Wheel indicator and ticket dispenser apparatus
View Patent ↗A game unit including an indicator wheel and an award dispenser. In certain embodiments, when players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive a non-monetary award such as a ticket or token. Preferably, a game unit may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel which displays a result of a game event or status.
1. A multi-station game system comprising:
a plurality of individual game units, where a game result of each game unit is determined at least in part by chance, and where each game unit is provided with a ticket dispenser and with a spinning wheel indicator including a plurality of segments; and
a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game units and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said plurality of game units and further operative to provide a bonus award ticket via said ticket dispenser based upon said progressive score to a player of an individual unit.
2. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said individual game units each include a pointer pointing to one of said plurality of segments of an associated spinning wheel indicator.
3. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 2 wherein said spinning wheel indicators are capable of rotating in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.
4. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said award ticket dispensed by said individual game units is redeemable for at least one of cash and prizes.
5. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 wherein said progressive score includes the sum of contributions from said plurality of game units.
6. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a sound synthesizer which creates sound effects related to a rotation of said spinning wheel indicator.
7. A multi-station game system comprising:
a plurality of individual game units, where a game result of each game unit is determined at least in part by chance, and where each game unit is provided with a ticket dispenser and with a spinning wheel-shaped indicator including a plurality of segments; and
a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said plurality of game units and operative to accumulate a progressive score based upon contributions from said plurality of game units and further operative to provide a bonus award ticket via said ticket dispenser based upon said progressive score to a player of an individual unit; and
wherein each game unit of the plurality of game units includes:
a wheel-shaped indicator having a surface displaying a plurality of segments radially extending from an axis of rotation and capable of rotating, at least fractionally, in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
a motor coupled to said wheel-shaped indicator to rotate said wheel-shaped indicator around said axis of rotation;
an award dispenser; and
a controller providing signals to said motor and to said award dispenser.
8. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein each game unit of the plurality of game units further comprises a rotational position sensor detecting a rotational position of said wheel-shaped indicator and providing a signal to said controller.
9. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein said controller of each game unit of the plurality of game units further communicates with a game which includes at least an element of chance.
10. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 9 wherein said wheel-shaped indicator of each game unit of the plurality of game units may be rotated in response to an event of said game.
11. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 10 wherein said award is a ticket redeemable for at least one of cash and prizes.
12. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 11 wherein said ticket is dependent upon a result of a play of said game.
13. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 11 wherein said ticket is a paper ticket including indicia representative of its value.
14. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein each game unit of the plurality of game units further comprises a sound effects generator coupled to said controller.
15. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein said wheel-shaped indicator of each game unit of the plurality of game units can be rotated in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction under the control of said controller.
16. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein each game unit of the plurality of game units further comprises a progressive bonus apparatus coupled to said controller.
17. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said wheel-shaped indicator of each game unit of said plurality of game units is illuminated.
18. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said segments of said wheel-shaped indicator of each game unit of said plurality of game units is illuminated.
19. A multi-station game system as recited in claim 7 wherein at least a portion of said award dispenser of each game unit of said plurality of game units is illuminated.