US20050003885A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20050003885A1
Application number: US10/693,741
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry Rhoten
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-03
Filing date: 2003-10-24
Publication date: 2005-01-06

Abstract

An improved roulette type game in which an electronic Start signal triggers a Launch signal, but only after an electronically generated random time delay.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

I claim priority of my three U.S. Provisional Applications Ser. No. 60\484990 filed Jul. 3, 2003; Ser. No. 60\495641 filed Aug. 15, 2003; and Ser. No. 60\502456 filed Sep. 11, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in gaming devices, and particularly to the game of roulette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of roulette, which is played at many gaming houses in the United States and elsewhere, a dealer employed by the gaming house releases a ball which then travels around the periphery of a rotating wheel having circumferentially arranged pockets, until the ball finally stops in a particular pocket. The stopping place of the ball, and a number associated with that stopping place, determines whether particular players have won or lost on their bets, and whether the house has won or lost.

Although it is perhaps a groundless concern, some players worry that the dealer, because of greater familiarity with the apparatus and its mode of operation, may be able to cause the ball to stop at a location favorable to the house but which will cause the players to lose.

Many players may therefore wish for a procedure that would ensure that the dealer cannot and has not “rigged” the play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention I have provided a method and apparatus for a roulette game, wherein a ball is launched about the periphery of a rotating wheel having circumferentially arranged pockets, and wherein the final stopping of the ball in a particular pocket determines a win or loss result. My method and apparatus ensures that the dealer cannot and has not “rigged” the play.

According to my novel method the ball is launched in such a way that the dealer in charge of the game has no direct physical contact with the ball during either its launch or its subsequent travel, and no control over where the ball might stop.

Further according to my novel method, a mechanical launch mechanism is selected which is capable of launching the ball along a desired path about the wheel periphery; an electronic random time delay device is selected that is capable of energizing the launch mechanism at a random time delay after it has itself been energized; and an isolated manually actuable activation means is utilized for generating a start signal to then energize the electronic random time delay device. When it is desired to launch the ball, therefore, the isolated manually actuable activation means is energized, so that the person who actuates it is unable to either predict or control either the exact time the ball will be launched or its ultimate stopping place.

According to my invention any of a number of different means may be utilized for communicating a start signal to the electronic random time delay device, including a hard-wired circuit, a radio transmitter, an infrared remote control, or the like.

Further according to my invention, any of a number of different launch mechanisms may be utilized for the launching of the ball. The launching may be propelled by an electromagnetic action, by a release of air pressure, by spring action, or other suitable means.

Still further in accordance with my invention, I provide an apparatus which may be retrofitted into an existing roulette game table and which may then be used to carry out the purposes of my invention.

DRAWING SUMMARY

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the presently preferred apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram of a random time delay circuit and an associated visible time delay readout in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2(b) is a wave diagram showing the timing relationships in the operation of the random time delay circuit ofFIG. 2(a);

FIGS. 3a,3b, and3cillustrate in schematic form various types of launching mechanisms that may be utilized with my invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a roulette game table retrofit apparatus in accordance with my invention, in which an opening is made in the wooden housing for the roulette wheel, and the launch mechanism is fitted into that opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1 shows aroulette wheel10 onto which aball11 is to be launched. An energizable launch device ormechanism12 is available to provide the actual launching of the ball. Aremote transmitter14 is controlled by a push button15. When the button15 is pushed the transmitter generates aStart Game signal16 that is then transmitted to an electronic randomtime delay circuit17. InFIG. 1 thestart signal16 is represented by a dotted line and arrow, indicative of the fact that any of several different means may be utilized for communicating the Start Game signal to the electronic randomtime delay circuit17. Also associated with thetime delay circuit17 is atime delay readout18 which will visibly indicate the actual amount of time that transpires after the start button15 is pressed and before thelaunch mechanism12 is energized.

In accordance with the invention a random time period is generated by electronic circuitry as shown inFIG. 2. Referring now toFIG. 2(a) of the drawings, the principal operative circuit elements that create a random time delay period are a square-wave generator20, a latching flip-flop25, and a D flip-flop30. The operation of the D flip-flop30 is of unique importance and will be described first.

D flip-flop30 has aninput31 which receives an Enable signal onoutput27 from thelatch25, and aninput32 which receives the output signal of the square-wave generator20. It also has aprimary output terminal33 from which alaunch signal40 is to be generated. The operation of the D flip-flop is such that an output signal onterminal33 is only possible after the signal oninput32 has raised from low to high voltage level. In other words, if the input signal received onterminal32 from square-wave generator20 is already high at the time the Enable signal starts, then nothing else will happen; flip-flop30 will not then produce an output until its square-wave input onterminal32 goes down to its lower voltage level and then later rises to the higher level.

