Cuing method and means for a gaming machine topper

A topper construction for a gaming device or pinball machine, or similar article, has an illuminated pointer/director that utilizes a master-slave, driver-follower arrangement of magnetically linked elements to move over a display field in a pre-programmed manner to cue the player as to attainable goals and places. The master-driver is driven by a dual rack system controlling movement on X-Y axes, or by a cranking mechanism driven in an orbital or circular pattern. The pointer/director is hidden from the player's sight until the bonus round/feature begins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming machines such as coin and slot machines, and pinball machines and similar entertainment devices, are customarily provided with toppers, i.e., for example, a screen which may be disposed vertically to extend upwardly, or which may be disposed generally horizontally, but in either instance, located in front of the machine player and on which appears art work depicting a scene establishing a theme for the machine, and containing values, or places, achievable by the player in the course of operating the machine. Such toppers are frequently equipped with a power assisted mechanical pointer/director which is motor driven through a mechanical transmission. The pointer/director is carried on rails, or rods, or tracks, necessitating the provision of routings or openings on the arted panel of the topper. The pointer/director may be guided to a designated position on the arted panel which informs and cues the player as to the value, or place, or feature, such as a bonus round, that the player will be awarded upon continuing play on the gaming machine or amusement device.

In one such prior art machine in current usage, a topper includes a three-dimensional figure which is movably mounted on a pole that extends upwardly into and through the arted panel on the topper towards a goal at the top of the topper. The figure has, or is given, an allotted amount of playing time, or an allotted number of handle pulls, to reach the goal. The figure “climbs” against the back drop of an arted topper in a display field containing values disposed at spaced apart sites offering awards to the successful player who continues to operate the machine. Because of the necessity of employing structural interruptions in the arted panel, the topper is subject to severe restrictions as to potential utility.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention utilizes an illuminated animation, or pointer/director, that requires no openings, routings, tracks, rails or other interruptions of an arted panel incorporated in a topper. Further, the animation, or pointer/director, can be hidden from the sight of the machine player until the player has earned entitlement to a bonus round or is eligible to the potential benefits of a feature, or place, depicted on the arted panel. More specifically, the present invention contemplates the utilization of a magnetic driver magnet concealed behind the topper art work at all times, and a follower magnet magnetically linked thereto and movable in unison with the driver magnet over the plane of the topper art work. The follower magnet may be completely hidden from the player's sight until the bonus round and/or until the feature begins, whereupon the driver magnet enters the display field for animated actuation to cue the player as to potential awards.

Further, the topper may be operated in an attract mode, while the gaming machine is not in active play, so that the animation will attract potential players.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In using the term “gaming machine,” reference is intended to any and all machines, games and entertainment devices in which a topper is used and on which an arted panel is utilized to attract players in an attract mode, and to cue players during play, whether or not such machines can be played for no charge, or whether the machines are accessed with the use of coins, tokens, or legal tender, and, in any event, wherein the topper is used to cue the player as to goals the player may achieve, or awards the player may receive upon operating the machine.

Referring to the drawings, inFIGS. 1 and 2, a typical gaming machine described only for purposes of exemplification, is shown at10having an actuating handle11by means of which a mechanism in the machine10will operate moving elements of the apparatus which includes means for driving and spinning mechanical or video symbols disposed in columns shown at12. The object of the game is to align similar symbols in three separate columns in a single row. It should be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to machines of the type that can be operated with power assisting means so that the player need only push a button in control of appropriate electrical circuit means, rather than pull the handle11.

InFIG. 3a pinball machine is shown at14played on a sloping board and having an actuator16which may be manipulated to propel, or shoot, a ball, usually driven by a spring, up a side passage and cause it to roll back down against pins, or bumpers, and through channels which electrically record the score, or to shoot a pin ball into pockets at the back of the board having appropriate sensor means connected to the electrical control system of the machine.

In both forms of games, or machines, depicted in the drawings ofFIGS. 1–3, there is provided in accordance with this invention a topper construction that requires no openings or routings on an arted panel in the topper's arted panel.

Referring first of all toFIGS. 4 and 5, a sheet-form glass or transparent plastic sheet16is mounted in a frame14providing an enclosure with a clear front glass17so that the glass or plastic sheet16can be erected in a generally vertical disposition in the sight line of the machine player and connected in firm assembly with the machine with which the topper is associated. It should be understood that the glass or plastic sheet16could also be disposed in a generally horizontal plane. However, the features of this invention are independent of whether the sheet16is vertical or horizontal and the details of the vertically disposed sheet16should be sufficient for a thorough understanding of the inventive subject matter as applied to both.

The glass or plastic sheet16has a rear side16R on which is affixed a physical layer, or coating, of pictorial art depicting any desired selected characteristics, thereby to provide an arted panel18.

