Abstract:
A gambling game includes a housing; a first wheel of a first diameter rotatably mounted in the housing and having an exposed surface with a first plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof and a plurality of colors, each associated with one number; a second wheel of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and rotatably mounted in the housing and within the first wheel, the second wheel having an exposed surface with a second plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof and a plurality of colors, each associated with one number; first and second flexible pointers for indicating one number and one color on the first wheel and one number and one color on the second wheel after rotation of the first and second wheels; and a single wagering area for both wheels, including boxed areas for wagering on individual numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement; at least one numerical outcome from an arithmetic operation of multiplication, addition or subtraction performed between the two numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement; and individual colors and color combinations which are indicated by the indicating arrangement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a roulette-type or wheel of fortune type gambling game, and more particularly, is directed to a roulette-type or wheel of fortune type gambling game that provides more variations in play and in wagering. 
     In a conventional roulette game, there is a rotatable roulette wheel that has numbered pockets with numbers “1” through “36”, “0” and “00” therein. The pockets with numbers “0” and “00” give the house or dealer an advantage of 5.26%. Each pocket is separated from its neighbors by metal dividers. Half of the 36 numbers are black while the other half are red. The pockets containing the numbers “0” and “00” are green. The numbers are not in consecutive order, but rather, are in random order, with red and black numbers alternating, except when broken up by “0” and “00”. 
     There are numerous possible wagers that can be made, which are paid off at different odds. For example, for even money, that is 1:1 pay off, there are wagers on odd numbers, even numbers, red numbers, black numbers, a range of low numbers “1” through “18” and a range of high numbers “19” through “36”. For higher odds, such as 35:1, a player can wager on a single number, while wagers on two numbers pay off at 17:1; wagers on three numbers pay off at 11:1; wagers on four numbers pay off at 8:1; wagers on five numbers pay off at 6:1; wagers on six numbers pay off at 5:1; wagers on dozens, such as “1” through “12”, “13” through “24” or “25” through “36” pay off at 2:1, as would wagers on one of the three columns of numbers. 
     However, gambling with a roulette wheel by itself can become boring or tiresome over time. Specifically, there is only one item moving at a time, namely, a single ball about a single wheel. Third, although there is some variation in the types of wagers that can be made, the types of wagers are still somewhat limited. As a result, the players can become easily bored after a short time, and retire from the game, which is undesirable to the casino. 
     The same comments apply to other roulette-type games, such as wheel of fortune games in casinos, in which the dealer spins a wheel having arcuate segments thereon, and a flexible pointer is provided to eventually stop the wheel and point to a particular segment having a monetary amount listed thereon. Such games are even less interesting, since there is no color aspect thereto. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gambling game that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a gambling game with an increased number and variation of ways to wager. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a roulette-type gambling game in which there are two separately rotatable wheels, each having numbers and colors thereon. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a roulette-type gambling game in which a summation or multiplication action is provided between the numbers on the two wheels for enhanced wagering. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a roulette-type gambling game in which there are a plurality of different colors that can be bet on, for enhanced wagering. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a gambling game in which the players can easily understand the different wagers that can be made. 
     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a gambling game in which the principles thereof are extendible to other gambling games, such as dice games. 
     It is another further object of the present invention to provide a gambling game that is easy and economical to use and manufacture. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a gambling game includes a housing; a first wheel of a first diameter rotatably mounted in the housing and having an exposed surface with a first plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof; a second wheel of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and rotatably mounted in the housing, the second wheel having an exposed surface with a second plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof; an indicating arrangement for indicating one number on the first wheel and one number on the second wheel after rotation of the first and second wheels; and a single common wagering area for both the first and second wheels, the single common wagering area including boxed areas for wagering on individual numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement; and at least one numerical outcome from an arithmetic operation performed between the two numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement. 
     The arithmetic operation is at least one of a multiplication operation, addition operation and subtraction operation. If it is a multiplication operation, each of the first and second wheels includes numbers “1” through “n” thereon, and the wagering area including boxes with numbers “1” through “n” times “n”. If it is an addition operation and subtraction operation, the first wheel includes numbers “1” through “m” thereon, the second wheel includes numbers “1” through “n” thereon, and the wagering area includes boxes with numbers “1” through “m” plus “n”. 
     The indicating arrangement includes a first flexible pointer mounted on a support adjacent the rotatable first wheel for pointing to a number on the first wheel and a second flexible pointer mounted on a support adjacent the rotatable second wheel for pointing to a number on the second wheel. 
