Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-09
2001-08-07
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270409
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for gaming; more particularly, to a method and apparatus for gaming which is capable of ensuring a minimum amount of winnings for the participants at predetermined intervals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gaming, or sports of chance, have long intrigued and enticed the general public. Indeed, despite the higher probability of losing than winning, gaming is popular and includes simple single play events, such as a flip of a coin, to multi-play events, such as a football pool for a series of championship games.
One popular gaming device is the slot machine. A slot machine requires one, two, three or more coins or tokens to be inserted or credits to be used. Once the coins are inserted, a lever arm of push button is actuated which spins a plurality of reels, typically three, wherein each reel has various symbols on its face. The reels spin for a given period of time and stop. When the reels stop, a symbol for each reel is displayed in the view window of the slot machine. Depending upon the combination of symbols that align in a line, a predetermined payout, if any, is ascertained. As only a limited number of winning combinations exist, in many instances, no payout is provided for the combination of symbols that results from the actuation of the lever arm. Thus, it is possible that a participant could play for an extended period of time and not win. As most participants desire to win, rather than lose, the longer the time period played without a win, the less likely it will be to maintain the participant's interest or participation.
Attempts have been made to provide some assurance of a win for the participants. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,390 to Okada is directed to providing insurance to the participant. In the '390 reference, if the participant chooses to accept insurance, an insurance period is effectuated. During the insurance period, the total amount wagered by the participant, or the number of games played, is accumulated. If the user fails to win during the insurance period, when the accumulated value or number of games reach a predetermined amount, a predetermined value of insurance is paid out and the insurance period ends. Thus, the insurance amount can offset the loss suffered by the participant. Nonetheless, the participant must initially pay for the insurance for this aspect of the game to be activated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,785 to Okada is directed to a game utilizing a win judgment table. The table stores winning information corresponding to each integer in a set of integers. A selected integer, which is assigned to a special win is located at the end of the set of integers. In the '785 reference, a random integer is sampled in the first game and a win judgment is based on this random integer. In subsequent games the sampled integer is incremented and the integer resulting from the incrementation of the sampled integer is used for the new game. This step is repeated until the integer resulting from incrementation is the selected integer, where the special win will occur. Although this method is directed towards effectuating a special win, there is no defined time frame under which a special win will occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,781 to Wood et al. is directed to a gaming system wherein a participant is offered an award prior to the completion of the game. If the participant accepts the reward, the game is terminated. If the participant does not accept the award, the participant risks losing any winnings at all.
Although the above systems attempt to provide some assurances for the participant to recapture some of their wager, none of the systems guarantee a win during a predefined time frame or predefined number of games. Further, none of the current systems allow a player to forego the acceptance of a guaranteed win for the opportunity to attain a large guaranteed win amount. A need exists in the industry for a system that guarantees a win in a specified time period or after a predetermined number of games. A further need exists for a system that allows the participant to forego a guaranteed win in exchange for an opportunity to win a higher guaranteed amount.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The instant invention is directed to a gaming method and apparatus wherein the participants are guaranteed to win a minimum amount after a fixed period of time or a predetermined number of games. Preferred embodiments of the instant invention include the steps of determining the parameters for the minimum win and controlling the gaming device. The step of determining the parameters for the minimum win includes the steps of determining the win interval and the minimum guaranteed award amount for achieving the win interval.
The win interval is the amount of plays or the amount of accumulative wager that must be placed prior to a guaranteed award being payed. In instances wherein the number of games in the win interval are played, and the player fails to win, the guaranteed award will be paid. In some preferred embodiments, the player is given the option of foregoing the guaranteed award and progressing to the next level of play for a new minimum guaranteed award.
Once the win interval and amounts for winning are determined, the gaming apparatus is configured. Thus, for example, if the gaming apparatus is a slot machine, the slot machine is preprogrammed with the win interval and the payout schedule. Thus, during play, the slot machine will recognize when a pay condition is achieved.
A feature of embodiments of this invention is the guarantee to win a minimum amount after a predetermined number of games. An advantage of this feature is that the participants will remain more interested in the game and will participate longer as they will be assured of recouping some, if not all, of their wagered amount.
Another feature of this invention is the allowance of the forfeiture of the guaranteed win for the opportunity to continue to play and win a second guaranteed win which is higher than the minimum for the first guaranteed win. An advantage of this feature is that it allows participants to risk winnings with the security that they will nonetheless, win some amount. Another advantage of this feature is that it maintains the interest of the participants such that play time is increased.
Yet another feature of preferred embodiments of this invention is that the predetermined number of games or amount of time that must elapse prior to winning is displayed. An advantage to this feature is that participants are informed in advance of the amount of play that must occur prior to their opportunity to win. A further advantage of this feature is that participants will be more willing to participate in the game as they will have advance knowledge of the win time.
Still another feature of preferred embodiments of the instant invention is that the progressive amounts of the guaranteed winnings are available to the participants prior to playing. An advantage of this feature is that the participant is aware of the minimum amounts of return possible prior to participation in the game, which decreases the amount of risk a participant is required to incur and thereby increases the number of participants who would be willing to play.
The above and other features and advantages of embodiments of this invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that the above advantages can be achieved separately by different features of the invention and that additional advantages of this invention will involve various combinations of the above independent features such that synergistic benefits may be obtained from the combined techniques.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4669731 (1987-06-01), Clarke
patent: 5083785 (1992-01-01), Okada
patent: 5178390 (1993-01-01), Okada
patent: 5370399 (1994-12-01), Liverance
patent: 5393061 (1995-02-01), Manship et al.
patent: 5511781 (1996-04-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5551692 (1996-09-01), Pettit et al.
patent: 55
Cheng Joe H.
Christman Kathleen M.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
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