IES20140294A2 - Recreational gambling machine featuring two or more rotating tumblers - Google Patents

Abstract

A recreational gambling machine has an outer casing with at least two tumblers (2) on its front face. Each tumbler (2) has a wide opening (4) through which a die (5) passes into a basket (7) such that one of its faces is perfectly positioned in relation to the front face of the basket (7). Means (8) is provided for reading the face of each die (5) and the machine calculates whether or not to deliver a prize depending on the type of game played and the results obtained.

Description

Recreational Gambling Machine Featuring Two or More Rotating Tumblers Introduction This invention refers to a new recreational gambling machine which has been specially designed for playing games of chance in order to win prizes.

More specifically, the purpose of this invention is the provision of a recreational gambling machine featuring two or more rotating tumblers for simultaneously 10 making respective draws, such that the machine is able to identify the results generated in each tumbler, automatically add these results and, according to the result obtained, award prizes to the player or not.

The invention has been specially designed to make draws of dice games, in which 15 said dice are located within the aforementioned tumblers, although these tumblers could be filled with different numbered balls, as in other conventional machines.

Background to the Invention In scope of practical application of the invention, recreational gambling machines are known which typically include a self-turning device with the ability to mix up and identify balls, which comprise an outer casing with means for housing a tumbling device, into which multiple balls are introduced, also featuring a rotating central axis with means for driving the tumbler, into which a series of paddles for mixing the 25 balls may optionally be fitted, such that the aforementioned tumbler includes a hole located in the bisector line of the tumbler rotation axis linked to a ball display-picker mechanism or combination, adapted to attach itself to the tumbler in the area of the aforementioned opening, with a small display basket located externally to the tumbler, the aperture of which faces inwards toward the above-mentioned opening 30 and is adapted to collect one of the balls from the tumbler when said basket, and consequently the tumbler, reach the lower limit position, such that, in position at said lower limit point, the machine is equipped with the means to read the ball for its identification and subsequent return to the tumbler.

This type of machine is designed for use with bingo” and similar types of lottery S86522 -2draws where usually only a single tumbler is used, to which an electronic mechanism for reading the value of the ball is added by means of a reader situated below and to the side, so that the relative position of the ball with respect to the basket does not affect the reading process itself, however these mechanisms are not the most appropriate for use with other types of gambling devices, such as dice games, for example, where the aim is clearly to distinguish between the six different faces presented by the die.

Summary of the Invention The proposed device has been designed to resolve the foregoing problem in a simple yet extremely effective manner, so that draws can be effected using one or more dice, utilizing one or more tumblers, in addition to identification of the result obtained and adding it to other results, afterwards awarding appropriate prizes to the device user in accordance with the result.

In order to achieve this as accurately as possible, the machine in this invention has an outer casing into which two or more cage-based tumblers are set, together with their respective tumbling mechanisms, and with at least one die being placed in the centre, in addition to an opening in the aforementioned tumblers located on the bisecting line of the rotational axis of the tumbler, connected to a dice reader or a combined display-picker mechanism, and a display basket located externally to the tumbler, with an opening facing towards the aforementioned opening designed to collect the dice that pass from the tumbler into the basket, following which the tumbler stops at the lower limit position.

The mechanisms for reading the results obtained are situated at the front of the aforementioned basket, and can be read using a video camera with appropriate image handling software, which reads the number obtained during the draw procedure, or alternatively using a reading device such as a bar-code or BiDi code reader, in which case the different sides of the dice will be provided with identification codes for the number corresponding to each die face.

Thus, the reading mechanism associated with each of the machine tumblers comprising this invention will be connected to a microprocessor which interprets the data, and adds the results from each die in order to obtain a final result, which is -3displayed on the screen or display device situated on the outer casing of the machine, and an appropriate prize is awarded to the winner according to the result obtained and the type of game being played.

As an option, the machine is able to offer various types of dice games commonly played in gambling and by means of the corresponding interface, which is not included in this particular invention, the device is able to select one or more game types, enabling this machine to be used, for example, as part of a machine with three tumblers, which in effect will also be capable of playing dice games, but where one of the tumblers is inoperative.

In this way new types of games can be incorporated in recreational gambling machines which already have a large following in their classic format, significantly expanding the amount of possibilities for recreational machines, in addition to ensuring that the dice cannot be manipulated by the machine while enclosed within their corresponding tumblers.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a recreational gambling machine, of the type used for random draws for winning prizes, characterized in that it comprises an outer casing into which one or more tumblers are fitted, with their corresponding tumbling mechanisms controlled by a principal microprocessor, which are provided on their surface, and corresponding to the bisecting line of an imaginary rotating axis, with a large opening with a greater dimension than the surface dimension of the die to be used in the tumbling cage, characterized in that the aforementioned opening is aligned with a die collection basket, enabling one of the die faces to be perfectly aligned with the front face of the machine, in addition to being clearly visible to the machine user, with the die face corresponding to the result of the die roll obtained, having provided the corresponding means for reading the face of the obtained die roll, characterized in that the microprocessor incorporates software for identifying the results obtained in each tumbler and for calculating in order to either deliver or withhold prizes according to the type of game played and the results obtained.

