Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6533281
-
Patent Number
6,533,281
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 19, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 18, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ackun; Jacob K.
- Francis; Faye
Agents
- Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 129
- 446 130
- 446 131
- 446 132
- 446 133
- 446 134
- 446 135
- 446 136
- 446 137
- 446 138
- 446 139
- 463 61
- 463 68
- 273 1081
- 273 126 A
- 273 443
- 273 442
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A playing machine making a player feel as if a car is running by moving a mobile body modeling a car shape on the surface of a circulating endless belt, wherein front wheels mounted on the mobile body are turned in a moving direction by a relatively simple mechanism.The mobile body 40 comprises a body 50, the front wheels 43 which are mounted so as to face toward the front both sides of the body 50 and which can swing around steering shafts 70 perpendicular to the obverse surface of the endless belt 20 and a wheel arm 46 to which the both front wheels 43 are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts 70 and which is formed to be movable according to the swing of the front wheels 43 around the steering shafts 70. Moreover, and the obverse-side attraction means 86 is fitted to the wheel arm 46 and is formed to be movable together with the wheel arm 46.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a playing machine. It relates more particularly to a playing machine making a player feel as if an automobile is running by moving a mobile body modeling an automobile shape transversely on the obverse surface of a circulating endless belt. It further relates to a playing machine wherein front wheels fitted to the mobile body turn to their moving direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, there has been provided a playing machine making a player feel as if an automobile is running by moving a mobile body modeling an automobile shape transversely on the obverse surface of a circulating endless belt.
Such a playing machine comprises an endless belt, a guide body and the mobile body.
The above-mentioned endless belt is formed so that it may circulate. Further, on the obverse surface of the endless belt is painted a picture illustrated a road and the like.
Further, the above-mentioned guide body is installed on the reverse side of the endless belt which positions above the guide body, and is formed to move transversely when a player turns a steering wheel. Further, in an upper portion of the guide body is mounted reverse-side attraction means by a magnetic force.
Further, the above-mentioned mobile body is formed to model an automobile shape and is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt. Further, in a lower portion of the mobile body is mounted obverse-side attraction means which attracts the reverse-side attraction means mounted in the above-mentioned guide body each other by a magnetic force.
Still further, since both the reverse-side attraction means mounted in the guide body and the obverse-side attraction means mounted in the mobile body attract each other by a magnetic force, both the guide body and the mobile body attract each other through the endless belt.
Then, when the player turns the steering wheels to move the guide body transversely, the mobile body moves transversely on the obverse surface of the endless belt according to the movement of the guide body. Accordingly, it seems as if an automobile is actually running.
By the way, in order to increase the reality in the movement of the mobile body, such a playing machines is sometimes formed to make its two front wheels fitted to the mobile body turn to their moving direction as well as an actual automobile.
There has been, however, some problems in the above-mentioned mechanism by which the front wheels turns to their moving direction.
Concretely, the mechanism by which both wheels turn to their moving direction sometimes uses a power source such as a motor. However, the electric cords, which are necessary for supplying electric power to the power source or for controlling the power source, are not of good appearance.
Further, the mechanism by which both wheels turn to their moving direction needs so many constituent parts that it raises the manufacturing cost of the whole playing machine.
Accordingly, a playing machine in the present invention comprises a wheel arm to which both front wheels are connected at positions forward from steering shafts and which moves according to the swing of the front wheels around the steering shafts. The wheel arm is also connected with obverse-side attraction means. Thus, when the reverse-side attraction means moves, the obverse-side attraction means and the wheel arm first move according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means. At the same time, both front wheels so swing that they turn in their moving direction. Accordingly, the whole mobile body can move according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means. In this way, it is an object of the present invention to provide a playing machine in which both front wheels can turn in their moving direction without using so many parts.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a playing machine comprising a circulating endless belt (
20
), a guide body (
30
) which is provided at the reverse side of the endless belt (
20
) and which is formed to be movable upon the operation by a player, and a mobile body (
40
) which is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
) and which is formed to model an automobile shape; wherein reverse-side attraction means (
31
) by a magnetic force is mounted at a side of the guide body (
30
) near to the mobile body (
40
); obverse-side attraction means (
86
) by a magnetic force is mounted at a side of the mobile body (
40
) near to the guide body (
30
); both the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) mounted in the guide body (
30
) and the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) mounted in the mobile body (
40
) are formed to attract each other through the endless belt (
20
); the mobile body (
40
) is formed to be movable on the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
) according to the movement of the guide body (
30
) upon the operation by the player; the mobile body (
40
) comprises a body (
50
), front wheels (
43
) which are fitted so as to face toward the front both sides of the body (
50
) and which can swing around steering shafts (
70
) perpendicular to the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
) and a wheel arm (
46
) to which the both front wheels (
43
) are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts (
70
) and which is formed to be movable according to the swing of the front wheels (
43
) around the steering shafts (
70
); and the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) is fitted to the wheel arm (
46
) and is formed to be movable together with the wheel arm (
46
).
