Gaming bonus device and method of use

Abstract

A gaming device configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game. The gaming device has a plurality of three-dimensional symbols having height, width, and depth. Each three-dimensional symbol is preferably moveably attached to the gaming device, wherein each three-dimensional symbol may be selectively positioned to allow a player to see the three-dimensional symbol. Each three-dimensional symbol is configured to communicate at least a portion of an outcome of the game to a player.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 (A) at least one display object, the display object comprising: 
 (a) at least one rotational axis; and  
 (b) a plurality of three-dimensional symbols, three-dimensional symbols having height, width, and depth and being positioned around the rotational axis, wherein each of the three-dimensional symbols may be positioned to allow a player to view the three-dimensional symbols by rotating the display object around the rotational axis, the three-dimensional symbols being configured to communicate at least a portion of an outcome of a game;  
   (B) at least one rotational mechanism attached to the display object, the rotational mechanism being configured to rotate the display object around the rotational axis; and    (C) at least one controller in communication with the rotational mechanism, the controller being configured to cause the rotational mechanism to rotate the object around the rotational axis, wherein a selected three-dimensional symbol may be positioned to allow a player to view the selected three-dimensional symbol.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional symbols comprise at least one animal.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional symbols comprise at least one human.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming device comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol on each display object has a common theme.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein a prize winning outcome is communicated to the player when each display object displays a three-dimensional symbol with a common theme.  
     
     
         8 . A gaming device, the gaming device being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game, the gaming device comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of three-dimensional symbols, the three-dimensional symbols having height, width, and depth, each symbol being configured to communicate at least a portion of an outcome of the game;    (B) a positioning device attached to the plurality of three-dimensional symbols, the positioning device being configured to position the plurality of three-dimensional symbols, wherein at least one three dimensional symbol may be displayed to the player.    
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of three-dimensional symbols may be rotated around an axis, wherein the positioning device is configured to rotate the plurality of three-dimensional symbols around the axis of rotation.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional symbols comprise at least one animal.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional symbols comprise at least one human.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the gaming device comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol on each display object has a common theme.  
     
     
         15 . A gaming device, the gaming device being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game, the gaming device comprising a plurality of three-dimensional symbols, having height, width, and depth, each three dimensional symbol being moveably attached to the gaming device, wherein each three-dimensional symbol may be selectively positioned to allow a player to see the three-dimensional symbol, each three-dimensional symbol being configured to communicate at least a portion of an outcome of the game, wherein the outcome of the game can be communicated to the player by selecting and displaying at least one three-dimensional symbol.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , further comprising a positioning device attached to at least one three-dimensional symbol, the positioning device being configured to change an orientation of the three-dimensional symbol.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 16 , wherein the positioning device comprises a rotational device, the rotational device being configured to rotate at least one three-dimensional symbol around an axis, wherein the orientation of the three-dimensional symbol is changed by the rotation.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol represents an animal.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol represents a human.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol has a common theme.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein a prize winning outcome is communicated to the player when at least one three-dimensional symbol with a common theme is displayed.  
     
     
         24 . A gaming apparatus, comprising: 
 (A) a gaming device, the gaming device being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game;    (B) a bonus display in communication with the gaming device, the bonus display being configured to present at least a portion of an outcome of a bonus game, the bonus display comprising: 
 (a) at least one display object attached to the bonus display, the display object comprising: 
 (i) a plurality of three-dimensional symbols, each three-dimensional symbol being located on a different portion of the display object, wherein the display object presents different three-dimensional symbols to the player depending upon an angular orientation of the display object.  
 
   
     
     
         25 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the display object is rotatably attached to the bonus display, wherein the orientation of the display object may be changed by rotating the display object around a rotational axis.  
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         28 . The gaming device of  claim 24 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol comprises at least one animal.  
     
     
         29 . The gaming device of  claim 24 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol comprises at least one human.  
     
     
         30 . The gaming device of  claim 24 , wherein the gaming device comprises a plurality of display objects, wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol on each display object has a common theme.  
     
     
         31 . The gaming device of  claim 24 , wherein a prize winning outcome is communicated to the player when each display object displays a three-dimensional symbol with a common theme.  
     
     
         32 . A method of playing a game, comprising: 
 (A) providing a plurality of three-dimensional symbols, each three-dimensional symbol having height, width, and depths and being configured to communicate at least a portion of an outcome of a game;    (B) randomly determining the outcome of a game;    (C) selecting at least one of the three-dimensional symbols to communicate the outcome of the game; and    (D) positioning the selected three-dimensional symbol so that a player may see the three-dimensional symbol.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of three-dimensional symbols are attached together.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising rotating at least one three-dimensional symbol around a rotational axis.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol comprises at least one animal.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol comprises at least one human.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol has a common theme.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein a prize winning outcome is communicated to the player when at least one three-dimensional symbol with a common theme is displayed.  
     
     
         41 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 (A) means for randomly determining the outcome of a game;    (B) a plurality of three-dimensional symbol means for communicating the outcome of a game using at least one three-dimensional symbol;    (C) means for determining a display, the display communicating the outcome of the game and comprising at least one of the plurality of three dimensional symbol means;    (D) positioning means for selectively positioning the plurality of three-dimensional symbol means; and    (E) controller means for causing the positioning means to position the plurality of three three-dimensional symbol means so that the player may see the display.    
     
     
         42 . The gaming device of  claim 41 , further comprising a rotating means for rotating at least one three-dimensional symbol means around a rotational axis.  
     
     
         43 . The gaming device of  claim 42 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially vertically positioned.  
     
     
         44 . The gaming device of  claim 42 , wherein the rotational axis is substantially horizontally positioned.  
     
     
         45 . The gaming device of  claim 41 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol means comprises at least one animal.  
     
     
         46 . The gaming device of  claim 41 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol means comprises at least one human.  
     
     
         47 . The gaming device of  claim 41 , wherein at least one three-dimensional symbol means has a common theme.  
     
     
         48 . The gaming device of  claim 47 , wherein a prize winning outcome is communicated to the player when a three-dimensional symbol means with a common theme is displayed.