     The first wheel includes a central recess therein, and the second wheel is positioned within the central recess for rotation therein. 
     Each wheel is divided into a plurality of sectors around a circumferential area thereof, with each sector having one number associated therewith. Each number also has one of a plurality of colors associated therewith such that the indicating arrangement also indicates one color from each wheel. In such case, the single wagering area also includes boxed areas for wagering on individual colors and color combinations in view of the colors indicated by the indicating arrangement. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a gambling game includes a housing; a first wheel of a first diameter rotatably mounted in the housing and having an exposed surface with a first plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof and a plurality of colors, each associated with one number; a second wheel of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and rotatably mounted in the housing, the second wheel having an exposed surface with a second plurality of numbers on a circumferential area thereof and a plurality of colors, each associated with one number; an indicating arrangement for indicating one number and one color on the first wheel and one number and one color on the second wheel after rotation of the first and second wheels; and a single common wagering area for both the first and second wheels, the single common wagering area including boxed areas for wagering on individual numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement; at least one numerical outcome from an arithmetic operation performed between the two numbers from the first and second wheels which are indicated by the indicating arrangement; and individual colors and color combinations which are indicated by the indicating arrangement. 
     Each wheel is divided into a plurality of sectors around a circumferential area thereof, with each sector having one number and one the color associated therewith. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a gambling game includes a housing; first and second dice, each die having a plurality of surfaces, at least two of the surfaces of each die having different colors thereon, and the different surfaces of each die having different numbers thereon; and a single common wagering area on the housing for both dice, said wagering area including boxed areas for wagering on individual numbers from upper surfaces of the first and second dice; at least one numerical outcome from a multiplication operation performed between the two numbers from the upper surfaces of the first and second dice; and individual colors and color combinations from the upper surfaces of the first and second dice. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a gambling game according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gambling game of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a single wagering area for the gambling game of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a gambling game according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a single wagering area for the gambling game of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a gambling game according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a single wagering area for the gambling game of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pair of dice for a gambling game according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a gambling game according to a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a gambling game  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a circular housing  12  formed by a flat circular wall  14  for supporting game  10  on a table or the like, and an upstanding peripheral side wall  16  extending around the periphery of flat circular wall  14 . A central opening  18  is provided in flat circular wall  14  and has a shaft  22  fixedly mounted therein. 
     A first annular wheel  24  is rotatably mounted on shaft  22  by means of a circular bearing  25 , at a position above flat circular wall  14 . First annular wheel  24  includes a thin annular central section  26  and a raised annular outer section  28 , such that a circular recess  30  is formed within annular outer section  28 . Annular outer section  28  has outer dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of upstanding peripheral side wall  16  so as to fit therein and permit rotation of first annular wheel  24  therein. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of annular outer section  28  has a plurality of arcuate sectors  32  printed or otherwise formed thereon. Each sector  32  has a number  36  imprinted thereon, with the numbers  36  preferably being from 1 through 20, arranged in a random order. Also, each sector  32  has a color  34  imprinted thereon, such as ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE or GREEN. Alternatively, the sectors  32  can be colored with particular color, rather than imprinted with the color. Although only twenty numbers and four colors are shown, there may be more or less than 20 numbers and four colors, and the present invention is not so limited. 
     A second annular wheel  38  is rotatably mounted on shaft  22  by means of a circular bearing  45 , at a position above thin annular central section  26  and within raised annular outer section  28 , that is, within circular recess  30 . 
     Second annular wheel  38  includes a thin annular central section  40  and a raised annular outer section  42 , such that a circular recess  46  is formed within annular outer section  42 . Annular outer section  42  has outer dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of annular outer section  28  so as to fit therein and permit rotation of second annular wheel  38  therein. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of annular outer section  42  has a plurality of arcuate sectors  44  printed or otherwise formed thereon. Each sector  44  has a number  48  imprinted thereon, with the numbers  48  preferably being from 1 through 20, arranged in a random order. Also, each sector  44  has a color  49  imprinted thereon, such as ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE or GREEN. Alternatively, the sectors  44  can be colored with particular color, rather than imprinted with the color. Although only twenty numbers and four colors are shown, there may be more or less than 20 numbers and four colors, and the present invention is not so limited. 
     Further, an annular support disk  51  is fixedly mounted to shaft  22  within circular recess  46 . 
     In order to rotate first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 , any suitable arrangement can be provided. As an example, a first raised rod arm  50  is provided near the inner periphery of one sector  32  of first wheel  24 , and a second raised rod arm  52  is provided near the outer periphery of one sector  44  of second wheel  38 , both of which can be engaged and used for spinning first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 . 
