GAMING DEVICE INCLUDING A GAME COIN FIRING MECHANISM

Abstract

Gaming device with a firing mechanism for shooting a game coin into a coin track, comprising a preferably arc-shaped deflection track and leading to a target device, wherein the deflection track is bordered by a recess in a housing front panel and the target device is arranged in the area of said recess, characterised in that the housing front panel is at least sectionally transparent in design, wherein behind the housing front panel, a visualisation device is arranged such that at least a portion of the visualisation device is visible through the housing front panel and/or through the recess.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising: a firing mechanism for shooting a game coin or object into a coin or object track, wherein said coin or object track comprises a deflection track in a recess in a housing front panel, and leads to a target device, the deflection track fixedly leading to and terminating in a target device remote from said firing mechanism, the target device having a plurality target areas proximal to the recess, the plurality of target areas leading to a coin collector by way of a coin or object channel recesses, and a return channel to the firing mechanism from at least one opening adjacent to the plurality of target areas, wherein the housing front panel is at least sectionally transparent in design, wherein behind the housing front panel, a visualisation device is arranged such that at least a portion of the visualisation device is visible through the housing front panel and/or through the recess.

2. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation device is arranged behind the housing front panel such that a portion of a visualisation device is visible through the at least sectionally transparent housing front panel and another portion of the visualisation device is visible through the recess of the housing front panel.

3. The gaming device according to claim 2, wherein the visualisation device extends directly up to the target device.

4. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation device extends at least sectionally behind the target device, wherein the target device is at least partially transparent in design, so that a portion of the visualisation device is visible through the target device.

5. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation device extends over a wide area essentially over the entire top housing front section, located above the target device, wherein the housing front section is bordered by a preferably frame-like or strip-like housing edge in which the visualisation device is recessed.

6. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the recess in the housing front panel is covered in the direction of the inside of the device at least sectionally by a partition, which is of at least partially transparent design in the area of the recess, so that a section of the visualisation device arranged behind the partition is visible through the partition.

7. The gaming device according to claim 6, wherein the partition is arranged in sandwich fashion between the visualisation device and the housing front panel.

8. The gaming device according to claim 7, wherein in the partition, at least one coin channel recess is provided adjoining the target device and forms a further coin track for game coins or objects discharging from the target device.

9. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the recess in the housing front panel is covered in the direction of the inside of the device at least sectionally by the visualisation device, such that the visualisation device delimits at least a portion of the coin track.

10. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein a detection device for detecting entry of a game coin or object into a target area and a control device for controlling the visualisation device are provided depending on the detected target entry of the game coin or object.

11. The gaming device according to claim 10, wherein the detection device comprises a contact detection device allocated to the visualisation device, particularly in the form of a touchscreen, wherein the contact detection device is intended and designed to detect contact by the game coin or object.

12. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein a further contact detection device is allocated to the housing front panel and/or a front window positioned in front of the housing front panel, wherein the contact detection device is intended and designed to detect manual contacts by a device user.

13. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein a/the control device for controlling the visualisation device and/or for controlling the firing mechanism and/or controlling the target device is provided to depend on detection of contact with the contact detection device.

14. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the target device, the housing front panel and the visualisation device are jointly mounted on a device door and are movable together with the device door in relation to the device body.

15. The gaming device according to claim 1 wherein the visualisation device is selected from the group consisting of an LED screen, an LCD screen, a plasma screen, and a TFT monitor.

16. A gaming device comprising a firing mechanism for shooting a game coin into a coin track, wherein said coin track comprises an arc-shaped deflection track in a recess in a housing front panel, the arc-shaped deflection track fixedly leading to and terminating in a target device remote from said firing mechanism, the target device having a plurality of target areas proximal to the recess, wherein the housing front panel is at least sectionally transparent in design, wherein behind the housing front panel, a visualisation device is arranged such that at least a portion of the visualisation device is visible through the housing front panel and another portion of the visualisation device is visible through the recess of the housing front panel, wherein the visualisation device is located above the target device, and wherein the recess in the housing front panel is covered by a partition that occupies a location behind the recess.

17. The gaming device according to claim 16, wherein the visualisation device extends directly up to the target device.

18. The gaming device according to claim 16, wherein the visualisation device extends at least sectionally behind the target device, wherein the target device is at least partially transparent in design, so that a portion of the visualisation device is visible through the target device.

19. The gaming device according to claim 16, wherein the partition is arranged in sandwich fashion between the visualisation device and the housing front panel.

20. The gaming device according to claim 16 wherein in the partition, at least one coin channel recess is provided adjoining the target device and forms a further coin track for game coins discharging from the target device.

21. The gaming device according to claim 16, wherein the recess in the housing front panel is covered in the direction of the inside of the device at least sectionally by the visualisation device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be explained in further detail below based on a preferred example of embodiment and corresponding drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1: shows a perspective representation of a gaming device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the firing mechanism for shooting a game coin, the coin track bordered by a recess in a housing front panel and the target device likewise arranged in said recess are visible on the device front,

[0027] FIG. 2: shows a front view of the gaming device from FIG. 1, which illustrates the arrangement of a screen of the visualisation device partially overlapping said recess and partially overlapping the non-recessed area of the housing front panel,

[0028] FIG. 3: shows a side view of the gaming device from the previous figures, which illustrates the cubic design of the device body with the essentially flat design of the housing front, from which an operating lever of the firing mechanism protrudes,

[0029] FIG. 4: shows a top view of the top of the gaming device from the previous figures,

[0030] FIG. 5: shows a perspective representation of the gaming device from the previous figures with the housing door opened, so that the internal workings of the gaming device and the arrangement of the screen of the visualisation device are visible on the device door.

[0031] FIG. 6: shows a vertical section through the housing front, which illustrates the staggered arrangement of the housing front panel in which the recess for the coin track is provided, that of the partition closing the recess and that of the screen of the visualisation device and

[0032] FIG. 7: shows a vertical section through the housing front similar to FIG. 6, wherein the recess for the coin track on the device interior side is directly covered by the screen of the visualisation device, wherein a contact sensor for game coin detection is allocated to the screen and likewise a further contact sensor is allocated to the front window 16 for inputting of interactive control commands by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] As FIGS. 1 and 5 show, the gaming device 1 may comprise an essentially cubic device housing 2, which may be advantageously designed in the manner of a cabinet and comprise a housing door 13 in order to be able to open the device housing 2 and render accessible the components accommodated inside the device. Said housing door 13 may in this case form the housing front, which can be essentially viewed frontally from an operating terminal suited to the purpose. The gaming device 1 may be designed as a free-standing, a so-called standalone device, but may also form a wall-mounted device that can be fixed to the wall.

[0034] As FIG. 1 shows, a firing mechanism 7 is provided on the housing front or the housing door 13, preferably in a bottom section, of which the operating lever 14 can be seen in FIG. 1. Using said firing mechanism 7, a player can shoot a game coin or game object 11 into a coin or object track 5, or set the coin or object in motion, wherein said coin or object track 5 comprises in the present case an arc-shaped deflection track 6, arranged overhanging or overhead. The game coin or object 11 is guided along the deflection track 6, for as long as the velocity of the game coin or object 11 is sufficient, i.e. the game coin or object 11 is maintained on the deflection path 6 despite counteracting gravitational forces; compare FIG. 2. Depending on the velocity of the game coin 11, the game coin 11 detaches itself at a certain point from the overhanging deflection path 6 in order to subsequently move (under gravitational influence or gravitational pull) along a parabolic curve or trajectory. Depending on the trajectory, the game coin 11 subsequently falls into one of the target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n of a target device 8 or fall in between said target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n. Said target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n may, as illustrated in FIG. 2, be designed in the manner of landing points or islands and/or be arranged spaced apart from one another along a horizontal line underneath said deflection track 6. Alternatively, said target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n may also however be arranged spaced apart from one another along an inclined or vertical line, wherein other arrangements of the target areas are also possible, for example in the form of an irregular, cloud-like distribution of the target areas.

[0035] The aforementioned firing mechanism 7 may for example comprise a spring-loaded firing pin, which can be tensioned by the operating lever 14. When the operating lever 14 is released, the game coin 11 is fired under spring force into the coin track 5.

[0036] Said deflection path 6 may be bordered by a recess 4 in a housing front panel 3, said front housing panel 3 forming a part of the housing front or a part of the housing door 13. In particular, said recess 4 may comprise an approximately crescent-shaped recess section, the arc-shaped contour of which may itself form said deflection track 6. If necessary, a separate guide that forms the deflection path 6 may be provided in said recess 4, for example in the form of a wire or the like or a guide rail.

[0037] As FIG. 4 shows, said housing front panel 3, in which the recess 4 is formed, may be covered at the front by a front window 16, made for example of glass or a transparent plastic, which closes said recess 4. In the direction of the inside of the device, said housing front panel 3 may be covered by a partition 12, wherein the partition 12 likewise extends beyond the recess 4 in order to close the recess 4 in the direction of the inside of the device. The recess 4 forms a disc-shaped or plate-shaped cavity, the thickness of which is slightly greater than the thickness of the game coins, such that the game coins are freely mobile therein, without being able to tip over or only being able to execute slight tilting movements.

[0038] The target areas 15 of the target device 8 advantageously extend in the form of collecting baskets or jaws 17 from the partition 12 to said recess 4, wherein the jaws 17 are designed to be open upwards so as to be able to catch game coins 11 dropping from above. In the partition 12, coin channel recesses 18 capable of leading to a coin collector 27 are provided adjoining the jaws 17 to allow game coins 11 landing in the jaws 17 of the target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n to pass through the partition 12 into the coin collector. Alternatively, game coins 11 may also be returned to the firing mechanism 7 via a return channel 28; compare FIG. 5.

[0039] As FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 illustrate, a screen 10 of a visualisation device 9 is provided above the target device 8, wherein the screen 10 extends behind the partition 12 and the housing front panel 3 featuring the recess 4, wherein the screen 10 may preferably extend parallel to the housing front panel 3 and partition 12 and in particular directly adjoining the same.

[0040] The screen 10 may, according to one embodiment, extend over a wide area essentially over the entire top housing front section, located above the target device, wherein said housing front section may if necessary be bordered by a preferably frame-like or strip-like housing edge 22 in which the visualisation device is recessed.

[0041] As FIGS. 2 and 6 show, the screen 10 is positioned in such a manner in this case that a portion of the screen 10 is located behind the recess 4 and another portion of the screen 10 is located behind the non-recessed section 20 of the housing front panel 3. From an operating terminal suited to the purpose, i.e. in a resulting proper viewing direction 21 frontally towards the housing front, the screen 10 is covered by the housing front panel 3 in such a manner that a portion of the screen 10 is visible through the recess 4 and a portion of the screen 10 is visible through the housing front panel 3.

[0042] In other words, the housing front panel 3 is at least sectionally transparent in design, wherein behind the housing front panel 3, the visualisation device 9 is arranged such that at least a portion of the visualisation device 9 is behind the recess 4 as observed through the housing front panel 3, wherein the recess 4 in the housing front panel 3 is covered by a partition 12 that occupies a location behind the recess 4.

[0043] Said housing front panel 3 and the partition 12 are transparent in design, for example in the form of a glass plate or a transparent plastic plate, which may be of anti-glare design in order to avoid reflexes and enhance visibility of the screen.

[0044] As FIG. 2 shows, the screen 10 may extend over a wide area essentially over the entire housing front section above the target device 8, wherein said housing front section however is bordered by a non-transparent door frame section 22, extending in the manner of a strip or frame around the screen 10; compare FIG. 2.

[0045] As FIG. 2 shows, a bottom edge of the screen 10 in this case may essentially end on a top edge of the target device 8, defined by the target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the screen 10 could however also extend downwards over the target device 8, so that the screen 10 also overlaps the target device 8. Advantageously, the target device 8 may in this case also be at least partially transparent in design, so that the screen 10 or a section thereof is visible through the target device 8.

[0046] Said screen 10 can be activated by a control device 24 incorporated within the housing 2 of the gaming device 1, for example in order to display additional information such as operating instructions, game rules or the like, or also display additional games or bonus games such as for example a reel-spinning game on the screen 10.

[0047] In particular, the control device 24 may activate the screen 10 depending on the coin game, in particular depending on whether and which target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n are hit by a game coin 11. For this purpose, a detection device 23, for example in the form of an optical and/or magnetic sensor or one operating on a different principle, may be respectively allocated to said target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n in order to detect entry of a game coin 11 into the respective target area 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n. Depending on the target area hit, a bonus game for example may be started or the number of points scored on the screen 10 may be displayed or other elements of information may be presented, as explained above.

[0048] In order to be able to detect and display coin entry into the target areas 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n or also the trajectory adopted by a game coin 11, in a further embodiment of the invention, said detection device 23 may also comprise means of contact detection, preferably in the form of a touchscreen sensor, which may be allocated to the screen 10 or also said partition 12. If the touchscreen sensor is directly allocated to the screen 10, the partition 12 may be omitted and/or the recess 4 and/or the target device 8 may be at least sectionally covered or closed at the rear by the screen 10, so that the game coin 11 on its path through the recess 4 and/or on entry into a target area 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n contacts the screen 10, which is detected by the touchscreen sensor 25. FIG. 7 for example shows a corresponding arrangement of the screen 10. Said touchscreen sensor may be a sensor operating according to the capacitive or inductive principle or according to another principle such as for instance surface wave or infrared optical imaging, in coordination with the game coins used if necessary. The contact sensor may extend over the entire surface of the screen 10 or only over a portion thereof.

[0049] In order to facilitate interactive, intuitive control of the gaming device, a contact detection device, preferably in the form of a further contact sensor 26, may alternatively or additionally be allocated to a front window 16 positioned in front (from viewing direction 21) of the housing front panel 3; compare FIG. 7. Said front window 16 may for example be a transparent glass or plastic plate with a contact sensor applied or be designed as a transparent touchscreen. According to an example of embodiment, the control device 24 for controlling the visualisation device 9 and/or for controlling the firing mechanism 7 and/or controlling the target device 8 is intended and designed to depend on detection of contact with the contact detection device 26.

[0050] As FIG. 5 shows, the screen 10 and the components of the coin game, particularly the target device 8 and if appropriate also the aforementioned touchscreen facilities, may be jointly positioned on the device door 13, so that said components have a joint mounting base in relation to one another, which facilitates the position assignment of the components in relation to one another. The housing door 13 may form a preassembled module with said components.

[0051] The device door 13 may in this case be pivoted open around an upright, lateral axis in the manner of a door and may if necessary be pivoted upwards around a horizontal transverse axis, for example at the top edge of the door, in the manner of a flap, whereby buffering elements and/or relief elements and/or retaining elements for example in the form of a pneumatic spring may be provided in order to hold the device door with the components mounted thereon in an open position and assist movement during travel to this position. An appropriate hinge may be allocated to the lateral axis or the horizontal transverse axis. In an alternative embodiment, the module mentioned above may however be firmly or detachably connected to the device housing 2 without a pivoting function.

[0052] This description is by way of example only and the claims appended hereto determine the full scope of the invention. In order to be clear the listing of sequential components of the present invention e.g. 15a, 15b, . . . , 15n where the sequence of periods are used as shorthand and shall mean any included sequential components, and in this example the periods indicate the components 15b thru 15n, inclusively.