IP Library Granted Patent US 9,339,722
Granted Patent B2
US 9,339,722 · App. 13/821,451 · Granted May 17, 2016

Game device

Inventors: Takahiro Toshima (Yokohama, JP); Yasushi Funayama (Chiba, JP); Hirokazu Hirose (Akashi, JP)
Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
A63F7/0005A63F7/0636A63F7/3603A63F2007/4018
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,339,722
App. No.
13/821,451
Granted
May 17, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air hockey game device allows a plurality of players to play a match game using a first puck and a second puck having a disc size smaller than that of the first puck. The air hockey game device is configured so that each player can score points by shooting the first puck and the second puck into the opponent's goal. The air hockey game device is configured to control the game process (e.g., collection/supply of the first puck and the second puck, calculation/display of score, and production effect) based on the type of puck.

Claims (27)

1. A game device that implements a game that allows a plurality of players to strike a game medium using a striking device to shoot the game medium into a goal of an opponent player, the game device comprising:

a field board that includes a sliding surface, and a wall member that is provided around the sliding surface, the game medium sliding on the sliding surface;

a plurality of goal pockets that functions as the goal, each of the plurality of goal pockets including an opening that is formed in the field board, and receiving the game medium;

a supply unit that supplies a first game medium and a second game medium to the field board corresponding to a game situation, the second game medium differing in size from the first game medium, the supply unit including:

a first supply section configured to slidably supply the first game medium singly to the field board, and

a second supply section configured to slidably supply a plurality of the second game medium to the field hoard; and

a processor programmed to control the supply unit to selectively supply at least one of the first game medium and the second game medium, and control a process of the game corresponding to the size of game medium supplied.

2. The game device as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the second supply section slidably supplies the plurality of second game mediums simultaneously to the field board when the game is being played using the first game medium, and a given condition has been satisfied.

3. The game device as defined in claim 2 ,

wherein the second supply section is formed on a slope member that has a slope formed at a given slope angle with respect to a surface of the field board, the second supply section: (i) retaining the plurality of second game mediums in a state in which the plurality of second game mediums are placed side by side in a direction that intersects a slope direction of the slope, and (ii) slidably supplying the plurality of second game mediums to the field hoard by allowing the plurality of second game mediums retained therein to slide along the slope due to gravity.

4. The game device as defined in claim 3 ,

wherein the second supply section includes a supply guide member that is formed integrally with the slope, and slidably supplies the second game medium to the field board while sliding the second game medium, and

a supply angle when the second game medium is supplied by the supply guide member is smaller than the slope angle of the slope.

5. The game device as defined in claim 3 ,

wherein the second supply section further includes a stopper that is provided at a given position on the slope, the stopper maintaining a retention state of the plurality of second game mediums in a closed state, and slidably supplying the plurality of second game mediums to the field board in an open state by allowing the plurality of second game mediums retained in the second supply section to slide along the slope due to gravity, and

the game control unit sets the stopper from the closed state to the open state when a given condition has been satisfied.

6. The game device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

a loading unit that transfers the first game medium and the second game medium that have entered the goal pocket in a mixed state and have been collected under the field board to the supply unit using different elevator mechanisms corresponding to a type of game medium, and loads the first game medium and the second game medium into the supply unit.

7. The game device as defined in claim 6 ,

wherein the loading unit includes a retention section that selectively retains the second game medium that has been collected together with the first game medium in a mixed state, the loading unit supplying the collected first game medium to the supply unit using the elevator mechanism, and supplying the retained second game medium to the supply unit using the elevator mechanism.

8. The game device as defined in claim 1 ,

wherein the first game medium and the second game medium have a disc-like shape.

9. The game device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

a collection/transfer mechanism that collects a plurality of game mediums that differs in size and has entered the goal pocket in a mixed state, and transfers the plurality of game mediums that has been collected to the supply unit,

wherein the collection/transfer mechanism includes a transfer unit that sequentially transfers the plurality of game mediums from a first transfer point to a second transfer point that is higher than the first transfer point, and

a plurality of protrusion members is formed at given intervals on an upper side of the transfer unit on which the game medium is placed, the plurality of protrusion members preventing the game medium placed on the upper side of the transfer unit from falling down in an upstream direction, and having a height equal to or larger than a thickness of each of the plurality of game mediums.

Assignments (7)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 12, 2025
From: BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO EXPERIENCE INC.
Reel/Frame 072231/0061 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE STREET ADDRESS OF THE RECEIVING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 052488 FRAME 0702. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 2, 2020
From: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 052818/0430 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 052396 FRAME: 0034. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 052488/0702 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2020
From: BANADI NAMCO ENERTAINMENT INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 052396/0034 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 8, 2016
From: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 038037/0715 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 29, 2014
From: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
To: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 033061/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2013
From: TOSHIMA, TAKAHIRO; FUNAYAMA, YASUSHI; HIROSE, HIROKAZU
To: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC.
Reel/Frame 030379/0911 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-201175 · Sep 8, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130221614A1 · Aug 29, 2013