[0001] The present invention relates to a game machine and, particularly, to a game machine
in which a plurality of movable members are provided and a player scores a point every
time he succeeds to hit one of the movable members on movement.
[0002] As one of known game machine of such type, there is a game machine which includes
a panel formed with a plurality of holes through each of which a movable member associated
therewith appears at random and a player scores a point every time he succeeds to
hit the appeared movable member with a hammer or the like.
[0003] In such conventional game machine, the movable members are moved vertically of the
panel through the holes formed therein and the direction of hitting by the player
is made coincident with the moving direction of the movable member. Therefore, it
is enough for the player to select an appeared member and hit it. Since such is relatively
easy, an amusingness thereof is relatively low.
[0004] In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a
game machine of the type mentioned above by which an amusingness of the game is increased
by making conditions under which a player can hit a movable member more complicated.
[0005] The above object can be achieved according to the present invention by a game machine
of a type which includes a plurality of movable members are provided and in which
a player scores a point at the time he hits any of the movable members when it is
moved, comprising a storing portion for storing the movable members, means for reciprocating
each of the movable members between a home position inside the storing portion and
a predetermined turning position outside the storing portion and a hitting sensor
for detecting one of the movable members which is moved outwardly at least partially
beyond the storing portion and hitted by a hammer brought down by the player in a
direction intersecting the moving direction of the one movable member, whereby a score
of points is obtained on the basis of a detection result of the hitting sensor.
[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, each of the movable members takes in the
form of animal having an openable portion corresponding to a mouth and each point
of score is obtained at the time the openable portion is closed by hitting.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, the openable portion is opened and shut
during the movement thereof toward the predetermined turning position.
[0008] In a further aspect of the present invention, a distance between the home position
and the predetermined turning position is made variable.
[0009] The moving direction of the hammer intersects the moving direction of the movable
member. Thus, a position of a hit portion of the movable member is varied with respect
to the player, so that a proper hitting of the movable member by the player becomes
more difficult, resulting in an improved amusingness.
[0010] The moving means for moving the movable members may be a combination of a rack and
a pinion, or any other driving means may be used therefor.
[0011] The movable member may take any configulation. However, it is preferrable that the
hit portion thereof is constituted such that, when it is hitted, it deforms and presents
a visual interest to the player. For example, it is possible to form the hit portion
as an animal head having a mouth opened gradually with an outward movement thereof
and closed when hitted by the player.
[0012] Further, it is preferrable to control the distance between the home and the predetermined
turning positions such that it is shortened at least once during its reciprocal movements.
In such case, it is possible to return the movable member toward the home position
before it reaches the turning position estimated by the player. Thus, a feinted motion
of the movable member is provided.
[0013] One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference
to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a game machine according to the present
invention;
Figs. 2 to 5 are cross sectional side views of a movable member, respectively, showing
a movement thereof; and
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of control thereof.
[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention. In Fig. 1, a plurality (five in this embodiment) of movable members
2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e are arranged on a game table 1. In this embodiment, each movable
member takes in the form of crocodile. An upper panel 3 is provided above a rear portion
of the game table 1 and a movable member storing portion 4 is defined between the
upper panel 4 and the rear portion of the game table 1. The movable members 2a, 2b,
2c, 2d and 2e are normally in respective home positions within this storing portion
4, as shown in Fig. 2.
[0015] In Fig. 2, each of the movable members 2a to 2e is composed of a base member 6 having
rolls 5 and movable on the game table 1, a hit portion 8 in the form of a crocodile
head arranged on a left or front end portion of the base member 5 and a fallen "L"
shape lever 9 provided on a right or rear end portion of the base member 6 rotatably
about a support shaft 10. The hit portion 8 is swingable vertically about a support
shaft 7. A spring 11 is provided between the base member 6 and a vertical leg portion
of the L lever 9 to bias the latter in counterclockwise direction so that a front
end and a rear end of the lever 9 are brought always into contact with a rear end
of the hit portion 8 and a cam 15 provided on a lower surface of the upper panel 3
through rolls 12 and 14, respectively. The surface configulation of the cam 15 includes
a flat front portion, a rear flat portion and a gradually changing intermediate portion
between them, so taht a vertical position of the roll 14 in contact therewith is low
when the movable member is in its home position, rises gradually when it is moved
forwardly and becomes low again abruptly when it reaches the predetermined turning
position. A boader between the rear flat portion and the gradually changing portion
is stepped sharply so that the lever 9 is rotated clockwisely sharply to thereby realize
the abrupt positional change of roll 14. An optical sensor 13 is fixedly provided
on the rear end portion of the base member 6 as a sensor for detecting an open and
close operation of the hit portion 8.
