US5409225A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arcade game
Assignee: AGINCOURT GAMING LLC
•
Filing: 1994-01-03
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Granted: 1995-04-25
•
Expires: 2014-01-03
Abstract
Abstract An arcade game including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. The progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined task on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of an arcade-type game with a rotating wheel on which to base scoring. A playing piece is directed down a playing surface towards a target end, and the wheel is rotated according to the target that was hit by the playing piece. The position of the wheel when it stops rotating affects the score. A non-monetary award based on the score is dispensed to the player when the game is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan M. Kelly
- 👤 Norman B. Petermeier
- 👤 Matthew F. Kelly
- 👤 J. Richard Oltmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3202; G07F17/3204; G07F17/3211; G07F17/3213; A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/0058; G07F17/3286; G07F17/3297; G07F17/34; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00157; A63F2003/00167; A63F2003/0017; A63F7/0023; A63F2007/0052; A63F5/00; A63F5/04; A63F5/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A progressive bonus apparatus coupled to a plurality of games of skill comprising: a plurality of games of skill, each game of skill including a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target; progressive score accumulating means for accumulating a progressive score; means for coupling said progressive score accumulating means to said plurality of said games of skill; input means for receiving input game of skill signals from said games of skill indicating a skilled goal has been accomplished by a player playing one of said games of skill; and means for signaling a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one of said games of skill when said input receives said information that a skilled goal has occurred.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A progressive bonus apparatus coupled to a plurality of games of skill comprising: a plurality of games of skill, each game of skill including a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target; progressive score accumulating means for accumulating a progressive score; means for coupling said progressive score accumulating means to said plurality of said games of skill; input means for receiving input game of skill signals from said games of skill indicating a skilled goal has been accomplished by a player playing one of said games of skill; and means for signaling a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one of said games of skill when said input receives said information that a skilled goal has occurred.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said progressive score accumulating means includes a visual display for displaying said progressive score.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for signaling said game of skill associated with said bonus award to dispense said bonus award.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
A progressive bonus apparatus comprising: a plurality of input means, where each of said plurality of input means is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill including a target receptive to a playing piece guided by a player, each input means being adapted to develop a progressive score input signal and a skilled task input signal indicating that a skilled predetermined task for a game of skill has been accomplished by a player; digital processing means coupled to said plurality of input means and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon at least one progressive score input signal; display means coupled to said digital processing means for displaying said progressive score; and means for signaling a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said skilled task input signal is developed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
A progressive bonus apparatus comprising: a plurality of input means, where each of said plurality of input means is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill including a target receptive to a playing piece guided by a player, each input means being adapted to develop a progressive score input signal and a skilled task input signal indicating that a skilled predetermined task for a game of skill has been accomplished by a player; digital processing means coupled to said plurality of input means and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon at least one progressive score input signal; display means coupled to said digital processing means for displaying said progressive score; and means for signaling a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said skilled task input signal is developed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of input means include a plurality of latches each having an input adapted to be coupled to said game of skill and each having an output which develops and holds a digital progressive score input signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said digital processing means comprises a microprocessor and random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said ROM includes instructions for said microprocessor to perform the functions of accumulating a progressive score and signaling a bonus award based upon said progressive score.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a communications port coupled to said microprocessor for sending data to and receiving data from said microprocessor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said communications port is an RS-232 communications port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said display means comprises a multi-segment display having a plurality of digits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-segment display is coupled to said microprocessor by a multiplexer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising at least one switch coupled to said microprocessor for setting parameters for at least one function performed by said microprocessor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising at least one latch coupling said at least one switch to said microprocessor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for signaling a bonus creates a human-perceptible signal to alert an operator to manually dispense a bonus award.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising an automated bonus award dispenser responsive to said means for signaling a bonus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said automated bonus award dispenser is provided in each game of skill that is coupled to said progressive bonus apparatus.