US5743523A — Multi-game system with progressive bonus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of individual game stations, where each game station is capable of dispensing redemption tickets based upon at least one skilled operation performed by a player of said game station where said skilled operation affects the movement of a physical playing piece associated with said game station; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to display a progressive score and further operative to provide at least one bonus redemption ticket based upon said progressive score to a player of a game station when a bonus condition is met.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 104 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of individual game stations, where each game station is capable of dispensing redemption tickets based upon at least one skilled operation performed by a player of said game station where said skilled operation affects the movement of a physical playing piece associated with said game station; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to display a progressive score and further operative to provide at least one bonus redemption ticket based upon said progressive score to a player of a game station when a bonus condition is met.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing piece is a ball.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 2 wherein said skilled operation includes initiating a motion of said ball.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 3 wherein said skilled operation results in said ball engaging a target.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing piece is disk-shaped.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 5 wherein said skilled operation includes initiating a motion of said disk-shaped playing piece.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of game stations are provided by a plurality of game units.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein said progressive bonus apparatus is physically attached to at least one of said plurality of game units.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said game stations includes a ticket dispensing mechanism having a dispensing slot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one skilled operation comprises the directing of said physical playing piece towards a target having an associated numerical value.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 10 wherein said physical playing piece is directed by imparting a force on said playing piece.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 10 wherein said physical playing piece is directed by a release of said playing piece.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the movement of said physical playing piece is caused by a release of said playing piece.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said bonus apparatus includes a display having a plurality of light-emitting segments for displaying said progressive score.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said bonus condition is initiated from a particular game station, and wherein said at least one bonus redemption ticket is provided by said particular game station.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 118 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes a coin-box and an award dispenser, wherein a game station can be used by a player after the insertion of a token of monetary value into said coin-box of said station, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award based upon at least one skilled operation performed by said player at said game station; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus condition is met.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 118 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes a coin-box and an award dispenser, wherein a game station can be used by a player after the insertion of a token of monetary value into said coin-box of said station, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award based upon at least one skilled operation performed by said player at said game station; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus condition is met.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said plurality of game stations are provided by a plurality of game units.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 17 wherein said progressive bonus apparatus is physically attached to at least one of said plurality of game units.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said coin-box accepts at least one of legal tender of a monetary value and a token of monetary value.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 19 wherein said legal tender of monetary value is a coin.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 19 wherein said token is used with said game system in an arcade environment.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said award dispenser includes a ticket dispensing mechanism.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 22 wherein said award comprises at least one redemption ticket.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said skilled operation results in the illumination of at least one electrically activated light emitting device to provide feed-back to said player concerning the outcome of said skilled operation.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said skilled operation includes initiating the motion of a ball.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 25 wherein said skilled operation results in said ball engaging a target.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said skilled operation includes the initiation of a motion of a disk-shaped playing piece.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said progressive bonus apparatus includes a display for visually displaying a progressive score derived from said progressive value.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 28 wherein said display includes a plurality of light-emitting segments for displaying said progressive score.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 39 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 16 wherein said bonus condition is initiated from a particular game station, and wherein said at least one bonus redemption ticket is provided by said particular game station.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 43 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus as recited in claim 30 wherein said bonus condition initiated from said particular game station is initiated by said player of said particular game station due to a result of said at least one skilled operation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 129 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game on said game station after the input of monetary value at said station, and wherein a goal of said game at said game station is achieved by said player primarily by the application of skill and is not primarily affected by chance, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when said goal is achieved; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus goal is achieved.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 129 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game on said game station after the input of monetary value at said station, and wherein a goal of said game at said game station is achieved by said player primarily by the application of skill and is not primarily affected by chance, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when said goal is achieved; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus goal is achieved.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein said plurality of game stations are provided by a plurality of game units.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein said award dispenser includes a ticket dispensing mechanism having a dispensing slot and said award comprises at least one redemption ticket.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 27 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 34 wherein said progressive bonus apparatus is physically attached to at least one of said plurality of game units.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 19 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein said skill for achieving said goal involves hand-eye coordination.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 31 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein said application of skill includes the skillful directing of said physical playing piece towards a target having an associated numerical value.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 39 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein each of said plurality of game stations includes a coin-box that accepts at least one of legal tender of said monetary value and a token of said monetary value.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 34 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 32 wherein said bonus goal is achieved by said player of a particular game station due to a result of said at least one skilled operation.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 29 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 39 wherein said bonus award is provided to said player at said particular game station where said bonus goal was achieved.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 41 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 40 wherein said progressive value is transmitted to said particular game station from said progressive bonus apparatus such that said bonus award may be provided to said player at said particular game station.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 130 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game of skill on said game station after the receipt of monetary value, and wherein an outcome of said game of skill at said game station is influenced primarily by the application of skill of said player and is not primarily influenced by chance, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when said goal is achieved; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus goal is achieved.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 130 words

A multi-station game system with progressive bonus comprising: a plurality of game stations, each of which includes an award dispenser, wherein a player can play a game of skill on said game station after the receipt of monetary value, and wherein an outcome of said game of skill at said game station is influenced primarily by the application of skill of said player and is not primarily influenced by chance, and wherein said game station is capable of dispensing an award when said goal is achieved; and a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations and operative to develop a progressive value therefrom, said progressive bonus apparatus being further operative to provide a bonus award as determined by said progressive value when a bonus goal is achieved.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 34 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 42 wherein said application of skill in said game of skill includes the application of said player's knowledge effectively in performance during said game of skill.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 32 words

A multi-station game system as recited in claim 42 wherein said application of skill in said game of skill includes the application of dexterity and hand-eye coordination during said game of skill.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 161 words

A method for providing a multi-station game system having progressive bonus, comprising: providing a plurality of game stations; receiving monetary input from said player at a particular one of said game stations to start a game; determining when a goal has been achieved by said player during said game at said particular game station, wherein said goal is achieved by said player on said particular game station primarily by the application of skill during said game and not primarily by the application of chance; accumulating a progressive value on a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations, said progressive value being modified when a bonus goal is achieved on any of said plurality of game stations, and wherein said progressive value is used to provide a bonus award to said player when said player achieves said bonus goal during said game; and dispensing an award when said goal or when said bonus goal is achieved by said player.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 161 words

A method for providing a multi-station game system having progressive bonus, comprising: providing a plurality of game stations; receiving monetary input from said player at a particular one of said game stations to start a game; determining when a goal has been achieved by said player during said game at said particular game station, wherein said goal is achieved by said player on said particular game station primarily by the application of skill during said game and not primarily by the application of chance; accumulating a progressive value on a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game stations, said progressive value being modified when a bonus goal is achieved on any of said plurality of game stations, and wherein said progressive value is used to provide a bonus award to said player when said player achieves said bonus goal during said game; and dispensing an award when said goal or when said bonus goal is achieved by said player.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as recited in claim 45 wherein said step of receiving monetary input includes receiving a token in a coin slot.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as recited in claim 45 wherein said skill for achieving said goal involves dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as recited in claim 47 wherein said application of skill includes the skillful directing of said physical playing piece towards a target having an associated numerical value.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as recited in claim 45 wherein said bonus goal is achieved by said player of a particular game station primarily due to the application of skill during said game and not primarily by the application of chance.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as recited in claim 45 wherein said bonus award is provided to said player at said particular game station where said bonus goal was achieved.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-27	2001-10-27	2002-04-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-27	2005-10-27	2006-04-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-27	2009-10-27	2010-04-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-game system with progressive bonus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag