Michael K Casey

US Patent:

6347996, Feb 19, 2002

Filed:

Sep 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/660106

Inventors:

Jason C. Gilmore - Bartlett IL
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 300

US Classification:

463 17, 463 20, 463 21, 273139

Abstract:

A gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprises a basic game and a bonus feature. The basic game includes a plurality of basic game outcomes. The plurality of basic game outcomes include a start-bonus outcome. The bonus feature is triggered by the start-bonus outcome and indicated on a visual display. The bonus feature includes a selection stage succeeded by a bonus stage. In the selection stage, the visual display initially depicts an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image. The elements are successively selected by the player and/or processor to generate bonus-opportunity outcomes until an element is selected that produces a stop-selection outcome. The elements associated with each bonus-opportunity outcome are removed from the assemblage to reveal those portions of the unified image concealed by those elements. In response to the stop-selection outcome, the bonus feature proceeds to the bonus stage.

US Patent:

6364766, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Aug 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/631322

Inventors:

Peter Anderson - Chicago IL
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL
Erica A. Frohm - Evanston IL
Jason C. Gilmore - Bartlett IL
Damon E. Gura - Chicago IL
Darryl W. Hughes - Oak Park IL
Joel R. Jaffe - Evanston IL
Ian M. Simmons - Lisle IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 16, 463 20, 2731381, 273139, 273143 R, 273272

Abstract:

A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

US Patent:

6428412, Aug 6, 2002

Filed:

Sep 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/663095

Inventors:

Peter Anderson - Chicago IL
Taron A. Bell - Round Lake IL
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL
Joel R. Jaffe - Evanston IL
Laura R. Ledesma - Chicago IL
Michael W. Mastropietro - Chicago IL
Eric Michael Pryzby - Skokie IL
Shawn A. Smith - Westmont IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 924

US Classification:

463 9, 463 16, 463 20

Abstract:

A gaming machine is controlled by a processor in response to a wager and comprises a puzzle feature optionally triggered by a start-feature outcome of a basic game. The puzzle feature includes a plurality of arrangements of randomly-selected puzzle elements for generating respective payouts. At least one of the puzzle elements of each arrangement being shared by another one of the arrangements and contributing to the payouts generated by the respective arrangements that share the one of the puzzle elements. The puzzle elements may, for example, be letters, symbols, pictures, shaped puzzle pieces, or playing cards.

US Patent:

6554704, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911215

Inventors:

John P. Nicastro - Chicago IL
Peter R. Anderson - Chicago IL
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL
John J. Giobbi - Northbrook IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 20, 463 38, 273143 R

Abstract:

A maze-based game of chance for a gaming machine is controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The maze-based game includes an award-generating indicator movable along a plurality of different intersecting paths. The plurality of paths contain a plurality of consumable elements. The award-generating indicator generates an award based on a randomly selected outcome as the award-generating indicator visually consumes the elements.

US Patent:

6607437, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Jul 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/918052

Inventors:

Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL
Jason C. Gilmore - Bartlett IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 16, 463 17

Abstract:

A game of chance is conducted on a gaming machine including a video display and controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes a plurality of selectable elements depicted on the video display. A player successively selects the displayed elements. After selecting an element of a predetermined type and prior to selecting another element, one or more of the elements that have not yet been selected are disabled such that the disabled elements cannot be subsequently selected. The plurality of elements are preferably displayed in a plurality of groups. After selecting the element of the predetermined type, all of the elements in the group containing that element are disabled.

US Patent:

6685561, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Oct 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/978755

Inventors:

Peter Anderson - Chicago IL
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL
Erica A. Frohm - Evanston IL
Jason C. Gilmore - Bartlett IL
Damon E. Gura - Chicago IL
Darryl W. Hughes - Oak Park IL
Joel R. Jaffe - Evanston IL
Ian M. Simmons - Lisle IL

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 1300

US Classification:

463 16, 2731381, 273139, 273272, 463 10

Abstract:

A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

US Patent:

7112135, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Dec 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/748770

Inventors:

Peter Anderson - Chicago IL, US
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL, US
Erica A. Frohm - Evanston IL, US
Jason C. Gilmore - Bartlett IL, US
Damon E. Gura - Chicago IL, US
Darryl W. Hughes - Oak Park IL, US
Joel R. Jaffe - Evanston IL, US
Ian M. Simmons - Lisle IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463 16

Abstract:

A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

US Patent:

7331858, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Sep 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/660321

Inventors:

Kevin R. McComb - Chicago IL, US
Daniel P. Fiden - Chicago IL, US
Michael P. Casey - Chicago IL, US
Joel R. Jaffe - Evanston IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A63F 13/00
G06F 19/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

463 16, 463 17, 463 18, 463 20, 463 22, 2731381, 2731382, 273143 R, 273146

Abstract:

A gaming machine with an improved game display is disclosed. Polyhedral reel strips are used in a gaming machine to present game outcomes in configurations previously not practicable. In addition, the polyhedral reels provide a game display that is more easily readable than can be obtained from the traditional mechanical circular reel.