JP2002355422A - Operation button-attaching structure for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely recognize an operation button even when the pressing operation of the operation button from a front surface is enabled, to eliminate pressing errors and to reduce the burdens of a button operation. SOLUTION: During a game, in the case that lending balls and prize balls remain few inside a tray 20 and hitting balls become only a few, the pressing part 32 of a ball lending button 28 is pressed and the lending balls are replenished. A left hand is kept in the state of holding an upper tray 26 without moving it so much, the thumb on the front surface 16B of the upper surface 16 is abutted to the ball lending button 28 disposed on the front surface of the upper tray 16 and the ball lending button 28 is naturally pressed. The pressing parts 32 and 34 of the operation buttons 28 and 30 arranged on the front surface 16B of the upper tray 16 are hard to see from a player, however, display parts 36 and 38 arranged on the side of the upper surface 16A of the upper tray 16 are visible when the player just lowers the line of sight, the operation buttons 28 and 30 whose display parts 36 and 38 are attached to exposed upper surfaces are easily confirmed and the pressing parts 32 and 34 of the operation buttons 28 and 30 continued to the exposed upper surfaces are pressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as C
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for an R operation button.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko machine (CR machine) playing a game using a prepaid card, two buttons, a ball lending button and a return button, are prepared as CR operation buttons (switches). When the prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot of the ball lending machine and the ball lending button is pressed, the lending ball is lent out from the ball lending machine to the ball plate. When the return button is pressed, the prepaid card is pulled out from the card insertion slot and returned.

[0003] The ball plate is provided below the game board and protrudes forward. As described above, lending balls are lent out in the plate recessed on the upper surface of the ball plate, and in addition, prize balls are paid out. The balls are launched and fired by rotating the handle, and the hitting force is adjusted according to the turning position of the handle. To continue the launch, the player must always hold the handle.

[0004] The handle is generally arranged at the lower right of the front of the pachinko machine. During the game, the player sits on a chair and continues to hold the handle with his right hand. The left hand is
It is relatively free, and the operation of the ball lending button is performed with the left hand.

By the way, in order to aim and shoot a specific portion of the game board, it is necessary to make the hitting force of the shooting ball the same, and it is desired to hold the steering wheel with a stable right hand. Therefore, the player needs to stabilize the posture. Therefore, the left hand is often attached to a ball plate, and the weight of the upper body is often distributed and shared between the chair and the pachinko machine.

In grasping the ball bowl of the left hand, the palm is placed along the edge of the bowl so that the fingertips of the four fingers except the thumb face the bowl of the bowl, and the thumb is placed on the front of the bowl. In addition to being able to stabilize the posture, the player can feel the prize balls paid out into the plate with the left hand and the falling state of the loaned ball to be borrowed, and at any time with the fingers inside the plate so that the so-called ball does not occur. Or rectify the flow of the ball.

[0007] On the other hand, during the game, since the number of shot balls is running short, there are many cases where it is desired to replenish loan balls. Even in such a case, when operating the ball lending button, the left hand wants to keep the ball dish held for the above-described reason.

Here, the following structure for mounting the operation button is conventionally known.

[0009] As an example, there is one in which an operation button is arranged on the upper surface of a bowl. It is not easy to make the left thumb abut the operation button on the upper surface of the ball dish while the left hand is holding the ball dish and the thumb of the left hand is placed in front of the ball dish. Nevertheless, forcibly extend the thumb to the top of the ball plate and press the operation button on the side of the thumb, or change the left hand holding the ball plate and press the operation button with your thumb or other finger There is only. As a result, an unreasonable posture is formed, and the burden on the left hand increases. Mistakes in pressing the ball lending button and the return button may cause a malfunction, and it takes time and effort to change the grip. There are various problems. Although not a CR operation button, Japanese Patent No. 2562736 discloses a structure in which an operation button related to a variable winning prize ball device is installed on an upper surface of a ball dish.

[0010] As another example, there is one in which operation buttons are arranged on the front of a bowl. According to this, it is easy for the thumb of the left hand to touch the operation button while the left hand is holding the bowl. However, the bowl is opposed to the player from the chest position to the vicinity of the abdomen position. The operation buttons to be arranged on the front of the bowl are difficult for the player to see. The position of the operation button is not known, and the ball lending button and the return button may be pressed incorrectly.

