The invention relates generally to arcade games. More specifically, the invention relates to an arcade game wherein an object of the game is for a player to capture an object.
The background description provided herein gives context for the present disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art.
Crane-style arcade games have an electronic control system and a mechanical system that allows a player to purchase a chance to win a prize by skillful manipulation of player controls. The controls typically include a joystick and/or buttons. These controls allow the player to move a crane head in front/back and left/right directions above a supply of prizes and then drop a claw which will pick up prize merchandise if skillfully and properly manipulated. United States Patent Application No. 2010/0099475 with a named inventor Soichi shows a similar game wherein the crane mechanism is replaced by a humanoid bipedal walking robot. However, the control of the robot by a player is rudimentary, and the robot lacks any significant interaction with the player. The game playing experience can be improved by providing better and more interactive control of the robot as well as meaningful interaction between the robot and the player and improved functionality of the robot.
The following objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodiments, are not exhaustive and do not limit the overall disclosure. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Any of the objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodiments disclosed herein can be integrated with one another, either in full or in part.
It is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the present disclosure to improve on or overcome the deficiencies in the art.
It is a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present disclosure to provide an arcade game that permits a player to capture prizes within the arcade game by controlling a robot.
According to one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an arcade game that includes a cabinet containing a plurality of items; and a robot within the cabinet, wherein the robot is adapted to be controlled by a player to capture one or more of the items. The robot may include a stationary base; a lower member rotatably connected to the base to rotate about a first generally vertical axis; a torso member rotatably mounted to the lower member that rotates about a second axis that is generally horizontal; an arm member rotatably mounted to the torso member to rotate about a third axis that is generally parallel to the second axis; the arm member having a first member that is mounted to the torso member and a second member that is axially aligned with the first member and located distally away from the torso member; the first and second members of the arm member being swivelly mounted to each other to rotate about a fourth axis that is generally axially aligned with the first and second members of the arm member; and a hand portion rotatably mounted at a distal end of the second member of the arm member to rotate about a fifth axis that is generally transverse to the fourth axis. The hand portion may include hand-like pincers for grasping and releasing items. The robot may include a head portion mounted to the second member of the arm member. The head portion may include a video screen that displays facial features. The head portion may include an image capturing device, such as a video camera. The game may also include a computer media in connection with the image capturing device that permits facial recognition of returning players. The cabinet may have the shape of a hexagonal prism that permits viewing of game play from all angles around the cabinet.
According to another embodiment, the disclosure describes an articulated robotic arm on a rotating lower member adapted to capture prizes in an arcade game that includes a video screen mounted on one of the proximal arm members having the appearance of a head and animated face.
According to another embodiment, an articulated robotic arm has a base, a first arm member that is mounted to rotate around a vertical axis on the base, a second arm member that is hinged to the first arm member to rotate about a horizontal axis, and a third arm member hinged to the second arm member to rotate about a second horizontal axis; a claw adapted to acquire prizes attached to the third arm member; and a video screen mounted to the top of the third arm member having the appearance of a head and animated face. The third arm member may include a proximal portion connected to the second arm member and a distal portion connected to the claw; wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion swivel relative to each other and wherein the video screen is mounted on the proximal portion.
According to another embodiment, an articulated robotic arm in a prize capture arcade game is programmed to move in a manner that simulates a dance either as an initial interest mechanism or as a celebration upon successfully capturing a prize.
According to another embodiment the disclosure relates to an articulated robotic arm having a base, a first arm member that is mounted to rotate around a vertical axis on the base, a second arm member that is hinged to the first arm member to rotate about a horizontal axis, and a third arm member hinged to the second arm member to rotate about a second horizontal axis; a claw adapted to acquire prizes attached to the third arm member; wherein the arm members are adapted such that the first arm member rotates about the base, while the second arm member rotates relative to the first arm member, and the third arm member rotates relative to the second arm member in a rhythmic manner to simulate a dance. The claw may have the appearance of hands and may be adapted to simulate clapping during the dance.
