Abstract:
Foreign object removal-enabling features in a coin-operated item vending and game apparatus housing include a shallow V-shaped guard wall extending between a pair of opposing sidewalls of a lower end portion of the housing, a pair of openings each in one of the opposing sidewalls adjacent opposite ends of the guard wall, and another opening in a front wall of the housing below and in front of the guard wall. The guard wall is positioned to block debris, such as pieces of paper, from traveling on a path to a coin slot of a coin deposit while providing a slot in the guard wall for permitting a coin to pass through the guard wall to the coin slot. The wall openings will permit insertion a tweezers or other tool therethrough enable the debris removal.

Description:
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/736,357, filed Nov. 14, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to vending and game machines and, more particularly, is concerned with a coin-operated item vending and game apparatus housing with foreign object removal-enabling means. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Coin-operated vending machines, such as gum ball machines, have been popular for many years. Also, coin-operated vending machines are known having games associated with them. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,000, which issued Aug. 7, 2001 to the inventor of the present invention, discloses a coin-operated item vending and game apparatus which combines an item vending machine, such as a gum ball machine, and a game module in a more effective way to encourage use of the apparatus. The embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in the patent, following issuance of the patent, was modified in minor respects during the construction of a more refined version of the apparatus which was then introduced for sale and commercial use, more than one year before the filing date of the above cited provisional application. It will be readily observed by comparing  FIGS. 1 and 2  herein, illustrating the commercial version of the apparatus, with the same figures of the cited patent that the commercial version retains the same combination of the item vending machine and game module and is substantially similar overall to the embodiment of the patent. 
   The combined item vending machine and game module of the apparatus allows a user to attempt in the game module of the apparatus to shoot or toss a coin to make a target by the coin passing through the target. Also, the apparatus has a mechanism to enable the user to prove that the target was made in case the proprietor of the apparatus has offered a prize for such accomplishment. The coin thereafter is routed to the item vending machine of the apparatus where it is used to obtain a vendable item whether the target was made or missed. The game module has attracted many users and has contributed substantially to the overall success of the apparatus. 
   However, as often happens in the case of many successful products, a small number of mischievous users from time to time have caused problems by attempting to play the game module without paying to play. These users typically attempt to circumvent the necessity to insert a coin to play by, instead, inserting a foreign object, such as folded piece of paper or the like, through a coin slot provided in a wall of the apparatus housing to a launch site on a flexible resilient lever of the game module intended to seat the required coin ordinarily inserted to such site. Then, such users actuate the lever to try to toss or shoot the foreign object so as to make the target with the foreign object. 
   Typically, the problem resulting from this kind of mischievous activity is not the loss of vendable items from the apparatus as the foreign object is usually incapable of replicating the function of a coin in a coin deposit of the apparatus which would enable the actuation of the vending machine of the apparatus and the vending the desired item, for instance a gum ball, to a legitimate user. Instead, the resultant problem is that the foreign object will typically fall downward along a narrowing path in the game module, one normally traveled by the coin after the game module has been played, leading from the game module to the coin deposit where the foreign object then stops and creates an obstruction or blockage of the coin deposit, preventing the coin from a succeeding user to reach the coin deposit and ultimately to receive the desired vended item. 
   Unfortunately, the occurrence of this kind of problem was not anticipated and so it is not possible to remove the obstructing foreign object(s) without first disassembling the globe and game module housing of the apparatus from its support base. Consequently, a need has arisen for an innovation to provide a solution to the aforementioned problem without introducing any new problems in place thereof. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides foreign object removal enabling means designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The foreign object removal enabling means is provided on a housing of a coin-operated item vending and game apparatus which facilitate convenient and easy access to any foreign object therein so that the obstructing foreign object may be readily and easily removed without needing to disassemble the housing of the apparatus from its support base. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a game module for a coin-operated item vending machine, the game module comprising: (a) a housing having one slot defined therein for permitting discharge of the coin from the housing; and (b) means for enabling removal of a foreign object from within the housing, the removal-enabling means including (i) a guard wall positioned within the housing above the one slot and extending across a path of travel of the coin to the one slot such that the guard wall can stop a foreign object from traveling on a portion of the path of travel from an upstream side to a downstream side of the guard wall and therefrom to the one slot, the guard wall also including another slot having a maximum dimension greater than a maximum dimension of the coin for permitting the coin to pass through the guard wall from the upstream side to the downstream side thereof and therefrom to the one slot, and (ii) at least one opening defined in the housing adjacent one end of the guard wall and the upstream side of the guard wall such that the one opening will permit withdrawal of the foreign object from the housing, the one opening having a maximum dimension less than the maximum dimension of the coin such that the coin cannot be withdrawn from the housing through the one opening. 
