GB2180682A - Amusement with prizes machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement-with-prizes machine 2 which is coin-or token- freed, there being a slot (not shown) on a fascia 1 for receipt of a coin or token to start a game, and various buttons to select different features such as a "10p" game button 3 and a "20p" game button 4. The machine 2 includes means to apportion a prize into a first portion and a second portion and means to increment or decrement at least part of one of the portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement with prizes machines The invention relates to coin - ortoken - freed amuse- mentwith prizes machines, such asfruit machines.

According to the invention there is provided an amusement with prizes machine which is coin or token -freed, including means to determine a prize, means to apportion the prize into a first portion and a second portion, and meansto increment or decre ment at least part of one of said portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained.

Using the invention it is therefore possible to provide effectively a multi-start game using a single initial coin ortoken.

The machine may include meanswherebywhen a jackpot is attained on operation of the means to in- cement or decrement the portion of the prize, said jackpot is automatically paid out.

The means to increment or decrement the at least part of one of said portions may be adapted to incre mentthewholeofsaidoneportion inasingleadditi- onal game.

There may be means whereby, when said one portion is decremented to zero, the other portion may be incremented or decremented.

Alternatively, there may be means whereby the other portion is paid out.

An amusement with prizes machine embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example witch referenceto the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic layout of the fascia of one machine according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a fascia 1 of an amusementh enth with-prizes machine 2 which is coin- ortoken-freed, there being a slot (not shown) for receipt of a coin ortoken to start a game, and various buttons to select different features such as a "1 Op' game button 3 and a "20p' game button 4.

The machine2 includes meansto apportion a prize into afirst portion and a second portion and means to increment or decrement at least part of one ofthe portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained.

Thus on insertion of a coin ortoken, say a 20p coin, in the slot and pressing one ofthe buttons 3 or4and playing a game, if say a 10 prize is achieved, this is shown in the panel 5, and the panel 6 is illuminated to showthatthewincan be collectedin toto, or part can be gambled by pressing an accumulator button of the buttons 7-15. Thus if 5 is to be gambled the button 15 is pressed. If all ofthe part gambled is decremented (lost) the remaining portion can either be gambled, or collected by pressing an appropriate button 7-15.On the other hand, ifthe gambled part of the prize is incremented (a win) then this appears in the panel 5, and part of this win can be used as before fortrying to increment (or decrement) that part ofthe prize ofthe second game. Thus several games, or a multi-start, game can be played for an initial stake.

When a pre-determined prize limit is achieved, or the player wishes to collect, he can do so by pressing a button to pay out his accumulated prizes, and the game is over. Alternatively, if the prizes are lost, the game is over too.

The machine may have usual physical reels, or may have a video screen on which the reels appear.

1. An amusementwith prizes machinewhich is coin - ortoken h freed, comprising means to determine a prize, means to apportion the prize into a first portion and a second portion, and means to increment ordecrementat least part of one of said portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, comprising means whereby when a jackpot is attained on operation ofthe means to incrementordecrementthe portion of the prize, said jackpot is automatically paid out.

3. A machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the meansto incrementor decrementthe at least partof one of said portions being adapted to increment the whole of said one portion in a single additional game.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim, including means whereby, when said one portion is decremented to zero, the other portion is incremented or decremented.

5. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to4, including means whereby the other portion is paid out when said one portion is incremented or decremented.

6. An amusementwith prizes machine which is coin - ortoken h freed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Amusement with prizes machines The invention relates to coin - ortoken - freed amuse- mentwith prizes machines, such asfruit machines. According to the invention there is provided an amusement with prizes machine which is coin or token -freed, including means to determine a prize, means to apportion the prize into a first portion and a second portion, and meansto increment or decre ment at least part of one of said portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained. Using the invention it is therefore possible to provide effectively a multi-start game using a single initial coin ortoken. The machine may include meanswherebywhen a jackpot is attained on operation of the means to in- cement or decrement the portion of the prize, said jackpot is automatically paid out. The means to increment or decrement the at least part of one of said portions may be adapted to incre mentthewholeofsaidoneportion inasingleadditi- onal game. There may be means whereby, when said one portion is decremented to zero, the other portion may be incremented or decremented. Alternatively, there may be means whereby the other portion is paid out. An amusement with prizes machine embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example witch referenceto the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic layout of the fascia of one machine according to the invention. Referring to the drawing there is shown a fascia 1 of an amusementh enth with-prizes machine 2 which is coin- ortoken-freed, there being a slot (not shown) for receipt of a coin ortoken to start a game, and various buttons to select different features such as a "1 Op' game button 3 and a "20p' game button 4. The machine2 includes meansto apportion a prize into afirst portion and a second portion and means to increment or decrement at least part of one ofthe portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained. Thus on insertion of a coin ortoken, say a 20p coin, in the slot and pressing one ofthe buttons 3 or4and playing a game, if say a 10 prize is achieved, this is shown in the panel 5, and the panel 6 is illuminated to showthatthewincan be collectedin toto, or part can be gambled by pressing an accumulator button of the buttons 7-15. Thus if 5 is to be gambled the button 15 is pressed. If all ofthe part gambled is decremented (lost) the remaining portion can either be gambled, or collected by pressing an appropriate button 7-15.On the other hand, ifthe gambled part of the prize is incremented (a win) then this appears in the panel 5, and part of this win can be used as before fortrying to increment (or decrement) that part ofthe prize ofthe second game. Thus several games, or a multi-start, game can be played for an initial stake. When a pre-determined prize limit is achieved, or the player wishes to collect, he can do so by pressing a button to pay out his accumulated prizes, and the game is over. Alternatively, if the prizes are lost, the game is over too. The machine may have usual physical reels, or may have a video screen on which the reels appear. CLAIMS

1. An amusementwith prizes machinewhich is coin - ortoken h freed, comprising means to determine a prize, means to apportion the prize into a first portion and a second portion, and means to increment ordecrementat least part of one of said portions of the prize whereby a second prize may be obtained.

2. A machine according to Claim 1, comprising means whereby when a jackpot is attained on operation ofthe means to incrementordecrementthe portion of the prize, said jackpot is automatically paid out.

3. A machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the meansto incrementor decrementthe at least partof one of said portions being adapted to increment the whole of said one portion in a single additional game.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim, including means whereby, when said one portion is decremented to zero, the other portion is incremented or decremented.

5. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to4, including means whereby the other portion is paid out when said one portion is incremented or decremented.

6. An amusementwith prizes machine which is coin - ortoken h freed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.