IP Library Granted Patent US 7,731,199
Granted Patent B2
US 7,731,199 · App. 11/666,642 · Granted Jun 8, 2010

Prize acquisition game apparatus

Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,731,199
App. No.
11/666,642
Granted
Jun 8, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A prize acquisition game apparatus is provided which does not require the effort of replacing an interchangeable discharging port structure unit but rather has a discharging port the size of which can be easily changed. The prize acquisition game apparatus comprises: operation means which is operated by a player; a prize housing section for housing a plurality of prizes; prize acquiring means for acquiring a said prize; a discharging port which is formed in the prize housing section for discharging the prize from the prize housing section; control means for controlling the prize acquiring means to operate in response to an operation signal from the operation means; a discharged prize receiving section for receiving the prize discharged through the discharging port by the prize acquiring means which operates under the control of the control means; and sliding means for sliding a frame which is provided on the discharging port to change the size of the discharging port according to a distance the frame is slid.

Claims (24)

1. A prize acquisition game apparatus, characterized in that it comprises:

operation means which is operated by a player;

a prize housing section for housing a plurality of prizes;

prize acquiring means for acquiring a said prize;

a discharging port which is formed in the prize housing section for discharging the prize from the prize housing section;

control means for controlling the prize acquiring means to operate in response to an operation signal from the operation means;

a discharged prize receiving section for receiving the prize discharged through the discharging port by the prize acquiring means which operates under the control of the control means; and

sliding means for sliding a frame which is provided on the discharging port to change the size of the discharging port according to a distance the frame is slid;

wherein the frame has a first frame which is slidable in a horizontal direction, and a second frame for covering a vertical gap which is formed when the first frame slides in a first direction to increase the size of the discharging port; and wherein the frame has a lid for covering a horizontal gap which is formed when the frame slides in a second direction to decrease the size of the discharging port.

2. The prize acquisition game apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises:

driving means for driving the frame to slide;

position detecting means for detecting the position of the frame;

moving means in a width direction for moving the prize acquiring section of the prize acquiring means in a width direction within the prize housing section;

and a memory section for storing a database in which the relationship between a distance from a reference position to a movement limit position of the prize acquiring section in a width direction, information for determining the size of a prize, and a slide position of the frame are set in advance, and further characterized in that

the control means calculates a distance from the reference position to the movement limit position of the prize acquiring section based on detection signals from a reference position detecting sensor and a movement limit position detecting sensor, and determines a slide position of the frame which corresponds to the calculated distance by referring to the database, and also controls the frame to move it from the current position obtained by the position detecting means to the determined position by driving the driving means.

3. A prize acquisition game apparatus, characterized in that it comprises:

operation means which is operated by a player;

a prize housing section for housing a plurality of prizes;

prize acquiring means for acquiring a said prize;

a discharging port which is formed in the prize housing section for discharging the prize from the prize housing section;

control means for controlling the prize acquiring means to operate in response to an operation signal from the operation means;

a discharged prize receiving section for receiving the prize discharged through the discharging port by the prize acquiring means which operates under the control of the control means; and

sliding means for sliding a frame which is provided on the discharging port to change the size of the discharging port according to a distance the frame is slid, and

the sliding means is configured as a unit which includes: a first frame which defines an aperture of the discharging port between a wall of the prize housing section and a wall of the frame and which is slidable in a horizontal direction; a second frame for covering a vertical gap which is formed when the first frame slides in a first direction to increase the size of the discharging port; a lid for covering a horizontal gap which is formed when the frame slides in a second direction to decrease the size of the discharging port, the lid being formed integrally with the first frame; a fixing member for fixing the unit in place by fastening it to an inside of the prize housing section; and a guide mechanism for guiding the first frame and the lid to slide in a horizontal direction.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 20, 2010
From: SEGA CORPORATION
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SEGA DOING BUSINESS AS SEGA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024258/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2007
From: FUKAZAWA, MITSUHARU; YAMAMOTO, TAKASHI; TAKASUGI, KOUKI
To: SEGA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019259/0935 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-317113 · Oct 29, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080001360A1 · Jan 3, 2008