   More particularly, the guard wall has a generally upright lower segment and a forwardly and upwardly inclined upper segment merging from the lower segment and together defining a shallow V-shaped angular configuration in cross-section. The another slot is defined in the upright lower segment of the guard wall. Further, the housing has a pair of spaced apart opposite side walls and the guard wall extends between and is connected at opposite ends to the side walls. Also, the removal-enabling means includes another opening such that the one and another openings are each defined in one of the side walls of the housing. 
   The removal-enabling means further includes a second opening in the housing below and spaced from the downstream side of the guard wall such that the second opening permits withdrawal of a foreign object from the housing which passed through the another slot in the guard wall. Furthermore, the housing has multiple walls in a funnel-shaped configuration. The guard wall extends across and interconnects the multiple walls and the second opening is defined in one of the multiple walls spaced from and at least partially below the guard wall. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a prior art coin-operated item vending and game apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the prior art apparatus of  FIG. 1 , with a vending machine globe and a game module housing of the apparatus being shown in a vertically sectional form as seen along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged plan view of a prior art coin capture and release mechanism of the prior art apparatus positioned in the game module housing thereof being shown in a fragmentary sectional form as seen along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the prior art mechanism of  FIG. 3  as seen along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the game module housing of the apparatus having the foreign object removal-enabling features of the present invention incorporated by a funnel-shaped lower end portion of the housing. 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the game module housing of the apparatus as seen along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  showing the foreign object removal-enabling features incorporated by the lower end portion of the housing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Prior Art Commercial Version of Apparatus 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the attached drawings, there is illustrated the aforementioned prior art commercial version of the coin-operated item vending and game apparatus, generally designated  10 , the apparatus being depicted prior to application of the features of the present invention that solve the aforementioned problem. The apparatus  10  basically includes a coin-operated item vending machine  12  and a game module  14 . The vending machine  12  basically includes a support base  16 , a coin deposit  18 , an item dispenser  20 , a globe  22 , a lid  24  and an elongated central rod-like support member  26 . The game module  14  basically includes a housing  28 , a target  30 , a flexible resilient lever  32 , and a coin capture and release mechanism  34 . It should be understood that the vending machine globe  22  and game module housing  28  can be considered together as forming a unitary housing  35  of the apparatus  10 . 
   The support base  16  of the vending machine  12  has a top portion  36  and a bottom portion  38  merging downward from the top portion  36  for resting the machine  12  on a suitable surface S. The coin deposit  18  of the vending machine  12  is mounted to the exterior of the top portion  36  of the support base  16  and defines an upwardly-open coin-receiving slot  40 . The support base  16  preferably, although not necessarily, has a generally polygonal configuration and defines an interior chamber  42  for retaining coins C therein and being open so as to receive therein the vendable item dispenser  20  of the machine  12  such that the item dispenser  20  extends downward through the top portion  36  of the support base  16 . The item dispenser  20  is suspended below an upper tray  44  which, in turn, seats upon the top portion  36  of the support base  16  and closes the same. The upper tray  44  has a opening  46  defined in a front peripheral portion  44 A thereof which is spaced above and generally overlies the coin-receiving slot  40  of the coin deposit  18 . The upper tray opening  46  has a configuration which generally conforms to that of the coin-receiving slot  40  and the coin C such that the coin C may drop through the opening  46  and into the slot  40 . The coin deposit  18  also has a knob  48  rotatable to drop the coin C from the slot  40  into the interior chamber  42  of the support base  16 . Also as is well-known, a suitable receptacle (not shown) is removably mounted to the support base  16  so as to extend within its interior chamber  42  for collecting coins dropped from the slot  40  into the interior chamber  42  of the support base  16 . At intervals selected by the owner of the apparatus  10 , the receptacle may be removed from the support base  16  in order to retrieve the contents thereof. 
   The globe  22  of the vending machine  12  is comprised of a substantially transparent material and preferably, although not necessarily, has a polygonal shape, such as a composite rectangular and trapezoidal configuration, which seats upon a complementarily-configured upper portion of the upper tray  44  and extends thereabove. The lid  24  of the vending machine  12  has a configuration complementary to that of the globe  22  such that the lid  24  removably mounts to an open upper end  22 A of the globe  22  and thereby closes the globe  22  at such upper end  22 A. The support member  26  of the vending machine  12  is disposed centrally within the globe  22  and has opposite upper and lower ends  26 A,  26 B whereby the support rod  26  connects at its upper end  26 A to the lid  24  and mounts at its lower end  26 B to the dispenser  20 . The lid  24  has suitable means for releasably latching it to the upper end  26 A of the support rod  26 . The globe  22  defines an interior cavity  50  which cooperates with the upper tray  44  and the item dispenser  20  to receive and retain a plurality of vendable items, such as spherically-shaped gum balls B. The dispenser  20  allows for passage of these items one at a time from the interior cavity  50  to the exterior of the support base  16  in response to rotation of the knob  48  of the coin deposit  18 . The dispenser  20  includes a carrier wheel (not shown) having peripheral slots (not shown) of a size allowing only one item at a time to pass therethrough to an outlet on the exterior of the support base  16  covered by a door  52  hingedly mounted to the support base  16  which is normally closed but openable by a user to gain access to the item vended from by dispenser  20 . 
   The housing  28  of the game module  14  is also made of a substantially transparent material and is partially positioned within the interior cavity  50  of the globe  22  of the vending machine  12 . The game module housing  28  has a size smaller than the globe  22  and is affixed to and positioned within the globe  22  so as to also project forwardly from the globe  22  so as to serve a dual purpose, to function as the front portion of the globe  22  as depicted in the cited patent and the front portion of the housing  28 . The housing  28  has opposite upper and lower end portions  28 A,  28 B, opposite front and back walls  54 ,  56  and opposite side walls  58  extending between and interconnecting the front and back walls  54 ,  56 . The front wall  54  is disposed adjacent to and forwardly of the globe  22  and has a slot  60  defined therein having vertical and horizontal portions  60 A,  60 B crossing one another. The vertical portion  60 A has a height greater than its width. The width of the vertical portion  60 A is less than the length and greater than the height of the horizontal portion  60 B. The back wall  56  is disposed adjacent to the support member  26  and has an arcuate-shaped slot  62  defined therein. 
   The front, back and side walls  54 ,  56 ,  58  of the housing  28  together define therebetween an interior cavity  64 . The front wall  54  at its upper portion  54 A curves rearwardly so as to enclose the top of the interior cavity  64  at the upper end portion  28 A of the housing  28 , whereas a bottom wall  66  of the housing  28  curves forwardly substantially parallel with the upper portion  54 A of the front wall  54  so as to enclose the bottom of the interior cavity  64  at the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28 . The front, side and bottom walls  54 ,  58 ,  66  of the housing  28  also converge toward one another so as to provide the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  with a funnel-like configuration that extends downwardly through the opening  46  defined in the front peripheral portion  44 A of the upper tray  44 . The lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  then terminates to form a slot  68  having substantially the same size and configuration as and being disposed above the slot  40  of the coin deposit  18  so as to allow for passage of the coin C through the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  into the slot  40 . The lower funnel-like configuration of the housing  28  guides the coin C through the slot  68  of its lower end portion  28 B such that the coin C is delivered in the appropriate orientation to the slot  40  of the coin deposit  18 . 
