Gaming display with moveable indicator and methods of use

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a display device that has a display surface. The display surface can be moved and has indicia mounted on the display surface. A guide track holds the display surface. The guide track guides the shape of the display surface. A display device actuator is in communication with the display surface and moves the display surface. A controller is in communication with the display device actuator. The controller is configured to position the display surface such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the display surface conveys a game outcome. Several game embodiments using a guide track are disclosed.

1 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a display device having a moveable display surface, the moveable display surface comprising a plurality of indicia;    (B) at least one guide track retaining at least a portion of the moveable display surface, the guide track being adapted to alter a position of the moveable display surface;    (C) an actuator coupled with the moveable display surface such that the actuator can move the moveable display surface;    (D) an indicator positioned adjacent the display surface, the indicator being configured to indicate at least one of the indicia; and    (E) a controller in communication with the actuator and the indicator, the controller being configured to move the display surface and to position the indicator such that in combination, the display surface and the indicator convey a game outcome.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display surface simulates a road.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a player input device in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the player is allowed to position the indicator using the player input device and the controller positions the moveable display surface.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the player selects a final position for the indicator and the controller selects a final position for the moveable display surface.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide track has a slot that extends along the guide track.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable display surface has an edge, the edge having a bead.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the bead is retained by the slot.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one roller, the roller supporting at least a portion of the display surface.  
     
     
         11 . A method of gaming not necessarily in the order shown, comprising: 
 (A) determining a game outcome;    (B) moving a display surface, the display surface simulating a road and having a plurality of indicia;    (C) moving a vehicle indicator along the display surface;    (D) stopping the display surface; and    (E) stopping the vehicle indicator such that in combination, the vehicle indicator and the display surface indicate at least one of the indicia as the game outcome.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a player is allowed to determine a stop position for the vehicle indicator.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising backlighting the display surface.  
     
     
         14 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) display device means for displaying a plurality of indicia, the indicia being adapted to communicate a game outcome;    (B) actuator means for moving the display device means, the actuator means being coupled with the display device means;    (C) guide means for positioning the display device means into a first shape;    (D) roller means for positioning the display devices means into a second shape;    (E) indicator means for indicating at least one of the indicia as the game outcome; and    (F) controller means for controlling movement of the display device means, the controller means being in communication with the actuator means and the indicator means, the controller means being configured to move the display device means and to stop the display device means and to move the indicator means and to stop the indicator means.    
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the display device means simulates a road.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the indicator means is a vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising player input means for allowing a player to position the indicator means.  
     
     
         18 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a moveable display surface;    (B) a plurality of indicia disposed on the display surface;    (C) a road design disposed on the display surface;    (D) at least one guide track retaining at least a portion of the moveable display surface, the guide track being adapted to alter a position of the moveable display surface;    (E) an actuator coupled to the moveable display surface;    (F) a vehicle indicator positioned adjacent the display surface, the vehicle indicator being configured to indicate at least one of the indicia; and    (G) a controller in communication with the actuator and the vehicle indicator, the controller being configured to: 
 (a) move the moveable display surface; and  
 (b) move the vehicle indicator such that it appears that the vehicle indicator is moving along the road design.  
   
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising stopping the moveable display surface and the vehicle indicator such that the vehicle indicator points to at least one of the indicia.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a player input device for allowing a player to control movement of the vehicle indicator.