By way of exemplification, but not by way of limitation, I have illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4an arted panel depicting a tree having a main trunk19and a plurality of separate branches20, each bearing a piece of fruit situated at a pre-selected site21and wherein the sites21are pre-programmed as part of the electrical control system of the machine to represent different values, or places, which can be attained by an animated figure of a climbing animal, such as a monkey22. At the very top of the tree trunk19is a star23, which for purposes of this disclosure, will represent a special value such as a bonus round of play, or an attainable ultimate goal of the player.

In order to protect the arted panel18, a thin protective sheet24is provided which may be made of a plastic material such as a clear acrylic, or a PETG (Polyethylene Toluene Glycol) plastic. The glass or plastic sheet16is clear and transparent so that the arted panel18may be clearly visible to the player through the front side16F of the glass or plastic sheet16while positioned in operating relationship to the machine. Moreover, the arted panel18is sufficiently opaque that any operating mechanism forming a part of the topper construction may be effectively shielded and concealed and will be hidden from the player's sight.

In the form of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 1–5, a driving mechanism takes the form of dual rack system has a motor driven vertical rack30and a motor driven horizontal rack31, each powered by a suitable electric gear motor and/or subfractional electric stepping motor32, and33, respectively. The dual rack system provides a basis for movement on an X-Y axis relative to the glass or plastic sheet16behind which it is positioned. It will be understood that opto switches identified schematically at34are used as end and limit switches. The racks30and31are disposed respectively on X and Y axes.

In the form of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 6 and 7, a driving mechanism takes the form of a cranking mechanism whereby rotary motion of a drive shaft can be converted into rectilinear motion or circular motion, for example, by the use of an arm or a linkage secured at right angles to the end of a shaft, thereby to describe an enlarged circular or orbital path within the bounds of a display field.

In order to provide a driver for the arrangement ofFIGS. 1–5, a first magnet comprising a ceramic ring-type drive magnet36is supported on the motorized dual rack system behind the arted glass or plastic sheet16. It should be understood that the drive magnet36could also be an electromagnetic powered by the usual electrical source of supply for the machine, since the drive magnetic and any trailing electrical conduits or wires, would be concealed from the player. The drive magnet36functions as a master magnet and is disposed to travel on the flat surface of the protective sheet24so that the topper's arted panel18is protected from being scratched from behind.

A second magnet, consisting of an arted follower magnet37, is disposed on the front side, or front face,16F of the glass sheet16. As referred to above, in the exemplary form of the present disclosure, the follower magnet is artistically formed, covered by, or incorporated in, an arted element22. For example, in the present disclosure it would be appropriate for the arted element22to assume the shape of a climbing animal such as a monkey.

It is also contemplated that the follower magnet37has an adhesive felt or plastic surface backing38to promote and facilitate a good sliding contact with the front face16F of the glass sheet16. The follower magnet37is magnetically linked as a slave magnet with the master magnet36and moves in unison therewith. Accordingly, the follower magnet37functions as the “Pointer” or “Director” on the front face16F of the arted panel18of the gaming machine ofFIGS. 1–2where it can be used in so-called bonus rounds.

In the event a protective sheet24is not feasible, the drive magnet36could be operated in spaced non-engagement with the arted panel18, provided, of course, that the drive magnet36and the follower magnet37are spaced in such a relationship as to be magnetically linked together so that they move in unison.

To further enhance the versatility of the present invention, the driver magnet36is provided with a bright led lamp40fixed to the magnet36and aligned at its center. Thus, the arted follower magnet37makes its move to the designated value or feature/place on the arted panel18. The led lamp40will illuminate a corresponding one of the various sites21identifying a pre-determined value or feature/place. In other words, the led lamp40and the follower magnet37cues the player that the illuminated site21is the value or feature/place that the player would be awarded.

Referring further toFIGS. 6 and 7, a gear motor60rotatably drives an output shaft62to which is staked a collet63by means of a set screw64. In this form of the invention, the driver magnet36is connected to the end of a lever arm65by means of a coupling connector66. Note that the driver magnet36is spaced from the rear surface16R and the arted display field18, so there is no deteriorative engagement there between. However, the driver magnet36is magnetically linked to the follower magnet37, and, as has been previously described, the follower magnet may be provided with a suitable art cover67. Values, or places, such as the sites21, could be located on the display field18and in the orbital path of the follower magnet37, for example, in the patterned manner of a roulette wheel.

With each of the foregoing arrangements, since there are no tracks or openings in the arted panel18, the arted pointer/director can be hidden from the players sight until a bonus round begins, whereupon the follower magnet37allows the arted element22to appear and move in an animated fashion within the metes and bounds of the arted panel18.

It will be understood that the subject matter of the present invention can be effectively utilized with any machine of original equipment manufacture (O. E. M.) and/or could be retrofitted with after-market machines. In each instance, the gaming machines are of the type having a programmable electrical operating mechanism shown schematically at50so that the operation of the driving mechanisms, either the dual rack system or the cranking mechanism, will be coordinated and synchronized with the operation of the gaming device, which is operated by a gaming machine mechanism51.

Although various modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly fall within the scope of my contribution to the art.