GB2304295A

GB2304295A - Roulette

Info

Publication number: GB2304295A
Application number: GB9617204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Reginald Cammegh
Original assignee: GAMING SUPPLY Co Ltd
Current assignee: GAMING SUPPLY Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-17
Filing date: 1996-08-16
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Also published as: GB9617204D0

Abstract

A roulette wheel has symbols adjacent and identifying groups of ball pockets. A layout bearing the symbols adjacent the corresponding pocket numbers is also provided. Bets may therefore be placed on a symbol rather than on a number. The symbols may correspond to equal numbers of pockets, and may for example represent signs of the zodiac. Alternatively, they may correspond to different numbers of pockets, giving each symbol different "odds", in which case they may for example represent race horses, racing cars or greyhounds.

Description

ROULETTE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to the game of roulette.

Roulette is a game played with a single ball and a roulette wheel. The wheel has a central hub in the form of a dome or cone and a plurality of equally sized pockets formed by a separator ring around the perimeter of the dome, the pockets being numbered for example from 0 to 36 or 00 and 0 to 36. The player places a bet on a particular pocket number, or on either an odd or an even number, etc. The wheel is then spun, and the ball is drbpped in. The player wins if the ball comes to rest in the numbered pocket on which the bet was placed.

The present invention provides a roulette wheel having a central hub and a plurality of ball pockets surrounding the hub, the roulette wheel bearing indications that the ball pockets are divided into a plurality of groups of adjacent ball pockets.

Conveniently the indications comprise symbols provided on the dome of the wheel. Thus a player can place a bet on a symbol and will win if the ball comes to rest in any of the pockets associated with that symbol.

Thus, from one particular aspect the present invention provides a hub for a roulette wheel bearing indications that the perimeter of the hub is divided into a plurality of sections.

When fixed to a separator ring, each section of the perimeter of the hub or dome is aligned with a group of pockets in the separator ring. In one embodiment, the groups all contain an equal number of pockets. For example, each symbol may be associated with three pockets.

However there is conveniently a symbol corresponding only to the '0' or '00' pocket.

Alternatively, at least two of the groups may contain a different number of ball pockets. In this embodiment, the symbols may for example represent horses, dogs, or racing cars, each of which has different 'odds' of winning.

In another aspect the invention provides a layout for a roulette table, the layout comprising a plurality of divisions on which to place bets, each division bearing an indication that it is associated with a group of adjacent ball pockets of a roulette wheel. For example, each division may bear the numbers of the associated pockets, or may bear a symbol and the numbers of the pockets may be indicated adjacent the division containing the corresponding symbol.

The layout is conveniently used on a roulette table adjacent the roulette wheel of the invention for facilitating the placing of bets, in a known manner.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the central part of a roulette wheel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a table layout in accordance with the invention for use with the wheel of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagram of the central part of a roulette wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a diagram of a table layout in accordance with another embodiment of the invention for use with the wheel of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a roulette wheel for mounting in a bowl of standard form comprises a number ring 4 surrounding a separator ring 6 which forms a plurality of pockets 8, and a hub in the form of a dome 10 with a central turret 12. The turret 12, dome 10, number and separator rings 4, 6 are mounted for rotation with respect to the bowl in a conventional manner. In use, the dome 10 and rings 4, 6 are spun by means of the turret 12, such that a ball which is dropped in comes to rest in one of the numbered pockets 12.

The dome bears indications that a plurality of symbols 14, for example the twelve years of the Chinese horoscope.

These are each associated with a section of the perimeter of the dome, as indicated by markings 16 between the symbols. Each section is aligned with a group of three of the numbered pockets. In addition a symbol 18 is associated with the '0' pocket. Thus it is possible to place a bet on a symbol rather than a number. In this example, a player may be paid at 11-1 should the ball come to rest in any one of the three pockets corresponding to the chosen symbol.

