AU2006288853B2 - Gaming device and method of use with balls of differing diameters - Google Patents

Description

WO 2007/029113 PCT/IB2006/002488 GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE WITH BALLS OF DIFFERING DIAMETERS CROSS REFERENCE 5 This PCT Application claims priority to US Non-Provisional Utility Patent Application Serial No. 11/470,038, filed on September 5, 2006, by inventor Joze Pe6eonik, titled Gaming Device And Method Of Use With Balls Of Differing Diameters, filed on September 5, 2006, and to Slovenian Patent Application No. P-200500257, filed September 8, 2005, by inventor Joze Peoeonik, titled Gaming Device With Orbs For The Generation Of A Greater Number Of Results, 10 which each of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a gaming device, and more particularly relate to a gaming device with substantially spherical balls where the gaming device can rapidly generate a randomly selected set of the substantially spherical balls, namely by drawing out each set 15 during a single playing cycle within any of various different various games, where a greater diameter balls are used, and where the randomly selected set of the substantially spherical balls are those balls of larger diameter that are found in a respective set of opening in the gaming device. BACKGROUND 20 A problem with gaming devices that select a random set of balls is that these devices do not quickly and efficiently scatter the balls, position the balls, select each set, and then preparation for a new game. A reduction of time needed for the drawing of the random set of balls and in a manner that makes the game faster and more attractive to the gamers. 1 CONFIRMATION COPY There are a large number of constructions of gaming devices and appliances which make possible the selection of random numbers with the help of stranding the balls or orbs in the marked openings. The US Patent No. 5,536,007, for example, describes the construction of a device with 5 5 one orb which is mounted below a screen with holes. By randomly occupying individual holes marked with numbers, a hit is enabled. The draw back of this device is, in addition to the number of results in a single game being small, the device does not have a simple mechanism provided for the repeated setting up of the device for the next game, thus making this device inappropriate for a large number of players. 10 US Patent No.4,630,822 describes a game where a number of orbs are thrown onto a disc-shaped playing surface with unconnected marked openings. The orbs are then scattered with a special revolving object (a peg top) into the unconnected marked openings each having a different value. This solution is also inappropriate for a large number of players. The gaming device described in the EP Patent Document No. 1,533,009 features a 15 construction solution in the shape of a box which has stranding mechanisms made on the bottom playing surface that accept the balls or the orbs and laying openings on the top of the playing surface that are covered with special valves that open during the evacuation of the device and enable the drawing out of the balls or orbs - for example, by using a magnet stick with metal orbs. 20 All the described solutions are designed as gaming devices for a small number of players and are generally inappropriate for a large number of players typical of casino environments. SUMMARY According to a first aspect, there is provided a gaming device comprising: a ball ejection passage extending concentrically through top and bottom plates each 25 having a plurality of circular holes therethrough, the top and bottom plates being rotatable between offset and non-offset positions; and a plurality of spherical balls for delivery upwardly through the ball ejection passage to the 2 2503588_1 (GHMatters) 13/12/10 upper surface of the top plate, wherein the spherical balls are of relatively smaller and larger diameters, and in said offset position, the top and bottom plates allow passage of only the balls of smaller diameter through the holes therein, while in said non-offset position, the top and bottom plates allow 5 passage of the balls of smaller and larger diameter. According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for selecting a random set of balls in a game, the method comprising: ejecting a plurality of differing diameter substantially spherical balls through a ball ejection passage extending concentrically through top and bottom plates, wherein each plate has a 10 plurality of circular holes therethrough; effecting relative rotation of the top and bottom plates into an offset position in which smaller diameter balls above the top plate fall by gravity through the holes in the top and bottom plates, and larger diameter balls above the top plate are retained relative to the holes in the top plate; 15 identifying the retained larger diameter balls to arrive at a randomly selected arrangement of balls; and rotating the top and bottom plates into a non-offset position in which both smaller and larger diameter substantially spherical balls above the top plate fall by gravity through the holes in the bottom plate. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the implementations may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 25 Figure I shows a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a gaming device with balls of differing diameters; and Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the gaming device seen in Figure 1. 3 2503588 1 (GHMatters) 13112/10 DESCRIPTION In reading the detailed description, the accompanying Figures may be referenced at the same time and considered as part of the detailed description. 5 In one implementation, a gaming device with balls of differing diameters is provided. In a game played with the device, balls are shot by a generated air current over a spinning cylinder having appropriately marked holes. Balls of two or more dimensions are used. The balls with the smaller dimensions are used in the game to better scatter all of the balls and to provide an attractive game play environment. The balls with a greater diameter are those that are randomly 10 selected to form a set thereof. The spinning cylinder can be made of double plates such that balls with a smaller diameter will pass through the double plates while balls having the larger diameter will be retained in marked spots of the double plates. The larger diameter balls that are retained in the marked spots of the double plates represent the randomly selected set of' ball that constitute the result of a game played on the gaming device. 15 In another implementation, a gaming device has a ball ejection passage extending concentrically through top and bottom plates. Each plate has a plurality of circular holes there through, and the holes in the top plate are respectively associated with marking indicia. The top and bottom plates are being rotatable between an offset and non-offset positions thereof. In the non-offset position, both smaller and larger diameter substantially spherical balls above the top 20 plate fall by gravity through the circular holes in the top and bottom plates, and larger diameter balls above the top plate are retained respective the boles in the top plate. In the offset position, smaller diameter balls above the top plate fall by gravity through a respective one hole in the top plate and through a respective one hole in the bottom plate, and the larger diameter balls above the top plate are retained respective holes in the top plate. The top plate is generally rotatable 25 relative to the bottom plate. A stepping mechanism can be provided to rotate the top plate relative 4 25035881 (GHMatters) 13/12/10 to the bottom plate between the offset and non-offset positions thereof without manual intervention during play of the gaming device. The balls can be ejected from below the bottom plate to above the top plate through the concentric ball ejection passage by a blower generating air currents. 5 Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a gaming device 100, provided with substantially spherical balls (e.g.; orbs), can rapidly generate a randomly selected set of the balls. Gaming device 100 includes a revolving cylinder (1), a double plate (1', 1") in, for example, two rows. Each of a plurality of holes (2) has its own position marked with an appropriate designation (e.g.; numerical, color, ete). Cylinder (1) has a plate that is raised towards the center and an opening (3) constructed in 10 the center for the exhaust or exit of the balls. That plate is connected at the bottom of the device 100 to a ball launching chamber. A mechanism enables the ejection of the balls from the launching chamber. In one implementation, the launching mechanism comprises a ventilating fan (4) for the generation of an air current. The balls have a weight and are made of a material (e.g.; Styrofoam, plastic) that enables the air current from ventilating fan (4) to shoot them over the 15 cylinder (l). Below the cylinder (1), the ball launching chamber is constructed so as to contain balls of two or more diameters or dimensions. The balls with the smaller diameter(s) are provided to better scattering all of the balls as well as to provide a greater attractiveness of the game. The balls with the largest diameter are the balls from which a randomly selected set thereof are drawn 20 to arrive at a result of a game on the gaming device. 4a 2503588_1 (GHMatters) 13/12/10 WO 2007/029113 PCT/IB2006/002488 The basic dimension of the holes (2) in the plates (1', 1") is the same as the dimensions of the balls with the larger diameter. It is possible to mutually offset the position of the plates (1', 1") so that, in the case of mutual offset of plate (1") with respect to plate 1', an ball with a larger diameter will be retained in hole 2 of plate 1' while the balls of lesser diameter will fall through 5 the holes (2) of both plates (1', 1"). By way of example, and not by way of limitation, a known stepping mechanism can be used to accomplishing this mutual offset for the position of the plates (1', 1"), where the offsetting mechanism can be formed in a central control spot. As such, the offset can be accomplished without having to manually reach into the gaming device 100 during play. 10 Following the ejection of all the balls (both larger and smaller diameters), the randomly selected set of larger diameter balls that are retained in the holes 2 of plate 1' can be read with the aid of sensors. Then, the stepping mechanism can be activated to remove the mutual offset of the position of the plates (1', 1") such that the randomly selected set of larger diameter balls that are retained in the holes 2 of plate 1' will drop through the double plates (1', 1") and fall into 15 the ball launch chamber where they wait for the next new game cycle or game to be played on gaming device 100. In this manner, gaming device 100 can quickly be immediately ready for a new game. While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or 20 teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the method and any apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the process just described may easily have steps added, taken away, or modified without departing from the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited 5 to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word 5 "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general 10 knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 6 2503588_1 (GHMatters) 13/12/10

