GB2223179A - Game - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanical game comprises a cabinet 10 including a moveable articulated arm 16 having operable gripping means at a free end thereof, movement of the arm 18 and operation of the gripping means being achieved by operation of remote control means 16, 17 by a player, allowing the movement of articles 19 within the cabinet 10 and performance of other tasks in accordance with the rules of the game by the skill and judgement of the player. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Game The present invention relates- to a game and in particular to a mechanical game including a remotely controlled, articulated arm.

The particular games of interest are arcade type games such as those found in funfairs or amusement arcades in which the game is activated by the insertion of coins or tokens into the machine which sets the game running for a pre-determined period of time, the object of the game being to win a prize which is dispensed by the machine.

Previously proposed games of this type have included a crane device moveably mounted over a box containing many prizes, the crane being provided with a grab device which descends into the prizes, performs a grabbing operation and then returns anything held in the grab to a dispensing point. However, the only skill and judgement involved in this type of game is the initial positioning of the crane as the lowering of the grab and the operation of the grab is purely automatic.

It is an objeccf the present invention to provide a game in which the player can use skill and judgement to attempt to select one of a number of possible prizes and attempt to move this to a dispensing area.

The object of the invention is achieved by the incorporation-of a remotely controlled moveable arm in a game cabinet, the skill and judgement of the player teing used to operate the arm to achieve the object of the game.

In accordance- with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical game device, comprising a cabinet including a moveable articulat'ed arm having operable gripping means at a free end thereof, movement of the arm and operation of the gripping means being achieved by operation of remote control means by a player, allowing the movement of articles within the cabinet and performance of dther tasks in accordance with the rules of the game by the skill and judgement of the player.

Preferably, the game will include the steps of selecting a prize from a pile of prizes, and grasping the selected prize with the gripping means and moving the prize to a dispenser where it can be released.

Typically, a time limit is set for he performance of the game and the cabinet will preferably include a device for showing the~remaining time to the player.

Conveniently, the arm will be sufficiently articulated and moveable to allow access to all parts of the cabinet.

Movement and actuation of the arm and of the gripping means can-be achieved by any suitable method such as electric motors, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators tc. For simplicity and ease of maintenance, electric motors can be used. A drive can be taken from the motors by any suitable means such as gears, belt and drive wheels1 rack and pinion, screw, worm and tooth wheel etc. Furthermore control can be effected by the use of stepper motors, electric or mechanical sensors.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the drive is transmitted from electric motors by toothed drive belts and clutches may be provided in the transmission system to release drive if an obstruction is encountered.

The gripping means preferably comprises a pair of moveable jaws which can be opened and closed as desired. It is also prefered that means are provided such that the jaws can grip an article securely enough for the article to be lifted. Where operation of the jaws is by electric motor, it is preferred that means are provided to prevent overload of the motor when an object has been gripped.

In a partidularly preferred embodiment, the jaws are driven by a rack and pinion system, reciprocating movement of the rack being effective by drive from an electric motor by a screw arrangement. When an object has been gripped, drive is transferred from the jaws to operate a switch against the influence of a spring to stop the motor.

The construction of the arm should be robust enough to be unaffected by repeated contact with the game cabinet and the drive mechanism must be provided with clutches or cutoff means to prevent permanent damage should obstructions be encountered.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a game according to one aspect of the present invention, Figure 2 is a detailed side view of the arm shown in figure 1, Figure 3 is a detailed view from the opposite side shown in Figure 2 and, Figure 4 is an overhead plan view of the arm shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figure 1, the game comprises a cabinet 10 including an upper portion 11, having an open front covered

by a perspextscreen, and a base portion; 12 incorporating a coin or token slot 13 and a dispensing apperture 14.

A control panel 15 is located on the front of the upper portion 11 below the screen and a pair of joystick -contr'ols--16, 17 are mounted thereon. Within the upper portion 11 are provided a moveable arm assembly 18 which is operably connected to the joysticks 16,17, a plurality of small articles (prizes) 19, a dispensing shute 20, which is connected to the apperture 14 and a time indicator 21.

The back panel 22 of the upper portion may contain video screens or other devices for use in the game.

The arm assembly 18 will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 4. The assembly 18 comprises a bas 23 having a first electric motor 24 mounted therein and driving a turntable 25 mounted on top of the base 23 by a first tooth belt 26. A main chassis 27 is mounted on the turntable 26 and has second and third electric motors 28,29 mounted thereon. The second and third motors each drive respective drive shafts 30, 31 by respective tooth belt arrangements 32, 33. Clutches 34, 35 are provided on each drive shaft 30, 31, to disconnect the drive should an undue resistence been encountered.

