Gaming machine with action unit container
A gaming device including a game apparatus enabling a player to play the game, the gaming device having: a container with at least one movable object located within; one or more receptacle elements capable of receiving the movable objects, where the receptacle element includes a barrier member that allows movement of the movable objects through the receptacle element when the barrier member is in a first position and that constrains the movable object when the barrier member is moved to a second position; and a controller in communication with the barrier member and the game apparatus, is disclosed. The controller is designed to determine a game outcome and communicate the result to the player by activating the barrier member of the receptacle element to move from an open position to a closed position, thus displaying the result to the player by trapping the movable object in the receptacle element corresponding to the game outcome. Typically, the receptacle element will bear at least one game-related symbol or image corresponding to the prize to be awarded. In addition, a method of playing a game involving placing a wager using the aforementioned gaming device is disclosed.
1 . A gaming device comprising:
(A) at least one game apparatus configured to allow a player to play a game;
(B) at least one movable object;
(C) at least one container configured to hold the movable object;
(D) at least one receptacle element coupled to the container and capable of receiving the movable object, wherein the receptacle element comprises:
(1) an opening sufficient to allow passage of the movable object through the receptacle element; and
(2) at least one barrier member configured (a) to allow passage of the movable object through the receptacle element when the barrier member is in a first position and (b) to constrain the movable object within the receptacle element when the barrier member is in a second position; and
(E) at least one controller in communication with the barrier member and the game apparatus, configured to determine a random game outcome and activate the barrier member to change from the first position to the second position, thereby displaying the random game outcome to the player by associating the random game outcome with the receptacle element having the movable object constrained therein.
2 . The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the container is filled with a medium selected from the group consisting of air, carbon dioxide, water, inert oils and combinations thereof.
3 . The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle element is associated with at least one game related indicium.
4 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of movable objects wherein the receptacle element may receive the plurality of movable objects.
5 . The gaming device of claim 4 wherein the receptacle element comprises a plurality of segments, each segment capable of receiving and constraining one or more of the plurality of movable objects.
6 . The gaming device of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of barrier members, wherein each of the barrier members is associated with a specific segment, each segment being associated with at least one game-related indicium, and wherein the controller can individually activate each of the barrier members associated with the specific segments.
7 . The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the barrier member is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a door, a gate, a plate, a panel, a screen, a bar, a magnet and a rod.
8 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a movable object dispenser configured to release movable objects within the container.
9 . The gaming device of claim 8 further comprising a movable object return mechanism configured to transport movable objects from a lower portion of the container to the movable object dispenser.
10 . The gaming device of claim 9 wherein the movable object return mechanism is selected from the group consisting of conveyor belt, waterwheel, slide, funnel and auger mechanisms.
11 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a movable object detector associated with the receptacle element, in communication with the controller, and configured to determine when the movable object has been constrained within the receptacle element.
12 . The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the movable object detector is selected from one or more of the group consisting of an optical sensor, a bar code sensor and an inductive sensor.
13 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of receptacle elements.
14 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising an agitation system selected from one or more of the group consisting of a fan and a mechanical mixing device.
15 . The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a barrier actuator for changing the barrier member from the first position to the second position and vice versa, wherein the barrier actuator is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a solenoid, a motor and a magnet.
16 . A method of playing a game comprising, but not all necessarily in order shown:
(A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game;
(B) moving at least one movable object located inside a container;
(C) randomly determining a game outcome;
(D) allowing passage of the movable object through at least one receptacle element;
(E) constraining the movable object within the at least one receptacle element; and
(F) displaying the game outcome to the player by associating the game outcome with the at least one receptacle element having the movable object constrained therein.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising associating game-related indicia with the receptacle element, wherein the indicia communicate the game outcome.
18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising dispensing movable objects from a movable object dispenser located inside the container.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising activating a barrier member associated with the receptacle element.
20 . A gaming device comprising:
(A) game apparatus means for enabling a player to play a game;
(B) at least one movable object means for displaying an outcome of the game;
(C) at least one container means for holding the movable object means;
(D) at least one receptacle element means for receiving the movable object means; and
(E) at least one barrier member means for constraining the movable object means within the receptacle element means.
21 . The gaming device of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of receptacle element means.
22 . The gaming device of claim 20 further comprising a controller means for:
(a) randomly determining the outcome of the game and selecting the receptacle element means associated with the outcome of the game; and
(b) activating the barrier member means to constrain the movable object means within the receptacle element means.