   The target  30  of the game module  14  is disposed within the interior cavity  64  of and is mounted to the housing  28 . The target  30  includes an intermediate wall  70  that extends between the side walls  58 , the curved upper portion  54 A of the front wall  54  and the flat rear portion  66 A of the bottom wall  66  and interconnects with the same so as to partition the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28  into front and rear chambers  64 A,  64 B. The intermediate wall  70  has a scoring aperture  72 , generally circular in shape to simulate a basketball hoop, defined therein adjacent to and spaced a short distance below its upper edge  70 A. The intermediate wall  70  also has an opening  74 , generally rectangular in shape, defined therein adjacent its left vertical edge  70 B and the left one of the side walls  58  of the housing  28 , when viewing the same from its front, approximately midway between the upper edge  70 A and a bottom edge  70 C of the housing  28 . The intermediate wall  70  further has an inverted V-shaped roof-shaped structure  76  attached to a front face  70 D of the intermediate wall  70  and projecting forwardly therefrom. The function of this structure  76  will become apparent below. Additionally, upper and lower ramp structures  78 ,  80  are spaced vertically and offset from one another and both affixed between a rear face  70 E of the intermediate wall  70  and the rear wall  56  and respective ones disposed adjacent to and affixed to corresponding respective ones of the side walls  58  of the housing  28  such that a path  82  is defined for a scoring coin C to take through the target  30 . The path  82  extends: first, rearwardly from the front chamber  64 A to the rear chamber  64 B of the interior cavity  64  through the scoring aperture  72  of the intermediate wall  70 ; second, downwardly to the right-to-left downwardly sloping upper ramp structure  78 ; third, continuing downwardly to the back-to-front downwardly sloping lower ramp structure  80 ; fourth, forwardly from the rear chamber  64 B to the front chamber  64 B through the opening  74  of the intermediate wall  70 ; and, finally, downwardly through the funnel-like lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28 . Pictures and the like, such as of a basketball player, and instructions may be provided on the housing  28  and globe  22  to enhance usage of the apparatus  10 . 
   The lever  32  of the game module  14  is elongated and has a substantially flat rectangular configuration. The lever  32  has opposite inner and outer ends  32 A,  32 B and at an intermediate portion  32 C between its ends  32 A,  32 B defines means thereon, such as an arcuate raised lip  84 , for retaining a coin C. The lever  32  at its inner end  32 A is fixedly attached to the back wall  56  of the housing  28  adjacent and above a lower end  56 A thereof. From such location the lever  32  extending in a forwardly and upwardly inclined orientation below the flat rear portion  66 A of the bottom wall  66  and then through an opening  86  in the bottom wall  66  located below the aforementioned roof-shaped structure  76  on the front face  70 D of the intermediate wall  70 . The structure  76  overlies and shields the opening  86  so as to prevent a coin which either misses or makes the target  30  from falling through the opening  86 . Next, the lever  32  continues along the inclined orientation extending across the front chamber  64 A of the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28  above and away from the curved bottom wall  66  thereof. Finally, the lever  32  extends through vertical portion  60 A of the slot  60  in the front wall  54  of the housing  28  such that the outer end  32 B of the lever  32  is disposed exteriorly of the housing  28 , with the coin retaining lip  82  being located interiorly of the front wall  54 . The portion  32 D of the lever  32  extending through the vertical portion  60 A of the slot  60  is substantially reduced in width, compared to the remaining width of the lever  32  so as to conform the lever  32  to the narrow width of the vertical portion  60 A of the slot  60 . The horizontal portion  60 B of the slot  60  in the front wall  54  of the housing  28  has a size greater than the diameter and thickness of the coin C so as to allow for manual inserting by an user of the coin C therethrough such that the coin C can be placed at rest on the lever  32  adjacent to the lip  32  thereon. 