Here, the “endless belt (
20
)” means a belt whose both ends are bonded to each other to form an annular shape. The endless belt (
20
) can usually keep its proper tension to circulate by means of one driving roller (
21
), one guide roller (
22
) or more and one tension roller (
23
) or more. An outside surface of the endless belt (
20
) is regarded as an “obverse surface” and an inner surface a “reverse surface”. Further, on the surface of the endless belt (
20
) is usually painted a picture illustrating a road or the like, and the road appears to change from moment to moment according to the circulating movement of the endless belt (
20
).
Further, the “guide body (
30
)” means a device which indirectly moves the mobile body (
40
). The guide body (
30
) is provided at the reverse side of the endless belt (
20
) and is formed so as to be movable upon the operation of the player. Further, the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) is mounted at a side of the guide body (
30
) near to the mobile body (
40
).
Further, the “reverse-side attraction means (
31
)” is means which attracts the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) each other by a magnetic force and is made of a magnet or a magnetic substance. Further, the magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electric magnet.
Further, the “mobile body (
40
)” means a device which is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
) and is formed to be movable on the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
). The obverse-side attraction means (
86
) is mounted at a side of the mobile body near to the guide body (
30
). Further, the mobile body (
40
) models an automobile shape and comprises the body (
50
), the front wheels (
43
), the wheel arm (
46
) and so on.
Further, the “obverse-side attraction means (
86
)” is means which attracts the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) each other by a magnetic force and is made of a magnet or a magnetic substance. Further, the magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electric magnet.
Then, since the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) and the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) attract each other by a magnetic force, the guide body (
30
) and the mobile body (
40
) attract each other through the endless belt (
20
).
By the way, it is necessary for either or both of the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) and the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) to be made of a magnet in order that the both of them attract each other by a magnetic force.
Further, the “body (
50
)” means a part corresponding to a body of an actual automobile. The body (
50
) comprises, for example, an upper body (
41
) and a base frame (
42
).
Further, the “front wheels (
43
)” are wheels which are fitted so as to face toward the front both sides of the body (
50
) and which can swing around the “steering shafts (
70
)” perpendicular to the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
). The front wheels (
43
) are also formed so that they may rotate around “axles (
68
)” parallel to the obverse surface of the endless belt (
20
).
That is, each front wheel (
43
) is formed so that it may swing clockwise or counter-clock wise around the steering shafts (
70
) in a plan view of the body (
50
) and that it may rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise around the axles (
68
) in a side view of the body (
50
).
Further, the “wheel arm (
46
)” means a component to which both-front wheels (
43
) are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts (
70
) and which moves together with both front wheels (
43
).
For example, when both front wheels (
43
) are fitted to the body (
50
) through the steering shafts (
70
) and the hubs (
45
) with the axles (
68
), both front wheels (
43
) may be connected by fitting the wheel arm (
46
) to the hubs (
45
). Then, when the wheel arm (
46
) moves to the right, both front wheels (
43
) turn to the right. On the other hand, when the wheel arm (
46
) moves to the left, both front wheels (
43
) turn to the left.
Further, by connecting the above-mentioned obverse-side attraction means (
86
) to the wheel arm (
46
), when the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) moves, the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) and the wheel arm (
46
) first moves according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) and simultaneously both front wheels (
43
) turn to their moving direction. Thereafter, the whole mobile body (
40
) moves according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means (
31
).
For example, when the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) moves to the right, the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) and the wheel arm (
46
) first moves to the right according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) and simultaneously both front wheels (
43
) turn to the right. Thereafter, the whole mobile body (
40
) moves to the right according to the reverse-side attraction means (
31
) due to the relative advance of the mobile body (
40
) to the circulating endless belt (
20
).
