Mechanical wheels for game machines

摘要

Electronic gaming machines having mechanical or electro-mechanical wheel devices are described herein. The gaming machines include a cabinet, a display coupled to the cabinet, and a wheel coupled to the cabinet. The wheel includes a plurality of wheel segments positioned axially about a center point of the wheel. The plurality of wheel segments may be configured to rotate about the center point and to transform an appearance of the wheel. The wheel further includes an indicator configured to indicate an indicated wheel segment. The indicator may be configured to rotate about the center point.

主权项

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet; a display coupled to the cabinet; a wheel assembly coupled to the cabinet, the wheel assembly comprising:
a hub having a central axis,a first set of foldable wheel segments extending axially from the hub, the first set of foldable wheel segments foldable between an open display state and a closed folded state,a first activation unit including a first set of activation arms, wherein the first activation unit is linearly positionable along the central axis between a first raised position and a first lowered position, wherein the first set of foldable wheel segments is in the open display state when the first activation unit is in the first raised position, wherein the first set of foldable wheel segments is in the closed folded state when the first activation unit is in the first lowered position, wherein each of the first set of activation arms is connected to a foldable wheel segment of the first set of foldable wheel segments,a second set of foldable wheel segments extending axially from the hub, the second set of foldable wheel segments foldable between the open display state and the closed folded state, anda second activation unit including a second set of activation arms, wherein the second activation unit is linearly positionable along the central axis between a second raised position and a second lowered position, wherein the second set of foldable wheel segments is in the open display state when the second activation unit is in the second raised position, wherein the second set of foldable wheel segments is in the closed folded state when the second activation unit is in the second lowered position, wherein each of the second set of activation arms is connected to a foldable wheel segment of the second set of foldable wheel segments,wherein the hub, the first set of foldable wheel segments, the first activation unit, the second set of foldable wheel segments, and the second activation unit are configured to rotate about the central axis; a controller configured to control the rotation of the hub, the first set of foldable wheel segments, the first activation unit, the second set of foldable wheel segments, and the second activation unit about the central axis, the controller is further configured to move each of the first activation unit and the second activation unit along the central axis; and a processor communicatively coupled to the display and the controller, wherein the processor is configured to provide game play of a wager-based game to a player, display gaming information to the player through the display, detect a trigger event during game play of the wager-based game, and instruct the controller to present a game element to the player through the wheel assembly; wherein controller rotates the hub, the first set of foldable wheel segments, the first activation unit, the second set of foldable wheel segments, and the second activation unit and slides the first and second activation units along the central axis; and wherein the first and second activation units move in opposing directions along the central axis such that when the first activation unit is in the first raised position, the second activation unit is in the second lowered position, and when the first activation unit is in the first lowered position, the second activation unit is in the second raised position.