1. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising:
a base adapted to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a top side; and
a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the roof having:
a plurality of substantially flat concentric panels elevated from said top side of said base, wherein each panel is elevated from the next outermost adjacent panel by a sidewall; and
a substantially flat center coupled to an inner diameter of an innermost substantially flat panel and elevated therefrom.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is plastic.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels are for contracting when the closure is attached to a container that has been hot-filled.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels contracts such that said roof is substantially flat.
5. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels contracts such that said roof is concave.
6. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels are for contracting as a result of a vacuum being applied to the panels.
7. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels contracts when external pressure is applied to the closure.
8. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially flat concentric panels are for contracting such that said roof contacts the contents of the container.
9. The closure of claim 3, wherein the closure is for changing color according to a temperature change in the contents of the container.
10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is substantially circular.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein said base is threaded.
12. The closure of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the closure is between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
13. The closure of claim 1, further comprising:
an over-cap substantially surrounding said base and covering a portion of an outermost substantially flat concentric panel.
14. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is metal.
15. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is plastic having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection temperature of said roof.
16. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is coupled to said base via a press-fit.
17. The closure of claim 13, wherein said base includes exterior threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said exterior threads.
18. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising:
a base adapted to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a top side; and
a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the roof having:
at least one area of a first thickness; and
at least one area of a second thickness.
19. The closure of claim 18, wherein said areas of said first and second thicknesses are for contracting when the closure is attached to a container that has been hot-filled.
20. The closure of claim 18, wherein the diameter of the closure is between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
21. The closure of claim 18, further comprising:
an over-cap substantially surrounding said base and covering an outermost portion of said roof.
22. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is metal.
23. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is plastic having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection temperature of said roof.
24. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is coupled to said base via a press-fit.
25. The closure of claim 21, wherein said base includes exterior threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said exterior threads.
26. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising:
a base adapted to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a top side; and
a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the roof having:
at least one area comprised of a first material; and
at least one area comprised of a second material,
wherein said first and second materials have different deflection rates at a given temperature.
27. The closure of claim 26, wherein said areas of said first and second materials are for contracting when the closure is attached to a container that has been hot-filled.
28. The closure of claim 26, wherein the diameter of the closure is between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
29. The closure of claim 26, further comprising:
an over-cap substantially surrounding said base and covering an outermost portion of said roof.
30. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is metal.
31. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is plastic having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection temperature of said roof.
32. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is coupled to said base via a press-fit.
33. The closure of claim 26, wherein said base includes exterior threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said exterior threads.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A gaming machine comprising:
means adapted for displaying a game that has random outcomes, wherein the random outcomes include predetermined winning outcomes;
means adapted for accepting a bet on the occurrence of at least one winning outcome;
means adapted for paying winnings on the occurrence of any of the winning outcomes carrying a bet; and
means adapted for displaying a feature that operates irrespective of the outcomes in the game, wherein the operation of the feature is random and wherein the outcome of the game is adjusted in response to a predetermined trigger event during the operation of the feature.
2. A gaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the means adapted for displaying the game includes a video screen on which an array of randomly selected symbols is displayed, wherein the winning outcomes are predetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein the outcome of the game is adjusted by substituting a wild card symbol for at least one of the symbols in the array.
3. A gaming machine according to claim 2 wherein the adjustment is a single oversized wildcard symbol that substitutes for at least two adjacent symbols in the array.
4. A gaming machine according to claim 3 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol occupies an entire column of the array.
5. A gaming machine according to claim 4 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol increases the winnings normally paid for any winning combinations.
6. A gaming machine according to claim 5 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol doubles the winnings normally paid for a winning combination.
7. A gaming machine according to claim 5 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol triples the winnings normally paid for a winning combination.
8. A gaming machine according to claim 1 wherein the feature comprises an animation that takes a random path across the display and wherein the trigger event occurs when the animation crosses at least one predetermined area in the display.
9. A gaming machine according to claim 8 wherein the animation is a simulated race between a set of competitors whereby the player selects a competitor to win the race and wherein the trigger event occurs if the selected competitor wins the race.
10. A gaming machine according to claim 8 wherein the animation is a lion that runs through the display screen in a random fashion and wherein the trigger event occurs when the lion jumps through a flaming hoop positioned at a predetermined location on the screen.
11. A gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein the animation is a character which flies around the display screen.
12. A gaming machine according to claim 8 wherein the animation appears at the conclusion of each single operational cycle of the game.
13. A gaming machine according to claim 8 wherein the animation is present on the screen whenever the game is operating.
14. A method for operating a gaming machine comprising:
displaying a game that has random outcomes, wherein the random outcomes include predetermined winning outcomes;
accepting a bet on the occurrence of at least one winning outcome;
paying winnings on the occurrence of any of the winning outcomes carrying a bet; and
displaying a feature that operates irrespective of the outcomes in the game, wherein the operation of the feature is random and wherein the outcome of the game is adjusted in response to a predetermined trigger event during the operation of the feature.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the game comprises displaying an array of randomly selected symbols on a video screen, wherein the winning outcomes are predetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein the outcome of the game is adjusted by substituting a wild card symbol for at least one of the symbols in the array.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the adjustment is a single oversized wildcard symbol that substitutes for at least two adjacent symbols in the array.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol occupies an entire column of the array.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol increases the winnings normally paid for any winning combinations.
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol doubles the winnings normally paid for a winning combination.
20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the oversized wildcard symbol triples the winnings normally paid for a winning combination.
21. A method according to claim 14 wherein the feature comprises an animation that takes a random path across the display and wherein the trigger event occurs when the animation crosses at least one predetermined area in the display.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the animation is a simulated race between a set of competitors whereby the player selects a competitor to win the race and wherein the trigger event occurs if the selected competitor wins the race.
23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the animation is a lion that runs through the display screen in a random fashion and wherein the trigger event occurs when the lion jumps through a flaming hoop positioned at a predetermined location on the screen.
24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the animation is a character which flies around the display screen.
25. A method according to claim 21 wherein the animation appears at the conclusion of each single operational cycle of the game.
26. A method according to claim 21 wherein the animation is present on the screen whenever the game is operating.