Amusement Machine

Abstract

An amusement machine featuring a vertically disposed playing surface wherein perforated tokens or slugs are propelled upwardly so as to descend into a plurality of slots or reservoirs. The machine includes a jackpot reservoir, a jackpot payoff slot, a predetermined number payoff reservoir, and a plurality of predetermined number payoff slots. A propelling mechanism propels only perforated tokens or slugs, and it automatically rejects and returns coins or imperforated slugs.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to amusement machines and more particularly to a novel amusement machine that accepts and propels only perforated tokens or slugs for actuating the payoff mechanisms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Coin operated pinball machines have been well known for many hears. However, such machines tend to encourage gambling by teenagers and small children. These prior art machines would reject slugs and accept only coins. Another type of amusement machine that has been introduced to the American public within the past few years has been the Japanese game "Pachinko". The Pachinko type of machine accepts and returns small metal balls that are slightly smaller than bubble gum balls. The Pachinko machines are inherently dangerous in that small children might swallow the metal balls or break their teeth on the metal balls.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement machine that is safe for small children to play.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an amusement machine that employs actuating pieces that small children would not likely place in their mouths.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel amusement device that accepts only perforated tokens or slugs and automatically rejects coins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the objects set forth above, the present invention provides a novel amusement device featuring a vertically disposed playing surface wherein perforated tokens or slugs are propelled upwardly so as to descend into a plurality of slots or reservoirs. The machine includes a jackpot reservoir, a jackpot payoff slot, a predetermined number payoff reservoir, and a plurality of predetermined number payoff slots. The propelling mechanism accepts only perforated tokens or slugs, and it automatically rejects and returns coins or imperforated slugs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional objects, advantages and characteristic features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an amusement machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the channel board of the amusement machine of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the propelling mechanism of the amusement device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the propelling mechanism of FIG. 3 taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a front elevational view of an amusement machine 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The amusement machine 10 is generally comprised of a base 11, a housing 12, a playing board surface 13, and a transparent window 14. The base 11 and the housing 12 may be made of some suitable material, such as pressed cardboard or high-impact polystyrene. The transparent window 14 may be glass or some suitable plastic material.

A propelling mechanism 15 includes a handle 16 and a token propelling arm 17 which is shown holding a token 18. The token 18 is made of a metallic material in order that it may ring a bell 38 when the player "hits" a payoff. The token 18 and all of the remaining tokens shown in the various figures of the amusement machine 10 have an open center portion. As will be discussed later in the specification, the amusement machine 10 will only accept tokens or slugs that are perforated so as to prohibit gambling. A strip of plastic 20 and the inner right side of the housing 12 forms a path 19 over which the token 18 and other like tokens may be propelled.

The playing are of the amusement machine 10 is generally comprised of a jackpot reservoir 21, a predetermined number payoff reservoir 25, a jackpot slot 31, four different two-for-one payoff slots 30, two four-for-one payoff slots 30a, and overfill slot 29, and a token receptacle 39. Mounted to the window 14 are a plurality of plastic pegs 28 that are strategically placed so as to increase the degree of skill needed to place the tokens in the various payoff slots unless the child properly depresses the handle 16 of the propelling mechanism 15. The jackpot reservoir 21 is defined by the plastic strips 22, 23 and 24, and the predetermined number payoff reservoir 25 is defined by the plurality of strips 26. The jackpot reservoir 21 and the predetermined number payoff reservoir 25 are designed to hold a maximum number of nine and 17 tokens, respectively. The tokens in the jackpot reservoir 21 are retained therein by means of a jackpot retaining pin 32 that protrudes through an opening 33 of the playing board surface 13, and the tokens in the predetermined number payoff reservoir 25 are retained therein by means of a payoff retaining pin 34 and a temporary retaining pin 36 which protrude through an opening 35 and an opening 37, respectively, of the playing board surface 13. The operation of the jackpot retaining pin 32, the payoff retaining pin 34, and the temporary retaining pin 36 will be discussed in detail in the teachings of FIG. 2 of the amusement device 10.

Referring now to FIG 2, there is shown a front elevational view of a channel board 40, which is located directly behind the playing board surface 13 of the amusement machine 10. The channel board 40 may be constructed of suitable material, such as high-impact polystyrene, and it is generally comprised of three separate channels, namely, a jackpot channel 41, a predetermined number payoff channel 42, and an overfill channel 43. The three channels 41, 42 and 43 are indentations on the channel board 40 that cooperate with the inner surface of the playing board 13 to form conduits to guide the propelled tokens. The channel board 40 further includes a jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism 44 and a predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51, both of which are rotatably mounted to the channel board 40. The predetermined number payoff channel 42 has a plurality of ranches which open up to the four different two-for-one payoff slots 30 and two four-for-one payoff slots 30a that are shown in FIG. 1. The predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51 may be rotatably mounted to the channel board 40 by conventional means, as illustrated by the mounting means 52.

The predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51 is generally comprised of a payoff reset lever 53, an opening 54, an actuating arm 55, the payoff retaining pin 34, the temporary retaining pin 36 and the openings 35 and 37 that both are shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the tokens 57 and 58 are retained within the predetermined number payoff reservoir 25 by means of the payoff retaining pin 34. When a token enters any one of the four two-for-one payoff slots 30, it will descend towards the bottom of the payoff channel 42. As shown in FIG. 2, a token 56 illustrates a token that has entered one of the two-for-one payoff slots 30. As the token 56 comes in contact with the actuating arm 55 of the predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51, the mechanism 51 will rotate in the counterclockwise direction to the position illustrated by the dashed lines, designed 51a, which represent the retaining and payoff mechanism 51 in its actuated position. The token in the dashed lines, designated by the numeral 56a, will drop into the token receptacle 39 so as to be returned to the player. At the same time, the payoff retaining pin 34 will rotate downwardly within the opening 35 of FIG. 1 and the temporary retaining pin 36 will rotate upwardly within the opening 37 of FIG. 1. The downward rotation of the pin 34 allows the tokens 57 and 58, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to drop into the token receptacle 39. The upward rotation of the temporary retaining pin 36 comes in contact with the token 58 to ensure that the tokens 57 and 58 are dropped out of the predetermined number reservoir 25. In its upward position, the temporary retaining pin 36 comes in contact with the token 59 so as to retain it and all other tokens in the payoff reservoir 25 therein. The predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51 is weighted to return to its unactuated position, and the next two tokens will descend to the positions previously occupied by the tokens designated 57 and 58. As can be readily appreciated, the tokens 57 and 58 will hit and "ring" the bell 38 as they leave the payoff reservoir 25.

Referring now to the upper center portion of the channel board 40, there is shown a payoff mechanism 68 which is rotatably mounted to the channel board 40 by conventional means, as illustrated by the mounting means 69. The payoff mechanism 68 is connected to the predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51 by means of a rod member 70. As a token enters either of the two four-for-one payoff slots 30a and comes in contact with an actuating arm 71 of the payoff mechanism 68, the mechanism 68 will rotate in the counterclockwise direction to the position illustrated by the dashed lines, designated 68a, which represent the payoff mechanism 68 in its actuated position. In turn, the rod 70 is urged upward so as to actuate the retaining and payoff mechanism 51 to release the tokens 57 and 58 from the predetermined number reservoir 25. The slot entering token will continue to descend within the channel 42 until it comes in contact with the actuating arm 55 of the predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51 to release two additional tokens from the predetermined number reservoir 25. Thus, if a token enters either of the two four-for-one payoff slots 30a, the player will receive four tokens plus the token that was propelled by the player.

The purpose for the payoff reset lever 53 is to allow the player to release two tokens at any time from the payoff reservoir 25 in case another player desires to try his luck, or the winner loses the original number of tokens that are packaged in the amusement machine 10. The opening 54 extends through the channel board 40 to be accessible to a player and it may also extend through an opening in an additional rear cover member that may or may not be included with the amusement machine 10. Thus, the player can easily obtain two additional tokens by rotating the lever 53 to its actuated position 53a.

Referring now to the left hand side of the channel board 40, there is shown a jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism 44 which may be mounted to the channel board 40 by conventional means, as illustrated by the mounting means 45. The jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism 44 is generally comprised of a jackpot reset lever 46, an opening 47, an actuating arm 48, the jackpot retaining pin 32 and the opening 33 that is shown in FIG. 1. When a token enters the jackpot slot 31, it will descend downwardly in the jackpot channel 41 until it reaches the actuating arm 48. As shown, a token 49 is resting on top of the actuating arm 44. The weight of the token 49 forces the jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction to the position illustrated by the dashed lines, designated 44a, which represent the jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism in the actuated position. The token in the dashed lines, designated by the numeral 49a, will drop into the token receptacle 39 so as to be returned to the player. At the same time, the jackpot retaining pin 32 rotates downwardly in the opening 33 of FIG. 1 so as to allow the token 50 and all of the other tokens in the jackpot reservoir 21 to fall into the token receptacle 39. Thus, the player receives the token that dropped into the jackpot slot 31 and all of the tokens that are in the jackpot reservoir 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the plastic strips 22 and 23 include serrated portions 22a and 23a, respectively. The serrated portions 22a and 23a ensure that the tokens within the jackpot reservoir 21 descend slowly enough so as to provide distinct separate ringing of the bell 38.

As in the case of the reset mechanism for the predetermined number retaining and payoff mechanism 51, the jackpot retaining and payoff mechanism 44 includes reset capabilities. The jackpot reset lever 46 may be operated from behind the amusement machine 10 by rotating it within the opening 47 of the channel board 40 to its actuated position 46a. Further shown in FIG. 2 is the overfill channel 43 which allows a token that enters the overfill slot 29 to drop directly to the token receptacle 39. For the most part, a token will not enter the overfill slot 29 unless the predetermined number payoff reservoir is completely filled with seventeen tokens.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown a front elevational view and a side elevational view, respectively, of the propelling mechanism 15 of the amusement machine 10. The propelling mechanism 15 is generally comprised of the handle 16 and a token-propelling arm 17. As shown clearly in FIG. 4, the token-propelling arm is located between the transparent window 14 and the playing board surface 13. The handle 16 and the token-propelling arm 17 may be rotatably mounted to the playing board surface 13 or the window 40 by means of conventional mounting means designated 65. The handle 16 and the token-propelling arm 17 are biased by means of a spring 66 which urges the handle 16 and the token-propelling arm 17 upwardly after they have been depressed by player. On the right hand side of the token-propelling arm 17 is a ledge 60 upon which the token 18 rests. Such tokens may be inserted into contact with the propelling mechanism by means of inserting a token through the slot 67. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the token-propelling arm also includes a reject pin 61. As the token 18 rests on the ledge 60, the reset pin is lined up with the opening of the token 18. As the token-propelling arm 17 is depressed downwardly, it rides a cam 64 which moves the reject pin 61 towards the rear of the amusement machine 10 to a new position defined by the dashed lines designated 61a. The token 18 and the ledge 60 will be in new positions defined by the dashed lines designated 18a and 60a. The handle 16 may then be released and the token 18 will be propelled upwardly through the path 19.

As may be readily appreciated, if a coin or imperforated slug is inserted into the play slot 67, and the handle 16 is depressed, the reject pin 61 will come in contact with the coin or imperforated slug as the propelling arm 17 rides down the cam 64. The rearward movement of the reject pin 61 will push the coin or imperforated slug through an opening 63 into a reject slot 62, and the coin or imperforated slug will drop to the token receptacle 39 to be returned to the player.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and consequently it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement machine comprising:

a plurality of tokens;

first board means located in an approximate vertical orientation, said first board means having a plurality of first slots, a second slot, a first reservoir for receiving said tokens, and a second reservoir for receiving said tokens;

second board means located directly behind and in close proximity to said first board means, said second board means having a plurality of first channels that cooperate with said first board means to form a plurality of first conduits having a common lower end to guide said tokens, the upper portions of said plurality of first conduits abutting said plurality of first slots, said second board means having a second channel that cooperates with said first board means to form a second conduit to guide said tokens, the upper portion of said second conduit abutting said second slot,

first retaining and actuating means movably mounted to said first and second board means in proximity of the lower end of said first reservoir and the common lower end of said plurality of first conduits, said first retaining and actuating means for retaining tokens within said first reservoir and for releasing a predetermined number of tokens from said first reservoir upon actuation of said first retaining and actuating means by a token descending within said plurality of first conduits that contacts said first retaining and actuating means; and

second retaining and actuating means movably mounted to said first and second board means in proximity of the lower end of said second reservoir and the lower end of said second conduit, said second retaining and actuating means for retaining tokens within said second reservoir and for releasing all of the tokens within said second reservoir upon actuation of said second retaining and actuating means by a token descending within said second conduit that contacts said second retaining and actuating means.

2. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 which further comprises:

a transparent window located in front of and spaced away from said first board means;

a housing surrounding at least three side ends of said first board means, second board means, and said transparent window; and

a plurality of pegs spaced and mounted to transparent window and projecting towards said first board means.

3. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said first board means includes a first elongated opening and a second elongated opening, both openings having respective portions located within said first reservoir; and

said first retaining and actuating means is rotatably mounted to said first and second board means, said first retaining and actuating means includes a first member normally located within the path of a token descending within said plurality of first conduits, a first pin member protruding through said first elongated opening of said first board means to retain tokens within said first reservoir, a second pin member protruding through said second elongated opening of said first board means, whereby upon contact of a token with said first member of said first retaining means, said first pin member rotates to allow a predetermined number of the lowermost tokens of said first reservoir to be released from said first reservoir, said second pin member rotates to temporarily retain the remaining number of tokens within said first reservoir, and the first member and first and second pin members then rotate to their original unactuated positions.

4. An amusement machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said predetermined number of tokens released from said first reservoir upon actuation of said first retaining and actuating means is two tokens.

5. An amusement machine as recited in claim 4 wherein upon actuation of said first retaining and actuating means, said second pin member rotates to contact the uppermost token of said two tokens so as to push said two tokens from said first reservoir.

6. An amusement machine as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said second board means includes a first elongated opening located in proximity of said first retaining and actuating means, and

said first retaining and actuating means includes a third pin member extending through said first elongated opening of said second board means for allowing said third pin member to be manually rotated to actuate said first retaining and actuating means to releasse a predetermined number of tokens from said first reservoir.

7. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said first board means includes a third elongated opening having a portion located within said second reservoir; and

said second retaining and actuating means is rotatably mounted to said first and second board means, said second retaining and actuating means includes a first member normally located within the path of a token descending within said second conduit, a first pin member protruding through said third elongated opening of said first board means to retain tokens within said first reservoir, whereby upon contact of a token with said first member of said second retaining and actuating means, said first pin member rotates to allow all of the tokens within said second reservoir to be released from said second reservoir, and the first member and the first pin member then rotate to their original unactuated positions.

8. An amusement machine as recited in claim 7 wherein:

said second board means includes a second elongated opening located in proximity of said second retaining and actuating means, and

said second retaining and actuating means includes a second pin member extending through said second elongated opening of said second board means for allowing said second pin member to be manually rotated to actuate said second retaining and actuating means to release all of said tokens within said second reservoir.

9. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of tokens are made of a metallic material, and the amusement machine further includes a bell located in close proximity to the respective lower ends of said first and second reservoirs so that upon release of tokens from either of said first and second reservoirs, said tokens contact said bell.

10. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 which further includes a third slot located near the upper portion of said first reservoir to limit the number of said tokens that are received and retained by said first reservoir.

11. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 which further includes actuating means movably mounted to said second board means within the upper portion of said plurality of first conduits, said actuating means are connected to said first retaining and actuating means by a connecting member, and upon actuation of said actuating by a token entering one of the plurality of said first slots located directly above said actuating means, a predetermined number of tokens are released from said first reservoir.

12. An amusement machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said second reservoir includes serrated side members for inhibiting the direct release of said tokens from said second reservoir.

13. An amusement machine comprising:

a plurality of perforated tokens;

a playing board surface located in an approximate vertical orientation;

a cam surface; and

propelling means movably mounted to said playing board surface, said propelling means having a ledge member for holding one of said plurality of perforated tokens and a pin member that is located above said ledge member, upon actuation of said propelling means, said pin member contacts said cam surface so as to be urged towards and through the perforation of said token.

14. An amusement machine as recited in claim 13 which further includes an opening located in close proximity to one end of said pin member of said propelling means whereby any imperforated tokens held by said ledge member are urged through said opening and away from said propelling means upon actuation of said propelling means.