IP Library Patent Application 12163997
Patent Application
App. No. 12/163,997

CLOCK HAND BONUS GAME METHOD

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/163,997
Abstract

In various embodiments, a clock hand bonus game is provided. Moreover, in various embodiments, a system, method and apparatus is provided for a bonus gaming machine. The bonus gaming machine operates with a face and two clock hands which rotate about the face. The bonus gaming machine operates in conjunction with a base gaming apparatus. The face displays a set of indicia which the two clock hands may point to as indication of a prize. The prize may be awarded in conjunction with a prize of the base gaming machine or independently.

Claims (100)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving a signal from an associated base game;

spinning a first clock hand around a set of indicia of a bonus game, the set of indicia presented on a first surface of a face;

spinning a second clock hand of the bonus game around the set of indicia;

stopping the first clock hand at a first indicia of the set of indicia;

stopping the second clock hand at a second indicia of the set of indicia;

calculating a gaming result based on the first indicia and the second indicia; and

displaying the gaming result on the bonus game.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending the gaming result to the associated base game; and

modifying an outcome of the associated base game responsive to the gaming result.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

spinning the first clock hand includes spinning the first clock hand multiple times;

stopping the first clock hand includes stopping the first clock hand after each time the first clock hand spins;

recording each indicia of the set of indicia where the first clock hand spins; and

combining the resulting indicia from the first clock hand spins to form the first indicia.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

spinning the second clock hand includes spinning the second clock hand multiple times;

stopping the second clock hand includes stopping the second clock hand after each time the second clock hand spins;

recording each indicia of the set of indicia where the second clock hand spins; and

combining the resulting indicia from the second clock hand spins to form the second indicia.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

spinning the first clock hand and spinning the second clock hand result from a single mechanical device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

stopping the first clock hand completes during spinning of the second clock hand.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

stopping the second clock hand includes decelerating the second clock hand at a rate visually perceptible to a human observer.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

displaying a count up to a representation of the first indicia on the bonus game during spinning of the second clock hand; and

displaying a count up to the gaming result on the bonus game after stopping the second clock hand.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

stopping the first clock hand includes decelerating the first clock hand at a rate visually perceptible to a human observer; and

stopping the second clock hand includes decelerating the second clock hand at a rate visually perceptible to a human observer.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

stopping the first clock hand includes decelerating the first clock hand at a rate visually perceptible to a human observer; and

stopping the second clock hand includes decelerating the second clock hand at a rate visually perceptible to a human observer.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

spinning the first clock hand occurs independently of spinning the second clock hand.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

stopping the first clock hand occurs at approximately the same time as stopping the second clock hand.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

stopping the first clock hand occurs independently from stopping the second clock hand.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the set of indicia include a first set of indicia arranged in an outer circle having a generally circular pattern, the first clock hand arranged to point to indicia of the first set of indicia, and the set of indicia include a second set of indicia arranged in an inner circle having a generally circular pattern, the second clock hand arranged to point to indicia of the second set of indicia.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:

The first set of indicia display numeric values of the gaming result and the second set of indicia display multiplier values, and wherein the gaming result is derived from a product resulting from multiplication of a selected multiplier value from the second set of indicia and a selected numeric values from the first set of indicia.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first surface of the face has a single set of indicia arranged in a single generally circular pattern.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

calculating the gaming result is further based on a result received from the associated base game.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

calculating the gaming result is independent of a result of the associated base game.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining a progressive prize value; and

contributing a portion of the gaming result to the progressive prize value.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

playing the associated base game;

producing a base gaming result in the associated base game;

sending the signal from the associated base game based on the base gaming result.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein:

the signal is sent from the associated base game responsive to any base gaming result.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein:

the signal is sent from the associated base game responsive to a base gaming result which is part of a predetermined subset of base gaming results.

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the gaming result is a group play game score.

24 . A method, comprising:

playing an associated base game of a plurality of associated base games;

producing a base gaming result in the associated base game;

sending a signal from the associated base game based on the base gaming result;

receiving the signal from the associated base game;

spinning a first clock hand around a set of indicia of a bonus game, the set of indicia presented on a first surface of a face;

spinning a second clock hand of the bonus game around the set of indicia;

stopping the first clock hand at a first indicia of the set of indicia;

stopping the second clock hand at a second indicia of the set of indicia;

calculating a gaming result based on the first indicia and the second indicia; and

displaying the gaming result on the bonus game.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the set of indicia include a first set of indicia arranged in an outer circle having a generally circular pattern, the first clock hand arranged to point to indicia of the first set of indicia, and the set of indicia include a second set of indicia arranged in an inner circle having a generally circular pattern, the second clock hand arranged to point to indicia of the second set of indicia.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the first surface of the face has a single set of indicia arranged in a single generally circular pattern.

27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein:

calculating the gaming result is further based on the base gaming result of the associated base game.

28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the base game is in a location physically close to the bonus game.

29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein:

the base game is in a location physically distant to the bonus game; and

sending and receiving the signal occurs through use of a network coupled to each of the base game and the bonus game.

30 . A method, comprising:

playing an associated base game;

producing a base gaming result in the associated base game;

sending a signal from the associated base game based on the base gaming result;

receiving the signal from the associated base game in a bonus game;

spinning a first clock hand around a first set of indicia of the bonus game, the first set of indicia presented on a first surface of a face of the bonus game;

spinning a second clock hand of the bonus game around a second set of indicia of the bonus game, the second set of indicia presented on the first surface of the face of the bonus game;

stopping the first clock hand at a primary indicia of the first set of indicia;

stopping the second clock hand at a secondary indicia of the second set of indicia;

calculating a gaming result based on the primary indicia and the secondary indicia; and

displaying the gaming result on the bonus game.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein:

The first set of indicia display numeric values of the gaming result and the second set of indicia display multiplier values, and wherein the gaming result is derived from a product resulting from multiplication of a selected multiplier value from the second set of indicia and a selected numeric values from the first set of indicia.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0589 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2009
From: KELLY, BRYAN M.; ROWE, BRUCE
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 022898/0348 →