Gaming and amusement machines and reels for them

Abstract

A reel for a gaming or amusement machine, of the type commonly known as a fruit machine, has a reel strip which has symbols at least partially within sunken regions of the .[.reel strip.]..Iadd.reel-strip.Iaddend.. The symbols may be formed in relief in the sunken regions but do not project above a frame which surrounds the sunken regions. The surface of the frame may be arcuate, such that the reel is cylindrical in shape, or flat, such that the reel is polygonal.

I claim: 
     
       1. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine comprising a first surface region and at least one sunken region, said at least one sunken region being provided below the level of said first surface region and said at least one sunken region being provided with at least one symbol or fruit, wherein said at least one symbol is formed in relief and said at least one sunken region and said at least one symbol are integrally formed. 
     
     
       2. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said first surface region extends at least partially around said at least one sunken region. 
     
     
       3. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said at least one symbol is formed in relief at said at least one sunken region. 
     
     
       4. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said at least one symbol is formed in relief and projects from said at least one sunken region to a height not substantially greater than that of said first surface region. 
     
     
       5. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said first surface region comprises a frame surface extending around said at least one sunken region. 
     
     
       6. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sunken region has a three-dimensional profiled symbol. 
     
     
       7. A reel strip according to claim 1, wherein said reel strip is comprised of plastics material. 
     
     
       8. A reel for a gaming or amusement machine comprising support means supporting a reel strip, wherein the reel strip is in accordance with claim 1. 
     
     
       9. A gaming or amusement machine which incorporates a reel strip in accordance with claim 1. 
     
     
       10. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine comprising a first surface region and at least one sunken region, said at least one sunken region being provided below the level of said first surface region, said reel strip having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein said inner surface and said outer surface both have variable relief. 
     
     
       11. A reel for a gaming or amusement machine comprising support means supporting a reel strip, wherein the reel strip is in accordance with claim 10. 
     
     
       12. A gaming or amusement machine which incorporates a reel strip in accordance with claim 10. 
     
     
       13. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine comprising a first surface region and at least one sunken region, said at least one sunken region being provided below the level of said first surface region, one or more of said at least one sunken region being provided with a symbol or fruit, wherein said reel strip is formed from a plurality of segments being interconnected by lines of interconnection, and said segments being permitted to flex along said lines of interconnection. 
     
     
       14. A reel strip according to claim 13, wherein each segment has a portion of said first surface region and a sunken region. 
     
     
       15. A reel strip according to claim 13, wherein each of said segments has a frame surface, said frame surface extending substantially around said at least one sunken region, said frame surfaces being parts of cylindrical arcs with the axes of curvature being at right angles to the length of said reel strip so that when said reel strip is curved around support means to form a reel said frame surfaces lie on a common cylindrical surface. 
     
     
       16. A reel strip according to claim 15, wherein said frame surface is flat instead of being pan of a cylindrical surface, said reel strip forming a polygon when it is curved around support means to form a reel. 
     
     
       17. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having a first surface region and a region which is sunken relative to said first surface region, said sunken region being provided with a symbol or fruit, wherein said first surface region extends around the periphery of said sunken region. 
     
     
       18. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface having a first surface region and a region which is sunken relative to said first surface region, said sunken region being provided with a symbol or fruit, wherein said inner surface has a sunken region and a raised region, said sunken region on said inner surface corresponding with said first surface region on said outer surface and said raised region on said inner surface corresponding with said sunken region on said outer surface such that said reel strip has a substantially constant thickness throughout. 
     
     
       19. A reel strip for a gaming or amusement machine comprising a raised region and a plurality of lower, sunken regions, each of said plurality of sunken regions being provided with a symbol or fruit and being surrounded and framed by respective portions of said raised region. 
     
     
       20. A reel strip according to claim 19, wherein each of said sunken regions is of substantially the same shape. 
     
     
       21. A gaming or amusement machine which has a reel strip in accordance with claim 19.