| Amusement device of skill and lottery -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Amusement device of skill and lotteryRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Aerial Projectile Game; Game Element (e.g., Target, Etc.) Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Target, With Support Having Both Target And Movable Mechanical Projector Attached Thereto, Projector Universally PivotsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070018407. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to amusement games such as those found in arcades and the like, and more particularly to a coin-operated arcade game with a target hitting portion and a lottery-like random reward portion. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Arcade games that measure a player's skill and luck are well known in the art. The present inventor is also the inventor and owner of many popular games found in today's' arcades. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,272,082, entitled "Coin Projecting Amusement Device," discloses an amusement device wherein coins may be controllably deposited by the player on a playing surface having a multiplicity of surface interruption means thereon. A vertical dam translates over at least a portion of said playing surface and pushes said deposited coins against a random pattern of accumulated coins, causing some of said accumulated coins to fall over an edge into a collecting and counting means. This game is marketed and sold under the trademark "Wedges and Ledges." U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,248, also invented by the present inventor, discloses an amusement game where coins are dropped onto a flat surface over which a vertical dam is horizontally translated. The vertical dam translates over a portion of the flat surface and drops a certain of the accumulated coins over the edge. As the coins drop over the edge, they are collected in a counting chute to be synchronously counted in a memory which is then unloaded to vend out a corresponding number of tokens. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,585 also discloses an amusement apparatus in which a player controls a pushing device to push items off of a playing field. A moveable surface is driven in a first pre-determined path and the pusher device is moveable in a linear path traverse to the path travel of the moveable surface. A delivery passage at one end of the path of the pusher device is arranged to deliver any item swept off the surface to a retrieval bin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,045 is directed to an amusement device comprised of a pair of spaced apart elongate members defining a track, and a rolling member for rolling along that track under control of an operator. The elongate members are spaced a fixed distance apart at their first ends since this ends comprising since this end comprising the normal home position of the rolling member. The opposite, second ends of the elongate members are moveable relative to one another to adjust their spacing and to control the movement of the rolling member along the track. The operator controls the separation of the elongate member so that the rolling member can roll from its home position to the opposite end of the track without falling between the opening separating the elongate members. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,865 discloses a rotary arcade game including a turn table having a central aperture. Prizes are positioned on the surface of the turn table and moved by a pivoting arm member operated by the player. The player attempts to manipulate an arm member to push prizes into a collection pocket where they are detected and dispensed to the player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,374 is directed to a crane game using a vacuum to selectively pick up prizes within a bin. The prizes are arrayed on a rotating turn table, and the player manipulates a vacuum pick up device linearly along a radial direction of the turn table to pick up prizes below. U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,429 discloses another crane game using a video screen for displaying images. A maneuverable sensor contacts the display screen to select prizes displayed thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,519 discloses an arcade game including a directing mechanism for aiming a game piece such as a token. U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,881 discloses a crane game with a prize redistribution mechanism for dispersing prizes to a substantially level configuration. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,001 discloses a vacuum crane game with targets having beaded portions that vary the difficulty of acquiring said targets. [0005] Each of the above-identified games are part of an art of amusement devices that have been invented by the present inventor. The present invention is another in the line of games and amusement devices from the inventor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention is an arcade-type coin operated game wherein a coin or token is placed in a downwardly inclined and gravity driven chute that propels the token down the chute toward a target. The end of the chute is aimed at a first window or repository corresponding to a failed attempt. That is, if a token is placed in the chute and the token under the influence of gravity rolls down the chute with its path uninterrupted, the token will travel straight into the first window or repository resulting in a failed attempt, ending the game. A second window or repository is located above the first window, and corresponds to a successful or "win" attempt. That is, if token is placed in the chute and then deflected upward into the second window, the player then enters a lottery phase of the game wherein a random reward is assigned. The successful deflection altering the path of the token leaving the chute can be achieved, for example, by a passing a series of ramps across the path of the token so that if timed properly, a token can strike the ramp as it passes by to deflect the token over the fail window and into the success window. The ramps are preferably fixed to a rotating turn table such that the ramps periodically pass before the chute in their circular travel around the turn table. [0007] In the lottery phase of the game, a successful deflection of the token into the win slot is sensed by a sensor, causing a ball to be released from a holding position onto a cycloidal, downwardly spiraling track. The ball rolls down the spiral track until the ball leaves the track and enters a rotating playing field. The rotating playing field includes a number of holes that are sized to receive the ball, such