GB2591242A

GB2591242A - Ball dispensing mechanism for arcade games

Info

Publication number: GB2591242A
Application number: GB2000869.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Rutherford Martin
Original assignee: Racing Bug Uk Ltd
Current assignee: Racing Bug Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-21
Filing date: 2020-01-21
Publication date: 2021-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-21
Also published as: GB202000869D0; WO2021148789A1; GB2591242B

Abstract

A ball dispensing mechanism (5, Figure 5) for an arcade game is provided. The dispensing mechanism automatically dispenses balls 16 from a rotating turret 10 positioned centrally, between a player's legs. The rotation allows balls 16 to be dispensed for both left-handed and right-handed player.

Description

Ball Dispensing Mechanism for Arcade Games

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a device for dispensing balls to a player for a ball based arcade game.

Ball based arcade games require balls to be supplied or returned to players such that multiple shots, bowls or puts can be undertaken as part of the game play.

Many existing games supply balls to a single location, requiring them to be manually picked up and placed by the operator/player. Where the ball is delivered to the ground level, this requires the player to bend over for each ball placement. The requirement for manual positioning of the balls impairs the speed of the game and reduces the enjoyment and the opportunity for the game to providing multiple and repetitive shots, puts or plays. Where balls are automatically placed to one location it is difficult to facilitate both a left and right handed player stance. Where the nature of the game dictates a side-on stance, such as in golf or hockey and therefore uses an angled club or stick, there is a requirement to provide balls to either the left or right hand side of the player or play area. This present invention facilitates both left and right handed players, or those who would prefer to choose the direction of stance for play. This invention facilitates players to engage balls from either a left or right handed stance from one single ball dispensing mechanism.

This could be achieved by two separate ball dispensing mechanisms serving left and right hand side independently. This invention overcomes the need for two separate dispensing systems, allowing a single dispenser to serve both left and right handed stance players.

The present invention allows a single ball dispensing mechanism (5) to be employed to dispense balls to either the left or right hand side of the player. The mechanism may be mounted centrally on the machine, residing in-play between the player's feet and legs. It can rotate, either via manual or powered action such that the outlet for the ball is facing to either left or right of the centre.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the dispensing mechanism mounted on a golf putting based arcade machine.

Figure 2 shows the mechanism rotated such that balls (16) are dispensed to the right hand side (B) of the play area allowing the player to stand astride the dispenser and play the balls with a right handed stance.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the mechanism mounted on a golf putting based arcade machine. It shows the centralised position of the ball dispensing mechanism (5) facilitating the rotation of the turret (10) to allow balls (16) to be dispensed to either the left (A) or right (B) side of the play area.

Figure 4 shows the mechanism rotated such that balls (16) are dispensed to the left hand side (A) of the play area allowing the player to stand astride the dispenser and play the balls with a left handed stance.

In figure 1 the turret (10) containing the dispensing mechanism extends through the playing surface (30) of the machine. The turret (10) is central in the player standing area. The ball (16) is dispensed above and onto the playing surface (30), the machines effective floor level, via an outlet (14). In this example, figure 1 shows a manually operated handle (12) on the top of the turret (10) enacting its rotation from left to right. In alternative embodiments the rotational movement of the turret (10) could be powered. The turret (10) contains a ball dispensing path (18) and outlet (14) which rotate with the handle (12) and turret (10). In this example, rotational stops (34) restrict the travel of the turret (10) such that it will not rotate beyond the ideal feed direction for both left or right handed feeds.

Balls (16) are automatically, mechanically fed to and through the turret (10) in accordance with the game function. The dispensing mechanism ensures balls (16) are presented in the perfect location to be played. There is no requirement for the player to handle the balls (16). By being mounted centrally in the playing surface (30) the turret (10) resides between the legs and feet of the player in either stance and causes no obstacle to either the stance or the resulting natural travel of the club! stick.

The invention allows left and right handed play to be achieved, at the user's discretion from a single ball feed/return mechanism.

Figures 5 & 6 show a cross sectional view of the apparatus, which for convenience, shows the turret (10) and thus outlet (14) rotated to a central position rather than to its normal operating positions of either to the left (A) or right (B).

The turret (10) is mounted extending through the playing surface (30). The turret (10) is mounted on 2 bearings (20) which allow it to rotate relative to the playing surface (30). A bearing retaining shaft collar (22) retains the position of the turret. The shaft collar (22) includes a recessed channel (36) over part of its circumference. A lug (34) on the bearing housing structure runs within the channel and acts as a rotational stop to control and restrict the extent of the angle of rotation of the turret (10).

Balls (16) are supplied to the mechanism via a delivery path (28). The delivery path (28) is inclined such that the balls (16) travel under gravity. A motor driven star drive (26) provides a drive for the balls (16) to continue along and up the turret path (18) through the turret (10).

The delivery path (28) joins the turret path (18) via a simple rotational coupling (24), which allows the turret path (18) to rotate relative to the delivery (28) path whist retaining the queue of balls (16).

References Numbers for Drawings S. Ball Dispensing Mechanism 10. Turret 12. Handle 14. Outlet / Hole 16. Ball(s) 18. Turret Path 20. Bearing 22. Shaft collar 24. Rotational coupling 26. Star Drive 28. Delivery path 30. Playing Surface 32. Bearing Mounting 34. Lug (Rotational Stop) 36. Recessed Channel (in the shaft collar)

Claims

CLAIMS1. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) for an arcade game having: a. a receiving portion for receiving a ball to be dispensed; b. an outlet (14) for allowing a ball received to be dispensed from the mechanism (5), wherein c. said dispensing mechanism (5) is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis X and rotatable between a first position in which it dispenses a ball to a first side (A) and a second position in which it dispenses a ball to a second side (B) opposite to said first side.
2. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to claim 1 for an arcade game which automatically dispenses balls (16) from a rotating outlet (14) positioned centrally, between the player's legs allowing balls (16) to be dispensed for both left and right handed players.
3. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to claim 1 in which balls (16) are automatically dispensed
4. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to claim 1 in which the ball outlet (14) can rotate in order to deliver balls to either the left (A) or right (B) hand side of the mechanism.
S. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to claim 1 whereby the centrality of mounting allows it reside between a players feet and legs in a natural stance and cause no obstacle to the natural travel of the club / stick in either a left or right handed stance.
6. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims which facilitates players to engage the dispensed balls (16) from either a left or right handed stance.
7. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which an integrated handle (12) facilitates the manual rotation of the turret (10) and thus the direction of delivery of the balls (16) to the player.
8. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which the rotation of the turret (10) and thus the direction of delivery of the balls (16) is actuated either manually or powered.
9. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which balls (16) are supplied to a motor driven star drive along an inclined delivery path via gravity.
10. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which balls (16) are driven via star drive (26), to follow an upward path, via a simple rotational coupling (24) to a outlet (14) which is above the playing surface (30) and which can be rotated to alter the direction and thus position of delivery of the balls (16) to the player.
11. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which the ball delivery turret (10) is mounted through the playing surface on 2 bearings (20) acting to both support the turret (10) and to facilitate its rotation.
12. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which the ball delivery turret (10) is retained by a shaft collar (22) positioned between the 2 bearings.
13. A ball dispensing mechanism (5) according to any of the proceeding claims in which the retaining shaft collar (22) includes a recessed channel (36) over part of its circumference. A lug on the bearing housing structure runs within the channel and acts as a rotational stop to control and restrict the extent of the angle of rotation of the turret (10).