# US 2016/0133100 A1 · Slot machine with secondary game content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0133100 A1 - Document ID: US20160133100A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/536,630 - Filed: 2014-11-09 - Published: 2016-05-12 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-09 - Assignees: Interblock D.D. - Inventors: Joze Pececnik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160133100A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A gaming apparatus has: a) a base wagering game apparatus comprising a processor, symbol display component and player input controls; and b) a secondary game element visible from the base wagering game, wherein the secondary game element comprises a see-through container that is liquid proof, a fluid source and a pump to move fluid into and out of the see-through container; wherein winning outcomes in the base wagering game causes the pump in the secondary game element to change a visible volume of liquid within the container so that a changed level of liquid within the container can be seen, and when a predetermined level of liquid is attained within the container, a bonus payment or bonus game is initiated as a resolution of wagers placed through the player input controls. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming apparatus comprising: a) a base wagering game apparatus comprising a processor, symbol display component and player input controls; and b) a secondary game element visible from the base wagering game, wherein the secondary game element comprises a see-through container that is liquid proof, a fluid source and a pump to move fluid into and out of the see-through container; wherein winning outcomes in the base wagering game causes the pump in the secondary game element to change a visible volume of liquid within the container so that a changed level of liquid within the container can be seen, and when a predetermined level of liquid is attained within the container, a bonus payment or bonus game is initiated as a resolution of wagers placed through the player input controls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is enclosed within a transparent enclosure so that an exterior surface of the container is separated by an open volume from an inner surface of the transparent enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gaming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the open volume remains filled with a gas as the level of liquid changes within the container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined level of liquid is attained by adding liquid into the container to raise the visible level of liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined level of liquid is attained by removing water from the container to lower the visible level of liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are multiple base wagering game apparatuses associated with a single secondary game element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gaming apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of the multiple base wagering game apparatus contributes to altering the level of liquid within the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gaming apparatus of claim 7 wherein only one of the multiple base wagering game apparatus receives a bonus payment or bonus game when the predetermined level of liquid is attained within the container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The gaming apparatus of claim 7 wherein more than one of the multiple base wagering game apparatuses receive a bonus payment or bonus game when the predetermined level of liquid is attained within the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The gaming apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured so that a predetermined outcome must occur in one of the multiple base wagering games after a predetermined level of liquid to trigger the bonus payment or bonus game. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The gaming apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured so that a predetermined outcome must occur in one of the multiple base wagering games after a predetermined level of liquid to trigger the bonus payment or bonus game. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The gaming apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to alter the predetermined outcome that must occur according to changes in the level of liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to alter the predetermined outcome that must occur according to a degree of changes in the level of liquid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The gaming apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to alter the predetermined outcome that must occur according to a degree of changes in the level of liquid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the container is rigid and does not expand or deflate as the volume of liquid changes in the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the container is rigid and does not expand or deflate as the volume of liquid changes in the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the container is inflatable and expands or deflates as the volume of liquid changes in the container. ### Claim 18 A gaming apparatus comprising: c) a base wagering game apparatus comprising a processor, symbol display component and player input controls; and d) a secondary game element visible from the base wagering game, wherein the secondary game element comprises a virtual see-through container, a virtual fluid source and the processor is configured to move virtual fluid into and out of the virtual container; wherein winning outcomes in the base wagering game causes the secondary game element to change a visible virtual volume of liquid within the virtual container so that a changed level of virtual liquid within the virtual container can be seen, and when a predetermined level of virtual liquid is attained within the virtual container, a bonus payment or bonus game is initiated as a resolution of wagers placed through the player input controls. ### Claim 19 (depends on 19) The gaming apparatus of claim 19 wherein there are multiple base wagering game apparatuses associated with a single secondary game element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method of playing a wagering game on the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor accepts a wager on a wagering game played on the base wagering game apparatus, and when the processor recognizes a winning outcome on at conclusion of a round of the wagering game, the processor causes an exchange of liquid between the reservoir and the container so that a liquid level in the container is altered, and predetermined amounts of altered volumes of liquid in the container alter amounts of at least one payout available during play of a next round of the wagering game.