[0016] A lower surface of the rear portion of the base member 6 is coupled through a connecting
member 16 to a rack 17 which meshes with a pinion 18 provided beneath the front portion
of the base member 6. The pinion 18 is driven by a reversible motor 19.
[0017] An operation of the movable members 2a to 2e will be described with reference to
Figs. 2 to 5 together with a flowchart shown in Fig. 6. Since the movable members
are identical in configulation and operation, the operaion of only one movable member
will be described. It should be noted, however, that operation timings of the respective
movable members can be determined at random in any well known manner.
[0018] The game machine shown in Fig. 1 is brought into a ready state when a coin is thrown
into a coin inlet 20 thereof. The motor 19 is actuated in one direction at a suitable
timing after the initialization of the game machine to rotate the pinion 18 in counterclockwise
direction. With this counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 18, the rack 17 is moved
forwardly. With this forward movement of the rack 17, the associated movable member
starts to move forwardly or outwardly from a home position in the storing portion
4. The start of movement of the movable member is detected by a home position sensor
21 which may comprises a micro switch.
[0019] When the movable member is moved forwardly gradually from the home position shown
in Fig. 2, with the roll 14 tracing the gradual portion of the cam 15, the movable
member appears on the exposed portion of the game table. During this movement of the
movable member, the lever 9 is allowed by the biasing spring 11 to rotate in counterclockwise
direction gradually to gradually open the hit portion 8, i.e., a mouth of the crocodile,
as shown in Fig. 3.
[0020] A player will bring his hammer 22 down to hit the opened hit portion 8, as shown
in Fig. 4, and, if he succeeds to hit it, he will score a point. When he succeeds
to hit, the crocodile mouth is shut down as shown by an arrow A, so that the lever
9 is rotated clockwise direction as shown by an arrow B in Fig. 4, which is detected
by the sensor 13. Upon detection of hitting, it is displayed on a display 24 shown
in Fig. 1. This display may be an addition of point number. At the same time, the
motor 19 is driven in the reverse direction to rotate the pinion 18 in clockwise direction
to thereby retract or return the movable member to the home position in the storing
portion 4. When the movable member reaches the home position, it is detected by the
home position sensor 21 upon which the motor 19 is deenergized.
[0021] It is not always possible for the player to hit the hit portion 8 of the movable
member when the latter is in a position in which it can be hitted. When he failed
to hit, the movable member continues to move forwardly until a top portion of the
rack 17 reaches the predetermined turning position and the fact is detected by the
turning position sensor 23, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon detection of the turning position
sensor 23, an addition of a loss or damage point is displayed on the display 24 or
a subtraction of a point from success points on the display 24 is performed.
[0022] When the movable member reaches the turning position to be detected by the turning
position sensor 23, the roll 14 of the lever 9 rides on the front flat portion 15a
of the cam 15, so that the hit portion 8 is closed and the fact is detected by the
sensor 13. Thereafter, the movable member is moved in the opposite direction to the
home position in the storing portion 4.
[0023] Alternatively, it is possible to make the turning position changeable under a control
of a computer such that the movable member is turned before it reaches the predetermined
turning position. In such case, a feinted motion is given to the movable member causing
difficulty of hitting it to be increased and hence the amusingness of the game to
be improved.
1. A game machine of a type which includes a plurality of movable members (2a-2e)
are provided and in which a player scores a point at the time he hits any of the movable
members (2a-2e) when it is moved, characterized by a storing portion (4) for storing
said movable members (2a-2e), means for reciprocating (17, 18, 19) each of said movable
members (2a-2b) between a home position inside said storing portion (4) and a predetermined
turning position outside said storing portion (4) and a hitting sensor (13) for detecting
one of said movable members (2a-2e) which is moved outwardly at least partially beyond
said storing portion (4) and hitted by a hammer (22) brought down by the player in
a direction intersecting the moving directoin of said one movable member (2a-2e),
and in that a score of points is obtained on the basis of a detection result of said
hitting sensor (13).
2. The game machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each said movable
member (2a-2e) takes in the form of animal having an openable portion corresponding
to a mouth thereof and each point of score is obtained every time said openable portion
is closed by hitting.
3. The game machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said openable portion
is opened and shut during the movement thereof toward said predetermined turning position.
4. The game machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said
predetermined turning position is variable.