In this way, by providing with the wheel arm (
46
) to which the both front wheels (
43
) are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts (
70
) and which is formed to be movable according to the swing of the front wheels (
43
) and by connecting the obverse-side attraction means (
86
) to the wheel arm (
46
), it is possible for both front wheels (
43
) to turn to their moving direction without using so many parts.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1
is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a playing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view showing a driving mechanism of an endless belt.
FIG. 3
is a side cross-sectional view showing essential parts of a mobile body and a guide body.
FIG. 4
contains a plan view (A) and a side view (B) of a base frame.
FIG. 5
contains a plan view (C) and a side view (D) of a hub, a cross-sectional view (E) taken along a line X-X in (D) and a cross-sectional view (F) taken along a line Y-Y in (D).
FIG. 6
is a plan view of a wheel arm (auxiliary wheel arm).
FIG. 7
contains a plan view (G), a back plan view (H) and a front view (I) of an underbase.
FIG. 8
is an exploded perspective view showing an essential part of the mobile body.
FIG. 9
is a side cross-sectional view showing an essential part of the mobile body.
FIGS. 10
to
12
are plan views showing the operation of the mobile body.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a playing machine according to the present invention is explained in conjunction with an example shown in figures. The playing machine according to the present embodiment is a playing machine making a player as if an automobile is running by moving a mobile body
40
modeling an automobile shape longitudinally and transversely on a obverse surface of a circulating endless belt
20
.
The playing machine comprises a circulating endless belt
20
, a guide body
30
which is provided at the reverse side of the endless belt
20
and which is formed to be movable upon the operation by a player, and a mobile body
40
which is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
and which is formed to model an automobile shape.
Reverse-side attraction means
31
by a magnetic force is mounted at a side of the above-mentioned guide body
30
near to the mobile body
40
and obverse-side attraction means
86
by a magnetic force is mounted at a side of the above-mentioned mobile body
40
near to the guide body
30
. Then, since both the reverse-side attraction means
31
mounted in the guide body
30
and the obverse-side attraction means
86
mounted in the mobile body
40
are formed to attract each other through the endless belt
20
, the mobile body
40
is formed to move on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
according to the movement of the guide body
30
upon the operation by the player.
Further, the above-mentioned mobile body
40
comprises a body
50
, front wheels
43
which are fitted so as to face toward the front both sides of the body
50
and which can swing around steering shafts
70
perpendicular to the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
and a wheel arm
46
to which the both front wheels
43
are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts
70
and which is formed to be movable according to the swing of the front wheels
43
around the steering shafts
70
.
Further, the above-mentioned obverse-side attraction means
86
is fitted to the wheel arm
46
and is formed to be movable together with the wheel arm
46
.
Accordingly, when the reverse-side attraction means
31
moves, the obverse-side attraction means
86
and the wheel arm
46
first moves according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means
31
and simultaneously both front wheels
43
turn to their moving direction. Thereafter, due to the circulating rotation of the endless belt
20
and the direction of both front wheels
43
, the whole mobile body
40
, which moves on the endless belt
20
, moves according to the movement of the reverse-side attraction means
31
.
In this way, the playing machine is so formed that the both front wheels turn to their moving direction without using so many parts.
The playing machine is further described in detail hereinafter.
The playing machine comprises the endless belt
20
, the guide body
30
and the mobile body
40
inside its casing
10
.
Casing
10
As shown in
FIG. 1
, an upper surface panel
11
is mounted on an upper surface of the casing
10
.
The upper surface panel
11
inclines to lower its near side to the player.
Further, this upper surface panel
11
is divided into two parts: a slightly-inclined part
12
from a far side to a midway of the upper surface panel
11
with a relatively slight inclination and a largely-inclined part
13
from the midway to the near side with a relatively large inclination.
The above-mentioned slightly-inclined part
12
is provided with a transparent top window
14
through which the player can visually recognize the endless belt
20
and the mobile body
40
placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
disposed inside the casing
10
.
Further, the above-mentioned largely-inclined part
13
is provided with a steering wheel
15
and a shift lever
16
.
Further, in a lower portion of a front surface of the casing
10
, an acceleration pedal
17
and a breaking pedal
18
are formed.
Endless Belt
20
Further, the above-mentioned endless belt
20
is formed to circulate while keeping a proper tension by means of some rollers disposed inside the above-mentioned casing
10
with rotary axes along the transverse direction of the casing
10
.
