Arcade game for stacking directed playing pieces

17 Pages·2013·1.9 MB·English

US005769424A
Ulllted States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,769,424
Kelly et al. [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 23, 1998
[54] ARCADE GAME FOR STACKING 4,216,963 8/1980 Boucher ................................ .. 273/110
DIRECTED PLAYING PIECES 4,397,463 8/1983 Moscovich . 273/1 GE
4,569,522 2/1986 Davies . . . . . . . . . . .. 273/86
[75] Inventors: Matthew F. Kelly, San Ramon; Bryan 476627846 5/1987 Quercet? ~~~~ -- 434/96
MI Kelly, Almo, of JI Werner .... .. E
Richard Oltmann Scottsdale AriZ' 4,927,160 5/1990 NlChOl et a1. ..... .. 273/371
’ ’ 4,968,035 11/1990 Furlong ........... .. .. 273/121 R X
[731 AS99199 RLT Acquisition, Inc» P19541109 218221313 $1331 ?i‘ril‘ifiifjil; "15734131353
Cahf- 5,096,192 3/1992 Stanford, Jr. 273/39
5,181,722 1/1993 Krutsch et a1. 273/127 B
[21] App1_N0_;719,016 5,292,127 3/1994 Kelly et a1. 273/118A
5,318,298 6/1994 Kelly et a1. ....................... .. 273/122 R
[22] Filed: Sep. 24, 1996 _ _ _ _ _
Primary Exammer—W1ll1am H. Grieb
[52] Int. Cl-6 ..................................................... .. 273/352 Attorney) Agent) Or Firm_l{ickman Beyer & Weaver,
[58] Field of Search ............................................. .. 273/352 [57] ABSTRACT
_ A game method and apparatus includes a playing surface
[56] References Clted having a player end and a target end and a target provided
us PATENT DOCUMENTS at the target end. The‘ target includes a channel'on a planar
target surface that is inclined and receives multiple playing
1,531,783 3/1925 Hampton - pieces, such as balls, rolled across the playing surface by the
1,574,653 2/1926 Holm ................................ .. 273/124 R player' The Channel receives bans in a known Con?guration,
1’879’5 11 9/1932 Rodgers‘ such as a linear stack, such that each additional ball is
2,087,198 7/1937 Chambers ............................. .. 273/110 d. t d t th h 1 .th t d?i h b th 1
2,700,546 1/1955 Glassen, Jr. ........................ .. 273/102.2 “6C 6 0 e C anne W1 . gm er. 1 Cu y Y e P ayer
277367559 2/1956 Turner _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 273/125 due to the presence of previously-directed balls in the stack
279267915 3/1960 Johns _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 273552 and rests on the ball immediately preceding it. The channel
3,052,472 9/1962 Aumoller ____ __ 273/142 includes parallel rails for aligning the balls and for prevent
3,275,324 9/1966 Burnside ............................... .. 273/126 ing the balls from touching the target surface. An aperture
3,429,574 2/1969 Williams ............................... .. 273/123 collects balls that are not received by the channel and routes
3,451,680 6/1969 Kf?eske ~~~~ -~ ~~ 273/118 the balls to the player. A release device releases the balls
g1 Mona from the channel and into the collector. A game score and
37, 8077, 736 4/1974 G0r1u dsi fna rb. . . e. .t . . .a .1 . ‘. . . . . . . 2.. 73/122 R QPIT-I EHMhPI‘OgI‘ICSS-I VC score are based on the posi-t i- ons of balls
3,851,879 12/1974 Hicks ............ .. 273/120 R m e C anne '
4,215,867 8/1980 Natwick . . . . . . . . . . .. 273/357
4,216,961 8/1980 McQuillan .............................. .. 273/89 49 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
:423
—16
U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 1998 Sheet 1 0f 6 5,769,424
U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 1998 Sheet 2 0f 6 5,769,424
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U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 1998 Sheet 4 0f 6 5,769,424
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U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 1998 Sheet 5 0f 6 5,769,424
1667 1647
DISPENSER CHANNEL 130
SOLENOID SOLENOID 131
168) M A J’
‘TICKET : /142 134“
MOTOR DRIVERS <- ~ RAM
163\
‘ TILT
92 SENSOR 132] < ROM
LCHANNEL 136‘)
SENSORS 144 l
56 " " Y “P ‘ 172
LAPERTURE V \
SENSOR BUFFERS > LATCH
DISPENSER > 150 v
r" SwITcI-I v
TEST LATCH >
( SWITCH " 140
160 145—/ LATCHES \ 151 AuDIO
+ SwITcI-IES AMP
LAMP 158 "
148 ~/ DRNER / SPEAKER
S LATCH =
24)
555 ‘
36 K,
?gure 4
U.S. Patent Jun. 23, 1998 Sheet 6 0f 6 5,769,424
202
/ 200
iii are 5
RELEASE BALLS 206 Lq
/
FROM CHANNEL
INCREMENT /208
PROGRESSIVE SCORE
V
DISPENSE BALLS TO /210
PLAYER
+ 212
BALLS= 0 / 222
BALLS < NO PROG- NO
BALLS = MAXNUM '2 RESSIVE GOAL
_} BALLS + 1 ACHIEVED?
224
/
SEND SIGNAL TO
PROGRESSIVE
BONUS APPARATUS
(IF APPLICABLE)
'N RECEIVE
IN CHANNEL PROGRESSIVE
/
APERTURE 226 SCORE AND ADD
ILLUMINATE TO GAME SCORE
21 APPROPRIATE
8\ INDICATORS I
DISPENSE AWARD /228
BASED ON
COMBINED SCORE
CALCULATE
GAME SCORE
230
220
5,769,424
1 2
ARCADE GAME FOR STACKING With the channel. Stacked playing pieces are continuously
DIRECTED PLAYING PIECES observable by the player. The channel includes tWo parallel
rails for aligning the playing pieces in the stacked con?gu
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ration and Which prevent the playing pieces from touching
the target surface. A sensor to detect a playing piece is
1. Field of the Invention
provided at each playing piece position in the channel. A
This invention relates to games normally played in an
number of indicators indicate positions in the channel to the
arcade environment, and more particularly to such games player Where the playing pieces may be stacked. Acollector,
played by directing a playing piece across a playing surface
such as an aperture in the target surface, is included in the
to a target. target to receive playing pieces that are not received by the
2. Background of the Related Art channel.
Games of many types are played in arcade environments. The playing surface preferably includes a ramp that
Redemption games are popular types of arcade games that causes the directed playing pieces to move in a direction
dispense tickets based on a game score achieved by the against the in?uence of gravity to engage the channel in the
player. One popular type of arcade redemption game is 15 stacked con?guration. A player thus directs a playing piece
commonly referred to as a skee alley game, in Which a ball across the playing surface, Which then moves up the ramp,
is rolled or boWled by a player across a playing surface to a into the air, and onto the target surface. The playing piece is
ramp. The ball is accelerated up into the air and onto a target received in the channel on top of the stack of playing pieces
area, Which consists of a number of circular fences of if the playing piece has a requisite trajectory, Which depends
different diameters, each fenced enclosure having an aper on the speed and trajectory or direction of the ball on the
ture included therein. Each enclosure thus formed is asso playing surface. Areturn mechanism is included to return the
ciated With a point score such that enclosures of smaller playing pieces to the player end after the playing pieces have
diameter are Worth a higher number of points, A player been collected by the collector in the target surface. Arelease
accumulates a game score by directing balls into the aper device included in the channel releases the playing pieces
tures in the circular enclosures. 25 from the channel and into the return device When the channel
Games of the prior art such as the skee alley games, While is ?lled With playing pieces. A game score based on the
enjoyable, tend to be simplistic and, consequently, can lead positions of playing pieces in the channel is determined, and
to rapid player boredom. This is undesirable in an arcade a progressive score accumulated over at least one previous
environment Where revenues are directly related to the game played on the game apparatus or among multiple game
continuous, repeated use of the games. For eXample, if a apparatuses can also be provided. An aWard dispenser pref
player can consistently direct a ball into the highest scoring erably dispenses an aWard based upon the ?nal game score.
target, the player does not face any additional challenges in The game apparatus according to the present invention
the game. In addition, a player cannot measure his or her provides a target that receives directed playing pieces in a
success or progress in the game by vieWing previously predetermined con?guration, such as a linear stack of balls.
directed balls, since the balls are immediately removed from 35 Each successive playing piece is more dif?cult to direct into
the target area. the con?guration, thus providing an increasing challenge to
Furthermore, rolling games of the prior art alloW the players based on hoW Well they perform in the game. The
directed playing pieces to directly strike the target surface, playing pieces engaged With the target are preferably
Which causes Wear and tear on any designs or illustrations observable by the player and other observers so the player
provided on the target, and may eventually efface large can easily and quickly determine his or her progress in the
portions of the target designs. game. These features add complexity and interest to an
otherWise simple target rolling game. Player involvement
SUMMARY OF INVENTION With the game and the revenue produced by the game are
thus also putatively increased. Furthermore, the feature of
The present invention provides an arcade game for receiv
45 preventing directed playing pieces from touching the target
ing and stacking playing pieces. A player directs multiple
surface saves a great amount of Wear and tear on the target
successive playing pieces onto a target in a stacked con?gu
and alloWs visual designs and more delicate devices such as
ration that imposes more dif?culty to hit the target With each
successively-directed playing piece. This improvement adds light sources to be placed on the target Without concern for
those designs and devices being harmed by impacting play
eXcitement and complexity to the game, Which tends to
ing pieces.
prolong player involvement.
These and other advantages of the present invention Will
More speci?cally, a game apparatus and method of the
become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the
present invention includes a playing surface having a player
folloWing descriptions and studying the various ?gures of
end and a target end and a target provided at the target end.
the draWings.
The target receives multiple playing pieces directed by the
55
player, such as balls, in a predetermined con?guration such BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
that each additional playing piece is directed to the target
With greater dif?culty by the player due to the presence of FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a preferred embodiment of
previously-directed playing pieces engaged With the target. the game apparatus of the present invention;
Preferably, all the playing pieces received by the target are FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional vieW of the game appa
displayed to the player in the predetermined con?guration. ratus taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;
In the preferred embodiment, the target includes a channel FIG. 3 is a detailed vieW of the target ?eld of the present
having linear guides that receive the playing pieces in a invention;
stacked linear con?guration. The channel is provided on a FIG. 3a is a side cross-sectional vieW of the target section
planar target surface that is at least partially vertically 65 and guide rails of the game apparatus;
aligned such that the playing pieces are caused to be stacked FIG. 3b is a side cross-sectional vieW of the target ?eld
on each other due to the in?uence of gravity When engaged and release mechanism of the game apparatus;
5,769,424
3 4
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of an electronic knoWn in the prior art. The aWards are stored in a storage
control system of the game apparatus; and area behind the front panel 12 Which is described in greater
FIG. 5 is a How diagram illustrating a method of playing detail With reference to FIG. 2.
and operating the game apparatus of FIG. 1. Speaker 24 emits sounds based on game actions and other
game states and is controlled by the game control system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE The operation of the speaker Will be discussed in greater
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS detail subsequently. Speaker 24 can be positioned on other
FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a game apparatus in areas of game apparatus 10 as Well.
accordance With the present invention. The game apparatus Front panel section 12 also can include a game score
10 includes a housing 11, front panel section 12, a playing 10 display 36, Which is shoWn positioned at upper front panel
?eld 14, and a target section 16. section 12a near target section 16 in FIG. 1. Display 36 can
Housing 11 provides support for game apparatus 10 and also be placed at other areas of the game apparatus. The
game score display 36 is preferably a Light Emitting Diode
encloses various game components as described With refer
ence to FIG. 2. The front panel section 12 includes a coin (LED) display that indicates a game score to the player
deposit slot and mechanism 18, a playing piece dispenser 20, 15 based on the results of a game. Other types of types of
a ticket dispenser 22, and a speaker 24. Displays or other displays can also be used, such as a Liquid Crystal Diode
devices can also be included on front panel section 12 in (LCD), a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), etc. An optional pro
other embodiments. The front panel section may also gressive score display can also be included in game appa
include one or more access doors, Which can be opened by ratus 10 on front panel 12a or other area. The progressive
score displayed by the progressive display can be added to
the operator to access the interior components of the game
apparatus. the player’s game score on display 36 at the end of game if
a progressive goal is achieved. Game score and progressive
Coin deposit slot (and associated mechanism) 18 may
score are described With reference to FIG. 5. Additional
accept standard currency coins or game tokens that are often
score displays can also be used to provide scores for multiple
available in an arcade environment, or slot 18 may accept
25 players of game apparatus 10 or provide visual feedback of
other types of monetary or validated input (e.g., dollar bills,
other functions during game play.
debit card, credit card, identi?cation code and/or amount,
etc.). A game begins after a coin or token has been inserted In alternate embodiments, front panel section 12 can
by the player and accepted by the coin mechanism. The include player controls such as a start button Which begins
accepted coin is preferably routed to a cash box or other a game. Various other types of buttons, sWitches, and the like
receptacle. A coin return slot is typically also included to can also be included to alloW the player of the game to make
various selections concerning game play. For example, a
return an inserted coin or token to the player in the event the
coin becomes trapped in or rejected by the coin slot player could select a one- or tWo-player game, a preferred
aWard type, a progressive option, an end game option, etc.,
mechanism, etc.
using additional controls on front panel 12.
Playing piece dispenser 20 provides playing pieces to be
35
used in a game to a player of game apparatus 10. Dispenser In addition, in alternate embodiments, a mechanism can
20 is preferably positioned on or near front panel section 12 be included to alloW a player to direct a playing piece doWn
to alloW a player easy access to the playing pieces. In the the playing ?eld, such as a spring-loaded or air-compressed
described embodiment, dispenser 20 is positioned beloW the “gun,” lever, cup or similar launcher Which is pivotable and
surface of playing ?eld 14 and includes an aperture 26 in the can “shoot” a ball doWn playing ?eld 14 When the player
40
playing surface. After inserting a coin or other monetary/ presses a button or otherWise activates a control device.
validated input, a number of playing pieces are dispensed Playing ?eld 14 includes a player end 30 and a target end
Which the player can retrieve and direct across playing ?eld 32. In the preferred embodiment, playing ?eld 14 includes a
14 toWard target section 16, as described beloW. Preferably, substantially planar surface 15 that is inclined from a
the total number of playing pieces are dispensed at the horiZontal axis such that player end 30 is slightly loWer than
45
beginning of a game and are held in the player-accessible target end 32. In the described embodiment, playing ?eld 14
portion of dispenser 20 for the player. Alternatively, playing is inclined approximately 5—10 degrees. In other
pieces can be dispensed to a player sequentially, either one embodiments, more inclination can be added, or the ?eld 14
at a time or in groups of any siZe, up to the maximum can be level or inclined such that the player end is higher
number of pieces exchangeable for the player’s monetary or than the target end.
validated input. For example, a portion of the playing pieces In the described embodiment, the playing pieces are balls
can be dispensed initially, and an additional playing piece 28 that are directed across the playing surface 15 from the
can be dispensed each time a ball is directed into the target player end 30 to the target end 32 (described in detail
section 16. In the preferred embodiment, the playing pieces subsequently). As referenced herein, the term “ball” refers to
are balls rolled across playing ?eld 14. In other 55 any type of approximately spherical object Which may have
embodiments, the playing pieces can be discs (e.g., coins), a smooth surface or a surface With indentations, protrusions,
cylinders, or other types and shapes. The playing pieces etc. In other embodiments, different types of playing pieces
preferably have similar geometry or shape to each other, but can be used, such as cylinders, discs, etc.
may be different from each other in other embodiments. The playing surface 15 of playing ?eld 14 is preferably a
Ticket dispenser 22 preferably dispenses a ticket aWard to smooth surface to alloW the playing pieces to roll directly
the player based upon the result of a game, e.g., typically across; but it alternatively can be a rough, textured,
indicated by a game score. In the described embodiment, channeled, or contoured surface that may provide variations
tickets may be accumulated to Win various priZes. Other to the trajectory of the playing piece. Also, in other
types of aWards besides tickets can also be dispensed. For embodiments, playing surface 14 can include obstacles, such
example, sports card or other trading cards, toy priZes, other 65 as apertures, pegs, or other objects, to impede or in?uence
types of vouchers, or coupons, or even coins or currency can the path of playing pieces that travel across the playing
be dispensed. Ticket dispensing mechanisms are Well surface.
5,769,424
5 6
The target end 32 of playing ?eld 14, in the preferred the top end of channel 40 and roll doWn to the bottom of the
embodiment, includes a ramp 34 Which is curved upward (as channel. HoWever, once one or more playing pieces are
shown in FIG. 2). A playing piece 28 directed by a player already received by channel 40, successive playing pieces
thus rolls across playing ?eld 14 and is directed upWard, must be directed With a higher minimum force or speed, i.e.,
against the in?uence of gravity, and toWard target section 16 a narroWer range of acceptable speeds, since loWer trajec
by rolling up and off ramp 34. The trajectory of the ball 28
tories Will not suffice to cause the channel to receive the ball
after it leaves ramp 34 depends on the trajectory of the ball due to the presence of the previously-directed playing pieces
on playing surface 15 and the speed of the ball, i.e., the
in the channel.
velocity of the ball on playing surface 15. The higher the
The feature of increasing dif?culty for each successive
speed, the higher the ball Will travel upWard toWard the top
10 playing piece adds much interest to the game. The increasing
of the target ?eld 16. The trajectory and speed of the ball
dif?culty is based on hoW Well the player has already
depends on hoW much force is used in rolling the ball and
performed in the game, i.e., the difficulty gradually increases
hoW accurately the player aims the ball on the playing
as the player directs additional balls into the channel 40. This
surface. Thus, the trajectory of the ball after leaving the
can provide less frustration and more enjoyment to players
ramp alloWs for a Wide range of skill from the player to
15 since there are no large jumps in dif?culty, and also chal
direct the ball at a desired target.
lenges the player incrementally as he or she progresses.
Target section 16 is provided at target end 32 of playing
In addition, the player (and other observers) can vieW
?eld 14 and receives playing pieces 28 directed by the
previously-directed playing pieces in channel 40. This gives
player. In the described embodiment, target section 16
a direct indication to the player as to hoW Well he or she is
includes a target surface 38 Which is inclined such that the
performing in the game. In addition, since the playing pieces
bottom end is closer to the player than the top end of the
are preferably retained in the channel 40 even When the
surface 38 (e.g., 30 degrees from the vertical). As shoWn in
game is over (as eXplained beloW), the player can easily
FIG. 1, target surface 38 preferably is parallel to the X-aXis
vieW hoW Well he or she did in the game after directing all
of the playing ?eld 14. Target section 16 also includes a
the dispensed playing pieces.
central target 40 for Which the player is aiming the playing
25
Channel 40 can receive a maXimum number of playing
pieces. Central target 40 is preferably a guide such as a
pieces before there is no longer any channel length to receive
channel or slot that is positioned on target surface 38, Where
additional playing pieces. Preferably, the player is dispensed
the sides of the channel 40 are parallel to the y-Z plane. This
this maXimum number of playing pieces that the channel can
alloWs the entire length of channel 40 to be aligned With a
hold. Alternatively, a greater number of playing pieces can
linear path of playing piece 28 as it travels doWn playing
be dispensed to the player to give the player eXtra chances
?eld 14. In other embodiments, channel 40 can be positioned
to ?ll the entire channel. Once the player has directed all
in a Wide variety of angles or con?gurations, some of Which
dispensed playing pieces, the game is over. The playing
are described beloW With reference to FIG. 3. Channel 40
receives playing pieces in a predetermined con?guration, as pieces are eventually released from channel 40 and accu
eXplained beloW. mulate in a reservoir from Which they can be released to
35 dispenser 20, as described in greater detail beloW.
Agoal of the player playing game apparatus 10 is to direct
the playing pieces 28 onto target section 16 so that the Target section 16 also includes an aperture 42 provided in
playing pieces are received or caught by channel 40. The the bottom area of target surface 38. Aperture 42 is provided
player must both aim the ball correctly to target the channel to collect all playing pieces that do not engage With channel
40, and must also provide the correct speed on the playing 40. preferably, a rounded lip 41 is provided at the bottom of
40
piece (e.g., by rolling or “boWling” the playing piece With target surface 38 to guide all non-channel playing pieces to
aperture 42. Aperture 42 guides the playing pieces to the
the correct force) so that the playing piece Will have the
correct trajectory height When leaving ramp 34. Aparticular reservoir and dispenser 20, as detailed With respect to FIG.
range of speeds of the playing piece is suf?cient to direct the 2.
playing piece onto channel 40. Target section 16 also preferably includes playing piece
45
Each successive playing piece directed by the player is detection indicators 44. Each indicator 44 is preferably
preferably “stacked” on previously-directed playing pieces positioned in the middle and on the sides of channel 40. The
indicators can “highlight”, i.e. visually designate, particular
Within channel 40 so that a playing piece in the stack is in
contact With the playing pieces above it (if applicable) and positions along the channel 40 to provide visual feedback to
beloW it in the stack, thereby forming a linear stack of a player concerning Which positions currently hold a playing
playing pieces in channel 40 retained by gravity. Thus, as piece and hoW many positions of the channel are left to ?ll.
additional playing pieces 28 are received by channel 40 and The indicators 44 can also be used to direct the attention of
the stack groWs higher, each successive playing piece must the player to a particular position on the channel before that
have a slightly higher minimum trajectory height When it position has received a playing piece. For eXample, in the
preferred embodiment, indicators 44a are lights positioned
leaves ramp 34 to be able to land on, the top of the stack of 55
playing pieces. The ?rst playing pieces in the stack can be in the center of channel 40 and Which designate hoW many
directed With a range of speeds, and are easier to direct to the un?lled positions are left. Indicators 44b are positioned on
target. HoWever, each additional playing piece in the chan the outside of the channel 40 to illuminate the positions that
nel 38 increases the dif?culty of directing the neXt playing have already been ?lled by playing pieces. The operation of
piece into the channel, since the range of speeds that Will put indicators 44 is described in greater detail With reference to
a playing piece into the channel has diminished. For FIG. 3.
eXample, the ?rst playing piece can be directed With a loW The game score display, player control, coin detection,
minimum force (or speed) and the playing piece Will have a aWard dispensing, and other functions of the game apparatus
corresponding loW trajectory When it leaves ramp 34. This are preferably controlled by a control system. This system is
trajectory is high enough to land at the bottom of the channel 65 described in detail With respect to FIG. 4.
40. The ?rst playing piece can also be directed With a high FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional vieW of the game apparatus 10
force or speed, since the playing piece can be received near taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1. Game housing 11 supports