Patent ID: 6896260
Filing Date: 2005-05-24
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for converting a slot machine with a game including a plurality of reels to the game with the plurality of reels and a rotator located separate from the plurality of reels, the slot machine with the game played by a player for a wager comprising: a slot machine cabinet; a hollow space in the slot machine cabinet, the hollow body including a belly box and a top box; a plurality of reels mounted in the belly box; a door over the belly box, the door with a window, the plurality of reels having symbols about the periphery of each, the plurality of reels mounted for driven random spinning during game play, each of the plurality of reels mounted to spin about its axis and each axis set in line with other axises and substantially parallel to the window so that symbols on the reels are visible through the window and may be aligned randomly with a pay line, the plurality of reels mounted within the hollow space and driven randomly to spin together and then to position a symbol on the periphery of each reel in, near or away from the window pay line when each reel stops, and a central processing unit connected to each of the plurality of reels to drive them randomly so that each of the plurality of reels spins about its axis, the central processing unit programmed to stop the spinning of each of the plurality of reels in sequence, the central processing unit independently coupled to the rotator so that the rotator rotates when the plurality of reels rotate but the rotator finishes rotating after the plurality of reels have in sequence stopped spinning during reel and rotator play of the game, and a stepper motor for each of the plurality of reels and for the rotator, each of the stepper motors coupled to the central processing unit, the stepper motors for the plurality of reels carrying a reel strip support and a reel strip with symbols, the stepper motor for the rotator carrying a pointer carrier positioned in the top box facing the glass for observation by the player during play of the game the method having the steps of: reorienting one of the stepper motors of the plurality of reels from the belly box to the top box to provide a rotator located in the top box, the rotator set to finish rotating after each of the plurality of reels stop spinning randomly so that the rotator provides an anticipatory feature to the reel play afforded to the player during play of the game; locating a shaft for the rotator about which the rotator rotates by positioning the shaft generally normal to each axis of the plurality of reels; mounting a bracket within the top box to locate the rotator so that its shaft is positioned substantially normal to the axis of the spinning plurality of the reels during play of the game; carrying a pointer on the shaft, the pointer visible for play, the pointer rotated randomly by the rotator during play of the game; covering the top box and the pointer with a glass, the glass with indicia facing outwardly of the top box for observation by the player and the pointer set for random alignment with the indicia providing the anticipatory feature with the illusion of separate play, and coupling the reoriented stepper motor to the central processing unit with an extension harness to control payout during play of the game on reel and rotator play.