Wheel game apparatus and wagering game methods

A wheel game apparatus comprising:

• a base having a central axial shaft;
• an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about the shaft, the inner ring having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent to the radially outer edge;
• a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft in an axial adjacent position to the upper side of the inner ring, the central cone having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a marker thereon;
• a plunger mounted to the upper side of the inner ring, the plunger including a spring for biasing an arm extending radially inward, the arm including a distal end;
• an annular ring mounted on the lower side of the central cone, the annular ring including a plurality of equally sized engagement spaces divided by radial ridges, the plurality of engagement spaces being equal to the number of circumferentially spaced slots, each engagement space being generally in radial alignment with a single circumferentially spaced slot, wherein the plunger is configured to form an engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces of the annular ring through the application of a radially inward force to the distal end of the arm of the plunger against the engagement space whereby the at least one marker is positioned in radially alignment with a single slot and the cone is at rest;
• and
• means for applying force to the cone sufficient to cause the disengagement of the plunger with the at least one engagement space and the subsequent rotational motion of the cone until the rotational motion of the cone is slowed by the radially inward force applied to the distal end of the plunger until the plunger forms another engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces whereby the at least one marker is positioned in radially alignment with a single slot and the cone comes to a rest.

A wheel game apparatus comprising:

• a base having a central axial shaft;
• an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about the shaft, the inner ring having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent to the radially outer edge;
• a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft in an axial adjacent position to the upper side of the inner ring, the central cone having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a marker thereon;
• a plunger mounted to the upper side of the inner ring, the plunger including a spring for biasing an arm extending radially inward, the arm including a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a rotatable bearing;
• an annular ring mounted on the lower side of the central cone, the annular ring including a plurality of equally sized engagement spaces divided by radial ridges, the plurality of engagement spaces being equal to the number of circumferentially spaced slots, each engagement space being generally in radial alignment with a single circumferentially spaced slot, wherein the plunger is configured to form an engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces of the annular ring through the application of a radially inward force to the distal end of the arm of the plunger against the engagement space whereby the at least one marker is positioned in radially alignment with a single slot and the cone is at rest;
• and
• a raised portion mounted on the upper side of the central cone, the raised portion being configured to apply force to the cone sufficient to cause the disengagement of the plunger with the at least one engagement space and the subsequent rotational motion of the cone until the rotational motion of the cone is slowed by the radially inward force applied to the distal end of the plunger until the plunger forms another engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces whereby the at least one marker is positioned in radially alignment with a single slot and the cone comes to a rest.

A wheel game apparatus comprising:

• a base having a central axial shaft;
• an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about the shaft, the inner ring having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent to the radially outer edge;
• a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft in an axial adjacent position to the upper side of the inner ring, the central cone having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a marker thereon;
• means for forming a non-permanent engagement when the central cone is at rest, wherein the non-permanent engagement maintains the central cone in a position whereby the marker is in radial alignment with a single slot of the plurality of circumferentially spaced slots;
• means for creating resistance to the rotational motion of the central cone, wherein the resistance causes the rotational motion of the cone to slow until the central cone is at rest and the non-permanent engagement is formed;
• and
• means for causing the disengagement of the non-permanent engagement whereby the central cone is placed in rotational motion about the central axis independently of the rotational motion of the inner ring.