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for providing a progressive bonus for a plurality of games of skill comprising: providing a plurality of games of skill which include a target receptive to a playing piece directed by a player; providing a plurality of inputs, where each input is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill; receiving progressive score input signals and a signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved for at least one of said games of skill, said signals being received from said games of skill on said inputs; accumulating a progressive score based upon said progressive score input signals; and developing a bonus award derived, at least in part, from said progressive score after receiving said signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved at one of said games of skill.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for providing a progressive bonus for a plurality of games of skill comprising: providing a plurality of games of skill which include a target receptive to a playing piece directed by a player; providing a plurality of inputs, where each input is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill; receiving progressive score input signals and a signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved for at least one of said games of skill, said signals being received from said games of skill on said inputs; accumulating a progressive score based upon said progressive score input signals; and developing a bonus award derived, at least in part, from said progressive score after receiving said signal indicating a skilled goal has been achieved at one of said games of skill.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said steps of accumulating a progressive score and developing a bonus award are, at least in part, computer implemented processes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of developing a bonus award comprises the generation of a human-perceptible signal to alert an operator to manually dispense a bonus award.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said step of developing a bonus award comprises automatically dispensing a bonus reward in response to said means for signaling a bonus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
187 words
A progressive bonus apparatus to be coupled to a plurality of games of skill, where each game of skill includes a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target, said progressive bonus apparatus comprising: an accumulator operative to accumulate a progressive score; a plurality of lines operative to couple said accumulator to a plurality of games of skill such that said accumulator can accumulate said progressive score based upon contributions from said plurality of games of skill and such that a skilled goal input signal is received when a skilled goal resulting from a player directing said playing piece along said playing surface is accomplished by a player on at least one of said games of skill; and a bonus award device operative to signal a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one game of skill when said goal input signal is received.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
187 words
A progressive bonus apparatus to be coupled to a plurality of games of skill, where each game of skill includes a playing surface having a first end and a second end, at least one target positioned proximate said second end, and a playing piece being capable of being directed along said playing surface from said first end towards said at least one target, said progressive bonus apparatus comprising: an accumulator operative to accumulate a progressive score; a plurality of lines operative to couple said accumulator to a plurality of games of skill such that said accumulator can accumulate said progressive score based upon contributions from said plurality of games of skill and such that a skilled goal input signal is received when a skilled goal resulting from a player directing said playing piece along said playing surface is accomplished by a player on at least one of said games of skill; and a bonus award device operative to signal a bonus award based upon said progressive score, such that said bonus award can be associated with one game of skill when said goal input signal is received.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said accumulator includes a visual display for displaying said progressive score.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
A progressive bonus apparatus comprising: a plurality of inputs, where each of said plurality of inputs is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill having a playing surface on which a playing piece is directed by a player, each of said inputs operative to develop a progressive score input signal from said game of skill and an input signal indicating that a skilled goal has been achieved by a player during said game of skill resulting from directing said playing piece; a digital processor responsive to said plurality of inputs, said digital processor being operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon progressive score input signals produced by said plurality of games of skill; a display coupled to said digital processor for displaying said progressive score; and a signaling device operative to signal a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said signal indicating that a skilled goal has been reached is developed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
A progressive bonus apparatus comprising: a plurality of inputs, where each of said plurality of inputs is adapted to be coupled to a game of skill having a playing surface on which a playing piece is directed by a player, each of said inputs operative to develop a progressive score input signal from said game of skill and an input signal indicating that a skilled goal has been achieved by a player during said game of skill resulting from directing said playing piece; a digital processor responsive to said plurality of inputs, said digital processor being operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon progressive score input signals produced by said plurality of games of skill; a display coupled to said digital processor for displaying said progressive score; and a signaling device operative to signal a bonus award based, at least in part, upon said progressive score when said signal indicating that a skilled goal has been reached is developed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said digital processor comprises a microprocessor and random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising a communications port coupled to said microprocessor for sending data to and receiving data from said microprocessor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein said display comprises a multi-segment display having a plurality of digits.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said multi-segment display is coupled to said microprocessor by a multiplexer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 24 further comprising an automated bonus award dispenser responsive to said signalling device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
A progressive bonus apparatus as recited in claim 28 wherein said automated bonus award dispenser is provided in each game of skill that is coupled to said progressive bonus apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | 1999-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-24 | 2002-10-24 | 2003-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-24 | 2006-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |