VACUUM CRANE GAME WITH PERFORATED TARGETS

Abstract

A crane game with a vacuum head adapted to pick up objects with a smooth extraction surface is disclosed wherein the objects, or targets, include perforations that present a more challenging target by reducing the available extraction surface. Targets include one or more perforations that may prevent a seal from being formed with the suction head, denying extraction of the target by the vacuum head. Values may be assigned to the targets based on the number of perforations.

Claims

1. A vacuum crane amusement apparatus having a target bin for housing a plurality of targets, a vacuum head including a peripheral lip at a first end for engaging a target in a sealing relationship, a pump for introducing suction at the peripheral lip to capture a sealingly engaged target, a control for maneuvering the vacuum head within the target bin, and an extraction chute for removing captured targets from the target bin, the apparatus further comprising: a plurality of planar targets in the target bin having an extraction surface characterized by a smooth contour engageable with the peripheral lip of the vacuum head in a sealing relationship, the extraction surface further characterized by at least one perforation interrupting said smooth contour such that said perforation thwarts capture of the target by the vacuum head if disposed between the peripheral lip of the vacuum head and the extraction surface by preventing a sealing engagement therebetween.

2. The amusement device of claim 1 wherein the targets are gift cards.

3. The amusement device of claim 2 wherein the perforations on the target are varying sizes.

4. The amusement device of claim 3 wherein the targets differ in quantity of perforations.

5. The amusement device of claim 4 wherein the targets are assigned a redemption value corresponding to the quantity of perforations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum crane game and target bin housing targets with perforated surfaces;

[0012] FIG. 2 in an enlarged, perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a target of the vacuum crane game of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 showing the pick-up device on a perforation; and

[0014] FIGS. 4 and 5 are top views of variations of the target of FIG. 2 with multiple perforations and point values.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a game apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. Game apparatus 10 includes a housing 12, vacuum crane 14, player controls 16, and a target bin 18. The construction and operation of a vacuum crane game is known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and extensive discussion of the construction and operation of the vacuum crane game is omitted in favor of a brief overview for the sake of brevity.

[0016] A crane game 10 includes a housing 12 divided into two sections, a target bin 18 on a first half of the housing and a storage compartment 20 on the other half of the housing. The storage compartment 20 can enclose pumping equipment and the electronics to manipulate the vacuum crane 14 and produce any sounds or visual effects that accompany the game play. The storage compartment 20 can also provide a repository for surplus prizes or targets as the inventory in the target bin 18 is depleted. On the housing 12 is a control panel 22 including a slot 24 for receiving the tokens, coins, money, or game cards that initiates a game play. The control panel 22 further includes a controlling device such as a joystick or button 16, or the like for maneuvering the crane 14 within the target bin 18. The target bin 18 includes a boom 28 spanning its width and driven along two horizontal rails 30 on a set of rollers 32. Using the controlling device 16 to actuate an electrical motor, the boom 28 can be positioned along the path between the front and rear walls of the target bin.

[0017] In addition to controlling the position of the boom in the forward/rearward direction, a carriage assembly 34 rides on the boom 28 and translates across the boom 28 from the left side to the right side of the target bin 18. Once again, the controlling device 16 initiates movement of the carriage assembly 34 along the boom 28 such that, by manipulating the controlling device in a particular manner the carriage assembly 34 can be positioned substantially over any object in the target bin 18. The carriage assembly 34 is driven by an electric motor or other device that is controlled by the button 16, a joystick, touchpad, or other similar input device.

[0018] The crane assembly 14 includes a vacuum head 36 suspended as a crane by a retractable cable 38 and weight assembly 40, and further connected to a coiled suction line 42 leading to a pump (not shown), wherein suction from the pump is communicated through the suction line 42 to the distal end of the vacuum head 36. The head 36 includes a circular lip 44 or peripheral edge selected to mate with the respective upper surfaces of the targets 100 in the target bin 18 to form a substantially air-tight seal. When the vacuum head 36 is engaged with a target 100 in a sealing relationship (see FIG. 2) and suction is communicated to the vacuum head 36, the negative pressure inside the vacuum head will cause the target 100 to adhere to the peripheral lip 44 and be captured. As long as suction is maintained at the vacuum head 36 and the seal between the target 100 and the peripheral lip 44 is maintained, the captured target will remain held connected.

