GB2207869A - Skill machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A skill machine (10) includes a cabinet (11) having a window (16), a target area (17) having individual targets (18) and a first member (21) movable above the area (17) and a second member (22) movable from the first member towards the target area (17), a control device (24) enabling a user to control movement of the two members whereby the second member (22) can actuate a target to win a prize. Preferably, the first member comprises a carriage (21) and the second member a weight (22) depending from it. The weight (22) may carry a spike (23) which can be engaged in a target hole (18) to trigger a switch. Alternatively, the first member may be a telescopic cantilever arm and the second member a pivotable rod. <IMAGE>

Description

SKILL MACHINE This invention relates to a skill machine. It is an object of the invention to provide a skill machine which can be a versatile base for a number of different "games" and which has good amusement value for the user.

Accordingly the invention provides a skill machine including a cabinet, a viewing window for a user, a target area within the cabinet including one or more targets, a first member movable above the target area and a second member movable from the first member towards the target area, and control means operable by the user to control the position of the first member above the target area and to initiate movement of the second member from the first member towards the target area.

The first member can be supported by movable structure within the cabinet.

The movable structure can be a cantilever arm telescopically movable radially and also pivotally to any desired position above the target area.

Preferably however, the structure includes a pair of rails, a gantry movable along the rails and a carriage movable along the gantry. The carriage can constitute the second member and can be in the form of a winch adapted to lower the second member towards the target area and raise it therefrom.

Instead of a winch arrangement the first member can carry a raisable and lowerable rod or arm, movable vertically or pivotally from a raised to a lowered position.

As a further alternative, the first member could drop a first member towards the target area and recover it.

The targets can be of any convenient form and adapted to indicate a "hit" to the user and to machine circuitry in many different ways. For example, each target could be a switch member actuable by the lowered second member.

Alternatively, the target area can have a number of apertures as targets and the second member could include a probe which in the case of a "hit" enters a hole and activates a switch.

The machine can be "dressed" in many ways to represent various games. Usually, the targets will be different, with "harder" targets being accorded higher prizes. For example, for a "bombing" game the target area could be formed and/or coloured to represent a town or battlefield, the first member made to represent an aircraft and the second member made to represent a bomb.

As a second example, the target area could be divided into discrete illuminable regions, and one or more of the regions illuminated in sequence or at random and for brief or longer times, the user having to "hit" a lit target.

As a third example, particularly if the second member were a pivotable rod or arm, the target area can be designated as fish or provided with model fish or fish mouths, the operator trying to guide a "hook" on his "rod" (the second member) towards a desired "fish". Various sizes and/or types of fish could be indicated and their target apparatus made easier or harder as appropriate.

The "prize" awarded for acquisition of a target can be a gift or novelty, but preferably is in the form of cash, the more difficult targets paying the larger prizes.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred machine of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig.l; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a playing arena of the machine.

A preferred machine (10) of the invention comprises a generally rectangular cabinet 11 having a front wall 12, side walls 13 and a back wall 14. An upper half portion of each of front wall 12, and side walls 13 is a transparent window 16. The top of the cabinet constitutes an illuminating light box 15.

The volume of the cabinet provided by the window 16 constitutes a playing arena. A base of the arena is flat and constitutes a target area 17 being marked to have a number of targets 18. In the embodiment they are shown as a matrix of regions in seven rows and seven columns, however they can have any convenient form.

Each target 18 is in the form of an aperture in the base of the arena, beneath which is a switch (not shown) connected to machine circuitry.

Spaced above the target area 17 is a support structure in the form of a pair of parallel rails 19 bridged by a gantry 20 along which a first member in the form of a carriage 21 can travel. Carriage 21 supports a second member in the form of a weight 22 connected by a line to a wind-in carriage 21. Weight 22 carries a spike 23 which can penetrate a target hole to activate a "prize" switch.

There is a control 24 by means of which a user can influence the mechanism. The control 24 can take the form of a series of buttons, or a joystick and can control the machine in many different ways. However, in this preferred method, the machine and circuitry are such that when a coin or coins has been inserted, the gantry 20 commences to move from the front towards the rear of the cabinet. When the user presses the control for the first time the gantry 20 stops and the carriage 21 starts to traverse the gantry 20.

When the control is pressed a second time the carriage 21 stops and the winch is operated to lower the second member 22. If the user has actuated the control at the appropriate times, the probe 23 enters a target hole, activates a switch and a prize dispense arrangement (not shown and of conventional form) dispenses a prize to the user in cash or kind.

Naturally, the user will try to "hit" the targets with greater prize value. The machine will be constructed to make this more difficult by having smaller targets, or making the carriage or gantry move more quickly near more desirable targets.

As mentioned in the introduction hereto, the basic machine can be "camouflaged" to enable several different "games" to be played.

The invention is not limited to the foregoing, and variations can be made thereto within the scope of the invention.

For example, the cabinet can have any convenient shape, the support and moving mechanism can have any convenient form and the targets can be of any convenient shape or form. A "hit" can be determined electrically provided that signals indicating the probe position and the target position are generated and compared.

Claims (19)

1. A skill machine including a cabinet, a viewing window for a user, a target area within the cabinet including one or more targets, a first member movable above the target area and a second member movable from the first member towards the target area, and control means operable by the user to control the position of the first member above the target area and to initiate movement of the second member from the first member towards the target area.

2. A skill machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member is supported by movable structure within the cabinet.

3. A skill machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable structure is a cantilever arm telescopically movable radially and pivotally to place an end thereof at any desired position above the target area.

4. A skill machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the structure includes a pair of rails, a gantry movable along the rails and a carriage movable along the gantry.

5. A skill machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carriage constitutes the first member.

6. A skill machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the carriage is in the form of a winch adapted to lower the second member towards the target area and raise it therefrom.

7. A skill machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first member carries a raisable and lowerable rod or arm, movable vertically or pivotally from a raised to a lowered position.

8. A skill machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first member is adapted to drop a first member towards the target area and recover it.

9. A skill machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each target is adapted to indicate a "hit" to the user and to machine circuitry.

10. A skill machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein each target is or includes a switch member actuable by the lowered second member.

11. A skill machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the target area has a number of apertures as targets and the second member includes a probe which in the case of a "hit" enters a hole and activates a switch.

12. A skill machine as claimed in any preceding claim and dressed to represent a game.

13. A skill machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the targets are different, with "harder" targets being accorded higher prizes.

14. A skill machine as claimed in claim 13 and dressed to represent a "bombing" game, the target area being formed and/or coloured to represent a city or battlefield, the first member being made to represent an aircraft and the second member made to represent a bomb.

15. A skill machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the target area is divided into discrete illuminable regions, and one or more of the regions illuminated in sequence or at random and for brief or longer times, the user having to "hit" a lit target.

16. A skill machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the target is designated as a fish or provided with a model fish or fish mouths, the operator trying to guide a second member in the form of a "hook" on his first member in the form of a "rod".

17. A skill machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein various sizes and/or types of fish are indicated and their target apparatus made easier or harder as appropriate.

18. A skill machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the "prize" awarded for acquisition of a target can be a gift or novelty, but preferably is in the form of cash, the more difficult targets paying the larger prizes.

19. A skill machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.