Gaming machine with iridescent or fluorescent indicia

#Gaming machines are of course for entertainment. Accordingly, it is desirable to increase the entertainment and excitement of the playing of the machines by adding a large variety of attractions and attention getting devices to the respective machines. By this invention, a strong “attention getter” is provided, in that indicia such as lines or figures on the machine can be highlighted by emitting a sudden glow of fluorescence or iridescence at times selected by the program of the game.

#In accordance with this invention, a gaming machine is provided which comprises a housing and a display panel carried in the housing. The display panel carries permanent indicia, for example lines, figures, or the like. The display panel and gaming machine may also be adapted with appropriate components for the display of transient indicia, either on the display panel or visible through the display panel, as a part of the gaming played on the machine.

#The permanent or transient indicia comprises an ink or other iridescent coating (for example iridescent ink, which is a commercially available material). These inks or other coatings are those that glow in the presence of activating light, such as ultraviolet light or equivalent radiation such as x-ray, infrared or the like, where energy from a radiation that is less visible (not necessarily totally invisible) is re-emitted at a more visible frequency or other manner, to provide a strong and even startling glow to the permanent indicia. However, it is of course possible that some of the permanent indicia will not be adapted to respond to irradiation with a glow. Some of the indicia may glow when irradiated at one frequency and other indicia may glow when irradiated at a second frequency to provide a variable pattern (and optionally variable color) of the responsive glow.

#Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a gaming machine having a screen in accordance with this invention.

#FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one screen in accordance with this invention, showing permanent indicia and transient indicia.

#Referring to the drawings, gaming machine 10 is shown having a housing 12, which carries a screen 14. Conventional electronics and other equipment for operating a gaming machine is present in housing 12, including two, or any number, of internal activating lights 16 that emit ultraviolet radiation, and also two, or any number, of conventional fluorescent lights 18 emitting visible radiation. The gaming machine will carry a suitable microprocessor 20 for operation of the system plus control buttons 22 for the gamer's use, a bill slot 24, a coin entry slot 26, a payout trough 28, and other conventional equipment.

#FIG. 2 shows screen 14 having permanent indicia 30 thereon, an example thereof being shown. The particular permanent indicia 30 of the specific embodiment disclosed comprises, among other things, the name of the game “ELVIRA” 32 in large letters, a figure of the lady herself 34, and a numbered spider web 36 on which the game is played. The symbol-bearing segments 46 of the game play area 44 may be illuminated by back lights 18. The symbols 47 found in segments 46 may comprise the transient indicia, being carried by a rotating back wheel 40, or by TV image technology or the like, in a changeable manner so that the numbers rotate through the segments 46. The winning number may occupy the top segment 46a when the rotation stops.

#The gaming machine 10 may also have a lower portion 13 for use as a first game. If desired, the described use of fluorescent illumination or the like per this invention may be used with this screen as an addition or an alternative to the fluorescent illumination at screen 14.