In some cases, the front face of the ball dish is tapered so that the front face of the ball dish is hung downward from the top and retracted to the back side (the front face of the ball dish is inclined downward). When the operation buttons, the names of the operation buttons, and the explanations of the operation buttons are on the front of the bowl, it is difficult for the player to visually recognize the operation buttons and the display contents of the operation buttons. Therefore, there is a limit in the selection of the design, for example, the design of a ball dish having such a shape is inevitable.

[0012]

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention allows the operation buttons to be pressed from the front, so that the operation buttons can be recognized with certainty, mistaken pressing can be avoided, and the burden of button operation can be reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine operation button mounting structure that reduces the number of operation buttons.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine, comprising: A lending ball is lent out and a prize ball is paid out in a dish recessed in the ball, and the ball in the dish is attached to the ball dish in the operation button mounting structure of the gaming machine which is fired on the game board by operating the handle. An operation button is provided, the operation button is exposed on the front surface of the bowl, and the exposed portion is a push section for operating the operation button. The push section is provided on the upper surface side of the bowl corresponding to the push section. And a display unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation button mounting structure for a game machine according to the first aspect, wherein the operation button is also exposed on the upper surface of the ball tray.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation button mounting structure for a game machine according to the first aspect, wherein the operation button is not exposed on the upper surface of the bowl.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation button mounting structure for a game machine according to the second aspect, wherein the portion of the operation button exposed on the outer surface of the ball tray is adjacent to the outer surface of the ball tray. And a different tactile means having a different tactile sensation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation button mounting structure for a game machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, further comprising a related means for visually or tactilely associating the pressing portion with the display portion. It is characterized by the following configuration.

According to the above arrangement, a lending ball is lent to the ball plate, a prize ball is paid out, and the ball in the plate is fired on the game board by operating the handle.

Although not limited to the following,
A case will be described where the gaming machine is a CR machine compatible with prepaid cards, the operation button is a CR operation button composed of two buttons, a ball lending button and a return button, and the handle is gripped with the right hand. .

Pressing the push button of the ball lending button rents out the rental ball into the ball tray, and pushing the push button of the return button returns the prepaid card.

The player keeps holding the handle with his right hand during the game. The left hand grasps the ball plate so that the fingertips of the four fingers except the thumb face the plate of the ball plate, and the thumb is placed on the front of the ball plate. As a result, the posture is maintained, and a stable right hand handle grip is obtained. At the same time, you can feel the prize ball paid out into the plate with your fingertip other than the left thumb facing the plate, the falling state of the loaned ball to be borrowed, and at any time with your finger in the plate so that the so-called ball does not occur It can regulate the flow of a sphere.

During the game, if the number of balls to be loaned or prize balls remains in the dish and the number of balls to be shot becomes small, the pressing portion of the ball lending button is pressed to replenish the ball for lending. As described above, the thumb of the left hand is on the front of the bowl with the left hand holding the bowl. The left hand keeps the ball tray in a gripped state without significant movement, and the thumb on the front of the ball tray can easily touch the ball rental button on the front of the ball tray and press the ball rental button.

The pressing portion of the operation button is difficult to see from the player. However, the display section on the upper surface side of the bowl can be seen only by the player tilting his / her line of sight downward, so that the operation buttons can be easily checked and the pressing section of the operation buttons can be pressed.

If there is a display on the front of the bowl, the player must move his body and look into the display. In the present invention, since the display unit is on the upper surface side of the bowl, it is not necessary to move the body as if looking in.

Even if the operation of pressing the operation button can be performed from the front, the operation button is surely recognized and there is no mistake in pressing the operation button. The burden of button operation is reduced. It can be operated naturally and quickly.

The front surface of the ball dish is not required to be vertical,
An object that is inclined downward can also exert the effects of the present invention, and the degree of freedom in selecting a design increases.

As the display section, characters for ball lending and return, or pictograms meaning them can be used. Claim 2
In the configuration in which the operation button is exposed on the upper surface of the bowl, the display unit can be provided on the exposed upper surface of the operation button. It is needless to say that the operation button may be provided on the upper surface of the ball dish in the vicinity thereof instead of the exposed upper surface. In the configuration of claim 3,
The display unit is provided on the upper surface of the bowl.

In the configuration in which the operation buttons are exposed also on the upper surface of the bowl, the operation buttons can be partially recognized, so that the operation buttons can be recognized with certainty and the pressing portion of the operation button can be pressed. Can be.