that when the ball enters the rotating playing field it will randomly fall into one of the holes. If each hole is assigned a different point value, then the lottery aspect of the game is accomplished by the ball falling into a random hole, and the player is awarded a reward corresponding to a value associated with the hole. [0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cut-away view of the coin chute and rotating turn table of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating a successful attempt to strike a ramp with a token and pass the ramp into the "Win" window; [0011] FIG. 3A is the cut-away view of the coin chute and rotating turn table of FIG. 2 illustrating an unsuccessful attempt to strike a ramp with a token leading the token to pass through the "Lose" window; [0012] FIG. 3B is an enlarged, profile view of the turn table and peripheral lip illustrating a coin bouncing over the lip into the "Lose" window; [0013] FIG. 3C is an enlarged, profile view of the turn table and peripheral lip illustrating a ball being kept on the turn table surface by the lip; [0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of the turn table illustrating the scoring holes and ramps; and [0015] FIG. 5 is a top view of the turn table along with the helical ramp and ball entering the turn table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an arcade game employing features of the present invention. The game 10 generally includes a housing 13 including three distinct compartments, a playing area compartment 12 enclosed by panels such as transparent front pane 14, rear wall 16, a side wall 18, and a top cover 20. Below the playing area compartment 12 is a storage compartment 22 housing a motor (not shown) for driving a turn table 24 as well as serving as a utility storage area. Access to the storage compartment 22 is available through a door 26 with a lock 28 to secure the contents of the storage compartment 22. The third compartment 30 houses the coin activation mechanism 32 as is known in the art, and a redemption ticket dispensing mechanism 34. The coin activation mechanism 32 includes two coin return buttons 36 and a coin return slot 38. The redemption ticket dispensing mechanism 34 includes a slot 40 through which tickets are dispensed to a player and a lock 42 for securing the contents of the ticket dispenser. [0017] The game is played by placing a coin, token, or other playing piece that either rolls or slides down an incline (hereafter referred to as a token). A chute 44 extends from the playing area compartment 12 through the front pane 14 to define an outer portion 46 and an inner portion 48. A player can place a token 50 in the outer portion 46 of the chute 44 which is sized to receive the token with clearance to allow the token to freely roll down the chute. The inclined orientation of the chute 44 causes the token 50 to roll down the chute into the playing area compartment 12 via the inner portion 48. The chute 44 terminates at the opposite end of a rotating playing field 52 on the turn table 24 having radially oriented ramps 54 disposed on the periphery of the playing field 52 at regular angularly spaced intervals such as every thirty (30) degrees. The playing field 52 constantly rotates about the axis of rotation 56 during the playing of the game, causing the ramps 54 to continuously circle past the chute's distal end 55 and in front of two repositories described below. [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the cooperation of the chute 44, the token 50, and the ramp 54. The chute 44 may be aligned diametrically across the playing field 52 and secured at the center, i.e., the axis of rotation 56, so that the chute 44 will be stationary as the game is played. Alternatively, the chute 44 may be secured to the playing field 52 at a location slightly off center from the axis of rotation 56 causing the chute 44 (and particularly the distal end 55) to oscillate back and forth as the playing field 52 rotates. The chute 44 may also be flexible in construction, permitting the player an opportunity to aim the chute to the left or right by pressing against the outer portion 46 of the chute against the point fixed on the playing field 52, which tends to "bow" or flex the chute and alter the path of the token. A combination of using a flexible chute along with an off-center point of coupling to the playing field 52 adds considerable skill and challenge to the game over the fixed chute. U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,519 by the present inventor is illustrative of the type of chute herein described, and is fully incorporated herein by reference. [0019] As further shown in FIG. 2, a token 50 placed in the chute 44 will roll down the chute and contact the rotating playing field 52. The momentum of the token 50 will carry it to the edge 58 of the playing field 52, where it may or may not encounter a deflector such as a ramp 54 depending on the timing of the token's arrival in conjunction with the rotation of the ramps along the periphery of the playing field 52. The rotation of the ramps intermittently position the ramps along the token's trajectory. For the condition shown in FIG. 2, the token 50 arrives in a timely manner and strikes a ramp 54 at the periphery of the playing field 52. The ramp 54 redirects the token 50 from its original path upward (as indicated by arrows 53) toward a fixed, elevated window or token repository 60 having a sensor such as an optical sensor for example (not shown) for sensing the acquisition of a token 50. The successful timing of the token's arrival with the ramp's intersection along the token's path, causing the token to be deflected by the ramp 54 into the elevated repository 60, is deemed a "Win" in terms of the object of the game. A "Win" can be achieved by placing the token 50 into the slot 49 at the appropriate moment (and/or altering the shape of the chute when a flexible chute is employed) so that it will arrive at the periphery of the playing field 52 coinciding with the appearance of a ramp to deflect the coin upward--a skill that can be refined with practice. Continue reading... Full patent description for Amusement device of skill and lottery Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Amusement device of skill and lottery patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Amusement device of skill and lottery or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method of and apparatus for playing a card game Next Patent Application: Hydrodynamic brush seal Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Amusement device of skill and lottery patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.3583 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error |
||
