The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2002
Lawrence E. DeMar, Winnetka, IL (US);
Joel R. Jaffe, Evanston, IL (US);
Erica R. Frohm, Evanston, IL (US);
Scott Slomiany, Streamwood, IL (US);
William Grupp, Sleepy Hollow, IL (US);
Robert J. Wilson, Jr., Buffalo Grove, IL (US);
Alfred Thomas, Las Vegas, NV (US);
WMS Gaming Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Gaming machines are disclosed having a basic mode defining a plurality of reels and a bonus mode defining a plurality of stations about a game board (e.g., MONOPOLY board) traversable by a token identifier. The disclosure describes a plurality of play features for the basic and/or bonus modes including (1) a feature in which escalating bonuses are awarded for reaching a designated bonus square (e.g., the 'GO' square); (2) a feature in which bonuses are awarded for completing groups of stations (e.g., color groups); and (3) a feature in which the gaming machine includes two bonus modes, each entered upon certain symbol combinations in the basic game. The first bonus game provides an award selected from a plurality of fixed values and multipliers, and the second bonus game moves a token identifier on a game board and provides an award determined by the landing station of the token identifier.