GAME DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED CYLINDER FOR AUTONOMOUSLY MANAGING A FAVOURABLE EVENT

Abstract

A game device (1) is described, of the type which comprises a first moving part (2b), equipped with a plurality of numbered sectors or boxes (9), adapted to receive a ball (5), the first moving part (2b) rotating inside a second fixed part (2a), so that, by placing the ball (5) on a track (6) of the second fixed part (2a) and by launching it towards the first moving part (2b), the ball (5) ends its travel in one of the numbered boxes (9), thereby determining a winning number; the game device (1) has means adapted to determine at least one other stop position of the ball (5), inside the numbered boxes (9). A method is also described, for increasing the number of possible results which can be obtained with this game device (1).

Claims

1. A method for increasing a number of possible results which can be obtained with a game device of a roulette type, such increase being with respect to a basic configuration of the game device, wherein a real or virtual pointer of a ball type, at an end of its real or virtual path towards a plurality of numbered areas or boxes, prearranged to house the ball, occupies one of the areas or boxes, thereby determining a result, the method comprising the step of adding, inside the areas or boxes, identifiable positions in which the ball is able to end its stroke, the increase of the number of positions being obtained without affecting movements of the ball and its way of stopping in one of the areas or boxes, without performing changes to an operation of the game.

2. A game device of a roulette type which comprises a first moving part, equipped with a plurality of numbered sectors or boxes, adapted to receive a ball, the first moving part rotating inside a second fixed part, so that, by placing the ball on a track of the second fixed part and by launching it towards the first moving part, the ball ends its travel in one of the numbered boxes, thereby determining a winning number, wherein the game device has means adapted to determine at least one other stop position of the ball, inside the numbered boxes.

3. The game device of claim 2, wherein the means, adapted to determine at least one other stop position of the ball inside the numbered boxes, comprise shaped boxes.

4. (canceled)

5. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have truncated sections, oriented towards a vertical axis, having a curved shape with an amplitude included between 1 mm and 15 mm, and a width included between 5 mm and a maximum width of an upper part, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the truncated section, or inside the truncated section.

6. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have one or more holes, so that the ball can stop in different positions inside the numbered box, the different positions being outside one of the holes, or inside one of the holes.

7. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a truncated section of a square shape, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the truncated section, or inside the truncated section.

8. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a recess, and are surrounded by a crown of a width up to 10 mm and a relief included between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the recess, or inside the recess.

9. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a truncation of the upper part, which is filleted with a radius lower than a thickness of the insert, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the space left free by the truncation, or inside the space left free by the truncation.

10. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a truncated section of a triangular shape with an opening angle included between 30 and 150 and amplitude included between 1 mm and 15 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the triangular truncated section, or inside the triangular truncated section.

11. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a recess, the surface of the insert or of the box being suitably curved to determine a profile, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box-, the two different positions being outside the recess, or inside the recess.

12. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have a concave section of an amplitude included between 5 mm and 15 mm, and a curvature having a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, the residual surface with respect to the concave section having different thicknesses with variations included between 0.1 mm and 4 mm and resulting in a profile, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the concave section, or inside the concave section.

13. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have inserted therein two spheres horizontally placed at a distance from the base, placed at a mutual distance included between 3 mm and 10 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being between the spheres and the external edge of the rotatable plate, or between the spheres and the internal edge of the rotatable plate.

14. The game device of claim 3, wherein the shaped boxes have two engravings of a rectangular shape with a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, widths included between 5 mm and the width of the box, amplitudes included between 2 mm and 10 mm, so that the ball can stop in different positions inside the numbered box, said positions being outside the slots, or inside the slots.

15. The game device of claim 2, wherein the means, adapted to determine at least one other stop position of the ball inside the numbered boxes, comprise suitably shaped inserts, adapted to be inserted into each of the numbered boxes.

16. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have truncated sections, oriented towards a vertical axis, having a curved shape with an amplitude included between 1 mm and 15 mm, and a width included between 5 mm and a maximum width of an upper part, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the truncated section, or inside the truncated section.

17. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have one or more holes, so that the ball can stop in different positions inside the numbered box, the different positions being outside one of the holes, or inside one of the holes.

18. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a truncated section of a square shape, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the truncated section, or inside the truncated section.

19. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a recess, and are surrounded by a crown of a width up to 10 mm and a relief included between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the recess, or inside the recess.

20. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a truncation of the upper part, which is filleted with a radius lower than a thickness of the insert, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the space left free by the truncation, or inside the space left free by the truncation.

21. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a truncated section of a triangular shape with an opening angle included between 300 and 1500 and amplitude included between 1 mm and 15 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the triangular truncated section, or inside the triangular truncated section.

22. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a recess, the surface of the insert or of the box being suitably curved to determine a profile, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the recess, or inside the recess.

23. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have a concave section of an amplitude included between 5 mm and 15 mm, and a curvature having a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, the residual surface with respect to the concave section having different thicknesses with variations included between 0.1 mm and 4 mm and resulting in a profile, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being outside the concave section, or inside the concave section.

24. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have inserted therein two spheres horizontally placed at a distance from the base, placed at a mutual distance included between 3 mm and 10 mm, so that the ball can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box, the two different positions being between the spheres and the external edge of the rotatable plate, or between the spheres and the internal edge of the rotatable plate.

25. The game device of claim 14, wherein the inserts have two engravings of a rectangular shape with a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, widths included between 5 mm and the width of the box, amplitudes included between 2 mm and 10 mm, so that the ball can stop in different positions inside the numbered box, the positions being outside the slots, or inside the slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will now be described, as a non-limiting example, according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0023] FIGS. 1 (a, b) show the cylinder of a roulette with an insert according to the invention;

[0024] FIGS. 2 to 13 show inserts and shaped boxes in order to obtain different areas inside the box in which the ball can stop; and

[0025] FIG. 14 shows the procedure of introducing an insert in its related box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, (1) designates a game device of a known type, which uses a cylinder. According to a preferred embodiment, this game device (1) is a roulette comprising a cylinder composed of a fixed external part (2a), with a concave shape, and an internal part (2b), namely a disk rotating around a vertical axis (3), divided into a plurality of numbered sectors. Next to this axis (3) four arms (4) are usually present, arranged as a cross, for checking the speed and the rotation direction of the central disk. These arms (4) can be missing if different means are used (not shown) for impressing a movement to the central disk (2b), changing its rotation direction or not.

[0027] The game rules provides for launching a ball (5) along a path (track) (6), obtained inside an edge arranged along the circumference of the fixed part (2a).

[0028] Following the launch, and due to the force of gravity effect, the ball (5) tends to follow a spirally shaped path towards the disk (2b) which is rotating. To increase the randomness of the game, along the ball part, obstacles are provided, which are adapted to disturb the natural trajectory of the ball (5), for example inserts in relief (7) having usually the shape of a lozenge.

[0029] The disk (2b), shown enlarged in FIG. 1b, is divided into a plurality of numbered sectors (8), next to each of which there is a box (9) adapted to house the ball (5), which ends its stroke here.

[0030] In compliance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the object of increasing the number of positions in which the ball (5) can stop inside the boxes (9) is obtained by suitably shaping the bottom of the boxes (9) themselves, in order to locate at least two stopping spots of the ball (5) in each of the boxes (9).

[0031] In compliance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the object of increasing the number of positions in which the ball (5) can stop inside the boxes (9) is obtained by placing suitable inserts (10) in the boxes (9) themselves, suitable engaging elements being provided, adapted to fasten these inserts (10) inside the boxes (9).

[0032] In particular, the inserts (10), though being able to have different shapes, are adapted to be inserted into the boxes (9); for such purpose, they have common features such as maximum values of length (A), width of the lower part, or base (B), width of the upper part, or top (C) and thickness (D), which are defined as function of the shape and size of the boxes (9) present in the moving cylinder (2b), in order to be able to be adequately placed inside them.

[0033] FIGS. 2 to 13 show inserts (10) and boxes (9) shaped in order to obtain different areas inside the box in which the ball can stop.

[0034] The measures mentioned below are compared with a cylinder (2a, 2b) of a standard type, having a diameter of 800 mm, and a ball (5) having a diameter included between 16 mm and 20 mm; therefore, (A) is included between 30 mm and 60 mm, (B) is included between 20 mm and 40 mm, (C) is included between 20 mm and 30 mm, (D) is included between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

[0035] FIGS. 2a and 3a show inserts (10a, 10a) and a few shaping (9a, 9a) of the boxes (9), which have truncated sections (11, 11), oriented towards the vertical axis (3), having a curved shape with an amplitude (E) included between 1 mm and 15 mm, and a width (F) included between 5 mm and the maximum width of the upper part (C), so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the truncated section (11, 11) (FIGS. 2b, 3b), or (ii) inside the truncated section (11, 11) (FIGS. 2c, 3c).

[0036] FIGS. 4a and 5a show inserts (10b, 10b) and a few shaping (9b, 9b) of the boxes (9), which have one or more holes (12, 12) having a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, diameters included between 5 mm and 15 mm and distance (G, G) from the base included between 20 mm and (A)-5 mm so that the ball (5) can stop in different positions inside the numbered box (9), these different positions being (i) outside one of the holes (12, 12) (FIGS. 4b, 5b), or (ii) inside one of the holes (12, 12) (FIGS. 4c, 5c).

