GB1591623A - Coin-operated gaming or amusement machines - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COIN-OPERATED GAMING OR AMUSEMENT MACHINES (71) We, J.P.M. (AUTOMATIC MA CHINES) LIMITED, a British Company, of Hadfield Road, Leckwith Trading Estate, Cardiff, Glamorgan, CF 1 8AQ, formerly of Unit 15, Ace Industrial Estate, Ferry Road, Cardiff, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines, and the term "coin" is intended in this Specification to embrace tokens which can be obtained from the proprietor of the machine in exchange for normal money.

The invention is concerned with machines of the kind in which a series of symbols carried by rotatable drums, reels or discs, is displayed to view in a line. When the machine is operated by insertion of a coin, and possibly also by depression of a lever or pressing of a button, the drums rotate and stop in an apparently random manner, and if the symbols in the resulting line are in a winning combination, a payout mechanism is operated and a prize is awarded and indicated. Hereinafter such machines are referred to as "machines of the kind defined".

In order to add to the interest of such machines, it is common to add an extra 'feature' by which there is occasionally the chance of a prize being awarded for some occurence beyond the simple arrival of the drums, after their initial spin, at a particular combination line. It has been proposed to provide a display additional to the drums and onto which are transferred various symbols that appear on the combination line. If certain other combinations are achieved on this display, prizes are awarded. Such a display may be in the form of a 'Bingo' card with rows and columns of figures.

According to the present invention there is provided a coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore defined and having a feature game in addition to the drums, said feature game being randomly enabled after a normal game with the drums and including means for displaying separately certain symbols appearing on the drums, means for indexing at least some of the drums through a number of successive positions from those in which the drums stop after a single spin, and means for recording on the separate display means any of said certain symbols appearing on the combination line during indexing of the drums, the attainment of one or more combinations on the separate display means being arranged to award a prize.

There may be further provided random selector means for generating a further feature game in the game following a feature game, irrespective of the attainment of any display-operaing position in that following game.

In a preferred form there are two drums, conveniently the outer ones, which when they both show a certain symbol, trigger the drum indexing and enable the recording means. When in such positions they may each show the word 'Housey' so that the player will read the word 'Housey-Housey' which is, of course, an alternative name for 'Bingo'. At the same time as 'Housey Housey' appears, a lamp may be illuminated and/or a buzzer may be arranged to operate to indicate that indexing is about to commence. These indicators may operate constantly or intermittently when triggered.

The display means preferably takes the form of a 'Bingo' card with rows and/or columns of numbers. On the drums, these numbers may independent of the other symbols, usually fruit, or they may be superimposed. There may be a mixture of independent and superimposed numbers.

In a preferred form the drums are all indexed together and between each move melt they I,use just long enough to give the layer a cllfnce to spot if any oí the numbers appearing (n the cir,ml,inatic,n line are also available to liini on the display means. If the player does rccogiiisc such a number he can record it, for example hy pressing a button associated with the drum on which that number appears. It will then light up or be otherwise indicated on the display means.If he completes a line or column on the 'Bingo' card before indexing stops then a prize will be awarded.

When a record button has been pressed it could be arranged that the associated drum misses the next indexing step. which will provide a check that that particular number has been recorded.

Instead of indexing all the drums together, they could be moved in groups, or singly in an alternating sequence. The number of indexing steps preferably differs for every occurrence of 'Housey-Housey', randomly or in a predetermined sequence, although it could be constant. In another arrangement the number of steps may be determined by the position of one or more of the drums not showing 'Housey-Housey'.

This additional prize-awarding feature will not affect the usllal prize-winning from certain combination lines on the drums.

However, as soon as 'Housey-Housey' appears, the prize-awarding mechanism associated with the drums becomes inoperative so that no prizes are awarded if the drums should happen to index forwards to show what would previously be a prize-winning combination line.

For a better understanding of the present invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a diagram of a fruit machine with the features according to the invention.

The machine has three drums 1A, IB, 1C which are operated in conventional fashion to display, in windows 2A, 2B, 2C, fruit or other symbols in three rows. The central row, indicated by broken line 3, is the combination line which determines prizes and the availability of symbols for the feature. Each drum IA and IC has one symbol space occupied by the word 'Housey'.

Feature selector units 4 provide outputs which trigger machine control unit 5 to enable the 'Bingo' feature if both 'Housey' symbols on drums 1A and IC simultaneously appear on combination line 3. There is also a random selector unit 6 which randomly enables the feature for the succeeding play if a full 'Bingo' card is obtained. Thus if a full card is obtained, the next game may offer the feature again, without the need for Housey- Housey to appear.When the feature is enabled line 7 is energised with a voltage that causes a feature lamp 8 to be illuminated, record relays 9A, 9B, 9C to be primed ready for energisation by respective record buttons 10A, 10B, 10C, drum indexing solenoids I IA, 1 it, I IC to be primed ready for energisation through respective pulse contacts 12A, 12B, 12C, and drum motor 13 to operate. The contacts 12A, 12B, 12C are operated by a timing circuit (not shown) so that the solenoids clutch in the drums to the motor 13 to index the drums forward one symbol at a time with a short dwell between movements.