[0019] The vacuum crane game 10 may include a sensing mechanism (not shown) that determines when a target 100 has been captured by the vacuum head 36, and initiates an operation whereby the vacuum head 36 is raised above the collection of targets 100 and directed to an extraction chute 48 separated from the targets 100. The suction is automatically disconnected when the vacuum head 36 resides over the extraction chute 48, causing the captured target to fall into the extraction chute where it enters a compartment 50 that can be accessed by the player. The challenge for the skilled player is to identify a target 100 first and then using the controlling device 16 maneuver the vacuum head 36 appropriately until the peripheral lip 44 of the vacuum head 36 is directly above the selected target, and then the vacuum head is lowered onto the target 100 until mating results in capture and finally extraction.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2-5, in the present invention the targets 100 present additional challenges in that the targets' upper surface 112 is reduced by the presence of perforations 110 of varying size and number. The voids 110 increase the difficulty because the vacuum head 36 will be unable to achieve a seal against the target 100 if the vacuum head 36 is located such that the peripheral lip 44 partially or wholly covers the perforation (see FIG. 3). Thus, the target 100 will not be captured by the vacuum head 36 in this case. The player must therefore avoid the perforations 110 as he attempts to land the vacuum head 36 on the target's available extraction surface 112 (the uninterrupted smooth surface between or around the perforations). Adding additional perforations 110 further reduce the available extraction surface 112 and increase the difficulty, as will the strategic locating of the perforations 110 to break-up the largest extraction surface areas and the size of the perforations.

[0021] The targets themselves can take the form of playing cards, poker chips, redeemable gift cards, or other stackable thin prizes that can be perforated. Other shaped targets 100c are also possible.

[0022] The shape of the perforation 110 is not limited and take any shape, although circular perforations are typically easier to impart on the prize. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the number and placement of the perforations can result in a varying scale of difficulty assigned to the various targets, with a higher difficulty assigned to targets with two or more perforations and lower difficulty assigned to one. Furthermore, spacing can also affect the assigned difficulty level of the target. The difficulty level can then be used to determine the appropriate reward for successfully capturing and extracting the various targets. Each target is assigned a value of points that can be redeemed for prizes or other rewards, and the player is challenged to attempt to retrieve the most difficult targets and reap the greatest rewards or try the easier targets and accumulate points more slowly. The system provides much greater interest and intrigue to the amusement device.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the vacuum head 36 comes into contact with the extraction surface 112 of the target 100 of the present invention, two possibilities are present. First, the player can maneuver the vacuum head 36 clear of the perforations 110 and create a sealing relation with the extraction surface 112, enabling the target 100 to be captured and extracted (FIG. 2). Alternatively, the vacuum head 36 can contact the extraction surface 112 such that the peripheral lip 44 of the vacuum head 36 resides on top of the perforation i.e., the perforation is partially or completely covered by the vacuum head 36 (FIG. 3). In this case, the suction at the vacuum head 36 is defeated by the open gap between the extraction surface 112 and the peripheral lip 44, as air represented by arrows 52 flows through the gap preventing adherence of the target 100 to the vacuum head 36. This prevents the target 100 from being captured and extracted. As more perforations 110 are added to a target, the available extraction surface 112 is reduced and the difficulty in maneuvering the vacuum head 36 to a suitable position for capture is increased.

[0024] As described above, the present invention increases the difficulty level of a crane game target 100 by introducing areas where suction against the surface of the target is rendered more difficult. The term target is used in the disclosure because the object to be picked up may be a prize, or it may be a holder for a marker or ticket reflecting a point value. Extraction of the holder allows the player to accumulate these markers for redemption at a designated location. The vacuum head 36 is typically conical with a circular base that allows objects with flat surfaces such as cards or poker chips, or the holders may also house a prize.

[0025] Although preferred embodiments have been described and depicted herein, the invention is not limited to those descriptions and depictions, and the scope of the invention includes the reasonable modifications and substitutions that would be recognized and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is properly measured by the appended claims below, using their ordinary and customary meaning in light of, but not limited by, the descriptions herein.