FIG. 2(b) shows the time relationships resulting from the circuitry ofFIG. 2(a). The Start Game signal applied toterminal26 of latching flip-flop25 causes the Enable signal onterminal27 to rise to its higher level. That time is designated as t1. Assuming that the output signal onoutput terminal32 ofsquare wave generator30 is still at a low level, a random time delay period extending from t1 to t2 will now take place. The time when theoutput terminal32 ofgenerator30 rises to its high level is designated as time t2. The co-existence of the continuing Enable signal online27 at its high level and the change ofterminal32 to a high level then causes the D flip-flop30 to generate alaunch signal40 on itsoutput terminal33.

The time interval between time t1 and time t2 is a randomly generated time interval. It will be understood that the operation ofsquare wave generator20 is not synchronized with anything else in the circuitry. The square wave genereator may, for example, be a free-running multivibrator with either equal or unequal time periods for its two output states. Alternatively, a high-frequency oscillator could be utilized with a frequency divider circuit to create a low frequency square wave output onterminal32. By selecting a desired time period for the low voltage level output ofgenerator20 it is possible to generate random time delays that may be a very small fraction of a second, or as much as several seconds, as may be desired. The random time delay interval will never exceed the duration of the low voltage level of the low frequency square wave output onterminal32.

Clock Signal generator

50 is an independent circuit. The clock frequency is selected to be at least many times the frequency of the square wave output signal ofgenerator20. When the signal received onterminal32 goes from low to high, there may then have been a rather large number of clock pulses which thecounter45 would have counted before the output signal of thegenerator20 goes low again. The time delay count displayed on thereadout device18 may be calibrated in any desired units, since players or customers for the game will be primarily interested in seeing that the time delays are random and not pre-programmed.

Latching flip-flop25 performs the function of receiving and storing theStart Game signal16 generated from theremote transmitter14, shown inFIG. 1. It is only while theoutput27 of flip-flop25 is at its high voltage level that the D flip-flop30 can generate aLaunch signal40 onterminal33. Thus, D flip-flop circuit30 acts like an “and” circuit in which the two inputs required to be present concurrently are (1) an Enable signal that has been received fromoutput terminal27 oflatch25 and continues to exist; and (2) the output ofsquare wave generator20 onterminal32 having risen from its low to its high level and continuing to exist at that level. During the time period that these two conditions exist concurrently, thecounter45 will count pulses from theclock generator50 and provide a corresponding output to display18. When the output voltage of the D flip-flop returns to its lower level the count will stop, under control ofcomplementary output line34 of D flip-flop30.

Readout fromdisplay18 is available from the time that the counting starts until the high output voltage level from D flip-flop30 ends, at which timecomplementary output terminal34 of the flip-flop generates a signal indicating that the count should be stopped. This signal onterminal34 is combined through an “and”gate57 with the output oflatch25, to instructcounter circuit45 to stop counting. The accumulated time count will then remain visible for a period of time.

When the ball has stopped, and its stoppage has been electronically detected, one of the inputs required for “and”gate60 is satisfied. The other requirement is a Reset Game signal oninput line61. When these two inputs co-exist,gate60 then produces a negative output pulse acting as a reset signal which is delivered to each of three different places to return the circuitry to initial starting condition. One of those three destinations islatch25; another is D flip-flop30; and the third is counter45.

It is desirable for the random time count displayed indevice18 to remain visible for some period of time after the ball has stopped, in order to allow the players or customers adequate time to see and understand the random time delay count.

With the circuitry as presently illustrated it is necessary for the dealer (or someone else) to send a Game Reset signal oninput line61; then, it is also necessary to push the remote button15 in order to actually start a new game by again launching the ball. It would be possible to combine start button15 and resetgame line61 into a single control, but that would not be the preferred approach.

Referring now toFIGS. 3a,3b, and3c, it will be seen that driving power to launch theball11 may be achieved by any of three different methods. As shown inFIG. 3aa one-shot multivibrator70 delivers a pulse of energy to a spring-loadedsolenoid71, which in turn drives aplunger72 to launch theball11. As shown inFIG. 3basource75 of pressurized air may be selectively admitted through avalve76 to drive thelaunch plunger72.FIG. 3cindicates that a loadedspring95 may be released to drive aball flipper97. I presently prefer the electromechanical action as provided by thesolenoid71. Although any one of these launch mechanisms may be utilized in accordance with my novel method, there are other known mechanisms that could, if desired, be used for that purpose.

Referring now toFIG. 4, there is shown a retrofit apparatus in accordance with my invention that may be used to modify a presently existing roulette table to accomplish the purposes of my invention. Acable90 receives thelaunch signal40 fromoutput33 of D flip-flop30.Housing13 for theroulette wheel10 has anopening80 for receiving theLaunch device12.Launch device12 includes the one-shot multivibrator70 which is located in a relatively large rearward part ofopening80. Asmaller forward portion84 ofopening80 extends forwardly. Aplunger72 is reciprocably movable withinforward housing84 for launching theball11. Themultivibrator70 delivers a pulse of energy to a spring-loadedsolenoid71, also contained withinhousing portion82, and which in turn drives theplunger72 to launch the ball.

