METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND RANDOMLY DETECTING THE COLOR OF HOCKEY PUCKS TO ENHANCE THE FUN OF GAMING AND SCORING

Abstract

A method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring includes: a ball serving device, an entrance detection device, a game machine main body, an exit detection device, and a motherboard device; at the puck entrance portion near the track exit of the puck serving device, a puck entrance detection device is installed; at the connection point between the inclined track device and the track inside the puck entrance slot holes on the left and right sides of the tabletop of the game machine main body, i.e., at the position near the puck exit portion, an exit detection device is installed; and both the entrance detection device and the exit detection device are connected to the motherboard device through a signal wire.

Claims

1. A method for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring, comprising: Step 1: install the entrance detection device at the track exit of the puck serving device, near the puck entrance portion; Step 2: through the swash plate of the puck serving device installed inside the game machine main body, hockey pucks of various colors are randomly and sequentially rotated and transmitted into the track and then pushed upward; hockey pucks of various colors will fall down from the track exit, and slide from the puck entrance portion into the track slots; the hockey pucks will be detected by the entrance detection device configured at the puck entrance portion; the entrance detection device will automatically transmit the color detection signal of each hockey puck sliding down to the motherboard device via the signal wire for counting and recording; Step 3: when the hockey pucks of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion, the hockey pucks of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck positioned in the lowest track slot and automatically and sequentially fill up each of the track slots on the left; while the hockey pucks of various colors automatically and sequentially fill up each of the track slots on the left, each hockey puck of its individual color sliding down will be detected by the entrance detection device configured at the puck entrance portion to judge what color it is, and the color detection signal will be automatically transmitted to the motherboard device via the signal wire for counting and recording; Step 4: when the hockey pucks of various colors no longer enter the track slots, as the entrance detection device cannot detect any hockey puck sliding down, the entrance detection device will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device; the motherboard device will automatically calculate and judge which color is the most, and automatically set the dominant puck color as the color for score multiplication or addition when a goal is scored; if a puck of any other color scores a goal, the player only scores 1 point; and Step 5: after start of the game, all of the hockey pucks of various colors positioned inside the track slots will automatically fall down to the tabletop of the game machine main body; the consumers can start hitting the pucks; when a hockey puck is hit into the puck entrance slot hole on the left or right side of the game machine main body, the hockey puck will slide into the inclined track device; due to the structural design of the inclined track device, from whatever angle the hockey pucks come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another; when they roll to the puck exit portion of the track and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks will pass the exit detection device configured near the puck exit portion; the exit detection device will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire to the motherboard device; the motherboard device will read the signal and make a judgement; if the color detected by the exit detection device is the one set by the motherboard device at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition will be granted, so that the score will be high; otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point; through the above steps, during each round of the game, the invention can automatically make a judgement based on the hockey pucks of various colors at the puck entrance portion, and randomly determine what color is used as the primary puck color in this round of game for granting multiplication or addition to the scoring, thus enhancing the fun of the game and attracting the attention of consumers; as the consumers do not know which color of the many pucks falling onto the tabletop of the game machine main body will be granted multiplication or addition when the pucks are hit into the puck entrance slot hole, when a hockey puck scores a goal, the consumer may be awarded an unexpected score, with multiplied or added points, and thus enjoy more fun in the game.