If a protrusion such as embossing is provided on the pressing portion of the operation button, the pressing portion can be easily pressed.

In the configuration of the fourth aspect, the different touching means may be one in which the exposed portion of the operation button is level with respect to the outer surface of the bowl, and a step is formed. By touching with a hand, it can be confirmed that it is an operation button, and the pressing portion of the operation button can be surely pressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the portion where the push portion is located and the portion where the display portion is located are integrally formed as a step surface which is higher or lower than a portion adjacent to the portion. Tactile things are possible. Alternatively, a visual part in which the part where the push part is located and the part where the display part is located is integrally different in color from the color of the part adjacent to those parts and has a common color is possible. is there.

The display section is tactilely or visually associated with the pressing section of the operation button by a step surface or color to obtain a sense of unity with the operation button as if it were a part of the operation button. Therefore, even if the operation buttons are not exposed to the upper surface of the ball dish and the operation buttons themselves are difficult to see for the player,
The same effect as that in the case of claim 2 can be obtained in which the operation buttons are exposed on the upper surface of the ball tray and a part of the operation buttons are visible to the player. That is, the operation button can be reliably recognized, and the pressing portion of the operation button can be pressed.

[0033]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the first embodiment, the gaming machine is a CR machine compatible with a prepaid card, and the operation buttons are composed of two buttons, a ball lending button and a return button.
The R operation button relates to a button whose handle is gripped by the right hand. The same applies to other embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As the operation buttons, other than the CR operation buttons, for example, operation buttons related to variable winning can be used.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the pachinko hall, the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending machine are arranged such that the ball lending machine 12 corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 is located on the left side of the pachinko machine (game machine) 10. 12 are alternately arranged.

The pachinko machine 10 includes an upper plate 16 (ball plate) and a lower plate 18 below the game board 14, and a prize ball is paid out of a prize ball dispensing device in the plate 20 of the upper plate 16. Issued,
A lending ball is lent out from the ball lending machine 12, and an overflow ball when the inside 20 of the upper plate 16 is full and a foul ball of a hit ball fired by the player are paid out to the inside 22 of the lower plate 18. It has become. A handle 24 is provided on the right side of the lower plate 18. By rotating the handle 24, balls in the plate 20 of the upper plate 16 are sequentially hit and fired. The hitting force corresponds to the turning position of the handle 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper plate 16 projects from the left side of the pachinko machine 10 to the right end thereof, and projects from the near side of the pachinko machine 10, and the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 hangs from the left end to the center. And it is made into the dish 20. When viewed from above, the left side of the dish 20 is wide, the right side is narrow, and the center is gradually narrowed from left to right. The bottom of the dish 20 is shallow on the left side and deeper on the right side. The prize ball and the rental ball are located in the opening 2
6 and enter the dish 20 and flow down the dish 20 from left to right to sequentially reach the firing position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface 1 of the upper plate 16 is substantially
6A is a flat surface slightly lowered toward the near side, and the front surface 16B on the near side is a vertical surface. Returning to FIG. 1, the portion of the upper surface 16 </ b> A of the upper plate 16 on the near side of the inside 20 of the plate is narrow and has a bank shape. A ball lending button 28 and a return button 30 are located slightly to the left of the center of the upper plate 16 in the left-right direction.
Operation buttons (operation switches) that make up two CR operation buttons
28 and 30 are provided. The ball rental button 28 is on the left,
The return button 30 is on the right side and is spaced apart. In each case, the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 and the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16
(Across the corner between the front surface and the upper surface), and is continuously exposed to the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 and the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16. Operation button 28,
The portions exposed on the front surface 16 </ b> B of the upper plate 16 are push portions 32 and 34. Operation buttons 28, 30 Upper plate 16
The display portions 36, 38
, A button name, “ball rental”, and “return” are attached. When the push portions 32, 34 of the operation buttons 28, 30 are pushed in from the near side to the back (in the direction of arrow A), the operation buttons 28, 30 are activated.

As shown in FIG. 8, the prepaid card 40
Is inserted from the card insertion slot 42 of the ball lending machine 12 and the pressing portion 32 of the ball lending button 28 is pressed, the lending ball is
Is rented out to the inside of the dish 20. Push part 34 of return button 30
Is pressed, the prepaid card 40 is inserted into the card slot 4
Withdrawn from 2 and returned.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

A ball to be lent is lent to the inside 20 of the upper plate 16, and a prize ball is paid out. The ball in the plate 20 is fired on the game board 14 by rotating the handle 24.

