Abstract:
A redemption ticket and dispenser therefor. The redemption tickets or "stamps" are printed with indicia that include a sequence of successive characters printed across multiple tickets. The tickets may have about a thickness of white bond paper (20 lb.) and a length as little as three-quarters of an inch. A notch is cut at a perforation between each of the tickets of the strip, and the ticket strip can be gummed to allow the tickets to adhere to a surface. A ticket dispenser for dispensing the improved (or other) redemption tickets receives a ticket strip from a ticket supply and includes a rear guide, sensor, front guide, and drive roller along a ticket path. The drive roller engages and pulls the tickets strip along the ticket path, while the rear and front guides align the ticket strip. The ticket strip is wrapped at least partially around the guides and drive roller so that drag is induced on the ticket strip to prevent a recipient of the tickets from pulling the tickets out of the dispenser. The strip of tickets is dispensed from an arcade game through an outlet positioned at the front of the ticket dispenser.
Abstract:
A storage rack for relatively thin, flat articles such as audio or video cassettes, compact discs, or computer discs comprises a shelf unit having a rear wall and a plurality of spaced parallel shelf flanges projecting outwardly from the rear wall, and a support for supporting the shelf unit in a generally upright orientation with its rear wall inclined rearwardly. Each adjacent pair of shelf flanges is arranged to slidably receive the rear edge portion only of an article and to support the article in a generally horizontal orientation with its outermost edge located in a staggered relationship relative to the next adjacent articles.
Abstract:
An amusement apparatus comprises a pair of spaced elongate members defining a track and a rolling member for rolling along the track under the control of an operator. The elongate members are spaced a fixed distance apart at their first ends, this end comprising the normal home position of the rolling member. The opposite, second ends of the elongate members are movable relative to one another to adjust their spacing and to control movement of the ball along the track. The second ends are preferably mounted on a transversely extending track and are moveable towards and away from one another along the track. A drive assembly drives the second ends and a control device, which is at least partially controllable by the operator, controls operation of the drive assembly. The operator must control separation of the elongate members so that the rolling member can roll from its home position to the opposite end of the track without falling through the opening between the elongate members.
Abstract:
An arcade target game uses an extendable extraction device to enter a tube of cards in a horizontal direction. The prizes are protected by the tube's outer wall that limits successful attempts to those tries that avoid the wall. A vacuum source allows the extraction device to capture the prize if the extraction device successfully enters the tube. The extraction device's effective radius can be adjusted by extending projections that reduce the tolerance between the disk and the tube's outer wall.
Abstract:
An arcade target game uses an extendable pick-up device to enter a silo of prizes in a vertical direction. The prizes are protected by the silo's outer wall that limits successful attempts to those tries that avoid the wall. A vacuum source allows the pick-up device to capture the prize if the pick-up device successfully enters the silo. The pick-up device's effective radius can be adjusted by extending projections that reduce the tolerance between the disk and the silo's outer wall.
Abstract:
A redemption game is disclosed having an intermediate holding area for prizes that have been acquired by skillful or fortunate playing of the game, the holding area being inaccessible to the player. The compartment can be accessible via a pivotally mounted floor that leads to a lockable compartment. The lockable compartment would be accessible only with a key or other means that would be controlled by an attendant, so that a player could not acquire a prize without the help of the attendant. In this manner, thieves would be thwarted from cheating the game because the could not acquire the prizes without the assistance of an attendant.
Abstract:
A system suitable for counting strings of arcade type tickets comprising a transport mechanism, a sensing system for reading bar coded information and counting marks, a computer program and computer to tally, sort and compile management reports, and a video monitor to display the counting results, or additionally, display entertainment items or advertising to the customer while using the counter. The transport mechanism is especially designed to handle the new “paper” style tickets and is capable of handling tickets of varying sizes.
Abstract:
A method to count tickets which includes a translucent ticket with an opaque pattern with translucent portions, including a light source on the first side of the ticket and a detector on a second side of the ticket, providing relative motion between the ticket and the detector. The pattern and translucent portions are detected with the detector.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an amusement device such as a crane game of the kind including a plurality of prizes in a collection bin for withdrawal, the crane game including a floor upon which the prizes rest that can be vertically shifted as prizes are withdrawn to maintain the appearance of a full prize bin. The floor shifting mechanism comprises a motor coupled to an endless belt or chain that drives one or more threaded members to control the movement of the floor in the vertical direction. The invention may include a vibrator for imparting an oscillation to the prizes that redistributes the prizes toward a more level arrangement to place more prizes within the game's participation.
Abstract:
An arcade game gamepiece directing mechanism facilitates a player in guiding a gamepiece in a desired direction over a playing surface. The gamepiece directing mechanism includes a rigid portion and a flexible portion connected to each other. The rigid portion receives inputs from the player and translates them to the flexible portion. When a gamepiece is received by the rigid portion and passed through the flexible portion, the combined motion of the rigid portion and flexible portion causes the gamepiece to travel in a particular direction over the playing surface. The rigid portion can be pivotally to the arcade game, while a distal end of the flexible portion can be restricted by an end restriction that restricts one, two, or three degrees of freedom of the distal end. The end restriction can also be movable relative to the playing surface.