Gaming device comprising a rotatable game wheel

Abstract

A gaming device comprising a game wheel for obtaining a result of the game, said game wheel being mounted so as to be rotatable about a wheel axis. An electronically actuated screen associated with the game wheel viewed in the viewing direction of the wheel axis. The screen is placed in front of the game wheel and covers part of a game wheel surface which faces a location for operating the gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming device, comprising: a game wheel rotatably mounted around a wheel axis; and an electrical operable screen mounted within a circumferential contour of the game wheel as viewed from a viewing direction of the wheel axis, wherein the screen is superimposed to the game wheel, concealing a part of a surface of the game wheel, wherein the screen comprises a touchscreen and is connected to a control device to control at least one game wheel function of the game wheel, and wherein the game wheel has a wheel body with a cup-shaped, central deepening, in which the screen is at least partially recessed, and an edge of the wheel body enclosing the deepening, the edge being in a common plane with the screen surface of the screen.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted completely within the circumferential contour of the game wheel in the viewing direction of the wheel axis and is encircled by the game wheel.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted centered to the wheel axis.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted with a visible screen surface displaying a screen display parallel to a circulating plane of the game wheel.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted rotatably fixed and the game wheel is rotatable relative to the screen.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted on a fixed bearing element, particularly on a fixed wheel axis, on which the game wheel is rotatably mounted.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen is mounted on a game wheel housing, the game wheel housing at least partially enclosing the game wheel.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game wheel further comprises: a plate-shaped wheel body.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wheel axis is hollow and a wiring is passed through the wheel axis to the screen.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a control panel for altering a rotational movement of the game wheel is displayed on the screen.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the screen comprises at least one swipe area for controlling a rotational movement of the game wheel.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the swipe area is oriented approximately tangentially to the direction of rotation of a game wheel section located behind the swipe area.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein a swiping detector is associated with the swipe area, and wherein the control device is configured to control a rotational movement of the game wheel as a function of a detected swiping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: A schematic perspective view of a gaming device obliquely from the front, wherein a screen is provided for a game wheel rotatable about a lying wheel axis,

(2) FIG. 2: A side view of the gaming device from FIG. 1 in a viewing direction perpendicular to the wheel axis of the game wheel, and

(3) FIG. 3: A sectional view, generally along Sectional Line I of FIG. 1, through the wheel axis of the game wheel showing the rotatable support of the game wheel and the cabling of the screen set in front of the game wheel through the hollow wheel axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS

(4) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming device 1 may comprise a game wheel 2, which is at least approximately horizontally fixed, which is rotatably mounted around a lying wheel axis 8, as explained below. The game wheel 2 can thereby be accommodated within a game wheel housing 4, which can be provided on the front side with a transparent housing disc to allow the view of the game wheel 2 lying behind it.

(5) Alternatively however, the game wheel 2 can also be mounted at least partially free-lying or free-standing or without a housing.

(6) The game wheel 2 may have a disc or plate-shaped wheel body, on the front side of which, as known, markings can be applied, for example printed, particularly in the form of different playing field or winning field sectors, between which, abutment elements 5, for example in the form of projecting pins may be provided on an edge section of the game wheel 2, as shown in FIG. 3.

(7) For example, on an upper segment of the circulating track of the game wheel 2, an engagement element 6, which is interposed between the said abutment elements 5, for example a flexible or movably mounted and/or spring-loaded engagement element 6, can be provided on which the game wheel passes. Said engagement element 6 then falls between two abutment elements 5 when the game wheel 2 remains in a certain rotational position and, accordingly marks the respective segment-shaped game board.

(8) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the game wheel 2 can be mounted on a support frame 7, which may have a ground contact surface to be able to place the gaming device freely on the ground. Alternatively, or additionally, however, a wall mounting for the game wheel 2 can also be provided. In this case, instead of the support frame 7 shown, a corresponding wall mounting support is attached on the back of the game wheel 2 or its wheel axis.

(9) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting of the game wheel 2 may comprise a rotatably fixed wheel axis 8, which is mounted in a rotatably fixed manner and is able, for example to be rigidly fastened to the said support frame 7. A rotary bearing 9, for example in the form of a rolling bearing, can be placed on said wheel axis 8 by means of which a rotatable bearing ring 10 is rotatably supported, on which the wheel body of the game wheel 2 is rigidly fastened.

(10) Said bearing ring 10 can advantageously be sleeve-shaped and have a sufficient length to be able to support the game wheel 2 on the wheel axis 8 in a tumble-fixed manner. For this purpose, particularly two roller bearings 11 and 12, spaced apart from one another, can be provided, for example in the form of ball bearings which support the bearing ring 10 to the fixed wheel axis 8, wherein the roller bearings 11 and 12 can be designed as radial bearings.

(11) If necessary, the rotary bearing 9 for the bearing ring 10 can also have one or more axial bearings 3 to be able to absorb axial bearing forces.

(12) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an electrical operable screen 13, which can advantageously be designed as a flat screen, is provided with game wheel 2. For example, the screen 13 may be a plasma screen or an LCD screen. If desired, however other monitors can also be used as screen 13.

(13) In some embodiments, screen 13 is designed as a touchscreen or touch-sensitive screen in order that touching the screen surface and/or approaching the screen surface may control various game wheel functions. For example, a start and/or stop button can be displayed on the screen 13 as a control panel, so that when the screen 13 is touched within the said control panel, the rotary movement of the game wheel 2 can be started and/or stopped and/or decelerated.

(14) Alternatively, or additionally to such a start/stop button, at least one swipe area can also be displayed on the screen 13, wherein the sensor system of the touchscreen detects the direction and/or speed and/or movement distance of a swiping via the swipe area.

(15) A control device which can be connected to the screen 13 can control the direction of rotation and/or the rotational speed of the game wheel 2 as a function of the detected swiping.

(16) The control device may also be connected to a drive (not shown), such as, for example, an electric drive for driving the game wheel 2 and/or a brake for braking the game wheel 2.

(17) Alternatively, or additionally to the representation of such control panels, the rotating movement of the game wheel 2 can also be represented or simulated on the screen 13, for example, in such a way that the game wheel sections concealed by the screen 13 are also shown in a rotating manner, in a similar rotation speed and direction.

(18) As shown in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the screen 13 can be mounted within the visible surface, or circumferential contour, of the game wheel 2 as viewed in the direction of the wheel axis 8. Each side of the screen 13 may be enclosed by a portion of the game wheel 2 so that the screen 13 has no screen portion outside the game wheel 2 at viewing direction parallel to the wheel axis 8.

(19) Particularly, the screen 13 can be superimposed to or otherwise placed in front of the game wheel 2, and can be centered relative to the wheel axis 8 so that an inner, central part of the game wheel 2 is concealed by the screen 13.

(20) As shown in FIG. 3, the screen 13 can be mounted fixed, wherein, for example the fixed wheel axis 8 being guided through the game wheel 2 and the screen 13 being rigidly fastened to the wheel axis 8.

(21) If, however, the game wheel 2 is enclosed by a game wheel housing 4 in the mentioned manner, the said screen 13 can also be attached to a portion of the said game housing 14.

(22) As shown in FIG. 3, a wiring 14, which may comprise, for example a signal line and/or a power supply line, can advantageously be led through the hollow wheel axis 8 to the screen 13. The wheel axis 8 can have a central cable shaft 15, through which the cabling 14 extends through the rotating game wheel 2 being guided from the rear side of the game wheel 2 to the screen 13.

(23) It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.