The present disclosure deals with arcade game systems.
Sports games such as basketball, baseball, football, and archery are popular, but can require a lot of space to play an actual game. When the requisite space is not available, a smaller scale game, such as a mechanical arcade game, may be used that requires less space and may be played with fewer people. Mechanical arcade games differ from electric games or video games in that a mechanical arcade game provides a target for a player to physically throw or shoot a projectile toward, such as a basketball goal or an archery target. Mechanical arcade games may be set up for entertainment indoors such as in a garage, basement, or in a game room.
In some instances, the game is able to be taken apart for storage when the game is not in use and then reassembled when needed. However, this process can be complicated and time consuming, as the game may include several different pieces that have to be disassembled.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.
Certain embodiments include an arcade game system that is capable of being arranged in an unfolded configuration for game play and in a collapsed position for storage. The arcade game system includes a frame that includes an arrangement of panels. Each of the panels is formed from an assembly of struts that are arranged in a planar configuration.
When the frame is in an unfolded configuration, the arcade game system defines a player position adjacent to and in front of the front panel. A game play area is defined between the vertical rear panel and the vertical front panel and above the first body panel and the second panel. A target is positioned on the upper section of the rear panel. An apron extends from the rear panel to the front panel beneath the game play area and over the first body panel and the second body panel.
The frame includes a rear panel that has an upper section and a lower section. The upper section is foldable with respect to the lower section. In certain embodiments, the upper section is foldable rearwardly with respect to the lower section. The frame also includes a first intermediate body panel and a second intermediate body panel. The first body panel is pivotally connected to the rear panel, and the second body panel is pivotally connected to the first body panel. A front panel is pivotally connected to the second body panel.
In the unfolded configuration, the first body panel is positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the rear panel and the second body panel is positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the front panel. When the frame is in the collapsed configuration, the rear panel, first body panel, second body panel, and front body panel are parallel to each of the other panels to form a stack of panels. In the unfolded configuration, the height of the rear panel is greater than the height of the front panel. In the collapsed configuration, the upper section of the rear panel is folded with respect to the lower panel of the rear panel so that the height of the rear panel is shorter in the collapsed configuration.
Some embodiments include a method for arranging an arcade game system into a collapsed configuration from an unfolded configuration. The arcade game system includes a frame with a front panel, a rear panel, and first and second body panels. In the unfolded configuration, the first and second body panels are arranged at oblique angles with respect to the vertical front panel and the vertical rear panel. To move the arcade game system into the collapsed configuration from the unfolded configuration, the front panel is pivoted with respect to the second body panel so that the front panel is parallel to the second body panel. The second body panel is then pivoted with respect to the first body panel so that the second body panel and the front panel are parallel to the first body panel. Then, the first body panel is pivoted with respect to the rear panel so that the first body panel, the second body panel, and the front panel are parallel to the rear panel. An upper section of the rear panel is folded rearwardly with respect to a lower section of the rear panel so that the upper section of the rear panel is parallel to the lower section of the rear panel.
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
The present disclosure pertains generally to the field of mechanical arcade games and more particularly to a foldable arcade system. In summary, the arcade game includes a frame upon which can be mounted a target, for instance, a backboard with basketball rims. A game play area may be enclosed on both sides with nets and with an apron to catch and return the ball to the player. The game can be converted to play baseball or football tossing games by mounting a rectangular screen with target holes in front of the basketball rims. The corners of the screen can be secured or dismounted via elastic bands and connectors extending from the four screen corners to locations on the frame. Other types of targets may alternately be used.
The frame consists of a series of struts forming frame panels which are pivotally interconnected. In the expanded configuration, the panels form a somewhat W shaped profile. In the collapsed or folded configuration the panels form a stacked profile with a total thickness defined by the stacked thicknesses of the panels. The panels include a series of hinged braces which can be selectively locked to lock the W profile in the open configuration. A rear panel of the W includes lockable hinges at a midpoint, which enable an upper panel or set of struts to be rotated to a raised or lowered between an upper position and a lower position. In some embodiments, a set of cables extend between the front panel and the rear panel providing tension and bracing between the front panel and the upper section of the rear panel. Optionally, a set of hinged net supports extend forward from the upper edge of the upper section of the rear panel. When desired, the various hinged braces and hinges can be unlocked and the respective portions folded and pivoted to collapse the frame to the collapsed configuration.
Frame 20 comprises panels or sections that are formed from a series of side struts that are connected by cross struts at the top and bottom of the side struts so that each panel has an open center portion. Additional cross struts may extend between the side struts at intermediate points between the ends of the side struts. Generally, the struts are arranged so that each panel is rectangular and lies in a single plane. Two panels may share a cross strut where the panels are pivotally joined.
