Patent US6047963A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6047963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pachinko stand-alone and bonusing game
Assignee: International Game Technology
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Filing: 1998-06-17
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Granted: 2000-04-11
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Expires: 2018-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A Pachinko bonus game system for an underlying game machine. The Pachinko bonus game has a playing field with a plurality of rows of pegs. A ball is launched onto the playing field by a launch mechanism when an initiate condition occurs during play of the underlying game. A row of lanes are provided on the playing field. The ball, after traversing among the pegs on the playing field, eventually travels through one of the lanes. At each lane is randomly displayed a bonus payoff value. The lane the ball travels through senses the presence of the ball and the value displayed for that lane is added to the credit meter in the underlying game. The bonus payoff values are randomly changed from game to game which eliminates any mechanical bias present in the Pachinko game. A stand-alone Pachinko game as well as using a Pachinko game as a coin dispenser is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse E. Pierce
- 👤 Olaf Vancura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/02; A63F7/022; A63F2007/0064; B; B67; B67C; B67C11/00; B67C11/02; B67C2011/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game machine played by a player, said underlying game machine having a credit meter, said Pachinko bonus game comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field traveling through one of said lanes; randomly selected bonus payoff values; a bonus payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field for displaying one of said randomly selected bonus payoff values; said credit meter at said underlying game to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said bonus payoff display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game machine played by a player, said underlying game machine having a credit meter, said Pachinko bonus game comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field traveling through one of said lanes; randomly selected bonus payoff values; a bonus payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field for displaying one of said randomly selected bonus payoff values; said credit meter at said underlying game to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said bonus payoff display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said initiate condition is a random event.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said Pachinko bonus game has a credit meter, the aforesaid credit meter incremented by the amount of said bonus payoff value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said randomly selected bonus payoff values are the same so that the amount said credit meter is incremented is independent of which lane said play piece travels through.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said randomly selected bonus payoff values change in said bonus payoff displays according to: T.sub.D ≦T.sub.G where T D =display time, T G =Pachinko game cycle time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 5 wherein all said randomly selected bonus payoff values change in said bonus payoff displays at the same time, T D .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 5 wherein said randomly selected bonus payoff values change in said bonus payoff displays at staggered times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said randomly selected bonus payoff values in said bonus payoff displays are randomly selected from a weighted probability pay table after said initiate condition occurs and before said play piece travels through said lane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 8 wherein the weighted probability pay table is based upon: EV.sub.l =Σ.sub.k (w.sub.l,k ×P.sub.l,k)≡a constant where EV l =Expected Value for lane l of said lanes, P l ,k =Set of payoff values for lane l of said lanes, w l ,k =Weights associated with the payoff values per said lane l and wherein the EV l for each of said lanes is constant so as to eliminate any bias in said Pachinko bonus game system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the time a bonus payoff value is displayed in a bonus payoff display is proportional to the weight of the aforesaid bonus payoff value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the time a bonus payoff value is displayed in a bonus payoff display is constant and said bonus payoff value is proportional to its weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said randomly selected bonus payoff values are moved to another lane whenever new bonus payoff values are randomly selected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 12 wherein said movement to another lane is rotation so that with each new random selection the bonus payoff values are moved to the adjacent lanes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 12 wherein said movement to another lane is random.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said underlying game machine is a slot machine, said slot machine having a plurality of reels and a payline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 15 wherein said initiate condition occurs when a bonus game symbol appears on said payline during the play of said slot machine game.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said initiate condition is an accumulated value based upon said play of said underlying game machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said play piece is non-metallic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said play piece is about one inch in diameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the playing field is oriented vertically at said underlying game machine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 where said launch mechanism automatically propels said play piece when a bonus game symbol appears on a payline in said underlying game machine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said launch mechanism is activated by said player.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein each bonus payoff display is flush mounted on said playing field in each said lane so as not to interfere with the movement of said play piece.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 further comprising: a play piece sensor in each of said lanes; a controller, said controller in response to said bonus game signal appearing on a payline of said underlying game machine (1) randomly selecting said bonus payoff values for display in said bonus payoff displays, (2) activating said launch mechanism, (3) receiving a signal from the sensor at said lane said play piece traveled through, and (4) communicating to said underlying game machine said amount of the bonus payoff value displayed at the aforesaid lane so that said credit meter is incremented by said amount.