Abstract:
The invention relates to an amusement device such as a crane game of the kind including a plurality of prizes in a collection bin for withdrawal, the crane game including a floor upon which the prizes rest that can be vertically shifted as prizes are withdrawn to maintain the appearance of a full prize bin. The floor shifting mechanism comprises a motor coupled to an endless belt or chain that drives one or more threaded members to control the movement of the floor in the vertical direction. The invention may include a vibrator for imparting an oscillation to the prizes that redistributes the prizes toward a more level arrangement to place more prizes within the game&#39;s participation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an amusement device comprising a bin of prizes and an overhanging crane that is maneuvered over the bin of prizes in an attempt to retrieve the prize from the bin, also referred to generally as a “crane game,” and more particularly to a prize level maintaining system for maintaining the upper layer of prizes in a substantially level and elevationally constant configuration. 
     Crane games of the type shown in FIG. 1 are a popular attraction in arcades, stores, amusement parks, and the like. The game typically involves a large bin with transparent windows to reveal a collection of prizes, toys, food stuffs, or other items at the bottom of the bin. Using either a joystick control as shown, or other various well known manual input systems, the user attempts to control an overhanging crane mechanism suspended above the prizes. The crane can be maneuvered along a two dimensional track system above the prizes until the desired prize is directly below the overhanging crane mechanism. At that point, the user initiates a lowering of the crane mechanism until contact is made with the prizes, at which point the crane mechanism attempts to withdraw a prize by closing-the claw members together. If a prize is successfully captured by the crane mechanism, the crane and prize are immediately raised up by the connected tether and the drive system automatically returns the crane to a position over a hatch or chute that leads to a compartment accessible by the player. The prize is automatically dropped into the hatch or chute and the player retrieves the prize from the compartment. 
     There are many variations to the crane game just described including variations on the crane mechanism. For example, the use of an improved claw for use in capturing odd shaped prizes can be employed such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,487, or a vacuum suction member can be substituted for the claw member for retrieving prizes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,374, the disclosures of both references are fully incorporated herein. When a vacuum crane is used the prizes in the bin are typically objects with a smooth and regular surface to permit the vacuum crane to engage to the object. Irregularly shaped objects such as those shown in FIG. 1 can be more difficult to retrieve with a vacuum crane type mechanism due to the mismatch in surfaces between the vacuum and the prize. There is also a variety of ways in which the manipulation of the overhanging crane can be maneuvered by a user. In one example, a first button is pressed in order to initiate a translation of the overhanging crane from a further most left position to a direction to the right. A second button stops the progress of the crane as it translates. Pressing the button again will begin the translation of the crane from a front position towards the back of the bin, and pressing the button again will stop the movement of the crane towards the back of the bin, setting the two dimensional position of the crane. The crane then automatically drops in the fixed position and the crane attempts to grasp an object immediately below the crane mechanism. The specific operation of the crane itself is for background only and does not impact the scope of the present invention. 
     There are several drawbacks inherent in each of the design variations of the crane game described above. First, if enough prizes are withdrawn from the bin, then the game appears to be depleted even if there are numerous prizes remaining along the bottom of the bin. It has been shown that a depleted looking game attracts fewer users, and as such, the prize bin needs to be refilled on a regular basis. However, because the usage of the game or the success of the players may be inconsistent or sporadic, the contents of the bin must be checked frequently. Another drawback of the game is that prizes are typically withdrawn from the middle portion of the bin leaving an unequal distribution of prizes along the outer periphery. This again leads to a depleted looking bin, and renders many of the prizes inaccessible due to limitations of the crane mechanism&#39;s movement along the bin&#39;s periphery. Accordingly, the art would benefit from a crane game that includes a solution to the requirement for frequent checking of the prize bin&#39;s level and distribution. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a crane game including a prize bin with a floor that can be moved vertically within the bin to change the apparent capacity of the prize bin. The floor is moved independently from the walls of the bin to increase or reduce the capacity of the bin, and thereby raise and lower the prizes supported on the floor within the bin. When the prize quantity drops below a desired level, an upward movement of the floor raises the prize level and gives the appearance that the bin is full with prizes. The operation can be performed either by a user initiating the floor adjustment, or automatically using sensors that detect the prize level and initiate the operation when the prize level falls below a predetermined elevation or other criteria. The operation is preferably performed using a drive system below the bin&#39;s floor that raises and lowers the floor continuously or incrementally with a stepper motor or a screw-drive system. In a preferred embodiment the drive system comprises a motor that drives a belt or chain member to rotate a plurality of support rods. The support rods are threaded and cooperated with threaded mounting collars on the floor such that a rotation of the support rods imparts a vertical movement of the threaded collars, which in turn moves the floor in the vertical direction. The present invention may also preferably include a vibrational device such as an eccentric motor in communication with the floor. Activation of the vibrational device imparts a jostling action to the prizes which tends to redistribute the prizes from an uneven configuration to a substantially even upper layer of prizes. The vibrational member and the floor drive mechanism may be operated independently or in connection with each other. The actuation of the floor drive system can be initiated by a sensing of the prize level, an determination of an elapsed time, a determination of a number of games played, or after a predetermined number of successful prize removals. Similarly, the vibrational device can be actuated in response to similar conditions or occurrences. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a crane game of the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view, partially cut away, of a crane game embodying a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of a crane game of the present invention illustrating a second embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a system for adjusting the prize level in a crane game amusement device of the type shown in FIG. 1 where the object of the game is to extract prizes via a crane from a collection bin. As prizes are extracted from the bin by a user, the prize level adjusting system will adjust the height of the upper layer of prizes to give the appearance that the prize bin is substantially full and evenly distributed. The foregoing extends the time between required maintenance of the machine and reduces the stock of prizes that would otherwise be necessary to maintain a full appearing bin. 
     The present invention as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a floor panel for supporting a plurality of prizes  200  in the crane game  100 . The floor panel  300  is preferably not fixed to the walls  140 , 150  of the game housing  105 , but rather the floor panel  300  is supported in a vertically adjustable arrangement between the walls by a plurality of vertically extending threaded rods  310  mounted below the floor panel to bottom wall  350 . The floor panel  300  is mounted on an open horizontal frame or platform  375  comprising traverse bars  380  and longitudinal bars  390  connected at respective end portions to form a substantially rectangular support for the floor panel. Internally threaded collars  370  support the horizontal frame  375  at the traverse bars  380 . The internal threads of the threaded collars  370  engage the external threads of the threaded rod  310  whereby rotation of the threaded rods impart a vertical translation of the horizontal frame  375  above the threaded collars. Rotation of the threaded rods in a first direction raises the horizontal frame  375  and the bin&#39;s floor panel  300 , and rotation in the opposite direction lowers the horizontal frame and the bin&#39;s floor panel  300 . 
     Rotation of the threaded rods  310  may be carried out through a motor  320  coupled to the threaded rods via a belt or chain  340  or other linking type member. The motor  320  is mounted on a bracket  400  which in turn is mounted to the bottom wall  350  of the housing  105  of the crane game at a brace  410 . Rotation of the motor&#39;s shaft (not shown) drives the chain member  340  about the hubs  360  mounted to the lower portion of the threaded rods  310 . The hubs  360  are configured such as with a sprocket to translate the rotation of the chain member into a rotation of the threaded rod members  310 . As the chain member  340  rotates the hubs  360 , the threaded rods rotate within the threaded collars  370  to raise or lower the horizontal frame  375  and the floor panel  300 . 
     Also mounted on the motor bracket  400  is a second eccentric motor  330  for imparting a vibration or oscillation to the floor panel  300 . The eccentric motor  330  oscillates when actuated to create a vibration that is transferred from the support bracket  400  to the brace  410  and through the threaded rods  310 . The vibration of the threaded rods causes a vibration of the floor panel  300  which shakes and jostles the prizes  200  supported thereon and redistributes configurations of prizes due to uneven extraction patterns. That is, when prizes are extracted predominantly from the middle of the prize bin, prizes will tend to collect at the periphery of the bin where it may be difficult or impossible for the crane  285  to extract the prizes  200 . The vibration of the floor panel  300  causes prizes collected along the edges of the bin to redistribute in the middle of the bin placing more prizes in play for the player. 