The record relays 9A, 9B, 9C have associated contacts 14A, 14B, 14C which close when the relay is energised by the appropriate record button 10A, 10B, 10C effectively to transfer any numerical symbol on the respective drum IA, 1B, 1C appearing on the combination line 3 to a 'Bingo' card 15, if that symbol is also available on the card.

This card 15 is a translucent panel marked out in grid form with some spaces blank and others with numerical symbols, and there are lamps behind these other spaces which can be illuminated. Thus, in the example shown and assuming the feature is available, the drum 1A has numeral 3 on the combination line and drum I C the numeral 90. Both these numerals appear on the 'Bingo' card, at the left hand end of the second row and at the right hand end of the third row, respectively.

If at this point the player presses buttons 10A and 10C, the relays 9A and 9C close contacts 14A and 14C and those numerals are illuminated on the card 15. If a complete row or line on the card 15 is illuminated, there is a payout.

When the drums have stopped after their initial spin and the feature is available, the drums are indexed together by solenoids I 1 A, llB, 11C at regular intervals, sufficient for an alert player to correlate the momentary combination line and any numerical symbols on it to the 'Bingo' card, and to press any of buttons 10A, 10B, 10C as appropriate.

The indexing lasts for a variable number of steps. When it stops the feature is cancelled, although if all three lines on the card are completed there is a chance, through random selector unit 6, that it may be immediately available again following a repeat 'normal' spin of the drums, without the need for 'Housey-Housey' to reappear on reels 1A and 1 C. If a full card is completed a second time, there is a further chance for continuation of the feature, and so on until either a card is not completed or the selector unit 6 fails to make the feature available.

In a modified machine, the random selector unit 6 may be arranged to operate even though a full card has not been completed by the player taking advantage of the feature in the previous game.

The display may take forms other than a 'Bingo' card, and the symbols on it need not necessarily be numerical. For example there may be a display representing playing cards, particularly the count cards, and the drums will then have certain symbol spaces showing those cards. The object, when the feature is made available, would be to "collect" certain groups of cards, for example, all of one suit, or four of a kind, or perhaps the various poker combinations.

It will be understood that although in the embodiment described two drums are required to stop at particular positions in order to generate a feature game, it can be arranged that just one or more than two drums have to be arrested at a particular position or positions to produce such a game.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore defined and having a feature game in addition to the drums, said feature game being randomly enabled after a normal game with the drums and including means for displaying separately certain symbols appearing on the drums, means for indexing at least some of the drums through a number of successive positions from those in which the drums stop after a single spin, and means for recording on the separate display means any of said certain symbols appearing on the combination line during indexing of the drums, the attainment of one or more combinations on the separate display means being arranged to award a prize.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the feature is enabled when at least one drum stops at a display-operating position.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein there are random selector means for generating a further feature game in the game following a feature game, irrespective of the attainment of any display-operating position in that following game.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein there are two drums having said display-operating positions.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display means is in the form of a 'Bingo' card.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said certain symbols are numbers.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, wherein said certain symbols represent playing cards.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said certain symbols are independent of the other symbols.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims I to 6, wherein said certain symbols are superimposed on other symbols.

10. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drums are indexed together.

11. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the drums are moved in groups or singly in an alternating sequence.

12. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the number of indexing stops is not constant.

13. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the paymout mechanism responsive to the combination line is rendered inoperative during indexing.

14. A coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 'Bingo' card, and the symbols on it need not necessarily be numerical. For example there may be a display representing playing cards, particularly the count cards, and the drums will then have certain symbol spaces showing those cards. The object, when the feature is made available, would be to "collect" certain groups of cards, for example, all of one suit, or four of a kind, or perhaps the various poker combinations. It will be understood that although in the embodiment described two drums are required to stop at particular positions in order to generate a feature game, it can be arranged that just one or more than two drums have to be arrested at a particular position or positions to produce such a game. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine of the kind hereinbefore defined and having a feature game in addition to the drums, said feature game being randomly enabled after a normal game with the drums and including means for displaying separately certain symbols appearing on the drums, means for indexing at least some of the drums through a number of successive positions from those in which the drums stop after a single spin, and means for recording on the separate display means any of said certain symbols appearing on the combination line during indexing of the drums, the attainment of one or more combinations on the separate display means being arranged to award a prize.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the feature is enabled when at least one drum stops at a display-operating position.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, wherein there are random selector means for generating a further feature game in the game following a feature game, irrespective of the attainment of any display-operating position in that following game.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein there are two drums having said display-operating positions.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the display means is in the form of a 'Bingo' card.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said certain symbols are numbers.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, wherein said certain symbols represent playing cards.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said certain symbols are independent of the other symbols.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims I to 6, wherein said certain symbols are superimposed on other symbols.

10. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drums are indexed together.

11. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the drums are moved in groups or singly in an alternating sequence.

12. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the number of indexing stops is not constant.

13. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the paymout mechanism responsive to the combination line is rendered inoperative during indexing.

14. A coin-operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.