In an alternate way of describing the panels, as shown in detail in
As illustrated in
Rear panel 25 and front panel 40 are connected by intermediate first and second body panels 50, 60. In the unfolded configuration, body panels 50, 60 are oriented at oblique angles with respect to vertical rear panel 25 and vertical front panel 40 to form a W-shaped profile when viewed from a side perspective. Adjacent panels are connected by pivot connections 100 which allow the adjacent panels to pivot or rotate with respect to each other. Hinged braces 70 connect between adjacent panels and may be used to secure a panel in a desired orientation with respect to an adjacent panel. Although
In some embodiments, a set of cables 80 extend from an upper portion of rear panel 25 and angle downward to front panel 40 to provide tension and bracing for the frame 20 between rear panel 25 and front panel 40. Optional net supports 90 extend from rear panel 25 and provide support locations for sidewall nets that may extend from rear panel 25 to front panel 40. Net supports 90 are hinged so that each net support 90 can be folded to be parallel with respect to rear panel 25 or so that the net support 90 can be positioned perpendicularly with respect to rear panel 25.
As shown in
Upper subpanel 28 may include pivot connections 100 for connecting corresponding net supports 90. A pivot connection 100 connected to a net support 90 allows the net support 90 at least 90 degrees of rotation so that net support 90 can be folded on top of side strut 29 or extends horizontally from side strut 29.
Cross struts 31, 32, 33, 34 extend as cross braces between side struts 27, 29 at various heights alongside struts 27, 29. Cross strut 31 is found in the lower subpanel 26 of rear panel 25 and serves as a base that rests on the floor or on the ground when frame 20 is in an unfolded configuration. The additional cross struts 32, 33, 34 assist to stabilize side struts 27, 29 and may provide attachment and support points for game equipment that may be attached to frame 20. For example, cross strut 32 extends between side struts 27, 29 adjacent the connection between lower subpanel 26 and upper subpanel 28. Cross struts 33, 34 may be located in the upper subpanel 28 and extend between side struts 29.
Each of the cables 80 are attached to rear panel 25 at a cable connection 37. In the embodiment shown, cable connections 37 are located on each of the side struts 29 near cross strut 33. In other embodiments, cable connections 37 may be positioned at other locations on rear panel 25, such as near cross strut 32 or between cross struts 32 and 33. Cables 80 may be attached to rear panel 25 at upper subpanel 28 and be angled downward to attach to front panel 40. Cables 80 may provide support assisting to keep rear panel 25 and front panel 40 upright and substantially parallel to each other when frame 20 is in the unfolded configuration and may also act as a support for side netting around game play area 22.
Lower subpanel 26 and upper subpanel 28 of rear panel 25 are connected by a pair of hinges 36 between struts 27 and struts 29. Each hinge 36 is foldable so that lower subpanel 26 and upper subpanel 28 can be folded to place frame 20 in a collapsed configuration. By folding upper subpanel 28 with respect to lower subpanel 26, the height of rear panel 25 in the collapsed configuration is shorter than the height of rear panel 25 in the unfolded configuration. In some embodiments, each hinge 36 may be a one-way hinge that only allows upper subpanel 28 to pivot rearwardly with respect to lower subpanel 26 and does not allow upper subpanel 28 to pivot forward past a vertical position with respect to lower subpanel 26.
When frame 20 is in the unfolded configuration, the cables 80 are under tension and help prevent upper subpanel 28 from folding with respect to lower subpanel 26. However, when cables 80 are relaxed and/or unattached from either rear panel 25 or front panel 40, upper subpanel 28 may be rotated downward with respect to hinge 36 parallel to lower subpanel 26. In some embodiments, upper subpanel 28 is folded rearwardly so that upper subpanel 28 is folded in a direction away from front panel 40. Folding lower subpanel 26 and upper subpanel 28 reduces the height of frame 20 and creates a smaller footprint for storage.
As illustrated in
Illustrated in
A second intermediate body panel 60 includes a lower body portion 61 supported by a support surface and an upper body portion 62 formed by a pair of side struts 63 that are substantially parallel. At upper body portion 62, each side strut 63 connects to a corresponding side strut 53 and/or cross strut 55 of body panel 50 at a pivot connection 100 so that body panel 60 is pivotable with respect to body panel 50. A hinged brace 70 is connected between each pair of side struts 53, 63 to allow body panels 50, 60 to be locked and to prevent pivoting once body panels 50, 60 are arranged in a desired, unfolded configuration.