Claims (17)

1. A gaming device comprising: a ball ejection passage extending concentrically through top and bottom plates each 5 having a plurality of circular holes therethrough, the top and bottom plates being rotatable between offset and non-offset positions; and a plurality of spherical balls for delivery upwardly through the ball ejection passage to the upper surface of the top plate, wherein the spherical balls are of relatively smaller and larger diameters, and in said 10 offset position, the top and bottom plates allow passage of only the balls of smaller diameter through the holes therein, while in said non-offset position, the top and bottom plates allow passage of the balls of smaller and larger diameter.

2. The gaming device as defined in Claim 1, wherein the top plate is rotatable relative to the 15 bottom plate.

3. The gaming device as defined in Claim I or Claim 2, further comprising means for rotating the top plate. 20

4. The gaming device as defined in any preceding Claim, including means for rotating the top plate relative to the bottom plate between said offset and non-offset positions.

5. The gaming device as defined in Claim 4, wherein the rotating means comprises a stepping mechanism to rotate the top and bottom plates between the offset and non-offset 25 positions without manual intervention during play of the gaming device.

6. The gaming device as defined in any preceding Claim, including means for ejecting balls 7 2503588_1 (GHMatters) 13/12/10 from below the bottom plate through the concentric ball ejection passage.

7. The gaming device as defined in Claim 6, including a blower for generating air currents sufficient to eject balls from below through the concentric ball ejection passage. 5

8. The gaming device as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein the plurality of holes in the top plate are respectively associated with marking indicia.

9. A method for selecting a random set of balls in a game, the method comprising: 10 ejecting a plurality of differing diameter substantially spherical balls through a ball ejection passage extending concentrically through top and bottom plates, wherein each plate has a plurality of circular holes therethrough; effecting relative rotation of the top and bottom plates into an offset position in which smaller diameter balls above the top plate fall by gravity through the holes in the top and bottom is plates, and larger diameter balls above the top plate are retained relative to the holes in the top plate; identifying the retained larger diameter balls to arrive at a randomly selected arrangement of balls; and rotating the top and bottom plates into a non-offset position in which both smaller and 20 larger diameter substantially spherical balls above the top plate fall by gravity through the holes in the bottom plate.

10. The method as defined in Claim 9, in which arriving at respective randomly selected ball arrangements are established by repeatedly ejecting balls through the ball ejection passage, and 25 rotating the plates between the offset and non-offset positions.

HI. The method as defined in Claim 9 or Claim 10, including the step of generating a current 8 25035881 (GHMatters) 13/12/10 of air to eject balls from below the bottom plate to above the top plate through the concentric ball ejection passage.

12. The method as defined in any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the plurality of holes in the top 5 plate are respectively associated with marking indicia.

13. The method as defined in any of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the ejecting further comprises ejecting a greater number of smaller diameter balls through the ball ejection passage than that of the larger diameter balls. 10

14. Apparatus operable to perform the method of any of Claims 9 to 13.

15. A game played by performing the method of any of Claims 9 to 13. is

16. A gaming device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9 2503588_1 (GHMatters) 13/12/10