US6139013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pachinko stand-alone and bonusing game
Assignee: International Game Technology
•
Filing: 1999-11-17
•
Granted: 2000-10-31
•
Expires: 2019-11-17
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 21:18
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/02; A63F7/022; A63F2007/0064
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game, 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 traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field; a bonus payoff display to display a bonus payoff value for each of said lanes: a credit meter to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value displayed on said bonus payoff display for the lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game, 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 traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field; a bonus payoff display to display a bonus payoff value for each of said lanes: a credit meter to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value displayed on said bonus payoff display for the 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
34 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said 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
28 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said bonus payoff values change according to: T.sub.D ≦T.sub.G where T D =display time, T G =Pachinko game cycle time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 5 wherein all said bonus payoff values change in said bonus payoff display 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
35 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said bonus payoff values 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
27 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the time a bonus payoff value is displayed is proportional to the weight of the aforesaid bonus payoff value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the time a bonus payoff value is displayed is constant and said bonus payoff value is proportional to its weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said 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
23 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said underlying game is a 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
23 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said initiate condition is an accumulated value based upon said play of said underlying game.
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
18 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein the playing field is oriented vertically at said underlying game.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said launch mechanism automatically propels said play piece when a bonus game symbol appears in said underlying game.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 1 wherein said launch mechanism is activated by a player of said underlying game.
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 across each said lane so as not to interfere with the movement of said play piece.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 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 initiate condition in said underlying game (1) randomly selecting said bonus payoff values for display in said bonus payoff display, (2) activating said launch mechanism, (3) receiving a signal from the sensor at said lane said play piece traveled through, and (4) communicating to the underlying game said amount of the bonus payoff value for 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 Pachinko bonus game.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The Pachinko bonus game of claim 24 wherein said controller is located in said underlying game.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
74 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 lane; said display randomly displaying "double" or "nothing" messages; said credit meter 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
133 words
A bonus game system comprising: an underlying game; a Pachinko game located at said underlying game, 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 underlying game; (d) lanes on said playing field, said play piece traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in the playing field; (e) a bonus payoff display to display a bonus payoff value for each of said lanes; a credit meter at said underlying game incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said display for said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
133 words
A bonus game system comprising: an underlying game; a Pachinko game located at said underlying game, 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 underlying game; (d) lanes on said playing field, said play piece traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in the playing field; (e) a bonus payoff display to display a bonus payoff value for each of said lanes; a credit meter at said underlying game incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value on said display for 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 underlying game 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 underlying game.
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 underlying game.
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 underlying game.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
167 words
A Pachinko payoff dispensing system for an underlying game, 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 traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in field; a payoff display for 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.sub.k (W.sub.l,k ×P.sub.l,k)=D, where EV 1 =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 for said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
167 words
A Pachinko payoff dispensing system for an underlying game, 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 traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in field; a payoff display for 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.sub.k (W.sub.l,k ×P.sub.l,k)=D, where EV 1 =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 for 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
115 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game, 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 play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field; fixed bonus payoff values for each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; a credit meter to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value for said lane said play piece traveled through.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
115 words
A Pachinko bonus game for an underlying game, 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 play of said underlying game; lanes on said playing field, said play piece traveling through one of said lanes after traversing said plurality of deflection devices in said playing field; fixed bonus payoff values for each of said plurality of lanes on said playing field; a credit meter to be incremented by the amount of the bonus payoff value for said lane said play piece traveled through.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US524475A
Cited
US2732210A
Cited
US426546A
Cited
US1181027A
Cited
US1520345A
Cited
US1947772A
Cited
US2614840A
Cited
US3531114A
Cited
US3807736A
Cited
US3797828A
Cited
US3825265A
Cited
US4055344A
Cited
DE3220395A1
Cited
US4508336A
Cited
EP0189256A2
Cited
US4871171A
Cited
GB2218558A
Cited
US5016879A
Cited
US5120060A
Cited
US5393057A
Cited
US5241379A
Cited
US5628685A
Cited
US5342049A
Cited
US5516104A
Cited
US5462277A
Cited
US5603659A
Cited
EP0671713A1
Cited
US5494287A
Cited
US5707285A
Cited
US5707285C1
Cited
US5788230A
Cited
US5882261A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |