IP Library Granted Patent US 12,691,363
Granted Patent B2
US 12,691,363 · App. 18/781,556 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Game equipment

Inventors: Yuki Misaki (Tokyo, JP); Hideyuki Kato (Tokyo, JP); Makoto Tokunaga (Tokyo, JP); Fujio Nobata (Tokyo, JP); Tommy Lai (Kowloon Bay, HK); Haruna Komori (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOMY COMPANY, LTD.
A63F3/00261A63F3/00697A63F2003/00287A63F2003/00548
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,691,363
App. No.
18/781,556
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A game equipment includes a track belt unit, a drive unit, and a support unit. The track belt unit is formed in a ring shape. The track belt unit extends in a longitudinal direction. The drive unit rotates the track belt unit. The support unit supports the track belt unit. The track belt unit is wound around the support unit. The track belt unit is away from a floor. The longitudinal direction is parallel to a floor. The track belt unit includes first to third placement squares thereon. The first placement square is configured next to the second placement square in the longitudinal direction. The third placement square is configured next to the first placement square in a short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The first to third placement squares include respectively first to third holding parts being configured to hold respectively first to third game pieces.

Claims (62)

1 . A game equipment comprising:

a track belt unit being formed in a ring shape, the track belt unit extending in a longitudinal direction;

a drive unit being configured to rotate the track belt unit; and

a support unit being configured to support the track belt unit, the track belt unit being wound around the support unit,

the track belt unit being away from a floor by a prescribed distance, when the track belt unit is wound around the support unit,

the longitudinal direction being parallel to a floor when the track belt unit is wound around the support unit,

the track belt unit including first to third placement squares thereon,

the first placement square being configured next to the second placement square in the longitudinal direction,

the third placement square being configured next to the first placement square in a short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,

the first to third placement squares including respectively first to third holding parts being configured to hold respectively first to third game pieces,

the track belt unit includes a plurality of first and second track plate members, and

each one of the first and second track plate members having a plurality of placement squares formed in the short direction, and

the first and second track plate members are connected to each other in the longitudinal direction with the ability to rotate together to form the ring shape of the track belt.

2 . The game equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the support unit includes first and second main surfaces being parallel to each other, and a first side connecting the first and second main surfaces,

when the first placement square is on the first side, the first holding part is configured to hold the first game piece.

3 . The game equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the first track plate member includes a first shaft part,

the second track plate includes a second bearing part,

the first shaft part includes a first shaft pin extending in the short direction, and

the first bearing part includes a first bearing that rotatably supports the shaft pin.

4 . The game equipment according to claim 3 , wherein

the first track plate member is at least partially different from the second track plate member,

the first shaft part is connected with the second bearing part,

the first track plate member includes a first bearing part,

the second track plate member includes a second shaft part being connected to the first bearing part, and

the first shaft part is at least partially different from the second shaft part.

5 . The game equipment according to claim 4 , wherein

the first shaft part includes a prescribed number of the shaft pins including the first shaft pin,

the second shat part includes a prescribed number shaft pins including the second shaft pin,

the first bearing parts includes a prescribed number of bearings including the first bearing,

the second bearing parts includes a prescribed number of bearings including a second bearing, and

the second shaft pin is formed at a same position as the first shaft pin, and

at least one of the shaft pins of the second shaft part is formed at a different position from the shaft pins of the first shaft part.

6 . The game equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the drive unit has a rotating member,

at least a portion of the rotating member is positioned in the ring shape of the track belt unit,

the rotating member is configured to rotate around an axis extending in the short direction,

the rotating member includes a drive part extending in the short direction,

the drive part has a cube shape having four surfaces, and

one of the four surfaces supports a part of the track belt unit being located on the first main surface being opposite to the second main surface,

the second main surface is closer to the floor that the first main surface to the floor.

7 . The game equipment according to claim 6 , wherein

the drive unit has a resistance part that resists a drive force that rotates the rotating member around the axis extending in the short direction, and

the resistance part resists the drive force when the side surface supporting at least the part of the track belt unit tilts from a horizontal state.

8 . The game equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the support unit includes a cover member being configured at an end in the short direction of the track belt unit to cover the end, and

the cover member includes an upper wall part, a side wall part, and a first projecting part,

the upper wall part is formed along an upper-most part of the track belt unit,

the side wall part extends downward in a vertical direction from at least a side end of the upper wall part in the longitudinal direction, and

the first projecting part extends in an inner corner direction from a corner formed by the upper wall part and the side wall part.

9 . The game equipment according to claim 8 , wherein

the cover member further includes

a second projecting part that extends upward from an end of the upper wall part in the longitudinal direction on a side closer in the short direction to the track belt unit.

10 . The game equipment according to claim 9 , wherein the support unit has a third projecting part being configured on the upper side of the track belt unit in a center in the longitudinal direction.

11 . The game equipment according to claim 1 , wherein

the holding part includes a locking pin extending in a direction perpendicular to the first placement square,

the game pieces includes a locked part being configured to lock with the locking pin, and

the locked part is elastic.

12 . The game equipment according to claim 11 , wherein

the locked part includes a recess in which the locking pin is locked, and

the recess opening is polygonal.