AU636524B2

AU636524B2 - Reserving device

Info

Publication number: AU636524B2
Application number: AU10245/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gary Douglas Bell; James Douglas Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-16
Filing date: 1992-01-16
Publication date: 1993-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-16
Also published as: AU1024592A

Description

3 6524 /:00/011 Regulation 3. 2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 S S 0 *550 S*

S.

S

COM P L ET E SP E CI F IC A TIO0N FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S

5O S S S. S Name of AppIi cants, Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT JAMES DOUGLAS BELL AND GARY DOUGLAS BELL JAMES DOUGLAS BELL AND GARY DOUGLAS BELL JOHN R. G. GARDNER, PO BOX 443, MUDGEERABA OLD 4213 RESERVING DEVICE Invention ti -le: 551 so* a 0 0 THIS INVENTION relates to a reserving device, particularly applicable to coin operated machinery, such as poker machines.

In the common form of poker machines a coin or similar token is inserted into the machine through a coin receiving slot and either a lever is depressed or buttons operated so as to actuate the machine after coin receipt. In many instances persons using such machines prefer to keep playing the one machine with the hope that a jackpot will result. If the person playing the machine is called away from the machine for some purpose they normally wish to reserve the machine for continued usage. In thc past the procedure has been to upturn a cup in the coin return tray, however, this has not proved particularly effective, especially to persons who are unaware 15 of this technique. Additionally it is sometimes difficult for a person to locate a machine that they have previously been 9*e4 playing.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages by providing a reserving device which may be used with a machine, such as a poker machine to indicate that such a machine has been reserved. The present invention also aims to provide a reserving device which carries identifying means. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

25 With above and other objects in view the present 9 invention provides a reserving device for a machine of the type having an insertion slot for a coin or the like such as a poker machine, said device including a planar insertion member, said member having substantially linear side edges and a thickness 9 9 less than the thickness of said slot whereby said member may be received in said slot, and an identifying means, said identifying means being connected to said insertion member, and means for limiting movement of said insertion member into said slot.

In one form, the identifying means is connected to the insertion member via flexible link means. Preferably the identifying means is a planar member marked with an identifying symbol or the like and the flexible link means comprises a chain.

Suitably, the limiting means includes stop means defining a transverse enlargement for co-operation with the slot.

In an alternative form, the identifying means comprises an enlarged head connected rigidly to the insertion member, the enlarged head limiting movement of the insertion member into the slot. Alternatively, the stop means may comprise a stop for example a laterally extending stop fixed to or formed integrally with said insertion member. The identifying means preferably comprises a planar member and preferably a discshaped member.

Most preferably, the identifying means is formed integrally with the insertion member.

The insertion member also preferably includes a substantially linear leading edge extending between, and being substantially normal to said side edges which also extend 20 substantially parallel to each other.

The present invention also provides in combination a machine of the type having an insertion slot for a coin or the like such as a poker machine and a reserving device of the type described above.

25 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a reserving device according to one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the reserving device; Fig. 3 illustrates the reserving device of the invention operatively associated with a poker machine; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the manner in which the reserving device is inserted into a coin slot; Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative form of reserving device according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative reserving device according to the present invention; and Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the insertion members of each identifying device are received within a coin slot, Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. I and 2 there is illustrated a reserving device 10 according to the present invention including an insertion member 11 which is apertured at 12 for receipt of one end of a chain 13, and an identifying member 14 secured to the opposite end of the chain 13. The insertion member 11, as also shown in Fig. 2, is of generally planar form, having a width and a thickness "T" e g.

no greater than the maximum width and thickness respectively 0 15 of a coin or token to be inserted into a coin or token receiving slot so that the insertion member 11 can be neatly inserted therein to occupy the coin slot as described further below. The identifying member 10 may carry any identifying material, such as the name of the person using the device, or alternatively or additionally may include advertising material.

In use and as snown in Figs. 3 and 4 the insertion member 11 of the device 10 is inserted into a coin or token receiving slot 15 of a poker or other machine 16 so that the identifying member 14 hangs therefrom and is clearly visible and so that the insertion member 11 blocks the coin slot The connection of the chain 13 to the member 11 defines a stop S to prevent the member 11 passing into the machine by abutting against the edges 17 of the coin slot 15. Thus where a person 0 leaves a machine the reserving device 10 may be used as above and should another person wish to use the machine the coin slot will be blocked by the insertion member 11 so that the person is aware that the machine is reserved.