2. A device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring, comprising: a puck serving device, an entrance detection device, a game machine main body, an exit detection device, and a motherboard device; the puck serving device is installed in the center of the rear part of the game machine main body; on the bottom of the puck serving device, there is a swash plate that can transmit hockey pucks of various colors into the track and continuously push them upward; the hockey pucks of various colors will slide down from the track exit to the puck entrance portion; when the hockey pucks of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion, the hockey pucks of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck positioned in the lowest track slot and automatically and sequentially fill up each of the track slots on the left; the game machine main body can hold a puck serving device, which is mounted in the center of the rear part of the game machine main body; the game machine main body has a tabletop with a puck entrance slot hole respectively on the left and right side; in each puck entrance slot hole, an inclined track device is installed, and a track is integrally connected with the inclined track device; the tracks respectively extend backward to an appropriate position above the swash plate of the puck serving device, such that the hockey pucks entering the track can automatically fall into the puck serving device; in this way, an automatic cycling is enabled; the hockey pucks of various colors can enter the track again through the swash plate and move to the puck entrance portion at the track exit; the device has the following features: the entrance detection device is a device capable of color detection, installed at the puck entrance portion below the track exit of the puck serving device; it can detect the color of each of the hockey pucks of various colors passing by; it is connected to the motherboard device in series via a signal wire, and can automatically transmit the signal of color detection for each hockey puck to the motherboard device via the signal wire for counting and recording; when the hockey pucks of various colors no longer enter the track slots, as the entrance detection device cannot detect the hockey pucks sliding down, the entrance detection device will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device; the motherboard device will automatically calculate and judge which color is the most, and set this dominant color of hockey puck as the primary color of hockey puck for score multiplication and addition; if a hockey puck of any other color scores a goal, the player can only score 1 point; the exit detection device is configured at the connecting point between the inclined track device and the track, near the puck exit portion; when the hockey pucks of various colors roll through the puck exit portion, the exit detection device can detect the color of each hockey puck entering the puck entrance slot hole, and judge if it is the dominant color for score multiplication or addition set by the motherboard device for this round of the game; and the motherboard device is configured inside the game machine main body; it can be connected to the entrance detection device and the exit detection device in series via the signal wire, to receive the color detection signals respectively from the entrance detection device and the exit detection device; wherein, through the above structural design, after start of the game, all of the hockey pucks of various colors positioned inside the track slots will fall from the puck slide-way to the tabletop of the game machine main body; the consumer can start hitting the hockey pucks; once a hockey puck is hit into the puck entrance slot hole on the left or right side of the game machine main body, the hockey puck will slide into the inclined track device; due to the structural design of the inclined track device, from whatever angle the hockey pucks come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another; when they roll to the puck exit portion of the track and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks will pass the exit detection device configured on the track; the exit detection device will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire to the motherboard device; the motherboard device will read the signal and make a judgement; if the color detected by the exit detection device is the one set by the motherboard device at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition will be granted, so that the score will be high; otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the operation of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective status view of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a combined perspective status view of the invention.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the invention illustrating the operation when hockey pucks enter the puck entrance portion and are detected by the entrance detection device, the pucks of different colors being positioned in their respective track slots.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the invention illustrating the operation where a hockey puck enters the puck entrance slot hole on the side of main body and is detected by the exit detection unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] To provide a more detailed and clear understanding of the objectives, effects, and structural features of the present invention, the following preferred embodiments are illustrated and described in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

[0013] Firstly, please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. The present invention is a method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring. It mainly comprises a puck serving device 6, an entrance detection device 2, a game machine main body 7, an exit detection device 5, and a motherboard device 3. Its operation steps are as following:

[0014] Firstly, through the swash plate 601 inside the puck serving device 6 installed in the game machine main body 7, hockey pucks 8 of various colors are randomly and sequentially rotated and transmitted to the track 602, and continuously pushed upward. Then, hockey pucks 8 of various colors will fall down from the track exit 603.

[0015] The hockey pucks 8 of various colors falling down from the track exit 603 will now slide from the puck entrance portion 1 into the track slots 101. At this point, the pucks will be detected by the entrance detection device 2 configured on the puck entrance portion 1. The entrance detection device 2 will automatically detect the color of each hockey puck 8 sliding down. The signal of the color detection will be automatically transmitted via the signal wire 303 to the motherboard device 3 for counting and recording.

[0016] When hockey pucks 8 of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion 1, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck 8 positioned in the lowest track slot 101 and automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left. During the process when the hockey pucks 8 of various colors automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left, each hockey puck 8 of its individual color will firstly be detected by the entrance detection device 2 configured on the puck entrance portion 1 to judge what color is the hockey puck 8 sliding down (please refer to FIG. 4). The signal of color detection will be automatically transmitted via the signal wire 303 to the motherboard device 3 for counting and recording.

[0017] When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors no longer enter the track slots 101, as the entrance detection device 2 cannot detect any hockey puck 8 sliding down, the entrance detection device 2 will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device 3. Now, the motherboard device 3 will automatically calculate and judge which color is the most, and set this dominant color of hockey puck 8 as the primary color of hockey puck 8 for score multiplication and addition 301. Each entering hockey puck 8 other than the designated color can only score 1 point 302.

[0018] After start of the game (please refer to FIG. 5), all of the hockey pucks 8 of various colors positioned inside the track slots 101 will fall from the puck slide-way 102 to the tabletop of the game machine main body. The consumer can start hitting the hockey pucks. Once a hockey puck 8 is hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701 on the left or right side of the game machine main body 7, the hockey puck 8 will slide into the inclined track device 703. Due to the structural design of the inclined track device 703, from whatever angle the hockey pucks 8 come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another. When they roll to the puck exit portion 4 of the track 702 and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks 8 will pass the exit detection device 5 configured near the puck exit portion 4. Now, the exit detection device 5 will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck 8, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire (not shown in the figure) to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will read the signal and make a judgement. If the color detected by the exit detection device 5 is the one set by the motherboard device 3 at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition 301 will be granted, so that the score will be high. Otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point 302.

[0019] Therefore, after completion of the above steps, the method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring disclosed in the present invention can automatically make a judgement based on the hockey pucks 8 of various colors at the puck entrance portion 1, and randomly determine what color is used as the primary puck color in this round of game for granting multiplication or addition to the scoring, thus enhancing the fun of the game and attracting the attention of consumers. As the consumers do not know which color of the many pucks falling onto the tabletop of the game machine main body will be granted multiplication or addition when the pucks are hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701, when a hockey puck 8 scores a goal, the consumer may be awarded an unexpected score, with multiplied or added points, and thus enjoy more fun in the game.

