Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Allen

Thomas W. Allen 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: 9916731
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a card game with an extra award for each winning hand including one or more extra hands of cards or a modifier for an extra award. In various embodiments, if the first hand includes any winning card combination from a first set of designated winning card combinations, the gaming system provides one or more extra hands of cards, wherein each extra hand initially includes one or more cards from the first hand and then provides one or more extra draws of cards to complete that extra hand. In various embodiments, when the first hand includes any winning card combination from a second set of designated winning card combinations, the gaming system provides a multiplier value which the gaming system applies to the award for the winning card combination from the first hand of cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas W. Allen, II, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, James A. Sipaila
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9406193
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Publication number: 20160155291
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Patent number: 9269235
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150221181
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a card game with an extra award for each winning hand including one or more extra hands of cards or a modifier for an extra award. In various embodiments, if the first hand includes any winning card combination from a first set of designated winning card combinations, the gaming system provides one or more extra hands of cards, wherein each extra hand initially includes one or more cards from the first hand and then provides one or more extra draws of cards to complete that extra hand. In various embodiments, when the first hand includes any winning card combination from a second set of designated winning card combinations, the gaming system provides a multiplier value which the gaming system applies to the award for the winning card combination from the first hand of cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas W. Allen, II, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, James A. Sipaila
  • Publication number: 20150199880
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Publication number: 20150170476
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a card game including a plurality of sequential hands with a sequentially increasing quantity of displayed cards. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a first hand including a first quantity of cards, evaluates the displayed first hand using a first paytable for any winning card combinations, and displays any award based on the first paytable. If the first hand does not include a designated advancement condition, the gaming system ends the play of the game. If the first hand includes a designated advancement condition, the gaming system displays a second hand including a second different quantity of cards, evaluates the displayed second hand using a second different paytable for any designated advancement condition, and displays any award based on the second paytable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas W. Allen, II, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, James A. Sipaila
  • Patent number: 9011225
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Publication number: 20140349725
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Patent number: 5518388
    Abstract: In an automated apparatus and method for resin transfer molding, a resin pot defining a resin chamber for receiving liquid resin is coupled in fluid communication with a mold cavity. A pump unit in the form of a piston member driven by a hydraulic cylinder, is received within the resin chamber, and pumps the resin from the resin chamber into the mold cavity upon stroking the piston member. A control unit is coupled to the pump unit, and to a pressure sensor which transmits signals to the control unit indicative of the pressure of the resin flowing between the resin chamber and the mold cavity. The control unit is responsive to the signals from the pressure sensor to control the pump unit, and maintain the resin flowing between the resin chamber and the mold cavity at a substantially constant pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Swenor, Peter Hryniewicz, Thomas W. Allen, Leo E. Carmody