Concretely, as shown in
FIG. 2
, a driving roller
21
with a driving mechanism is installed at an upper part of the near side in the casing
10
. Further, guide rollers
22
are respectively installed at a lower part of the near side, at an upper part of the far side, at a lower part of the far side, and around a middle part of the far side in the casing
10
. Further, at a level between the guide rollers
22
at the lower part and around the middle part of the far side, and in the position slightly nearer to the near side from these two guide rollers
22
, a tension roller
23
which keeps the tension of the endless belt
20
is installed. Then, when the driving roller
21
rotates by the driving mechanism, the endless belt
20
circulates according to the rotation of the driving roller
21
. Further, the respective guide rollers
22
and the tension roller
23
rotate according to the circulation of the endless belt
20
. Here, although respective guide rollers
22
rotate in the same direction as the rotation of the driving roller
21
, only the tension roller
23
rotates in the direction inverse to the rotation of the driving roller
21
.
Further, the driving mechanism rotates rapidly when the player either changes over the shift lever
16
to a high speed mode or steps in the acceleration pedal
17
. On the other hand, the driving mechanism rotates slowly when the player either changes over the shift lever
16
to a low speed mode or steps in the breaking pedal
18
. Accordingly, the endless belt
20
circulates rapidly or slowly.
Moreover, on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
is painted a picture illustrating a road and the like. Accordingly, as the endless belt
20
circulates counter-clockwise in a right side view of the casing
10
, the road and the like painted on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
change from moment to moment. Accordingly, it appears as if the mobile body
40
modeling an automobile shape is actually running.
Guide Body
30
Further, the above-mentioned guide body
30
is installed in the reverse side of an upper portion of the endless ring-shaped endless belt
20
and is formed move longitudinally and transversely upon the operation of the steering wheel
15
or the like by the player.
Concretely, when the player turns the steering wheel
15
clockwise, the guide body
30
moves to the right; when the player turns the steering wheel
15
counter-clockwise, the guide body
30
moves to the left. Further, when the player steps in the acceleration pedal
17
, the guide body
30
moves forward; when the player steps in the breaking pedal
18
, the guide body
30
moves backward.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 3
, some magnets as the reverse-side attraction means
31
are mounted in an upper portion of the guide body
30
.
Mobile Body
40
Further, as shown in
FIG. 3
, the above-mentioned mobile body
40
has a shape modeling an automobile and is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
.
The mobile body
40
comprises the upper body
41
, the base frame
42
, the front wheels
43
, rear wheels
44
, the hub
45
, the wheel arm
46
, an auxiliary wheel arm
47
, an arm joint
48
, and an underbase
49
.
Upper Body
41
The above-mentioned upper body
41
is a part corresponding to an upper body of an actual automobile and is integrally formed of plastics.
Base Frame
42
Further, the above-mentioned base frame
42
comprises, as shown in
FIGS. 4A and 4B
, a planar-shaped base part
51
, a front-wheel-fitted part
52
contiguously formed in a front part of the base part
51
and a rear-wheel-fitted part
53
contiguously formed in a rear part of the base part
51
.
Four body-fitted lugs
55
are formed in the base part
51
. The body-fitted lugs
55
are formed in a planer shape and protrude outward from both sides of the base part
51
. Further, a circular body-fitted hole is formed in each body-fitted lug
55
. Accordingly the above-mentioned upper body
41
is fixed to the base frame
42
with body-fitting pins through the body-fitted holes.
Namely, the body
50
is constituted by the base frame
42
and the above-mentioned upper body
41
.
Further, two front-wheel-fitted lugs
56
, an arm-joint-fitted hole
58
and a transversely-elongated hole
59
are formed on the above-mentioned front-wheel-fitted part
52
. The front-wheel-fitted lugs
56
are formed in a planer shape and protrude outward from both sides of the front-wheel-fitted part
52
. Further, a circular steering-shaft-fitted hole
57
are formed in each front-wheel-fitted lug
56
. Further, the arm-joint-fitted hole
58
is formed in the approximately center of the front-wheel-fitted part
52
and is formed in a circular shape. Further, the transversely-elongated hole
59
, formed in an oblong shape elongated transversely in the base frame
42
, is disposed in the approximately center of the front-wheel-fitted part
52
and also forward from the above-mentioned arm-joint-fitted hole
58
.
Further, two rear-wheel-fitted lugs
60
are formed on the above-mentioned rear-wheel-fitted part
53
. The rear-wheel-fitted lugs
60
are formed in a planer shape and protrude downward from both sides of the rear-wheel-fitted part
53
below the base frame
42
to face each other. Further, a circular rear-wheel-fitted holes
61
are formed in each rear-wheel-fitted lugs
60
.