[0020] First, please refer to FIGS. 2 to 4. The present invention is a device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring, mainly comprising a puck serving device 6, an entrance detection device 2, a game machine main body 7, an exit detection device 5, and a motherboard device 3. Specifically, the puck serving device 6 is installed inside the center part of the rear side of the game machine main body 7. On the bottom of the puck serving device 6, there is a swash plate 601 that can transmit hockey pucks 8 of various colors into the track 602 and continuously push them upward. Now, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will slide down from the track exit 603 to the puck entrance portion 1. When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion 1, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck 8 positioned in the lowest track slot 101 and automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left.

[0021] The entrance detection device 2 is a device capable of color detection, installed at the puck entrance portion 1 below the track exit 603 of the puck serving device 6. It can detect the color of each of the hockey pucks 8 of various colors passing by. It is connected to the motherboard device 3 in series via a signal wire 303, and can automatically transmit the signal of color detection for each hockey puck 8 to the motherboard device 3 via the signal wire 303 for counting and recording.

[0022] When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors no longer enter the track slots 101, as the entrance detection device 2 cannot detect the hockey pucks 8 sliding down, the entrance detection device 2 will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will automatically count which color is the most, and set this color as the primary color of hockey pucks 8 for score multiplication or addition 301 in this round of the game. If a hockey puck of any other color scores a goal, the player can only score 1 point.

[0023] The game machine main body 7 can hold a puck serving device 6, which is mounted in the center of the rear part of the game machine main body 7. It has a tabletop (not shown in the figure) with a puck entrance slot hole 701 respectively on the left and right side. In each puck entrance slot hole 701, an inclined track device 703 is installed, and a track 702 is integrally connected with the inclined track device 703. The tracks 702 respectively extend backward to an appropriate position above the swash plate 601 of the puck serving device 6. In this way, the hockey pucks 8 entering the track 702 can automatically fall into the puck serving device 6 to enable an automatic recycling. The hockey pucks 8 of various colors will enter the track 602 again through the swash plate 601, and move again to the puck entrance portion 1 of the track exit 603.

[0024] The exit detection device 5 (please refer to FIG. 5) is configured at the connecting point between the inclined track device 703 and the track 702, near the puck exit portion 4. When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors roll through the puck exit portion 4, the exit detection device 5 can detect the color of each hockey puck 8 entering the puck entrance slot hole 701, and judge if it is the dominant color for score multiplication or addition 301 set by the motherboard device 3 for this round of the game.

[0025] The motherboard device 3 is configured inside the game machine main body 7. It can be connected to the entrance detection device 2 and the exit detection device 5 in series via the signal wire 303, to receive the color detection signals respectively from the entrance detection device 2 and the exit detection device 5.

[0026] During operation, after start of the game, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors positioned inside the track slots 101 will all slide down from the puck slide-way 102 to the tabletop of the game machine main body. Now, the consumers can start hitting the pucks. When a hockey puck 8 is hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701 on the left or right side of the game machine main body 7, the hockey puck 8 will slide into the inclined track device 703. Due to the structural design of the inclined track device 703, from whatever angle the hockey pucks 8 come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another. When they roll to the puck exit portion 4 of the track 702 and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks 8 will pass the exit detection device 5 configured on the track 702. The exit detection device 5 will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck 8, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire (not shown in the figure) to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will read the signal and make a judgement. If the color detected by the exit detection device 5 is the one set by the motherboard device 3 at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition 301 will be granted, so that the score will be high. Otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point 302.

[0027] In summary, the present invention provides a method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring. This invention was meticulously designed by the inventor using the power of the brain. It not only possesses practical scoring functionality but also features enhanced entertainment value and player engagement. The invention fully complies with the requirements for an invention patent under patent law. Therefore, we hereby formally submit this application, respectfully requesting the examination committee of your esteemed office to review and approve the patent. We deeply appreciate your consideration.

[0028] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF NOTATIONS

[0029] 1 . . . puck entrance portion 101 . . . track slot [0030] 102 . . . puck slide-way [0031] 2 . . . entrance detection device [0032] 3 . . . motherboard device 301 . . . score multiplication or addition [0033] 302 . . . score 1 point 303 . . . signal wire [0034] 4 . . . puck exit portion [0035] 5 . . . exit detection device [0036] 6 . . . puck serving device 601 . . . swash plate [0037] 602 . . . track 603 . . . track exit [0038] 604 . . . puck path exit [0039] 7 . . . game machine main body 701 . . . puck entrance slot hole [0040] 702 . . . track 703 . . . inclined track device [0041] 8 . . . hockey puck