At lower body portion 61, each side strut 63 connects to a corresponding side strut 43 or cross strut 44 of front panel 40 so that body panel 60 is pivotable with respect to front panel 40. A hinged brace 70 is connected between each pair of side struts 43, 63 to allow front panel 40 and body panel 60 to be locked and prevented from pivoting once the panels 40, 60 are arranged in a desired, unfolded configuration.
Male fitting 102 may be placed within gap 118 of female fitting 110 and positioned so that pin openings 108, 122 align. A pin 126 is inserted through aligned pin openings 108, 122 to secure the adjacent panels to each other. Male fitting 102 and female fitting 110 are able to rotate with respect to each other about pin 126 so that adjacent panels connected at pivot connections 100 are capable of pivoting with respect to the adjacent panel.
In other embodiments, different forms of connections that allow the panels to pivot with respect to each other may be used rather than the pivot connection 100 shown in
An embodiment of a hinged brace 70 is shown in
One of the strut attachments 76 is attached to a panel of frame 20 and the other strut attachment 76 is attached to a different, adjacent panel of frame 20. Hinged brace 70 includes a locked position in which the support arms 72, 73 are positioned substantially linearly with respect to each other. When support arms 72, 73 are in the locked position, the adjacent panels to which the hinged brace 70 is attached are restricted from pivoting with respect to each other. Hinged brace 70 also includes an unlocked position in which the support arms 72, 73 are positioned non-linearly with respect to each other. In the unlocked position, the adjacent panels to which the hinged brace 70 is attached are permitted to pivot with respect to each other.
As shown in
Side nets 136, 138 are attached to rear panel 25 at a net support 90 and along upper panel 28. One side net 136 extends along one side of backboard 134 and apron 132 to front panel 40. A corresponding side net 138 is attached to rear panel 25 at the other net support 90 and to the opposite vertical strut 30. Side net 138 extends along the opposite side of backboard 134 and apron 132 as side net 136 to front panel 40. Side nets 136, 138 form side walls along game play area 22 to assist in collecting game balls and other objects used with arcade game 15.
In one embodiment, one or more basketball rims 140 are attached to backboard 134 so that frame 20 may be used as a basketball game. A player stands adjacent to front panel 40 and shoots a basketball at a basketball rim 140. After the shot, the basketball is collected by apron 132. Apron 132 is optionally arranged on an incline so that the basketball is returned to the player so that the basketball may be shot again. A score counter and a timer may be included with frame 20 to keep track of how many baskets the player has made in a given amount of time.
Typically, when in use, the one or more basketball rims 140 extend substantially perpendicularly from backboard 134 and rear panel 25. However, the one or more basketball rims 140 may be hinged so that each basketball rim 140 is arranged substantially parallel to backboard 134 and rear panel 25 when not in use, allowing more compact storage.
The target of frame 20 may also include a ball toss screen 150, shown in
Ball toss screen 150 is attached to frame 20 in front of backboard 134 and any basketball rims 140 that may be attached to backboard 134 (see
Attachment mechanism 155 may be any device or mechanism that is capable of securing ball toss screen 150 to rear panel 25, such as strings or elastic bands. In the embodiment shown, the attachment mechanisms 155 at the bottom corners of ball toss screen 150 are cords that may be tied around a vertical strut 30 or a support strut 32, 33 of rear panel 25. Attachment mechanisms 155 at the top corners of ball toss screen 150 include tabs 158 that are configured to be threaded lengthwise through corresponding eyelets arranged where the ball toss screen is to be attached. The tabs 158 are then rotated so that the length of tab 158 is transverse to the eyelet so that tab 158 does not disengage from the eyelet. The top corners of ball toss screen 150 may be attached to rear panel 25 or may be attached to net supports 90. Tabs 158 may be fit into eyelets or other openings within net supports 90 or attached to net supports 90. In other embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 155 for the top of ball toss screen 150 may be cords that are tied around net supports 90.
Frame 20 may also include an archery target 160 for archery or darts or any other desired object, as shown in
When in use, frame 20 is set up in an unfolded configuration as shown in
In
In
As shown in
The result of the folding process is a compact frame 20 that has a much smaller footprint than when frame 20 is in an unfolded configuration. In the embodiment shown, the folded frame 20 is about the length and width of the body panels 50, 60 or the front panel 40 with a total thickness T defined by the stacked thickness of the panels. In the collapsed configuration, frame 20 can be fit within a bag or a case so that frame 20 may be portable. In some embodiments, the bag or case may also hold the projectile items to be directed at the target, such as basketballs, footballs, or arrows. The smaller footprint of the collapsed configuration and the hinged connections between panels also allows for arcade game 15 to be packaged for sale and transported pre-assembled yet within a compact box or case without the need for further assembly after unpacking.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected.
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