Front Wheels
43
and Rear Wheels
44
Further, the above-mentioned front wheel
43
is comprised of a wheel
62
and a tire
63
as shown in FIG.
8
.
The above-mentioned wheel
62
includes a disc-shaped disc part
64
and a cylindrical rim part
65
contiguously connected to a periphery of the disc part
64
. Further, a circular axle-fitted hole
66
is formed in the center of the disc part
64
.
Then, the tire
63
is fitted to an outer periphery of the rim part
65
thus constituting the front wheel
43
.
By the way, with respect to the rear wheel
44
, the tire is fitted to an outer periphery of the rim part
65
of the wheel
62
with the disc part
64
and the rim part
65
as well as the front wheel
43
.
Further, the rear wheels
44
are disposed at both sides of the rear-wheel-fitted parts
53
of the above-mentioned base frame
42
and are fitted to the base frame
42
by means of cylindrical-rod-shaped wheel shafts
67
through both rear-wheel-fitted holes
61
so that they can rotate.
The manner of fitting the front wheels
43
is explained later.
Hub
45
Further, as shown in
FIGS. 5A-5D
, the hub
45
is provided with an axle
68
, an axle-center hole
69
, a steering shaft
70
, a steering-shaft-center hole
71
, an arm-insertion groove
72
and an arm-fitted hole
73
.
The above-mentioned axle
68
is formed into a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the above-mentioned axle-fitted hole
66
. Further, the axle-center hole
69
is formed in the center of this axle
68
.
Further, the above-mentioned steering shaft
70
is also formed into a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the above-mentioned steering-shaft-fitted hole
57
. Further, the steering shaft
70
is disposed perpendicular to the axle
68
. Moreover, a steering-shaft-center hole
71
is formed in the center of the steering shaft
70
.
Further, above-mentioned arm-insertion grooves
72
are formed at both sides of the axle
68
and are formed parallel to the axle
68
.
Further, the above-mentioned arm-fitted holes
73
are formed in both sides of the steering shaft
70
and are formed parallel to the steering shaft
70
to penetrate the arm-insertion grooves
72
.
Then, as shown in FIG.
8
and
FIG. 9
, the hub
45
is disposed at the inside of the rim part
65
of the front wheel
43
and is fitted to the front wheel
43
by inserting the axle
68
into the axle-fitted hole
66
and by simultaneously inserting an axle-fitting pin
74
into the axle-center hole
69
so that it can rotate.
Further, as shown in FIG.
8
and
FIG. 9
, the hubs
45
are arranged at both sides of the front-wheel-fitted part
52
of the above-mentioned base frame
42
and are fitted to the base frame
42
by inserting the steering shafts
70
into steering-shaft-fitted holes
57
and by simultaneously inserting steering-shaft-fitting pins
75
into the steering-shaft-center holes
71
so that they can rotate.
Accordingly, both front wheels
43
are fitted to both front side of the body
50
to face each other. Further, both front wheels
43
can swing clockwise or counter-clockwise around the steering shafts
70
in a plan view of the body
50
, while both front wheels
43
can rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise around the axle
68
in a side view of the body
50
.
Wheel Arm
46
and Auxiliary Wheel Arm
47
Further, as shown in
FIG. 6
, the above-mentioned wheel arm
46
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
are formed in a flat bar shape and their lengths are made approximately equal to a distance between both hubs
45
fitted to the base frame
42
. Further, circular center-connection holes
76
are formed approximately in the middle of the wheel arm
46
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
, while circular hub-connection holes
77
are formed in the vicinity of both ends of the wheel arm
46
and auxiliary wheel arm
47
.
Then, the wheel arm
46
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
are so fitted that they connect both hubs
45
fitted to the base frame
42
.
Here, when the hub
45
is fitted to the base frame
42
, the arm-insertion groove
72
forward from the steering shaft
70
is referred to as a front-arm-insertion groove
87
and the arm-insertion groove
72
positioned backward from the steering shaft
70
is referred to as a rear-arm-insertion groove
88
. It is explained below in detail how the wheel arm
46
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
are fitted to the hub
45
.
As shown in FIG.