     It is also necessary to stop wheels  24  and  38  from rotating and to also provide an indicator of one sector  32  and one sector  44  for each wheel. 
     In this regard, a flexible pointer  53  is fixed at one end to the upper edge of upstanding peripheral side wall  16  and extends radially inward over the upper surface of raised annular outer section  28 , so as to hit against metal divider walls  54  mounted at an edge of each sector  32 , as first annular wheel  24  is rotated. Each time that the end of flexible pointer  53  hits a divider wall  54 , pointer  53  flexes to permit the respective metal divider wall  54  to pass by, whereupon the end of flexible pointer  53  hitting against divider walls  54  functions to slow down first annular wheel  24 , and eventually cause first annular wheel  24  to stop. At such time, the end of flexible pointer  53  remains in a particular sector  32 , to indicate both a number and a color therein. 
     In like manner, a flexible pointer  55  is fixed at one end to the upper edge of annular support disk  51  and extends radially outward over the upper surface of raised annular outer section  42 , and hits against metal divider walls  56  mounted at an edge of each sector  44  as second annular wheel  38  is rotated. Each time that the end of flexible pointer  55  hits against a divider wall  56 , pointer  55  flexes to permit the respective metal divider wall  56  to pass by, whereupon the end of flexible pointer  55  hitting against divider walls  56  functions to slow down second annular wheel  38 , and eventually cause second annular wheel  38  to stop. At such time, the end of flexible pointer  55  remains in a particular sector  44 , to indicate both a number and a color therein. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a single common wagering area  58  is provided for both wheels  24  and  38 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Wagering area  58  includes different columns  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 , by which a player can place different bets, based on both colors and numbers, from a combination due to the spinning of first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 . Each column is separated into a plurality of boxes  78  having indicia thereon. 
     Thus, column  60  contains boxes  78  with numerical indicia “1”, “5”, “9”, “13”, “11”, “21”, “25”, “29”, “33” and “37”, as well as a box containing the word COLUMN or the abbreviation COL therein to designate all of the numbers in column  60 . There is also a box designated “2:1” to indicate that the person desires to receive a double payout if he wins. 
     In like manner, column  62  contains boxes  78  with numerical indicia “2”, “6”, “10”, “14”, “18”, “22”, “26”, “30”, “34” and “38”, as well as a box containing the word COLUMN or the abbreviation COL therein to designate all of the numbers in column  62 . There is also a box designated “3:1” to indicate that the person desires to receive a triple payout if he wins. 
     Column  64  contains boxes  78  with numerical indicia “3”, “7”, “11”, “15”, “19”, “23”, “27”, “31”, “35” and “39”, as well as a box containing the word COLUMN or the abbreviation COL therein to designate all of the numbers in column  64 . There is also a box designated “+” to indicate that the person desires to wager on the summation of numbers from first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 . This latter box is an important aspect of the present invention and is discussed in more detail hereinafter. 
     Column  66  contains boxes  78  with numerical indicia “4”, “8”, “12”, “16”, “20”, “24”, “28”, “32”, “36” and “40”, as well as a box containing the word COLUMN or the abbreviation COL therein to designate all of the numbers in column  66 . There is also a box designated “−” to indicate that the person desires to wager on the subtraction of numbers from first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 . In the event that the result of the subtraction is “0”, the person can also wager on a box in column  68  as to the same. This latter box is an important aspect of the present invention and is discussed in more detail hereinafter. 
     Column  68  also contains boxes which indicate that the row is selected. For example, the uppermost “ROW” box would wager that a number from either wheel  24  or  38  is “1”, “2”, “3” or “4”. 
     In column  70 , a person can wager on groups of numbers 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40, while larger groups of 1-20 and 21-40 can be wagered by placing chips in respective boxes in column  72 . 
     The player can also wager on two possible number combinations, for example, by placing a chip to straddle the number boxes  78  containing two numbers, for example, the numbers “3” and “4”. A wager on four number combinations can also be made by placing a chip at the meeting corner of the number boxes  78  containing the four number combinations, for example, the boxes  78  containing the number combinations “2”, “3”, “6” and “7”. 
     Finally, another group of numbers that can be wagered is the ODD group or EVEN group of numbers, as per boxes in column  72 . 
     A person can also wager on individual colors ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN and BLUE, in respective boxes in columns  72  and  74 , or on color combinations BLUE-YELLOW, ORANGE-GREEN, BLUE-ORANGE, YELLOW-ORANGE, GREEN-BLUE or GREEN-YELLOW, that is, wagering on the probability that two of the colors will be indicated on first wheel  24  and second wheel  38 . 
