Adjustable prize chute

Abstract

A crane or claw machine in combination with an adjustable prize chute. The prize chute having four inner panels and four corner panels movable with respect to each other. A groove allows for the adjusting and repositioning of the panels for smaller or larger chute sizes. A pivot allows for adjustment of the panels with respect to each other, enlarging or shrinking the size of the chute.

Claims

1. An adjustable prize chute, comprising four inner panels; four corner panels; the panels connected and repositionable; the corner panels are further comprised of a plurality of grooves; the inner panels are further comprised of a plurality of pivots; the plurality of grooves in the corner panels and the plurality of pivots on the inner panels allows for the repositioning of the panels for smaller or larger chute sizes; the grooves in the corner panels allows them to slide together and away from the inner panels with the inner panel pivot providing guidance for the sliding motion; and the plurality of pivot points allows the lower portion of the corner panels to fan out or collapse in and straighten out in a closed position.

2. The adjustable prize chute of claim 1, wherein the panels are quadrilateral in shape.

3. The adjustable prize chute of claim 1, wherein the shape of the panels combines the shape of a quadrilateral or pentagonal top section with a square or rectangle lower section resulting in a panel with either a pentagonal or hexagonal shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein a form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

(2) FIGS. 1-3 are images of the inner and corner panels as they can be moved with respect to each other to create an open and a closed position which corresponds to an enlarged or a reduced prize chute opening.

(3) FIG. 4 is an image of the inner and corner panels as they can be moved with respect to each other to create an open position.

(4) FIG. 5 is an image of the inner and corner panels as they can be moved with respect to each other to create an open position.

(5) FIG. 6 is an image of an inner panel used by the present invention.

(6) FIGS. 7-8 are images of a corner panel used by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

(8) In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

(9) Skill cranes and other amusement vending machines are typically found in retail locations where children are present. Such locations often include grocery stores, theme restaurants, game arcades, and the like.

(10) Conventional skill crane games typically include a transparent cabinet that holds a plurality of prizes, such as stuffed toy animals, capsulated items, candy, etc. A movable claw or other grasping device is positioned inside the cabinet, and is operably connected to a joystick mounted on the outside of the cabinet. After inserting the required amount of money, the player attempts to grab a prize by moving the open claw into position with the joystick and releasing it. If the player has skillfully positioned the claw over the desired toy or prize, then the claw will descend onto the toy and grasp it. The claw then transfers the toy to an outlet chute from which the player can retrieve the toy. With all the toys mixed together in a pile, however, it is often difficult for the player to determine exactly which toy the claw is hovering over before dropping the claw. As a result, the player is often unsuccessful at grabbing a toy.

(11) Some skill crane games limit the amount of time the player has to grab a prize. If the player does not grab a prize in the given time, then the player must insert more money into the machine for continued play. Other skill crane games give the player a single opportunity to drop the claws over a desired toy in an attempt to grasp a prize. If the player is unsuccessful, then the player must insert additional money for continued attempts. Given the difficulty of grabbing a toy on the first or second try, many players become discouraged by these game formats and do not return to play the game again.

(12) Although a specific embodiment of a game machine with a grabber is described here, the skilled person will appreciate that the measures of the invention are also applicable to any other game machine in which other game means are provided in a cabinet or housing, wherein it is for instance possible to envisage coin and token games and games of skill.

(13) The Cabinet consists essentially of a front wall, two side walls, a rear wall, an upper wall, and a bottom. Front wall here consists essentially of an upper transparent panel, a lower translucent panel. Each side wall likewise comprises an upper transparent panel. A typical cabinet for a crane, claw, or prize machine is also equipped with a prize chute where the prize, picked from a playing field by a crane, claw, or other apparatus is then deposited into a top opening of a prize chute for delivery to a prize dispensing location at an opposing end of the prize chute.

(14) Now referring to Figures, the adjustable prize chute of the present invention is shown. The adjustable prize chute, in one embodiment, is part of a crane or claw machine. The prize cute consist of four inner panels 101, 102, 103, 104 and four corner panels 107, 108, 109, and 110 as shown in FIGS. 5-6.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, a plurality of grooves 105 106 in the corner panels 107, 108, 109, and 110 and a plurality of corresponding pivots 113 and 114 on the inner panels 101, 102, 103, 104 allows for the repositioning of the panels for smaller or larger chute sizes. The grooves 105 and 106 in the corner panels allows them to slide together and away from the inner panels 101, 102, 103, 104 with the inner panel pivots 113 and 114 providing guidance for the sliding motion as shown in FIGS. 4-5.

(16) A second set of pivot points 111 and 112 allows the lower portion 115 of the corner panels to fan out or collapse in and straighten out in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 2-3. This allows the prize cute to maintain a complete enclosure with no gaps or openings as moves or transitions between open and close positions as shown in FIGS. 4-5.

(17) Now referring to FIGS. 6-8, the shape of the panels is not that of a rectangle and is similar to that of a hexagon as shown in FIG. 6, a hexagon as shown in FIG. 7, and a pentagon as shown in FIG. 8. In one embodiment, the panels can be quadrilateral in shape. In another embodiment, like those depicted in FIGS. 6-8, the shape of the panels can include a square or rectangular lower portion 115, which combines the shape of a quadrilateral top section 116 as shown in FIG. 6, a pentagonal top section 116 as shown in FIG. 7, or a quadrilateral top section 116 as shown in FIG. 8 with a square or rectangular lower section 115, to create the pentagonal or hexagonal shape of the panel as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.

(18) The shape of the panels is critical to the repositioning of the panels between open and closed positions depicted in FIGS. 4-5 and the ability to maintain a chute that has no openings, edges, corners, etc. where prizes could be lost or get hung up, resulting in a blocked or clogged prize chute, possibly rendering the machine unplayable.

(19) Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(20) Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.