8
and
FIG. 9
, the wheel arm
46
, whose both ends are inserted into the front-arm-insertion grooves
87
of both hubs
45
, is fitted to both hubs
45
with the arm-fitted holes
73
and arm-fitting shafts
78
through the hub-connection holes
77
so that it can swing.
That is, the wheel arm
46
, its both ends being fitted to both hubs
45
with the arm-fitting shafts
78
parallel to the steering shaft
70
so that it can swing, connects both front wheels
43
forward from the steering shaft
70
and moves together with both front wheels
43
.
Further, as shown in FIG.
8
and
FIG. 9
, the auxiliary wheel arm
47
, whose both ends are inserted into the rear-arm-insertion grooves
88
of both hubs
45
, is fitted to both hubs
45
with the arm-fitted holes
73
and arm-fitting shafts
78
through the hub-connection holes
77
so that it can swing.
That is, the auxiliary wheel arm
47
, its both ends being fitted to both hubs
45
with the arm-fitting shafts
78
parallel to the steering shaft
70
so that it can swing, connects both front wheels
43
backward from the steering shaft
70
and moves together with both front wheels
43
.
Arm Joint
48
Further, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the above-mentioned arm joint
48
is constituted by a step-like-shaped bent part
79
to which a flat plate is bent and a cylindrical rod-shaped rotary shaft
80
which perpendicularly protrudes approximately from the center of the bent part
79
. Further, a circular wheel-arm-connection hole
81
is formed in the vicinity of an end of the bent part
79
while a circular auxiliary-wheel-arm-connection hole
82
is formed in the vicinity of another end of the bent part
79
.
Then, the arm joint
48
, its rotary shaft
80
being inserted into the arm-joint-fitted hole
58
formed approximately in the center of the front-wheel-fitted part
52
of the base frame
42
, is fitted to the base frame
42
so that it can rotate.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 8
, a cylindrical arm-joint-connection shaft
83
, being inserted into the auxiliary-wheel-arm-connection hole
82
of the arm joint
48
and the center-connection hole
76
of the above-mentioned auxiliary wheel arm
47
, is fitted to the arm joint
48
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
so that it can rotate. Thus, the arm joint
48
and the auxiliary wheel arm
47
are made to move together.
Underbase
49
Further, as shown in
FIGS. 7A-7C
, the above-mentioned underbase
49
is constituted by a chipped-disc-shaped discal part
84
, a cylindrical movable shaft
85
which perpendicularly protrudes approximately from the center of the discal part
84
, and some magnets as obverse-side attraction means
86
embedded in a side of the discal part
84
opposite to the movable-shaft
85
.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the underbase
49
is disposed below the front-wheel-fitted part
52
of the base frame
42
and, its movable shaft
85
being inserted into the center-connection hole
76
of the above-mentioned wheel arm
46
, is fitted to the wheel arm
46
so that it can rotate.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the movable shaft
85
, being inserted into the wheel-arm-connection hole
81
of the arm joint
48
, is also fitted to the arm joint
48
so that it can rotate, and then the arm joint
48
and the wheel arm
46
are made to move together.
Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the movable shaft
85
, being inserted into the transversely-elongated hole
59
in the base frame
42
, moves along the transversely-elongated hole
59
, and then the underbase
49
can be made to move transversely relative to the base frame
42
.
Thus, the mobile body
40
formed as above is placed on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
and the reverse-side attraction means
31
of the guide body
30
and the obverse-side attraction means
86
of the mobile body
40
attract each other by a magnetic force. Therefore, the guide body
30
and the mobile body
40
are made to attract each other through the endless belt
20
.
Movement
Subsequently, the movement of the playing machine according to the present embodiment is explained in detail.
As shown in
FIG. 10
, both front wheels
43
of the mobile body
40
usually parallel to a forward direction and so the mobile body
40
is made to run straight on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
.
Further, when the player moves the guide body
30
, the mobile body
40
moves on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
according to the movement of the guide body
30
.
Concretely, when the player, turning the steering wheel
15
, moves the guide body
30
embedded with the reverse-side attraction means
31
to the right, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the underbase
49
embedded with the obverse-side attraction means
86
and the wheel arm
46
first move to the right according to the movement of the guide body
30
. Simultaneously, by both front wheels
43
which can turn transversely and both rear wheels
44
which can rotate without turning, both front wheels
43
of the mobile body
40
moving on the obverse surface of the endless belt
20
turn to the right, with their front parts moving to the right. Thus, thereafter, as shown in
FIG. 12
, according to the circulation of the endless belt
20
, the whole mobile body
40
moves to the right corresponding to an advancing distance of the mobile body
30
against the endless belt
20
.