The arm itself comprises two sections 36,37. The first section 36 is pivotally mounted on a first cross shaft 38 mounted on the chassis 37. A-second cross shaft 39 is provided at the end of the first section 36 and the second section 37 is pivotally mounted thereon. A grab mechanism 40 is provided at the free end of-the second section: 37.

Pivotting of the first section 36 is effected'by a tooth belt arrangement 41 from the first drive shaft 30. A further tooth belt arrangement 42 takes drive from the second drive shaft 31 by a free rotating wheel 43 on the first cross shaft 38 to the second cross shaft 39, this drive being used to pivot the second section 37. It will be appreciated that operation of the third motor 29 will only cause pivotting of the second section 37 relative to the first section 36. However, operation of the second motor 28 will cause pivotting of the first section 36 relative to the chassis 27 and pivotting of the second section 37 relative to the first section 36 unless the third motor 29 is operated to compensate for this.

The grab mechanism 40 mounted on the second section 37 comprises a pair of opposed jaws 44 mounted on respective toothed wheels 45. A toothed pinion is provided between the wheels 45, sliding-movement of the pinion 46 causing rotation of the-wheels 45 and hence opening and closing of the jaws 44. The drive mechanism for the pinion 46 comprise-s a fourth electric motor 47 driving through a gear arrangement 48 to a-hollow primary shaft 49.- A secondary shaft 50 is mounted in the hollow primary shaft 49 and caused to rotate therewith by means of lugs engaging in slots in the primary shaft 49. However, the secondary shaft 50 is free to move axially relative to the primary shaft 49.The secondary shaft 50 passes through a bearing 51 mounted on the second section 37, a frusto conical member 52 being fixed on the secondary shaft 50 between the primary shaft 49 and the bearing 51 and a compression spring 53 is provided around the secondary shaft 50 between the member 52 and the bearing 51. A threaded bolt 54 extends from the pinion 46 and engages in a correspondingly threaded bore in the secondary shaft 50. Rotation of the secondary shaft 50 causes the overall length of the shaft 50 and the bolt 54 to lengthen or shorten so causing sliding movement of the pinion 46 and opening or closing of the jaws 44.

A lug projects from the side of the pinion 46 and micro switches are placed adjacent the member 52 and the lug.

In use, operation of the motor 47 causes rotation of the first and second shafts which in turn causes the bolt 54 to be pushed out of or drawn into the secondary shaft 50 and hence operates the pinion 46 and opens or closes the jaws 44. When the jaws 44 are fully opened, the lug engages the micro- switch and prevents:the motor 47 from continuing to open the jaws 44. When the jaws 44 are completely closed or are gripping an object, further movement of the pinion 46 is prevented and continued rotation of the primary shaft causes the secondary shaft to be drawn onto the bolt 50. This continues against the -effort of the spring 53 until the edge of the member 52 engages the micro switdh and prevents the motor 47 from operating further in that direction.

The game shown in figure 1 is started by insterting a coin or token into the slot 13 and operating the arm 18 by the joysticks 16, 17 so as to collect an article 19 and deposit it into the shoot 20. The time is shown on the indicator 21. Other actions may be necessary depending upon the particular game concerned but it will be apparent that the game includes and element of skill by which the player can select the prize of choice. Changes can be made to the required operations without departing from this principle.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A mechanical game device, comprising a cabinet including a moveable articulated arm having operable gripping means at a free end thereof, movement of the arm and operation of the gripping means being achieved by operation of remote control means by.a player, allowing the movement of articles'within the cabinet and performance of other tasks in accordance with the rules of the game by the skill and judgement of the player.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tasks include the steps of selecting a prize from a pile of prizes, and grasping the selected prize with the gripping means and moving the prize to a dispenser where it can be released.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein means are provided for imposing a time limit for the performance of the'tasks and the cabinet includes a device for displaying the remaining time to a player.

4. -A-device as claimed in any-preceding claim, wherein the arm is sufficiently articulated and moveable to-allow access to all parts of the cabinet.

5. A device as claimed inany preceding claim, wherein movement and actuation of the arm and of the gripping means is achieved by electric motors or pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein electric motors are used, drive being taken from the motors by belts and drive wheels.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gripping means comprise a pair of moveable jaws which can be opened and closed as desired, means being provided such that the jaws can grip an article securely enough for the article to be lifted.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein means are provided to limit the amount of grip of the jaws.