US 8,272,946 B2Granted

Gaming device having a multi-function free game bonus

AssigneeIgt

InventorsRyan W. Cuddy, Robert F. Bigelow, Jr., James A. Vasquez, Paulina Rodgers, Anothony J. Baerlocher

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a free spins game including a plurality of reels, an outcome and a plurality of sections associated with the outcome. The gaming device or player activates the reels to indicate a designated symbol combination including at least two section indicator symbols. When a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the reels, the gaming device obtains the corresponding section. The gaming device or player continues to activate the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the game or until all of the sections are obtained. The gaming device then provides the outcome to the player.

Claims58

Dependent claims

A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;
at least one input device;
at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to:
(a) display a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols, wherein a plurality of different designated combinations can be formed from said designated symbols, each of said designated combinations associated with one of a plurality of designated combination outcomes;
(b) provide a predetermined number of free spins of the reels, said predetermined number being at least two;
(c) for each of the provided free spins until at least one of:
(1) there are no free spins remaining, and (2) all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated:
(i) activate the reels;
(ii) provide any awards for any winning symbol combinations displayed on the reels;
and
(iii) for each designated combination displayed on the reels, accumulate the designated combination outcome associated with said designated combination;
and
(d) if all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated within said provided number of free spins, display and provide an additional outcome.

12 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;
at least one input device;
at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to:
(a) display a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols, wherein a plurality of different designated combinations can be formed from said designated symbols, wherein each of said designated combinations is associated with one of a plurality of designated combination outcomes;
(b) provide a predetermined number of free spins of the reels, said predetermined number being at least two;
(c) for each of the provided free spins until at least one of:
(1) there are no free spins remaining, and (2) all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated in a designated order;
(i) activate the reels, and
(ii) for each designated combination displayed on the reels, if said designated combination is displayed in the designated order, accumulate the designated combination outcome associated with said designated combination;
and
(d) if all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated in said designated order within said provided number of free spins, display and provide an additional outcome.

10 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols, said symbols including a plurality of designated symbols, wherein a plurality of different designated combinations can be formed from said designated symbols, wherein each of said designated combinations is associated with one of a plurality of designated combination outcomes;
(b) providing a predetermined number of free spins of the reels, said predetermined number being at least two;
(c) for each of the provided free spins until at least one of:
(1) there are no free spins remaining, and (2) all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated in a designated order:
(i) activating the reels, and
(ii) for each designated combination displayed on the reels, if said designated combination is displayed in the designated order, accumulating the designated combination outcome associated with said designated combination;
and
(d) if all of the designated combination outcomes are accumulated in said designated order within said provided number of free spins, displaying and providing an additional outcome.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/105,990Filed 18 Apr 2008 · continuation
Priority: 28 Feb 2002
Published: US 2008/0200237 A121 Aug 2008
Granted: 25 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3244
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
G07F 17/3267
Game play aspects of gaming systems: game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher…
G07F
Coin-freed or like apparatus

Family

Application10/086,146Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Feb 2002
Application10/650,024Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Aug 2003
US 2008/0200237 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Aug 2008
US 7,381,134 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,258,611 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application10/650,024Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2003/0162585 A1Published application
US 2004/0087359 A1Published application
US 8,272,946 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.