In another embodiment of the invention the means for reading the face of each die are in the form of a video camera and corresponding image identification software -4associated with the machine microprocessor, and also is connected by a display for displaying the sum of the results obtained in each tumbler.

In another embodiment of the invention the opening of each tumbler is associated with an opening and closing mechanism which permits allows or prevents the die from accessing to the receiving basket, which is provided with lateral inclined walls for repositioning the die in said basket.

In another embodiment of the invention each tumbler is in the form of a cage or an essentially transparent sphere made out of plastic or similar material.

In another embodiment of the invention various mechanisms for reading the face of each die, consist of RFID, bar-code or BiDi readers, for the corresponding codes visible on the individual faces of each die.

Brief Description of the Drawings As a complement to the description and in order to ensure a better understanding of the characteristics of this invention, in accordance with a practical and preferred embodiment of the device and, as an integral part of the overall description, a set of drawings are provided below which are illustrative rather than restrictive in nature: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a recreational gambling machine, in accordance with the object of this invention, as a variant of the embodiment in which three tumblers are used; Figure 2 shows a front-facing view of the assembly of the previous figure; Figure 3 shows a profile view of the machine shown in the previous figures; Figure 4 shows a perspective detail of the machine, at the level of one of its tumblers; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of another possible embodiment of the machine described in this invention, in which two tumbling devices are used. -5Preferred Embodiments of the Invention As may be seen from the aforementioned figures, the machine described in this invention comprises an outer casing (1), which may be configured in accordance with any of the lines of design established for this machine, characterized in that at least two tumblers (2) are established on its front face (in the example of an embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4 there are three tumblers, whereas in the example in figure 5 only two are shown), associated with their corresponding tumbling mechanism fixed to the lateral ends (3), with the tumbler having the form of a cage as shown in the figures, or it may also have an essentially spherical body made from transparent plastic or a similar material.

In either case, the surface of each tumbler (2), in correspondence with the bisecting line of the imaginary rotational axis, shall be provided with a wide opening (4) of a greater dimension than the surface dimensions of the die (5) to be used inside the tumbling cage ¢2).

The aforementioned opening (4) is associated with an opening and closing mechanism (6) through which the die to passes, following a predetermined number of tumbles, into a basket (7) acting as a larger cage which, as may be seen in figure 4, is appropriately configured to receive the die (5) in an ordered position, such that one of its faces is perfectly positioned in relation to the front face of the basket (7) and, subsequently, with the front face of the machine itself, clearly visible to the player, with the die face showing the result of the die roll obtained.

The tumbling mechanisms of the different tumblers, and the opening and closing of the opening (4) are electrically associated with an internal microprocessor or microcontroller, which is also associated with a series of means (8) for reading the face of the die obtained.

These reading means are situated on the front face of the basket, so that they have access to the face of the rolled die, which is correctly positioned by a pair of side ramps (9) which ensure that through gravity the die is perfectly aligned with the front face of the basket. -6The reading means may have a variety of forms, such as a video camera with image identification software, RDID readers, or even bar-code or Bi Di code readers, for which each die face, in addition to the standard markings (10) corresponding to the result obtained, will be provided additionally with BiDi result identification codes (11).

In this way the main microprocessor of the machine identifies the values obtained in the two or three tumblers and, by means of the corresponding software, adds these values to the total result, and transmits this final result to a visual display ¢12), as a result of which the machine proceeds to deliver or fails to deliver prizes based on the type of game in question.

As an obvious result, the machine described may be integrated as part of one of the possible games in a more complex machine, hosting other types of conventional games, without affecting the essential characteristics of the invention.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A recreational gambling machine, of the type used for random draws for winning prizes, characterized in that it comprises an outer casing into which one or more tumblers are fitted, with their corresponding tumbling mechanisms controlled by a principal microprocessor, which are provided on their surface, and corresponding to the bisecting line of an imaginary rotating axis, with a large opening with a greater dimension than the surface dimension of the die to be used in the tumbling cage, characterized in that the aforementioned opening is aligned with a die collection basket, enabling one of the die faces to be perfectly aligned with the front face of the machine, in addition to being clearly visible to the machine user, with the die face corresponding to the result of the die roll obtained, having provided the corresponding means for reading the face of the obtained die roll, characterized in that the microprocessor incorporates software for identifying the results obtained in each tumbler and for calculating in order to either deliver or withhold prizes according to the type of game played and the results obtained.

2. A recreational gambling machine, in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the means for reading the face of each die are in the form of a video camera and corresponding image identification software associated with the machine microprocessor, and also is connected by a display for displaying the sum of the results obtained in each tumbler.

3. A recreational gambling machine, in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the opening of each tumbler is associated with an opening and closing mechanism which permits allows or prevents the die from accessing to the receiving basket, which is provided with lateral inclined walls for repositioning the die in said basket.

4. A recreational gambling machine, in accordance with any preceding claim, characterized in that each tumbler is in the form of a cage or an essentially transparent sphere made out of plastic or similar material.

5. A recreational gambling machine, in accordance with any preceding claim, characterized in that various mechanisms for reading the face of each die, consist of RFID, bar-code or BiDi readers, for the corresponding codes visible on the individual faces of each die.