Abstract:
A roulette wheel includes a central spindle, a wheelhead and turret unit freely rotatable around the central spindle, a cone freely rotatable around the central spindle independently of the wheelhead and turret unit, and a lower ball track. The lower ball track can be stationary or can be freely rotatable around the central spindle independently of the wheelhead and turret unit and of the cone.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an improved roulette wheel with less bias. It has been estimated that about 30% of all roulette wheels will show some bias. That is to say certain numbers will win more times in a given number of spins than statistically predictable. Roulette wheels can have a bias, or develop a bias, due to faulty manufacture, loose pocket dividers and/or wear. Players have been known to clock wheels to identify wheels having a large enough bias to guarantee winning in a reasonable number of spins. 
         [0002]    In order for a roulette wheel to be fair to all players, there is a need for an improved roulette wheel that reduces the probability of bias. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An improved roulette wheel with less chance of bias in accordance with the present invention includes an independently spinning wheelhead, an independent spinning cone and can also include an independent spinning lower ball track. Adding additional random elements that affect the path of the ball reduces the affect that any single element will have on the outcome. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    For a fuller understanding of the present invention reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, not drawn to scale, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional roulette wheel. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative roulette wheel according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view of an illustrative roulette wheel according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a close-up cross section view of the bearing and support assembly of an illustrative roulette wheel according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional roulette wheel  10 . To play roulette, the croupier (dealer) first spins the wheelhead  14  in one direction and then spins the ball (not shown) in upper ball track  11  in the opposite direction. Upper ball track  11  is slightly tilted toward the middle, so that as the ball slows in the upper ball track  11 , gravity will cause the ball to fall out onto the lower ball track  12 . Rigidly mounted on the lower ball track are horizontal and vertical ball deflectors  13  designed to disrupt the smooth path of the ball and add a random variable to the path of the ball. As the ball continues to slow, gravity causes it to move toward the wheelhead  14 . Mounted as part of the wheelhead are thirty-eight pockets  15  separated by pocket dividers  16 . The ball may then fall into any pocket  15 , hit a pocket divider  16  and bounce either back onto lower ball track  12 , onto cone  17  or into another pocket  15 . Eventually a ball will fall into a pocket and stay there. The winning number is the number associated with the pocket in which the ball finally comes to rest. Turret  18  is primarily decoration that covers internal parts. All of the various parts are supported and contained in bowl  19 . 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of an improved roulette wheel  10  showing the relationship of lower ball track  12 , ball deflectors  13 , wheelhead  14 , pockets  15 , pocket dividers  16 , turret  18  and bowl  19 . 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a section view of  FIG. 2  showing the construction of the roulette wheel  10 . Part of the upper portion of bowl  19  is upper ball track  11 . Inside bowl  19  is lower ball track  12 . Inside lower ball track  12  is wheelhead  14 . Inside wheelhead  14  is cone  17 . Mounted on cone  17  is turret  18 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed section view of the support and bearing assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . Spindle  20  is rigidly affixed to bowl  19  by nut  21 . Lower ball track lower bearing  22  is affixed to lower ball track  12  allowing lower ball track  12  to freely rotate around spindle  20 . Lower ball track lower bearing  22  is separated from bowl  19  by shims  23 . Shims  23  provide separation between the stationary upper surface of bowl  19  and the lower rotating surface of lower ball track  12 . In addition, shims  23  provide lower ball track  12  height adjustment depending on how many shims are installed. Lower ball track upper bearing  24  is rigidly attached to lower ball track  12  allowing lower ball track  12  to freely rotate around spindle  20  and also helps provide stability to lower ball track  12 . 
         [0014]    Sleeve  25  is rigidly affixed to wheelhead  14 . Sleeve lower bearing  26  is affixed to sleeve  25  allowing sleeve  25  to freely rotate around spindle  20 . Shims  27  separate the upper rotating surface of lower ball track  12  from the lower rotating surface of wheelhead  14 . In addition, shims  27  provide height adjustment between the upper rotating surface of lower ball track  12  and the lower rotating surface of wheelhead  14  depending on how many shims are installed. Sleeve upper bearing  28  is rigidly attached to sleeve  25  allowing sleeve  15  to freely rotate around spindle  20  and also helps to provide stability to sleeve  25 . 
         [0015]    Cone lower bearing  29  is rigidly attached to cone  17  allowing cone  17  to freely rotate around sleeve  25 . Cone lower bearing  29  rests on shims  31 , which rest on, and are supported by, sleeve shoulder  32 . In addition, shims  31  provide height adjustment between lower ball track  12  and cone  17 , depending on how many shims are installed. Cone upper bearing  33  is rigidly attached to cone  17  and allowing cone  17  to freely rotate around sleeve  25  and also helps provide stability to cone  17 . 
         [0016]    Turret  18  is rigidly attached to sleeve  25 . Since wheelhead  14  is also rigidly attached to sleeve  25 , when wheelhead  14  rotates, wheelhead  14 , sleeve  25  and turret  18  all rotate together. The lower rotating surface of turret  18  is separated from the upper surface of rotating cone  17  by shims  34 . Shims  34  also provide height adjustment to turret  18 . 
         [0017]    In the roulette wheel  10  of the present invention, the lower ball track  12 , wheelhead  14  and turret  18  as a unit, and cone  17  all rotate independently of one another. In another version of roulette wheel  10 , lower ball track lower bearing  22 , lower ball track upper bearing  24  and shims  23  are removed, and lower ball track  12  is rigidly affixed to bowl  19 . In this version only cone  17 , and wheelhead  14 , sleeve  28  and turret  18  as a unit, rotate independently of one another. 
         [0018]    While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.