The roulette wheel is usually placed on a table bearing a layout on which bets can be placed. The layout may for example be printed or embroidered onto a cloth covering on the table. The layout usually comprises a grid with numbers corresponding to those on the number ring placed in each division of the grid. Bets are indicated by placing chips in the chosen division.

Referring to Figure 2, the layout according to this invention may be used instead of the usual layout, or in addition to it as a 'neighbour track' placed adjacent the usual layout such that players have a choice of whether to place a bet on a symbol or on a number in the known manner. The layout 20 according to the invention comprises a grid, as does a known layout. However, the grid has only twelve divisions 22, each of which corresponds to a group 24 of three numbers. The numbers in the group are indicated adjacent each division. The divisions 22 each bear a symbol 26, which each correspond to a symbol on the roulette wheel dome 10. A thirteenth division 28 corresponds to '0' and also has an associated symbol 30 corresponding to that on the dome 10.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the dome is divided into segments 32 of unequal sizes by markings in the form of radially extending lines 34. The sections of the perimeter of the dome corresponding to each segment are thus aligned with different numbers of ball pockets. The dome bears symbols 36 in each of the segments 32, which in this example are the names of race horses.

The race horses have different odds depending upon the number of ball pockets with which they are associated. For example, the odds on SPIRIT and ROCKET which are each associated with six ball pockets are 5-1. In the same way, a group of five pockets has odds of 6-1, four pockets 8-1, three pockets 11-1 and two pockets 17-1.

Figure 4 shows a layout for use with the roulette wheel of Figure 3. This is in the form of an additional layout 38 placed adjacent one long edge of the usual layout 40 for a roulette table. The additional layout 30 is elongate in shape, and has a plurality of adjacent divisions 42 each bearing the name of the race horse and the odds associated with that name.

Of course, the groups may be indicated by other symbols rather than names, and the divisions may bear just a name or symbol, or just the odds, etc.

Whilst various embodiments of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, other sets of twelve symbols such as the signs of the zodiac or the twelve days of Christmas may be used. Alternatively, a different number of divisions or groups may be used, for example nine groups of four numbers or eighteen groups of two numbers. Furthermore, where the groups may comprise unequal numbers of ball pockets, and the symbols may represent other things, for example dogs or racing cars.

It may also be envisaged that the indications are provided on the bowl of the roulette wheel rather than on the dome.

Claims

1. A roulette wheel having a central hub and a plurality of ball pockets surrounding the hub, the roulette wheel bearing indications that the ball pockets are divided into a plurality of groups of adjacent ball pockets.

2. A roulette wheel as claimed in claim 1, in which the indications are provided on the hub.

3. A roulette wheel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the indications comprise marks indicating locations on the perimeter of the hub which locations separate the sections of the perimeter aligned with each group of ball pockets, and symbols between adjacent mark.

4. A roulette wheel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each group contains an equal number of pockets, excluding any groups(s) associated with ball pockets numbered "0" and/or "00".

5. A roulette wheel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which at least two of the groups comprise different numbers of ball pockets, excluding any group(s) associated with ball pockets numbered "0" or "00".

6. A roulette wheel as claimed in claim 5, in which each group comprises a unique number of ball pockets.

7. A hub for a roulette wheel bearing indications that the perimeter of the hub is divided into a plurality of sections.

8. A hub as claimed in claim 7, in which the indications comprise marks indicating locations on the perimeter of the hub, which locations separate the sections, and symbols between adjacent marks.

9. A layout for a roulette table, the layout comprising a plurality of divisions on which to place bets, each division bearing an indication that it is associated with a group of adjacent ball pockets of a roulette wheel.

10. A layout as claimed in claim 9, in which the indication comprises a symbol.

11. A layout as claimed in claim 10, in which the numbers of the pockets in each group are indicated adjacent the division containing the corresponding symbol.

12. A roulette wheel substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A hub for a roulette wheel substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A layout for a roulette table substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.