In an alternative embodiment the member 11 may be provided with separate abutment means in the form of, say an outwardly extending pin 18 (see Fig. 5) which will prevent the insertion member 11 passing into the machine. The abutment pin 18 may of course be substituted by any enlargement on the member 11, for example, an integral portion of the member 11 pushed out of its normal plane. The connecting element 13 may comprise any flexible element, such as string or cable and the identifying member 14 may be of planar or any other form.

Referring now to Fig. 6 there is illustrated an alternative simplified form of reserving device 19 according to the present invention which includes a planar insertion member 20 of similar dimensions and form to the member 11 of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 and including in this instance an enlarged planar head portion 21 of disc-like form which serves as an identifying member and which may include any suitable identifying markings. The head 21 has a width larger than the width of the coin slot so as to engage the top edge of the slot 15 in use and limit movement of the member 20 into the coin slot 15. Alternatively or additionally the member 20 or head 21 may be provided with a stop such as a pin 18 of the type shown in Fig. 5 or an integrally formed enlargement for this purpose.

Fig. 7, illustrates the relationship of the insertion member 11 or 20 to the coin slot 15 and associated coin receiving chute 22. It will be seen that the insertion member 11 or 20 is restrained from passing into the machine by engagement with the upper edge 17 of the coin slot 15, either through the enlarged width provided by the chain 13 at its connection to the member 11 or the enlarged head 21 associated with the insertion member 20. The width and thickness "T" of the insertion member 11 or 20 are smaller than the 66646: corresponding dimensions of the slot 22 so as to be neatly receivable therein. Preferably the insertion member 11 or is only slightly smaller than the width of the slot 22 so that excessive sideways or rocking movement of the member 11 or does not occur. This is further enhanced by having the opposite side edges of the members 11 and 20 substantially parallel to each other as shown.

In one particular preferred form the width of the members 11 and 20 is substantially the same as or slightly 6 smaller than the diameter, and the thickness of, a five cent coin so as to be receivable in a coin slot of a five cent, ten cent, twenty cent, fifty cent, and one dollar machine.

Alternatively the member 11 or 20 may be made in a number of different sizes to suit machines which take different coins so as to have a width and thickness substantially the same or slightly less than the width and thickness of a coin to be received in a machine.

The insertion members 11 and 20 are preferable formed of metal or alternatively may be formed of plastics material.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 it will be readily apparent that both the insertion member 20 and identi'ying means 21 will be formed of the same material.

^Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative 15 embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A reserving device for a machine of the type having a insertion slot for a coin or the like such as a poker machine, said device including a planar insertion member, said member having substantially linear side edges and a thickness less than the thickness of said slot whereby said member may be received in said slot, and an identifying means, said identifying means being connected to said insertion member, and means for limiting movement of said insertion member into s d slot.

2. A reserving device according to Claim 1 wherein said identifying means is connected to said insertion member via flexible link means.

3. A reserving device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said limiting means includes stop means defining a transverse enlargement for co-operation with said slot. 20

4. A reserving device according to claim 1 wherein said identifying means comprises an enlarged head connected rigidly to said insertion member.

5. A reserving device according to claim 4 wherein said 25 identifying means comprises a planar member. good

6. A reserving device according to claim 4 or claim wherein said identifying means is disc-shaped.

7. A reserving device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said identifying meap is formed integrally with said insertion member.

8. A reserving device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said insertion member includes a substantially linear leading edge extending between, and being F_ 4s substantially normal to said side edges. 8

9. In combination, a machine of the type having an insertion slot for a coin or the like such as a poker machine and a reserving device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, said insertion member of said device being located within said slot.

A reserving device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. In combination, a machine of the type having an insertion slot for a coin or the like such as a poker machine and a reserving device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this sixteenth day of' February 1993 JAMES DOUGLAS BELL GARY DOUGLAS BELL BY OUR PATENT ATTORNEY JOHN R.G. GARDNER t S i ABSTRACT to** St A reserving device (19) for use with coin operated machinery, such as a poker machine, having a, coin insertion slot the reserving device (19) having a planar tongue S portion (20) which may be inserted into the slot (15) and a identifing portion which may comprise an enlarged head (21) formed integrally with the insertion portion (20) or attached thereto by a chain (13) so as to prevent movement of the insertion portion (20) into the slot (15) beyond a certain s extent. S 0 0