According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to an arcade game that has a cabinet containing items to be captured; a robot comprising: a stationary base, a foot portion mounted to rotate about a vertical axis on the base, a lower body portion mounted to the foot portion to rotate about a first horizontal axis between the lower body portion and the foot portion, an upper body portion having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the upper body portion mounted to the lower body portion to rotate about a second horizontal axis between the lower body portion and the upper body portion; and a capturing mechanism mounted at the distal portion of the upper body portion, the capturing mechanism adapted to capture and release at least one of items to be captured. A control mechanism permits a user to at least partially control a position of the capturing mechanism above the items to be captured by controlling an angle of rotation of the foot portion about the vertical axis relative to the stationary base and by controlling a distance of the capturing mechanism away from the vertical axis. The distance of the capturing mechanism away from the vertical axis may be controlled by rotation of the lower body portion about the first horizontal axis and rotation of the upper body portion about the second horizontal axis. The robot may include a video display adapted to display facial features attached to the upper body portion. The control mechanism may be mounted to an exterior of the cabinet. The control mechanism may be a portable user device programmed with an app that communicates with the robot via a wireless protocol. The capturing mechanism may be a grabber mechanism adapted to grab the items. The grabber mechanism may have two hand portions that are selectively moved towards each other to capture an item and selectively moved away from each other to release the captured item. The hand portions may comprise a removable pad. The shape of the removable pad may be adapted to be suitable for the items. A coefficient of friction of the removable pad may affect how difficult it is to capture and retain an item. The force with which the hand portions move towards each other may be adjustable to control a difficulty in capturing and retaining an item. The items may include redemption items that can be redeemed for a prize or prizes. The items may include ticket rolls. The items may be prizes. The items may be include plush prizes. The game may also include a swivel axis between the distal and proximal portions of the upper body portion that permits the distal portion to swivel relative to the proximal portion. The game may further comprise a video display adapted to display facial features attached to the distal portion of the upper body portion. The arcade game may include an optical sensor for sensing the presence of a potential player. The robot may be adapted to move the video display to face the potential player after sensing the presence of the potential player. The robot may include a speaker that is programmed to play a message that simulates the robot talking to the potential player. The arcade game may further comprise an arm portion pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper body portion, the arm portion connecting the upper body portion to the capturing mechanism. The robot may be programmed to move in a manner that simulates a dance either as an initial interest mechanism or as a celebration upon successfully capturing a prize. The capturing mechanism may include simulated hands, wherein the hands simulate clapping during the dance. The control mechanism may have a joystick and a push button, and the angle of rotation of the foot portion about the vertical axis relative to the stationary base may be controlled by moving the joystick to the left or right and the distance of the capturing mechanism away from the vertical axis may be controlled by moving the joystick fore and aft; and pushing the push button may cause the capturing mechanism to move towards the items and attempt to capture an item. The joystick may have an ergonomic ball with a recessed handprint. The grabbing mechanism may include a sensor for sensing the proximity of items to the grabbing mechanism. The cabinet may have a hexagonal playing field surrounded by six generally transparent panels. Optical sensors may be provided associated with each panel to sense the presence of a potential player. The robot may be adapted to move the video display to face the potential player after sensing the presence of the potential player. The robot may have a starting position wherein the robot will rotate approximately 180 degrees clockwise and 180 degrees counterclockwise around the vertical axis. The lower body portion may rotate approximately 40 degrees rearward on the first horizontal axis from a vertical orientation and approximately 50 degrees forward on the first horizontal axis from the vertical orientation.
According to another feature, a remote user can control the robot including speaking to a player or potential player so that the robot responds to the player or potential player in real time.
These and/or other objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing the following brief and detailed descriptions of the drawings. The present disclosure encompasses (a) combinations of disclosed aspects and/or embodiments and/or (b) reasonable modifications not shown or described.
Several embodiments in which the present disclosure can be practiced are illustrated and described in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like components throughout the several views. The drawings are presented for exemplary purposes and may not be to scale unless otherwise indicated.
Attached hereto as an Appendix is a User's Manual for an arcade game with a prize acquiring robot according to one embodiment of the invention.
An artisan of ordinary skill in the art need not view, within isolated figure(s), the near infinite distinct combinations of features described in the following detailed description to facilitate an understanding of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure is not to be limited to that described herein. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, procedural, and/or other changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. No features shown or described are essential to permit basic operation of the present disclosure unless specifically indicated.
This disclosure relates to an arcade game 10 that includes a robot 12 within a cabinet 20 that is used to capture and release prizes (see e.g.
As seen in
As seen in
As further seen in
Details regarding the structure and function of one embodiment of the robot 12 are illustrated in
The range of rotation about the various axes according to one embodiment is shown in
The robot 12 may be programmed to dance and clap as the game plays music in order to attract players or to celebrate when a player has a successful turn. The movement of the robot's portions can be timed to coordinate with the music. The video screen 68 can simulate facial expressions and may include a depiction of a mouth 72 that moves to simulate talking. The image capturing device 70 may be associated with a computer memory (not shown) that includes facial recognition features to recognize returning players.
The use of the robot 12 to capture a prize 24 is shown in
Additional details of the grasping mechanism 18 can be seen in
Additional details of an embodiment of an arcade game and its operation are shown in a User's Manual attached hereto as an Appendix.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used above have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present disclosure pertain.
The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include both singular and plural referents.
The “invention” is not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specification and the claims. The “scope” of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the disclosure is further qualified as including any possible modification to any of the aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein which would result in other embodiments, combinations, subcombinations, or the like that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to provisional patent applications U.S. Ser. No. 63/287,886, filed Dec. 9, 2021, and U.S. Ser. No. 63/370,206, filed Aug. 2, 2022. The provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, including without limitation, the specifications, claims, and any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63287886 | Dec 2021 | US | |
63370206 | Aug 2022 | US |