     An important aspect of the present invention is, in addition to the color and number variations, the interaction of the numbers on wheel  24  and wheel  38  by summation of the numbers as a result of wagering in the “+” box, or subtraction of the numbers wagering in the “−” box. As a result, a compact roulette or wheel of fortune type gambling type game is provided, with two wheels  24  and  38 , and with the variations being increased over a conventional roulette game, or even over two separate roulette or wheel of fortune games that would require two separate wagering areas. 
     In operation, wagering occurs by placing chips on the selective boxes. To distinguish from the summation or subtraction outcomes, the chips for wagering on single number boxes or groups of boxes can be of one color, while the chips for wagering on the summation or subtraction options of the different boxes can be of another color. Then, both wheels  24  and  38  are rotated by the dealer. When wheels  24  and  38  stop rotating, pointers  53  and  55  designate one number and one color from each wheel  24  and  38 . It is then determined if anyone has won by referring to the chips placed on single common wagering area  58 . 
     A gambling game  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5, in which elements corresponding to gambling game  10  are identified by the same reference numerals but augmented by 100, and a detailed explanation of the common elements is deleted for the sake of brevity. 
     Gambling game  110  includes a construction identical to that of gambling game  10 . However, there are thirty-six sectors  132  and thirty-six sectors  144 , each with a plurality of numbers ranging from “1” to “6”, and preferably arranged in a random order. A BLACK or WHITE color is also associated with each sector  132  and  144 , as in a conventional roulette game. 
     In this regard, wagering occurs with respect to individual numbers, a multiplication of one indicated number from each wheel  124  and  138 , individual colors and a combination of colors. As a result of the interaction of the numbers from the two wheels by means of a multiplication operation, wagering can thus occur by groups of numbers 1-2, 13-24, 25-36, 1-18, 19-36 and ODD and EVEN numbers, as well as two adjacent numbers and four adjacent numbers, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Wagering can also be made as to individual colors or groups of colors, as in the first embodiment. 
     An important aspect of the present invention, is therefore the wagering in single common wagering area  158  with respect to a multiplication of an indicated number  136  on first wheel  124  and an indicated number  148  on second wheel  138 , for a possible thirty-six different combinations. This occurs by placing a chip in the MULTIPLY box, which takes the place of the “+”, “−” and “0” boxes of the first embodiment of FIG.  3 . 
     To distinguish wagering from an indicated number on either first wheel  124  or second wheel  138 , from the multiplication operation, the chips for wagering on an indicated number from either wheel can be of one color, while the chips for wagering on the result of a multiplication operation between the two indicated numbers can be of another color. 
     As a result, a compact roulette or wheel of fortune type game is provided, with two wheels  24  and  38 , and with the variations being increased over a conventional roulette or wheel of fortune game, or even over two separate roulette or wheel of fortune games with two separate wagering areas. 
     In operation, wagering occurs by placing chips on the selective boxes. To distinguish from the multiplication outcome, the chips for wagering on single numbers for either wheel can be of one color, while the chips for wagering on the multiplication operation can be of another color. Then, both wheels  124  and  138  are rotated by the dealer. When wheels  124  and  138  stop rotating, pointers  153  and  155  designate one number and one color from each wheel  124  and  138 . It is then determined if anyone has won by referring to the chips placed on single common wagering area  158 . 
     It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides a gambling game with an increased number and variation of ways to wager, by providing two separately rotatable wheels, each having numbers and colors thereon. Specifically, this occurs by a summation or multiplication of the numbers from the two different wheels to provide an interaction therebetween for enhanced wagering. In addition, there are a plurality of different colors that can be bet on, for enhanced wagering. 
     It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made thereto. For example, wagering area  158  shows only two colors, namely BLACK (B) and WHITE (W). However, more than two colors can be provided, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in which three colors RED (R), GREEN (G) and BLUE (B) are provided, to enhance the variations in wagering still further. 
     Although the second embodiment of the present invention has been discussed relative to a roulette or wheel or fortune type game, it will be appreciated that the present invention according to the second embodiment can also be applied to a dice game in which the numbers on the upper faces of the dice can be multiplied together in the same manner. In such case, a pair of dice  210  and  212  can be provided with different colors BLACK (B) and WHITE (W), as shown in FIG. 8, or different colors RED (R), GREEN (G) and BLUE (B), as shown in FIG. 9, on the different faces to provide wagering on the same number and color combinations as in the second embodiment of FIGS. 4-7. 
     Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.