[0037] FIG. 6a shows an insert (10c), and a shaping (9c) of the boxes (9), which have a truncated section (13) of a square shape with an amplitude (H) included between 1 mm and 15 mm and width (I) included between 5 mm and (C) (FIG. 6a), so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the truncated section (13) (FIG. 6b), or (ii) inside the truncated section (13) (FIG. 6c).

[0038] FIG. 7a shows an insert (10d), and a shaping (9d) of the boxes (9), which have a recess (14) of a diameter included between 5 mm and 15 mm, a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, and is surrounded by a crown (14) of a width up to 10 mm and a relief included between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the recess (14) (FIG. 7b), or (ii) inside the recess (14) (FIG. 7c).

[0039] FIG. 8a shows an insert (10e), and a shaping (9e) of the boxes (9), which have a truncation (15) on the upper part, which is filleted with a radius lower than the insert thickness (D). The truncation (15) is such that the length (A) can be up to 15 mm lower than the length (A), and the width (C) of the upper part changes consequently. In this way, the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the space left free by this truncation (FIG. 8b), or (ii) inside the space left free by this truncation (FIG. 8c).

[0040] FIG. 9a shows an insert (10f), and a shaping (9f) of the boxes (9), which have a truncated section (16) of a triangular shape with an opening angle (i) included between 30 and 150 and an amplitude (L) included between 1 mm and 15 mm, so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the triangular truncated section (16) (FIG. 9b), or (ii) inside the triangular truncated section (16) (FIG. 9c).

[0041] FIG. 10a shows an insert (10g), and a shaping (9g) of the boxes (9), which have a recess (17) of a diameter included between 5 mm and 15 mm for a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm and a distance (M) from the base included between 20 mm and (A), the surface of this insert (10g) or of this box (9g) being suitably curved to determine a profile (N), so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the recess (17) (FIG. 10b), or (ii) inside the recess (17) (FIG. 10c).

[0042] FIG. 11a shows an insert (10h), and a shaping (9h) of the boxes (9), which have a concave section (18) of an amplitude (O) included between 5 mm and 15 mm, a curvature (P) having a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, the remaining surface with respect to the concave section having different thicknesses with variations included between 0.1 mm and 4 mm, results in a profile (Q), so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) outside the concave section (18) (FIG. 11b), or (ii) inside the concave section (18) (FIG. 11c).

[0043] FIG. 12a shows an insert (10i) and a shaping (9i) of the boxes (9) which have inserted therein two spheres (20) horizontally placed at a distance (R) included between 15 mm and (A)-5 mm, placed at a mutual distance (S) included between 3 mm and 10 mm, so that the ball (5) can stop in two different positions inside the numbered box (9), these two different positions being (i) between the spheres (20) and the external edge of the rotatable plate (2b) (FIG. 12b), or (ii) between the spheres (20) and the internal edge of the rotatable plate (2b) (FIG. 12c).

[0044] FIG. 13a shows an insert (101), and a shaping (91) of the boxes (9), which have two engravings (21, 21) of a rectangular shape with a depth included between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, widths (T, T) included between 5 mm and the width of the box (9), amplitudes (U, U) included between 2 mm and 10 mm and placed at distances (V, V) from the base included between 20 mm and (A)-5 mm, so that the ball can stop in different positions inside the numbered box (9), these positions being (i) outside the slots (FIG. 13b), or (ii) inside the slots (FIG. 13c).

[0045] The above inserts (10) can be made of simple or composite materials with a various nature.

[0046] By changing the measures (height, length, width, thickness) or the materials used, for the inserts (10) or for the boxes (9), the frequency of the supplementary is affected.

[0047] The manager of the game environment can autonomously replace the inserts (10) inside the boxes (9), as shown in FIG. 14, and from this develop different game modes.

[0048] The shapes of the inserts (10) and of the boxes (9) described can be used also in virtual games, obtaining on each box, always virtually, different areas in which the ball can stop, without changing the procedure of the game itself.

[0049] As clearly appears from the previous description, the use of the present invention allows overcoming the probability limits of current roulettes, introducing new game situations, without changing its operation in any way. According to the embodiment which provides for the use of inserts (10), this can be easily adapted also to already existing roulettes.

[0050] The invention has been described as a non-limiting example, according to two embodiments thereof. The skilled person can devise numerous other embodiments, all falling within the scope of the enclosed claims.