Patents by Inventor Thomas Tuomey

Thomas Tuomey 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: 11928915
    Abstract: A method of playing a feature game on a gaming machine. A display displays a first game and a second game. A game controller determines if a merging condition occurs, and if a merging condition occurs, animates a merging of the first game and the second game into a merged game at the display. The merged game has a plurality of display positions from the first game, the second game, and a set of additional display positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey
  • Publication number: 20230222865
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display device, a player input interface configured to receive player input from a player; and a game controller configured to execute instructions. The instructions cause the processor to display a plurality of game reels including a first game reel type having a plurality of symbol positions and a second game reel type including a grouped symbol position. The instructions also cause the processor to display a bonus symbol in the grouped system position and, in response to displaying the bonus symbol, to display an expanded display area comprising at least one additional symbol position located above the reels of the first game reel type. The instructions further cause the processor to determine a game outcome based upon a combination of the at least one additional symbol position and the plurality of symbol positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Allon Englman
  • Publication number: 20230154284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming machine, methods of gaming and gaming systems. The gaming system comprises: a first video display; a second video display; and a game controller. The game controller is arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a symbol set for display on the first video display and the second video display; and evaluate a symbol subset comprising one or more of the plurality of symbols to determine whether to make an award. The number of symbols of the symbol subset is higher than a number of symbols in the symbol subset evaluated by the game controller in a previous game instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Casey Lyle Condron, Thomas Tuomey, Kurt Larsen, Charles Schotborgh, Adam Pippin, Ryan Shawn Carr
  • Patent number: 11600149
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display device, a player input interface configured to receive player input from a player; and a game controller configured to execute instructions. The instructions cause the processor to generate, based on a random number generator, at least one random number, query a lookup table of display symbols to be displayed in a grouped symbol position on the display device. At least one entry in the lookup table is associated with a plurality of single symbol positions and a weight, wherein the plurality of single symbol positions includes a population of partial symbols. A grouped symbol is displayed having a height at least two times the height of a single symbol position and comprising at least two of the partial symbols, the two partial symbols combining to display a complete symbol having a height at least two times the height of a single symbol position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Allon Englman
  • Patent number: 11562624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming machine, methods of gaming and gaming systems. The gaming system comprises: a first video display; a second video display; and a game controller. The game controller is arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a symbol set for display on the first video display and the second video display; and evaluate a symbol subset comprising one or more of the plurality of symbols to determine whether to make an award. The number of symbols of the symbol subset is higher than a number of symbols in the symbol subset evaluated by the game controller in a previous game instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Casey Lyle Condron, Thomas Tuomey, Kurt Larsen, Charles Schotborgh, Adam Pippin, Ryan Shawn Carr
  • Patent number: 11551511
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprising a video display and a game controller arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a symbol set for display on the video display, evaluate the symbols displayed on the display to determine whether to initiate a symbol lock event, and upon initiating a symbol lock event, identify symbols which contribute to an award configuration, control the display to lock identified symbols, and updating remaining symbols in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Casey Lyle Condron, Thomas Tuomey, Kurt Larsen, Charles Schotborgh, Adam Pippin, Ryan Shawn Carr
  • Patent number: 11538310
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise advancements to electronic gaming machines. In particular embodiments, when a bonus feature is activated and, as part of the bonus feature, a sub-feature is selected from among multiple available sub-features. The bonus feature can include one or more sub-features that trigger a further secondary RNG selection. For example, the one or more sub-features can include one or more of (a) a credit awarding secondary feature in which a secondary RNG is applied to select the amount of credits; (b) a free-spin secondary feature in which one or more free games can be awarded; and/or (c) a reel-spin feature in which an enhanced reward scheme is applied. In further embodiments, the reel-spin feature can further include a random selection of a threshold that ensures the player the threshold amount until it is exceeded by the game mechanics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Hendricks, Thomas Tuomey, Gary Penacho, Damien Burczyk, Allon Englman
  • Patent number: 11361611
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display device and game controller is provided. The display device includes reels having display positions for presenting symbols that include non-blank symbols and blank symbols. The game controller is configured to spin the reels horizontally to obtain a first game outcome including a first arrangement of the symbols at the display positions. In response to a determination that the first arrangement includes blank symbols, the game controller is configured to determine whether horizontally shifting non-blank symbols in either direction with respect to the blank symbols in each reel results in an optimal win. The game controller horizontally shifts the non-blank symbols with respect to the blank symbols in each reel to obtain a second game outcome in response to a determination that the shifting results in the optimal win. The game controller increases a credit balance by an award associated with the optimal win.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey
  • Patent number: 11354983
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method is implemented on an electronic gaming system and includes initiating, by a game controller and in response to a primary game outcome of a wagering game, a bonus game. The method also includes displaying, by the game controller and in response to the initiating, a path, where the path includes a plurality of locations, and displaying, by the game controller, a wheel, where the wheel includes a plurality of stop positions. The method includes, in addition, selecting, by the game controller, a first stop position of the plurality of stop positions of the wheel, and advancing, by the game controller, an animated character on the path by a first number of locations corresponding to the first stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Bradley John Hendricks, Lorin Santucci, Thomas Tuomey, Aiden Chonghoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20220148374
    Abstract: A method of playing a feature game on a gaming machine. A display displays a first game and a second game. A game controller determines if a merging condition occurs, and if a merging condition occurs, animates a merging of the first game and the second game into a merged game at the display. The merged game has a plurality of display positions from the first game, the second game, and a set of additional display positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey
  • Patent number: 11257321
    Abstract: A method of merging a plurality of games into a single game on a gaming machine. A display displays first and second games. A game controller determines if a wager has been placed, and if the wager placed includes a base game wager and a game enhancement wager. Upon determining that the wager placed includes a base game wager and a game enhancement wager, the game controller merges the first and second games and a plurality of display positions into a merged game. The merged game selects symbols from the first game and the second game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Bradley Hendricks
  • Publication number: 20220051526
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise advancements to electronic gaming machines. In particular embodiments, when a bonus feature is activated and, as part of the bonus feature, a sub-feature is selected from among multiple available sub-features. The bonus feature can include one or more sub-features that trigger a further secondary RNG selection. For example, the one or more sub-features can include one or more of (a) a credit awarding secondary feature in which a secondary RNG is applied to select the amount of credits; (b) a free-spin secondary feature in which one or more free games can be awarded; and/or (c) a reel-spin feature in which an enhanced reward scheme is applied. In further embodiments, the reel-spin feature can further include a random selection of a threshold that ensures the player the threshold amount until it is exceeded by the game mechanics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Bradley Hendricks, Thomas Tuomey, Gary Penacho, Damien Burczyk, Allon Englman
  • Patent number: 11238692
    Abstract: A method of playing a feature game on a gaming machine. A display displays a first game and a second game. A game controller determines if a merging condition occurs, and if a merging condition occurs, animates a merging of the first game and the second game into a merged game at the display. The merged game has a plurality of display positions from the first game, the second game, and a set of additional display positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Thomas Tuomey
  • Patent number: D940177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Tuomey, Christmas Uberuaga, David Kaminkow, Gary Penacho
  • Patent number: D969146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Allon Englman
  • Patent number: D974395
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Tuomey, Jocellie Imutan
  • Patent number: D976267
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Chantrelle Pryor
  • Patent number: D997192
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Thomas Tuomey, Chantrelle Pryor
  • Patent number: D1007529
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Tuomey, Christmas Uberuaga, David Kaminkow, Gary Penacho
  • Patent number: D1014540
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Tuomey, Jocellie Imutan