   The outer end  32 B of the lever  32  is for gripping by one or more fingers F of a hand of the user and is depressible downwardly by the user bending the resilient flexible lever  32  from an initial relaxed inclined condition shown in solid line form in  FIG. 2  to the depressed dashed line condition shown in  FIG. 2 . Such bending of the lever  32  creates an upward force because of the resiliency of the lever  32  such that the subsequent release of the lever  32  by the user allows the lever  32  to spring back to its initial relaxed condition and toss the coin C upwardly such the coin C will either go through (make) or miss the scoring aperture  72  of the target  30  depending on the skill of the user. The coin C upon missing the aperture  72  of the target  30  will fall down through the front chamber  64 A of the interior cavity  64  onto the bottom wall  66  and be guided by the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  into the slot  40  of the coin deposit  18  of the vending machine  12  causing the dispensing of the vendable item B to the user at the door  52  of the dispenser  20  upon rotation of the knob  48  of the coin deposit  18  by the user. On the other hand, if the coin C goes through or makes the aperture  72  of the target  30  it will follow the path  82  as described above. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , the coin capture and release mechanism  34  of the game module  14  is associated with the target  30 . The mechanism  34  includes an elongated member  88  having a substantially rod-like configuration for most of its length and opposite inner and outer ends  88 A,  88 B. The mechanism  88  also includes a coin target or retention plate  90  attached adjacent the inner end  88 A of the elongated member  88  and having a substantially flat rectangular configuration which substantially conforms in size to the space defined between a lower end  78 A of the upper ramp  78 , left side wall  58  and back wall  56  of the housing  28  and the intermediate wall  70  of the target  30 . The elongated member  88  extends through holes  92 ,  94  aligned with one another and defined respectively in the front wall  54  of the housing  28  and the intermediate wall  70  of the target  30 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a stub axle  96  is affixed to a rear edge  90 A of the retention plate  90  and extends through a hole  98  in the back wall  56  of the housing  28  in alignment with the holes  92 ,  94  and also in alignment with the elongated member  88  so as to define a pivot axis P of the plate  90  extending between rear and front edges  90 A,  90 B of the plate  90  such that when the elongated member  88  of the mechanism  30  is respectively rotated and counter-rotated about its own central axis which is coaxial with the pivot axis P of the plate  90 , the plate  90  correspondingly is pivotally moved between a horizontal position and a vertical position for correspondingly closing (or blocking) and opening the path  82  for a scoring coin C to travel along through the target  30 . The pivot axis P of the plate  90  is located parallel to and spaced a short distance inwardly from a left edge  90 C of the plate  90  such that, with a coin C resting on an upper surface  90 D of the plate  90 , when the plate  90  is pivoted from the horizontal to vertical position a narrow gap  100  is created between the plate  90  and the left side wall  58  of the housing  28  through which the coin can slide edgewise from the plate  90 , dropping downwardly therefrom onto the lower ramp  80  where it will continue along the path  82  into the front chamber  64 A of the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28 . The retention plate  90  also has a tab  102  affixed to a rear corner  90 E of the retention plate  90 , opposite from the stub axle  96 , and extending through and resting on the lower end  62 A of the arcuate slot  62  in the back wall  56  such that the tab  102  functions to hold the plate  90  in its normal horizontal blocking position unless a user grips the outer end  88 B of the elongated member  88  located at the exterior of the front wall  54  of the housing  28  and causes it to rotate and the plate  90  to thereby pivotally move from the horizontal to vertical position. The arcuate-shaped slot  62  permits the tab  102  to move therealong and allow the pivoting of the plate  90  between its horizontal and vertical positions. The plate  90  is normally in the horizontal position blocking the path  82  such that the scoring coin C when tossed through the scoring aperture  72  will land on the plate  90  and stay there until the user intentionally pivots the plate  90 . By the coin C landing and staying on the plate  90 , the user can prove to the proprietor of the apparatus  10  that the target  30  was made in case a prize is offered to users for making-the target. The coin C will drop off the plate  90  and continue downwardly along the path  82  toward and into the coin deposit slot  40 , resulting in the dispensing of the vendable item B to the user upon rotation of the knob  46  of the coin deposit by the user, only when the user intentionally rotates the elongated member  88  and thereby pivots the plate  90 . The user will obtain the vendable item, such as the gum ball B, whether the target  30  is made or missed so long as the proper coin is used. Upon release of the elongated member  88  of the mechanism  34 , the plate  90  due to the offset relationship of its pivot axis P relative to a longitudinal centerline L of the plate  90  will return automatically to its horizontal blocking position across the path  82  of the coin through the target  30 . 