Method of Operation. Before a game is started it is necessary for the dealer to place the ball in the extreme forward end of opening80 where it may be engaged byplunger72. Then a Reset Game signal is applied toline61. The apparatus is now ready to start a game. The next step is for the dealer—or a player or customer—to push the remote button15. This causes flip-flop25 to latch in the Enable state, at time t1. When the output wave of square-wave generator20 again rises to its high level, at time t2, alaunch signal40 will be generated andplunger72 will launch the ball. At the same time, thecounter45 will have accumulated a count indicative of the random time delay that has transpired between the pushing of button15 and the application of a launch energize signal to launchmechanism12. A count that represents the random time delay is then visibly displayed in thedisplay device18. The dealer may then reposition the ball in preparation for another game. The time delay display will remain until another Game Reset signal is applied toline61.

The presently preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed in detail in order to comply with requirements of the patent laws. It will be understood, however, that other modifications and variations will be understood by persons who are skilled in the art, and that the scope of my invention is to be judged only in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a roulette game wherein a ball is launched about the periphery of a rotating wheel having circumferentially arranged pockets, and wherein the final stopping of the ball in a particular pocket determines a win or loss result, the method of launching the ball in such a way that the dealer in charge of the game has no direct physical contact with the ball during either its launch or its subsequent travel, and no control over where the ball might stop, comprising the steps of:

selecting a mechanical launch mechanism capable of launching the ball along a desired path about the wheel periphery;

selecting an electronic random time delay device that is capable of energizing the launch mechanism at a random time delay after it has itself been energized;

selecting an isolated manually actuable activation means which, when actuated by a person's hand, is capable of then energizing the electronic random time delay device; and

then, when it is desired to launch the ball, energizing the isolated manually actuable activation means, so that the person who actuates the isolated activation means is unable to predict either the exact time the ball will be launched or its ultimate stopping place.

2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein a launch mechanism is selected which is capable of launching the ball along a desired path about the wheel periphery;

an electronic random time delay device is selected that is capable of energizing the launch mechanism at a random time delay after it has itself been energized; and

an isolated manually actuable activation means is utilized for generating a Start Game signal to then energize the electronic random time delay device.

3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the launch mechanism is operated by an electromagnetic action.

4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the launch mechanism is retrofitted into an existing roulette game table.

5. The method ofclaim 1 which further includes the step of displaying to the players of the game a visual indication of the amount of time that randomly transpired between the generation of a Start Game signal and the energization of the launch mechanism.

6. The method ofclaim 2 which further includes the step of displaying to the players of the game a visual indication of the amount of time that randomly transpired between the generation of a Start Game signal and the energization of the launch mechanism.

7. In a roulette game with a rotating wheel and a plurality of circumferentially arranged pockets thereon, and a ball whose final stopping in a particular pocket is intended to determine a win or loss result, the improvement comprising:

a mechanical launch mechanism capable of launching the ball along a desired path about the wheel periphery;

an electronic random time delay device that is capable of energizing the launch mechanism at a random time delay after it has itself been energized, the random time delay having an output operatively coupled to the launch mechanism;

an isolated activation means adapted to be manually actuated by a person's hand for producing a launch signal; and

means for communicating a Start Game signal from the isolated activation means to the random time delay device to energize the random time delay device;

so that any person who actuates the isolated activation means is unable to predict either the exact time the ball will be launched or its stopping place, and a dealer in charge of the game has no power to select the pocket in which the ball will stop.

8. Apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein the launch mechanism includes a solenoid for driving the ball.

9. Apparatus ofclaim 7 which further includes a time delay readout for visually indicating the actual time delay that the random time delay device has created in transmitting the Start Game signal to the launch energizing mechanism.

10. Apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein the activation means includes a push button located remotely from the roulette wheel.

11. Apparatus as inclaim 7 which further includes electronic means for indicating when the roulette ball has stopped, thereby making it possible to start another game.

12. Apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein the launch mechanism is driven by air pressure.

13. In a roulette game having a wooden frame with a plurality of circumferentially arranged pockets thereon, a rotating wheel supported within the frame, and a ball whose final stopping in a particular pocket is intended to determine a win or loss result, the improvement comprising:

a mechanical launch mechanism mounted in an opening in the wooden frame and capable of launching the ball along a desired path about the wheel periphery;

14. Apparatus ofclaim 13 which further includes a time delay readout for visually indicating the actual time delay that the random time delay device has created in transmitting the Start Game signal to the launch energizing mechanism.

15. Apparatus as inclaim 14 which further includes means for indicating when the roulette ball has stopped, thereby making it possible to start another game.