     Actuation of the motor  320  can be achieved by a processor  620  connected to the motor  320  by cables  630 . The processor actuates the motor based on criteria stored in the processor&#39;s memory. One criteria for actuating the motor  320  can be tied to the current level of prizes as determined by an optical sensor located in the bin. The optical sensor  610 , 610   a  can be located on the side walls of the bin at diagonal corners as shown in FIG. 2, or an echo-type sensor (not shown) can be located on the crane looking down into the bin or the top of the bin. Alternatively, a pressure sensor (not shown) on the bottom of the bin can be used to assess the weight of the bin&#39;s contents, which in turn estimates the level of the prizes. If the sensor determines that the prize level has fallen below a critical level, the sensor generates a signal that is communicated to the processor to actuate the motor  320  and raise the elevation of the floor  300 . The floor panel  300  is then raised a predetermined amount such that the prize level is no longer below the critical elevation. Alternatively, the actuation of the motor can be tied to the number of attempts or successful extraction of the prizes. For example, after every ten attempts the floor panel is raised via the motor  320 , or after every ten prizes are successfully extracted from the bin. Alternatively, the motor can be actuated as part of a shutdown procedure at the end of the day or as part of an initiation procedure at the beginning of the day to place the floor level at an appropriate elevation. The motor may be alternatively controlled by a switch (not shown) that turns the motor on and off and also controls the direction of the motor. 
     The operation of the invention follows from the above description. In the Figures, a crane mechanism  285  is comprised of a claw member  290  suspended by a tether  280  that is mounted on a reel withing a housing  250 . The housing  250  is mounted on a beam  220  that spans the bin  110  in the Y-direction. The beam  220  is in turn mounted on a carriage assembly  230  at each end including wheels  240  that ride on longitudinal beams  210  for movement in the X-direction. The carriage assembly  230  and the reel housing  250  are controlled for movement along their respective beams via signals received from cable  270  and cable  260 , respectively. The signals are generated from movement of the joystick  170  to maneuver the crane mechanism  285  in the X-Y direction. A button  180  may be used to lower the crane mechanism in the Z-direction, and another button  185  may be used to actuate the claw member  290 . A coin slot  190  is provided for receiving a coin or token to begin the game. 
     A player thus inserts a token or coin into the slot  190  and manually maneuvers the joystick as the crane mechanism  285  travels in responsive movements in the X-Y plane as the housing  250  and carriages  230  receive commands via cables  260 , 270  to control the crane. Once positioned over the selected target, the player presses the button  180  causing the crane to lower until contact is made with the prizes  200  below. The crane may be actuated by pressing button  185 , which may or may not capture the intended target. The crane is then automatically raised and the maneuvered over a chute or hatch typically located at the periphery of the bin and the crane spreads apart to release any captured prize. The chute (not shown) leads to a compartment that is accessible to the player for collecting his prize. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 the claw member can be replaced with a suction member  290 ′ for capturing spherical prizes  200 ′. 
     After a certain number of prizes have been removed from the bin, the level of the uppermost prizes will gradually drop. The present invention raises that level by raising the floor  300  that supports the prizes. A signal is sent from a processor  620  to the motor  320  in response to a sensing that the prize level has dropped by the sensor  610 , initiating a rotation of the motor spindle or shaft, which in turn drives the belt or chain  340  around the hubs  360 . The hubs  360  are mounted to the threaded vertically disposed rods  310 , and rotation of the hubs from the belt or chain imparts a rotation of the threaded rods in a common direction. The rotating rods support a horizontal frame  375  connected to the floor  300 , and each threaded rod includes a threaded collar  370  cooperating with the associated threaded rod to raise or lower the platform  375 . The raised floor moves the collection of prizes upward to give the appearance that the bin is full. A signal is also sent periodically or in concert with the first signal to actuate the eccentric motor  330 , which creates a vibration that is transferred to the bracket  400 , and to the threaded rods  310 , which causes the floor panel to vibrate. The vibration of the floor panel jostles the configuration of the prizes as constituted such that piled prizes will tend to fall and more evenly distribute the upper level of the prizes. This places more prizes in play and gives the appearance of a fuller bin, necessitating fewer maintenance trips to restock and redistribute the prizes in the bin. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative location for the eccentric motor in direct contact with the floor panel to more efficiently transfer the vibrational movement of the invention. 
     While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will also be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.