Further, when the player, turning the steering wheel
15
, moves the guide body
30
embedded with the reverse-side attraction means
31
to the left, of all, the underbase
49
embedded with the obverse-side attraction means
86
is and the wheel arm
46
first move to the left according to the movement of the guide body
30
. Simultaneously, both front wheels
43
turn to the left. Thereafter, the whole mobile body
40
moves to the left according to the movement of the guide body
30
.
In this way, in the playing machine, the front wheels
43
are made to turn to their moving direction as well as those of an actual automobile in order to show, with more reality, how the mobile body
40
runs.
Further, the playing machine has the wheel arm
46
to which both front wheels
43
are connected forward from the steering shaft
70
and which moves according to the swing of the front wheels
43
around the steering shaft
70
. Moreover, the obverse-side attraction means
86
is fitted to the wheel arm
46
and thus the both front wheels
43
turn to their moving direction according to the movement of the obverse-side attraction means
86
.
Therefore, by constituting the mechanism by which the front wheels
43
turn to their moving direction with relatively a few parts, the mobile body
40
can be manufactured easily, the manufacturing cost of the whole playing machine can be reduced and further the appearance of the playing machine can be improved.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
As has been explained above, according to the present invention, the playing machine can be manufactured easily, the manufacturing cost of the whole playing machine can be reduced and further the appearance of the playing machine can be improved.
Claims
- 1. A playing machine comprising a circulating endless belt, a guide body which is provided at a reverse side of the endless belt and which is formed to be movable upon operation by a player, and a mobile body which is placed in an obverse surface of the endless belt and which is formed to model an automobile shape; wherein:a reverse-side magnetically attractive element is mounted in a top of the guide body near to the mobile body; an obverse-side magnetically attractive element is mounted in a bottom of the mobile body near to the guide body; both the reverse-side magnetically attractive element mounted in the guide body and the obverse-side magnetically attractive element mounted in the mobile body are formed to attract each other through the endless belt; the mobile body is formed to be movable on the obverse surface of the endless belt according to movement of the guide body upon the operation by the player; the mobile body comprises a body, forward-facing front wheels located at two sides of the body which can swing around steering shafts perpendicular to the obverse surface of the endless belt, and a wheel arm to which the both front wheels are connected at positions forward from the steering shafts and which is formed to be movable according to the swing of the front wheels around the steering shafts; and the obverse-side magnetically attractive element is fitted to the wheel arm and is formed to be movable together with the wheel arm.
- 2. The playing machine of claim 1, wherein the front wheels are parallel to each other.
- 3. The playing machine of claim 1, wherein the obverse surface of the circulating endless belt includes a representation of a road.
- 4. The playing machine of claim 1, further comprising a driver configured to circulate the endless belt at different speeds.
- 5. The playing machine of claim 1, further comprising a driver configured to circulate the endless belt at different speeds, wherein the speed of the driver is controlled by an acceleration pedal and a braking pedal operated by the player.
- 6. The playing machine of claim 1, further comprising a steering wheel operatively coupled to the guide body.
- 7. The playing machine of claim 1, wherein only one of the reverse-side magnetically attractive element and obverse-side magnetically attractive element is a magnet.
- 8. The playing machine of claim 7, wherein the magnet is an electric magnet.
- 9. The playing machine of claim 7, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
- 10. The playing machine of claim 1, wherein the circulating endless belt circulates on a driving roller, a guide roller, and a tension roller.
- 11. The playing machine of claim 1, wherein the front wheels are adapted to rotate about axles.
- 12. The playing machine of claim 11, wherein the front wheels are adapted to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise.
- 13. The playing machine of claim 1, further comprising an outer casing.
- 14. The playing machine of claim 13, wherein the outer casing further comprises a window through which the player may view the mobile body and the circulating endless belt.
- 15. The playing machine of claim 1, further comprising two rear wheels located at either side of the body.
- 16. The playing machine of claim 15, wherein the rear wheels are adapted to rotate about axles.
- 17. The playing machine of claim 15, wherein the rear wheels are parallel to each other.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-211473 |
Jul 1999 |
JP |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/JP00/04947 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO01/07129 |
2/1/2001 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
04-092690 |
Mar 1992 |
JP |
4-29674 |
Jul 1992 |
JP |
560392 |
Sep 1993 |
JP |