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 24 wherein said controller is located in said bonus game system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 24 wherein said controller is located in said underlying game machine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 further comprising: a switch, said switch when activated issuing a signal; said launch mechanism re-propelling said play piece when said signal is issued from said switch during a predetermined time frame after said play piece travels through said one lane; said displays randomly displaying "double" or "nothing" messages; said credit meter at said underlying game to change in accordance with the message displayed at the lane the re-propelled play piece travels through.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional area above and/or below each of said lanes having a bonus function value display, when said play piece travels through said area, said displayed bonus function value affecting said bonus payoff value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 28 wherein said bonus function values are multipliers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 28 wherein said bonus function values are additive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
140 words
A bonus game system comprising: a slot machine, said slot machine having a credit meter; a Pachinko game located at said slot machine, said Pachinko game having: (a) a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; (b) a play piece; (c) a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said slot machine; (d) lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in the playing field traveling through one of said lanes; (e) a bonus payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; said credit meter at said slot machine incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
140 words
A bonus game system comprising: a slot machine, said slot machine having a credit meter; a Pachinko game located at said slot machine, said Pachinko game having: (a) a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; (b) a play piece; (c) a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said slot machine; (d) lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in the playing field traveling through one of said lanes; (e) a bonus payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; said credit meter at said slot machine incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bonus game system of claim 31 wherein said initiate condition is a random event.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bonus game system of claim 31 wherein said Pachinko game has a credit meter, the aforesaid credit meter incremented by the amount of said bonus payoff value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bonus game system of claim 31 wherein said slot machine further comprises a plurality of reels, a window over said plurality of reels, and a payline through said window.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bonus game system of claim 34 wherein said initiate condition is at least one symbol appearing on said payline during play of said slot machine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bonus game system of claim 34 wherein said initiate condition is at least one symbol appearing in said window during play of said slot machine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bonus game system of claim 31 wherein said initiate condition is an accumulated value based upon said play of said slot machine.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
177 words
A Pachinko payoff dispensing system for an underlying game machine played by a player, said Pachinko payoff dispensing system comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when a payoff occurs based upon an initiate condition in said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in field traveling through one of said lanes; a payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; a random set of values for said displays in a pay table based upon EV=Σ k (w l ,k ×P l ,k)=D, where EV l =Expected Value for lane l of said lane, P l ,k =Set of values for lane l w l ,k =Weights associated with values per lane l D=Said Payoff a credit meter, said credit meter incremented by the amount of the value on said display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
177 words
A Pachinko payoff dispensing system for an underlying game machine played by a player, said Pachinko payoff dispensing system comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when a payoff occurs based upon an initiate condition in said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in field traveling through one of said lanes; a payoff display at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; a random set of values for said displays in a pay table based upon EV=Σ k (w l ,k ×P l ,k)=D, where EV l =Expected Value for lane l of said lane, P l ,k =Set of values for lane l w l ,k =Weights associated with values per lane l D=Said Payoff a credit meter, said credit meter incremented by the amount of the value on said display at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The Pachinko payoff dispensing system of claim 38 wherein said initiate condition is a random event.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The Pachinko payoff dispensing system of claim 38 wherein said credit meter is at said underlying game.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
133 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game machine played by a player, said underlying game machine having a credit meter, said Pachinko bonus game comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field traveling through one of said lanes; fixed bonus payoff values at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; said credit meter at said underlying game to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value at said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
133 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game machine played by a player, said underlying game machine having a credit meter, said Pachinko bonus game comprising: a playing field, said playing field having a plurality of deflection devices; a play piece; a launch mechanism, said launch mechanism propelling said play piece onto said playing field when an initiate condition occurs during the play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field traveling through one of said lanes; fixed bonus payoff values at each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; said credit meter at said underlying game to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value at said lane said play piece traveled through.
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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) | 2003-04-11 | 2003-10-11 | 2004-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-11 | 2007-10-11 | 2008-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-11 | 2011-10-11 | 2012-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |