JP2006006493A - Knob cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knob cover which improves the operability of a game start switch in a slot machine. <P>SOLUTION: The game start switch has an operating lever 11 swingably provided in a manner that makes it project forward from the front panel of the slot machine, and a nearly spherical operating knob 12 attached to the tip of the operating lever 11. The operating knob 12, a knob cover 14 having a nearly circular external form larger than the external form of the operating knob 12 is attached to the operating knob 12 as if to entirely cover. Consequently, the external form of the operating knob 12 as a handle becomes larger, making the game start switch 10 easy to operate and very operable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a knob cover that covers an operation knob of a game start switch in a slot machine.

  Multiple reels are rotated by operating the game start switch, each reel is sequentially stopped by operating each stop button corresponding to the multiple reels, and a predetermined number of sheets depending on the combination of symbols when all reels are stopped There is known a slot machine (so-called “pachislot machine”) that pays out medals and the like (see Patent Document 1).

  The game start switch includes an operation lever swingably provided so as to protrude forward from the front panel of the slot machine, and a substantially spherical operation knob attached to the front end of the operation lever. On the other hand, the rear end of the operation lever is a detection piece (not shown) that switches between the ON state and the OFF state of the switch, and this detection piece is connected to a control circuit device having a central processing unit inside the slot machine. is doing.

Therefore, when the player swings the operation knob at the front end of the operation lever, the information from the detection piece is sent to a control circuit having a central processing unit, and based on this, processing for rotating each reel is performed. Can be started.
JP 2002-000804 (Claim 1, FIG. 1)

  By the way, normally, the operation knob has a small spherical shape with a diameter of about 25 mm to 30 mm made of plastic or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that the surface is smooth and slippery, and the size of the operation knob is small, resulting in poor operability. In particular, in recent years, the number of female game users has increased, and the number of young women in their teens and 20s as well as middle-aged and older is increasing. Moreover, as a trendy fashion in recent years, there are many cases where young women draw a picture or a pattern on a long nail, called nail art, or wear a long artificial nail on a nail of a hand. In particular, with such a long nail, the problem that the conventional operation knob is easy to slide and particularly difficult to operate has been remarkable. Further, when the operation knob is operated with a finger, the artificial nail may be accidentally damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a knob cover that can improve the operability of a game start switch in a slot machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the knob cover according to claim 1 is attached so as to cover the operation knob of the game start switch for starting the game of the slot machine, and has an outer shape larger than the outer shape of the operation knob. Features.

  The knob cover according to a second aspect is the knob cover according to the first aspect, wherein the knob cover is formed in a hollow shape, and an inner surface of the knob cover is formed of an elastic member and has a contact portion that comes into contact with the operation knob. It is characterized by that.

  The knob cover according to claim 3 is the knob cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an outer surface of the knob cover is provided with an anti-slip portion for preventing the finger from slipping when the operation knob is operated with the finger. It is characterized by having.

A knob cover according to a fourth aspect is the knob cover according to the third aspect, wherein the anti-slip portion is made of a flexible member.
The knob cover according to a fifth aspect is the knob cover according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the knob cover includes a first divided portion and a second divided portion, and the first divided portion. A convex portion is formed at a predetermined portion in contact with the second divided portion in the portion, and a concave portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the convex portion of the first divided portion in the second divided portion, and the first divided portion The convex portion and the concave portion of the second divided portion are configured to be engageable with each other.

  A knob cover according to a sixth aspect is the knob cover according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the knob cover is provided with a mounting portion to which an advertisement medium visible from the outside is attached. Features.

  According to the present invention, the operability of the game start switch in the slot machine can be improved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the knob cover of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall implementation of the knob cover of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a game start switch 10 for starting a game of the slot machine 1 is provided at a substantially central height position of the front panel 2 of the slot machine 1 and on the left side thereof. .

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a configuration of the game start switch 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the game start switch 10 includes an operation lever 11 that is swingably provided so as to protrude forward from the front panel 2 of the slot machine 1, and an abbreviation attached to the tip of the operation lever 11. And a spherical operation knob 12. A step plane 13 is formed at the boundary between the operation lever 11 and the operation knob 12. Further, a knob cover 14 having a substantially elliptical outer shape larger than the outer shape of the operation knob 12 is attached to the operation knob 12 so as to cover the entire operation knob 12. The game of the slot machine 1 is started by swinging the operation knob 12 to which the knob cover 14 is attached.

  3 is an exploded perspective view of the game start switch 10, and FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the knob cover 14 as viewed from the rear. As shown in FIG. 3, the knob cover 14 of this embodiment includes an upper cover 15, a lower cover 16, a connecting member 17 that connects and fixes the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16, and an advertising member that is attached to the front surface of the connecting member 17. 18.

  The front portion of the upper cover 15 is formed as a half cylinder portion 21 having a bottom portion 19 at the front end, while the rear portion of the upper cover 15 is formed as a cup portion 22. A locking hole 23 is formed through substantially the center of the outer periphery of the half cylinder portion 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a flange 24 having a half ring shape is formed inward at the rear end edge of the cup portion 22. Further, a locking claw 25 is formed on the half edge which is the lower end of the flange 24 so as to protrude downward at two positions which are symmetrical by 180 degrees with respect to the center o of the lower end side of the flange 24. The claw portion 26 at the lower end of the locking claw 25 protrudes rearward. Further, a rubber cushion 27 (see FIG. 2) that abuts the operation knob 12 is attached to the inner surface of the cup portion 22. Further, a cushion 28 made of a flexible member such as a sponge for preventing slipping when the knob is operated is attached to the outer surface of the cup portion 22.

  On the other hand, the upper edge shape of the lower cover 16 is the same as the lower edge shape of the upper cover 15. The structure of the lower cover 16 is substantially the same as that of the upper cover 15, and as shown in FIG. 3, the front side portion of the lower cover 16 is formed as a half cylinder portion 32 having a bottom 31 at the front end. The rear portion of the cover 16 is formed as a cup portion 33. A locking hole 34 is formed through substantially the center of the outer periphery of the half cylinder portion 32. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the flange 35 which makes | forms a half ring shape is formed inward at the rear-end edge of the cup part 33 (refer FIG. 4). Further, in the vicinity of the upper portion of the flange 35, a locking hole 36 for locking with the locking claw 25 (claw portion 26) of the upper cover 15 is provided when the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 are assembled. The two locking claws 25 (the claw portions 26) of 15 are formed through two positions. Further, a locking groove 40 having a rectangular shape in front view that engages with a portion other than the claw portion 26 of the locking claw 25 of the upper cover 15 is formed on the half edge of the flange 35 so as to continue to the locking hole 36. Is formed. Further, convex portions 37 are formed on both side portions of the front end of the cup portion 33 so as to protrude upward. Note that concave portions (not shown) into which these convex portions 37 can be fitted are recessed and formed on both sides of the front end of the cup portion 22 of the upper cover 15. Further, a rubber cushion 38 (see FIG. 2) that abuts the operation knob 12 is attached to the inner surface of the lower cover 16.

  When the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 configured as described above are assembled so that the lower end edge of the upper cover 15 and the upper end edge of the lower cover 16 are brought into contact with each other, the half cylinder portions 21, 32 and The outer peripheral edges of the cup portions 22 and 33 are smoothly and integrally formed, and the flanges 24 and 35 are formed as the same plane. The locking claw 25 (claw portion 26) of the upper cover 15 is locked to the locking groove 40 and the locking hole 36 of the lower cover 16, and the convex portion 37 of the lower cover 16 is fitted with the concave portion of the upper cover 15. To do. Thereby, the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 are temporarily fixed. The front view shape of the hole 41 formed at the center of the flat surface 39 formed by integrating the rear end surfaces of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 is larger than the outer diameter of the operation lever 11, and the operation lever 11, the operation knob 12, and the like. It is smaller than the step plane 13.

  The connecting member 17 is a lid member that covers the front ends of the half cylinder portions 21 and 32 of the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16, and the front ends (front surfaces of the bottom portions 19 and 31) of the half cylinder portions 21 and 32. It has a disk-shaped flat portion 42 that abuts. A rear annular projecting piece 43 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flat portion 42 so as to protrude rearward. Similarly, a front annular projecting piece 44 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flat portion 42 so as to protrude forward. The rear annular protrusion 43 and the front annular protrusion 44 are smoothly continuous without having a boundary at the outer peripheral edge of the flat portion 42. The rear end edge shape of the rear annular protrusion 43 is the same as the front end edge shape of each cup portion 22, 33 when the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 are assembled. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, locking claws 45, 46 can be locked to the locking holes 23, 34 formed in the half cylinders 21, 32 of the upper and lower covers 15, 16 on the flat surface portion 42. Two corresponding positions project from the front to the rear. Note that the claw portion 47 at the tip of the upper locking claw 45 protrudes downward, and the claw portion 48 at the tip of the lower locking claw 46 protrudes upward.

  Therefore, when the connecting member 17 is assembled so that the flat surface portion 42 is brought into contact with the front ends of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 (the front surfaces of the bottom portions 19 and 31), the cup members 22 and 33 of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 are removed. The front-side annular protrusion 44 and the rear-side annular protrusion 43 are integrated into a continuous shape. Then, the locking claws 45 and 46 (claw portions 47 and 48) of the connecting member 17 are locked in the locking holes 23 and 34 of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16. Thereby, the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 are more firmly connected from the temporarily fixed state.

  A disc-shaped advertising member 18 made of resin or plastic on which a predetermined advertisement is printed is attached to the front surface of the flat portion 42 of the connecting member 17. The configuration of the knob cover 14 has been described above. Since the outer shape of the operation knob 12 as a handle is increased by attaching the knob cover 14 so as to cover the operation knob 12, the operation as the game start switch 10 can be performed. It is easy to do and has an excellent operability.

  Next, a procedure for attaching the knob cover 14 configured as described above to the operation knob 12 will be described. First, the upper cover 15 is placed from above so as to cover the operation knob 12. Next, the lower cover 16 is inserted from below so that the lower end edge of the upper cover 15 and the lower end edge of the lower cover 16 are brought into contact with each other, and is assembled to the upper cover 15. At this time, the lower cover 16 is slid from the rear to the front, and the locking claw 25 (claw portion 26) of the upper cover 15 is first locked to the locking groove 40 and the locking hole 36 of the lower cover 16, After locking, the convex portion 37 of the lower cover 16 is fitted to the concave portion (not shown) of the upper cover 15 so that the front portion of the lower cover 16 is lifted from the bottom to the top. Thus, the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 are temporarily fixed at the rear ends.

  A hole 41 formed at the center of a flat surface 39 formed by integrating the flanges 24 and 35 of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 is larger than the outer diameter of the operation lever 11 and the step between the operation lever 11 and the operation knob 12. It is smaller than the plane 13. Therefore, even when the entire knob cover 14 is subjected to a forward force, the front surface of the flat surface 39 abuts against the stepped flat surface 13 to prevent further forward movement, so that the knob cover 14 is removed. Can be prevented. In addition, elastic rubber cushions 27 and 38 are provided on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16, respectively, and the rubber cushions 27 and 38 abut against the outer periphery of the operation knob 12 to press the operation knob 12 from above and below. wear. Therefore, the knob cover 14 attached to the operation knob 12 is stably fixed to the operation knob 12 without spinning around the operation knob 12.

  Next, the connecting member 17 is assembled from the front so that the flat portion 42 abuts the front ends of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 (front surfaces of the bottom portions 19 and 31). At this time, as described in detail above, the locking claws 45 and 46 (claw portions 47 and 48) of the connecting member 17 are locked in the locking holes 23 and 34 of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16. And the lower cover 16 are connected by a connecting member 17. Thereafter, the advertising member 18 is attached to the front surface of the flat portion 42 of the connecting member 17 from the front. The advertising member 18 may be attached to the front surface of the flat portion 42 in advance.

  According to the configuration and the attaching method of the knob cover 14, it can be easily attached to the existing operation knob 12. Moreover, when removing, it can remove simply by removing the connection member 17 first, and separating the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 after that by the reverse procedure. Therefore, for example, when the knob cover 14 is damaged or dirty, it is very easy to replace the knob cover 14.

According to the knob cover of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the knob cover 14 is attached so as to cover the operation knob 12, the outer shape of the operation knob 12 as a handle becomes large, the game start switch 10 can be easily operated, and the operability is excellent. it can.

  (2) Since the knob cover 14 includes the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 that can be fitted to each other, the knob cover 14 can be easily attached to and detached from the operation knob 12 and can have a highly compatible configuration. That is, it is possible to easily correspond to the existing operation knobs 12 of various sizes.

  (3) Since a cushion 28 made of an elastic member such as sponge is attached to the outer periphery of the cup portion 22, slipping when operating the operation knob 12 with a finger is prevented, and the operability is further improved. It can be configured. In particular, for a player who has an artificial nail, the operation knob alone is slippery as a slippery, but according to the present embodiment, the operation is difficult to slip and easy to operate.

  (4) Further, since the cushion 28 is an elastic member such as a sponge, the touch when touching the operation knob 12 is good, and the operational feeling can be improved. In addition, for a player wearing an artificial nail, there is little possibility that the artificial nail will be accidentally damaged when the operation knob 12 is touched with a finger.

  (5) Since elastic rubber cushions 27 and 38 are provided on the inner surfaces of the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16, the knob cover 14 attached to the operation knob 12 rotates around the operation knob 12. And can be stably fixed to the operation knob 12.

  (6) The upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 include the locking claw 25 (claw portion 26) of the upper cover 15 and the locking hole 36 of the lower cover 16, the convex portion 37 of the lower cover 16, and the concave portion of the upper cover 15. By the respective locking or fitting with (not shown), the temporarily fixed state is brought about at the rear end. Therefore, the structure which can be divided | segmented can be implement | achieved easily and at the rear end (by the latching by the latching claw 25 (claw part 26), the latching groove 40, and the latching hole 36) at least, the upper and lower covers 15 , 16 is restricted from moving up and down, and the subsequent assembling work of the connecting member 17 can be easily performed.

(7) Since the advertisement member 18 on which a predetermined advertisement is printed is attached to the front surface of the flat portion 42 of the connecting member 17, the advertisement content can be visually recognized from the front.
The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment (another example) as follows.

In the above embodiment, the advertisement member 18 may not be provided.
The knob cover 14 does not have a splittable member (upper cover 15 and lower cover 16), and may be an integrally molded product.

In the above embodiment, the rubber cushions 27 and 38 attached to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 may be omitted.
-Or it may replace with rubber cushions 27 and 38 and may comprise other elastic members, such as sponge and a spring.

  Furthermore, a double-sided tape may be provided on the inner side of the rubber cushions 27 and 38 and used together. In this case, since the double-sided tape sticks the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 and the operation knob 12, the upper and lower covers 15 and 16 can be fixed to the operation knob 12 more stably.

In the above embodiment, the cushion 28 attached to the outer surface of the upper cover 15 may not be provided.
In the above embodiment, the cushion 28 is made of sponge as an example, but may be made of a flexible member such as rubber.

  In the above embodiment, the upper cover 15 and the lower cover 16 can be divided into upper and lower parts, but the knob cover 14 may be divided into right and left parts. In this case, the left and right upper and lower covers can be fitted from the side.

  In the above embodiment, the lower cover 16 is assembled to the upper cover 15, but this procedure may be reversed. That is, the lower cover 16 may be attached so as to cover the lower portion of the operation knob 12 with one hand and the upper cover 15 is placed on the lower cover 16.

The disassembled perspective view of the game start switch of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a configuration of a game start switch. The disassembled perspective view of a game start switch. The partial exploded perspective view which looked at the knob cover from back.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine, 2 ... Front panel, 10 ... Game start switch, 11 ... Operation lever, 12 ... Operation knob, 13 ... Step level plane, 14 ... Knob cover, 15 ... Upper cover (first division part), 16 ... Lower cover (2nd division part), 17 ... Connection member, 18 ... Advertising member (advertisement medium), 19, 31 ... Bottom part, 21, 32 ... Half cylinder part, 22, 33 ... Cup part, 23, 34 ... Locking hole 24, 35 ... flange, 25 ... locking claw (convex part), 26 ... claw part (convex part), 27, 38 ... rubber cushion (contact part), 28 ... cushion (slip prevention part), 36 ... engagement Stop holes (concave portions), 37 ... convex portions, 39 ... flat surfaces (planes formed by integrating the flanges 24 and 35 of the upper and lower covers 15 and 16), 40 ... locking grooves (concave portions), 41 ... holes, 42 ... Planar part (mounting part), 43 ... Rear annular protrusion, 44 ... Front annular protrusion, 5,46 ... locking claw, 47, 48 ... the claw portion.

Claims (6)

A knob cover which is attached so as to cover an operation knob of a game start switch for starting a game of a slot machine and has an outer shape larger than the outer shape of the operation knob. The knob cover according to claim 1, wherein the knob cover is formed in a hollow shape, and an inner surface of the knob cover includes an abutting portion made of an elastic member and abutting against the operation knob. The knob cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an outer surface of the knob cover has an anti-slip portion for preventing the finger from slipping when the operation knob is operated with the finger. The knob cover according to claim 3, wherein the anti-slip portion is made of a flexible member. The knob cover includes a first divided portion and a second divided portion,
A convex portion is formed at a predetermined portion in contact with the second divided portion in the first divided portion,
A concave portion is formed in a portion corresponding to the convex portion of the first divided portion in the second divided portion,
The knob cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the convex portion of the first divided portion and the concave portion of the second divided portion are configured to be engageable with each other. The knob cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the knob cover is provided with an attachment portion to which an advertisement medium visible from the outside is attached.

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