When the pushing portion 32 of the ball lending button 28 is pressed, the lending ball is lent to the inside of the upper plate 16 and the return button 30
By pressing the pusher 34, the prepaid card 40 is returned.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the player sits on a chair, and while holding the game, keeps holding the handle (FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) 24 with his right hand. It is directed to ten game boards 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the left hand is
The fingertips of the four fingers except the thumb face the inside of the dish 20 of the upper plate 16, the thumb is placed on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16, and the palm is placed on the upper plate 1
The upper plate 16 is gripped so as to straddle the bank-like portion 16C on the near side of the inside 20 of the plate 6 in FIG. As a result, the posture is maintained,
A stable right hand handle grip is obtained. At the same time, you can feel the prize balls paid out into the dish 20 with your fingertips other than the left thumb facing the dish 20 and the falling state of the loaned balls to be borrowed, or use your finger at any time to prevent the so-called ball from appearing. 2 of them
The flow of a sphere of 0 can be rectified.

During play, if the number of balls to be loaned or prize balls remains in the dish 20 and the number of balls to be shot becomes small, the pushing portion 32 of the ball lending button 28 is pressed to replenish the balls to be loaned. As described above, the thumb of the left hand is on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 with the left hand holding the upper plate 16 as described above. As shown in FIG.
The left hand holds the upper plate 16 in a gripped state without significant movement, and the thumb on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 cannot contact the ball lending button 28 on the front surface of the upper plate 16 and press the ball lending button 28. Can be eliminated. The operation buttons 28 and 30, especially the ball lending button 28, are arranged in such a position that the thumb of the left hand can be brought into contact with the left hand of the player while holding the upper plate 16 with the thumb extended. .

The operation button 2 on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16
The push portions 32, 34 of 8, 30 are difficult to see from the player.
However, the display units 36, 3 on the upper surface 16A side of the upper plate 16
4B, as shown in FIG. 4B, the player can see the line of sight only by tilting the line of sight downward as indicated by the arrow C from the state of FIG. Can be confirmed, and the push portions 32, 34 of the operation buttons 28, 30 following the exposed upper surface can be pressed.

If there is a display on the front of the upper plate, the player must move his body and look into the display. In the first embodiment, since the display units 36 and 38 are on the upper surface 16A side of the upper plate 16, there is no need to move the body as if looking in.

The pressing operation of the operation buttons 28 and 30
Operation button 2
8, 30 are reliably recognized, and there is no mistake in pressing the operation buttons 28, 30. The burden of button operation is reduced.

The display unit is not limited to characters, but may be pictograms or the like meaning them. Also, the display unit is shown in FIG.
As shown in the display units 44 and 46 in the modified example shown in FIG. 1, the operation buttons (ball lending button 28A and return button 30A) may not be provided on the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 in the vicinity thereof. . This can be similarly applied to a second embodiment described later.

In the above-described embodiment, the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 is assumed to be substantially a vertical surface. However, the one inclined downward can also exert the above-mentioned effects. The degree of freedom in selecting a design increases.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the exposed portions of the operation buttons (ball lending button 50, return button 52) exposed on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 and the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 correspond to the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 and the upper plate 16. A step is formed so as to be retracted with respect to the upper surface 16A, and this constitutes a touching means. That is, the exposed front surfaces of the push portions 54 and 56 and the exposed upper surface of the display portions 58 and 60 are lower than the outer surface of the upper plate 16. The push portions 54 and 56 of the operation buttons 50 and 52 are embossed or the like, and fine projections 62 and 64 are formed.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, since there is a step, the step is touched with the hand and the operation button 50, 5
2 can be confirmed and identified, and operation buttons 5
The pushing parts 54 and 56 of 0 and 52 can be pushed. In addition,
Although the exposed front surfaces of the push portions 54 and 56 and the exposed upper surfaces of the display portions 58 and 60 are lower than the outer surfaces 16A and 16B of the upper plate 16, they may be higher.
It is only necessary that the height be changed. Other means are possible as long as the different touching means can be identified by the touch.

According to the projections 62, 64 of the push portions 54, 56 of the operation buttons 50, 52, the push portions 54, 56 can be easily pushed. Such protrusions can be formed on the pressing portions 32 and 34 of the operation buttons 28 and 30 of the above-described first embodiment. Similar effects are achieved.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, at a position corresponding to the operation buttons (ball lend button 70, return button 72), the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 and the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 are crossed.
The rectangular surface bent so as to straddle the corner is the upper plate 1
6, is lowered relative to the other portions of the outer surfaces 16A, 16B,
Step surfaces (tactile related means) 82 and 84 are formed. The operation buttons 70 and 72 are provided on the front surface 16B of the upper plate 16 of the step surface 82.
The pressing portions 74 and 76 are exposed at portions corresponding to
The portion corresponding to the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 of the step surfaces 82 and 84 is not exposed. Upper plate 1 for step surfaces 82 and 84
The portion corresponding to the upper surface 16A of the display 6 is a portion to which the display units 78 and 80 are attached. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

According to the third embodiment, the display unit 7
8, 80 are push portions 74, 76 of the operation buttons 70, 72.
Are tactilely related to each other by the step surfaces 82 and 84 (a common touch feeling is obtained at the step surfaces 82 and 84, and a different touch feeling is obtained between the step surfaces 82 and 84 and other portions). A sense of unity with the operation buttons 70, 72 is obtained as if they were a part of the operation buttons 70, 72. Therefore,
Even if the operation buttons 70, 72 are not exposed to the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16 and the operation buttons 70, 72 themselves are difficult to see for the player, the operation buttons 28, 30 are exposed to the upper surface 16A of the upper plate 16. As a result, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, the operation buttons 70,
72 can be recognized, and pressing portions 74 and 7 of the operation buttons 70 and 72 can be recognized.
6 can be pressed.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

In the third embodiment, the related means is the tactile related means constituted by the step surfaces 82 and 84.
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the related means are visual related means. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the area corresponding to the step surfaces 82 and 84 of the third embodiment is not the step but the outer surface 1 of the adjacent upper plate 16.
Different colored surfaces 94 and 96 (shaded portions in FIG. 7) are provided with colors different from the colors of the portions 6A and 16B.
In the figure, 90 is a ball lending button, and 92 is a return button. Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

Although the fourth embodiment has a difference between a tactile sense and a visual sense, basically the same operation and effect as those of the third embodiment can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, the step surface 8
2, 84 were made lower than the other parts, but it is also possible to make them higher. Further, the tactile related means and the visual related means may be other various ones other than the corresponding embodiments.

[0061]

According to the operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine of the present invention, even if the operation of pressing the operation button can be performed from the front, the operation button is reliably recognized, there is no mistake in pressing, and the burden of switch operation is burdened. Is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first operation button mounting structure of a gaming machine according to the present invention.
It is a principal part perspective view which shows embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which an upper plate is gripped by a left hand.

FIG. 3 is an essential part perspective view showing a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a view of the player in a normal game viewed from the side, and FIG. 4B is a view of the player confirming the operation buttons from the side in the first embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an overall schematic perspective view of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Gaming machine 14 Game board 16 Upper plate (ball tray) 20 Inside plate 24 Handle 28, 28A, 50, 70, 90 Ball lending button (operation button) 30, 30A, 52, 72, 92 Return button (operation button) 32 , 34, 54, 56, 74, 76 Pushing part 36, 38, 44, 46, 58, 60, 78, 80 Display part 82, 84 Step surface (related means) 94, 96 Different color surface (related means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lending ball is lent out and a prize ball is paid out in a plate recessed on an upper surface of a ball plate having a top surface and a front surface and protruding forward from a lower side of a game board. The ball in the operation button mounting structure of the gaming machine that is fired on the game board by operating the handle, the operation button is provided on the ball plate, the operation button is exposed on the front surface of the ball plate, and the exposed portion is the operation button An operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine, comprising: a pressing portion serving as an operating pressing portion; and a display portion provided on an upper surface side of the bowl corresponding to the pressing portion. 2. The operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said operation button is also exposed on an upper surface of a ball tray. 3. The operation button mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the operation button is not exposed on an upper surface of the ball tray. 4. The operation switch of a game machine according to claim 2, further comprising a different tactile means in which a portion of the operation button exposed on the outer surface of the bowl has a different tactile sensation from the outer surface of the adjacent bowl. Mounting structure. 5. The operation button mounting structure for a gaming machine according to claim 3, further comprising a related means for visually or tactilely associating the pressing section with the display section.