by an outcome at a linked terminal.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olsen
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Patent number: 8512147Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olson
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Patent number: 8235813Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a pendant lighting assembly coupled to the gaming machine cabinet. The pendant lighting assembly includes a light source mounted to the gaming machine cabinet and at least one light conduit mounted to the gaming machine cabinet. The at least one light conduit is adjustable to direct and redirect light from the light source to one or more locations external to the gaming machine cabinet. The color and/or timing of the light directed at each location may be synchronized with events occurring in the wagering game.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Bradley D. Cornell, Thomas M. Kopera, David J. Link
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Patent number: 8162751Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a gaming machine cabinet having one or more colorable or color-changeable exterior sections. The color-changeable exterior sections comprise a translucent material that glows or shines when light is diffused through the material. Sections that are color-changeable include those sections that are visually dominant or affect the overall appearance of the gaming machine. A multi-color lighting assembly having one or more multi-color light sources is present. The multi-color lighting assembly may be operated to direct light having a predetermined color or sequence of colors. The light causes the color-changeable exterior sections to project the predetermined color or sequence of colors, thereby changing the overall appearance of the gaming machine. The predetermined color or sequence of colors may be selected randomly, or they may be based on the outcome of the wagering game.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Kopera, Walter E. Smolucha
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Patent number: 7927218Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display and a top box display. The game display is for displaying the wagering game. The top box display includes a standard substructure for attaching subassemblies. The substructure contains fixed connection points allowing subassemblies to be developed in a fashion consistent with the substructure, thus simplifying the ability to swap components and reducing the dependence on unique internal part designs.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Kopera, Bradley D. Cornell, Wayne H. Rothschild, Scott M. Irving
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Publication number: 20110053683Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olsen
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Patent number: 7775873Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jason C. Gilmore, Thomas M. Kopera, Christy Juinsuk Olsen
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Publication number: 20100004059Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a gaming machine cabinet having one or more colorable or color-changeable exterior sections. The color-changeable exterior sections comprise a translucent material that glows or shines when light is diffused through the material. Sections that are color-changeable include those sections that are visually dominant or affect the overall appearance of the gaming machine. A multi-color lighting assembly having one or more multi-color light sources is present. The multi-color lighting assembly may be operated to direct light having a predetermined color or sequence of colors. The light causes the color-changeable exterior sections to project the predetermined color or sequence of colors, thereby changing the overall appearance of the gaming machine. The predetermined color or sequence of colors may be selected randomly, or they may be based on the outcome of the wagering game.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: WMS GAMING INC.Inventors: Thomas M. Kopera, Walter E. Smolucha