   Foreign Object Removal-Enabling Means 
   As mentioned above, mischievous users from time to time have caused problems by attempting to play the game module without paying with a coin to play. These users typically will insert unauthorized foreign objects, such as folded piece of papers or the like instead of coins, through the horizontal portion  60 B of the slot  60  in the front wall  54  of the game module housing  28  of the apparatus housing  35 . The foreign objects will accumulate in the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  and block passage of coins to slot  40  of the coin deposit  18 , effectively disabling the apparatus  10  from use by legitimate users. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is illustrated a means, generally designated  104 , for enabling removal of a foreign object from the apparatus housing  35 . The removal-enabling means  104  is provided on the apparatus housing  35 , and, more particularly, on its game module housing  28 , so as to facilitate convenient and easy access to any foreign object F therein so that the obstructing foreign object may be removed without the necessity to disassemble the globe  22  and game module housing  28 , making up the apparatus housing  35 , from the support base  16 . 
   To order to prevent foreign objects F from reaching the region of the coin deposit  18 , the foreign object removal-enabling means  104  provides a first element in the form of an angled guard wall  106 , preferably, although not necessarily, of shallow V-shaped configuration in cross-section. The guard wall  106  is disposed across the funnel-shaped lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  between and connected to the curved bottom wall  66  and front wall  54  of the housing  28 . The guard wall  106  has a generally upright lower segment  106 A and a forwardly and upwardly inclined upper segment  106 B merging from the lower segment  106 A. Also, a pathway slot  108 , longer horizontally than vertically, is defined in the lower segment  106 A of the guard wall  106  that communicates with the bottom wall  66  so as to provide a path of travel through the guard wall  106 , from an upstream side  107  to a downstream side  109  thereof, to the slot  40  of the coin deposit  18  for the coin sliding down the bottom wall  66 . Lower portions  58 A of the side walls  58  of the housing  28  are curved and converge toward one another and the opposite lateral ends  106 C of the guard wall  106  are disposed adjacent to these lower curved convergent side wall portions  58 A such that the only past the guard wall  106  to the slot  68  is through its pathway slot  108 . 
   In order to remove from the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28  those foreign objects F stopped by the guard wall  106 , the foreign object removal-enabling means  104  further provides one or more second elements in the form of side access openings  110  defined in the curved convergent lower portions  58 A of housing side walls  58  adjacent opposite lateral ends  106 C of the guard wall  106 . The side access openings  110  can be generally triangular in shape although other shapes are possible. The largest dimension of the openings  110  is less than the diameter of the coin C such that the coin C cannot be withdrawn from the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28  through these openings  110 . 
   It is expected that the location of the guard wall  106  will be likely to prevent any foreign object F inserted into the interior cavity  64  of the housing  28  through the lever slot  60  from traveling further past the guard wall  106  downwardly through the funnel-shaped portion of the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  to the vicinity of the slot  68  at the terminal end thereof and of the slot  40  of the coin deposit  18 . However, if the unexpected should happen and the foreign object pass through the pathway slot  108  of the guard wall  106 , the foreign object removal-enabling means  104  further provides a third element in the form of a front access opening  112  defined in the front wall  56  of the housing  28  adjacent to and opening exteriorly to the front and downwardly contiguous with the slot  68  at the terminal end of the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28 . The front access opening  112  is generally semi-oblong in shape being slightly greater in vertical height than horizontal width and the slot  68  is substantially greater in length than is the front access opening  112  in width such that a coin intended to be used to operate the coin deposit  18  cannot be removed through the front access opening  112 . 
   The experience has been that all foreign objects F that are found within the region of the lower end portion  28 B of the housing  28  are made of bendable or foldable material. So a person seeking to removal such objects through the side or front openings  110 ,  112  can make use of an ordinary pair of tweezers, or similar tools, to carry out the obvious and simple removal steps of, first, inserting the working end of the tweezers through the respective opening  110  or  112 , next, gripping the foreign object and perhaps rotating the tweezers to wrap the foreign object therearound if found necessary, and then pulling or withdrawing the tweezers with the foreign object out through the opening  110  or  112 . 
   It should be understood that the foreign object removal-enabling means  104  is not limited in its application just to the housing  28  of the particular game module  14  disclosed herein. The game module  14  could take many other alternative designs without diminishing the general utility and applicability of the afore-described elements of the foreign object removal-enabling means  104  as a workable solution should the same problem arise in the case of the housings of such other game modules. Furthermore, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to foreign object removal-enabling means  104  having the specific design of the gate wall  106  and the side and front access openings  110 ,  112  but encompasses elements having other configurations which solve the same problem in a similar way. 
   It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.