Gaming display with moveable indicator and methods of use

Abstract

A gaming apparatus for playing a game. The gaming apparatus includes a display device that has a moveable display surface with a plurality of indicia. A roller may support the display surface such that the display moves over the roller. The roller and the display surface may simulate a reel. A guide track may hold and guide the shape of the display surface. The guide track and display surface may simulate a reel. A display device actuator is coupled to and can move the display surface. A controller is in communication with the display device actuator and can position the display surface such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the display surface conveys a game outcome. A braking mechanism is coupled with the display surface and is adapted to brake the display surface.

1 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) a display device comprising a display surface, the display surface being moveable, the display surface comprising a plurality of indicia;   (B) at least one roller, the roller supporting the display surface such that the display surface moves over the roller, the roller and display surface simulating a reel;   (C) a display device actuator coupled with the display surface and configured to move the display surface; and   (D) a controller in communication with the display device actuator, the controller configured to position the display surface such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the display surface conveys a game outcome.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia simulate a slot machine reel. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a braking mechanism coupled with the display surface and adapted to brake the display surface. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the braking mechanism may be applied to the display surface to provide an effect to the braking of the display surface. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the effect comprises at least one of jump, vibrate or shutter. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the display device comprises an elongate band and wherein the display surface is provided on the elongate band. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the elongate band is continuous. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the elongate band extends between first and second end reels and wherein the roller is disposed between the first and second end reels. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 (A) a display device comprising a display surface, the display surface being moveable, the display surface comprising a plurality of indicia;   (B) at least one guide track holding the display surface, the at least one guide track being adapted to guide the shape of the display surface wherein the at least one guide track and display surface simulate a reel;   (C) a display device actuator in communication with the display surface and configured to move the display surface; and   (D) a controller in communication with the display device actuator, the controller configured to position the display surface such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the display surface conveys a game outcome.   
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a braking mechanism coupled with the display surface and adapted to brake the display surface. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the braking mechanism may be applied to the display surface to provide an effect to the braking of the display surface. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the effect comprises at least one of jump, vibrate or shutter. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the display device comprises an elongate band and wherein the display surface is provided on the elongate band. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the elongate band is continuous. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the elongate band extends between first and second end reels and wherein the at least one guide track is disposed between the first and second end reels. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming device comprising:
 (A) an interface allowing a player to place a wager and play a game;   (B) a display device comprising:
 (a) an elongate band; 
 (b) a display surface provided on the elongate band; and 
 (c) a plurality of indicia on the display surface, the indicia arranged in a plurality of rows, the indicia of each row being configured to indicate a game outcome; and 
   (C) a controller adapted to:
 (a) determine a game outcome; 
 (b) select a row of the display surface that indicates the determined game outcome; and 
 (c) display the selected row to the player. 
   
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 16  further comprising shaping means for shaping the elongate band in a region of the display surface that is displayed to the player. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 17  wherein the shaping means comprises at least one roller for forming a convex shape in the elongate band. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming device of  claim 17  wherein the shaping means comprises at least one guide track for forming a convex shape in the elongate band. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 16  comprising M game outcomes, wherein the display surface comprises N rows, wherein N is greater than M. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 20  wherein the display surface comprises a plurality of rows that indicate the same game outcome. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 21  wherein the controller selects one of the rows that indicates the determined game outcome. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 16  further comprising a display device actuator in communication with the display surface and configured to move the display surface, wherein the controller is in communication with the display device actuator and wherein the controller is configured to control the display device actuator to position the selected row such that the selected row is visible to the player. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 23  further comprising a housing and at least one window in the housing, wherein the controller is configured to position the selected row in the window. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming device of  claim 16  wherein each row comprises at least three indicia which in combination indicate a game outcome. 
     
     
         26 . A method of playing a game comprising:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game;   (B) determining a game outcome;   (C) selecting a row of a display surface that indicates the game outcome; and   (D) advancing the display surface such that the selected row is displayed to a player.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the display surface comprises a plurality of rows that indicate the game outcome, and wherein selecting a row of the display surface comprises selecting one of the plurality of rows that indicate the game outcome. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the display surface is provided on an elongate band, wherein the elongate band is supported by a plurality of rollers and wherein advancing the display surface comprises actuating at least one of the plurality of rollers. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising shaping the display surface in a region of the display surface that is displayed to the player such that the display surface simulates a reel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein shaping the display surface comprises shaping the display surface into a convex shape.