Abstract:
A durable input arrangement for a video game terminal uses a joystick controller protected by a player actuating a control assembly. This assembly protects the joystick controller from abusive forces that would otherwise render the controller inoperative.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to video game terminals, and in particular, to a control actuating arrangement that uses a slide actuating arrangement. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Video game terminals for the amusement market now commonly use a touch screen as a user interface. Touch screens allow a player to interact with a game by touching various active areas on the screen, in response to different game situations. This type of user interface is effective for many games, however, some games are more suited to a joystick type controller for providing game input instructions. There are many different joystick controllers from miniature joystick controllers used for personal computers to large handle grip type controllers used in video game terminals. Unfortunately, both large joystick controllers used in video games and miniature joystick controllers are subject to damage and have not proven suitable for many video game terminals. 
         [0003]    In particular, video game terminals that are commonly provided in restaurants or licensed beverage establishments are subject to substantial abuse and are effectively unattended. The touch screen input has proven to be suitable for this type of environment, however, other user input devices such as track balls and joysticks have proven unacceptable due to the rough handling that occurs in an unattended and often abusive environment. 
         [0004]    The present invention utilizes a joystick controller in combination with a control actuating arrangement that serves to protect the joystick controller to provide a rugged user interface required for this unattended environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to video game terminals having a particular control actuating arrangement. The control actuating arrangement comprises a miniature joystick controller mounted on a support member, a support collar mounted on a support member with a shaft actuator of a joystick controller exposed within the collar. A player actuated control arrangement is supported by said collar above said joystick controller and engages an end of a control shaft of the joystick controller and causes pivoting movement of the control shaft in response to lateral movement of the player actuator control. The player actuator control assembly is movable laterally through 360 degrees to allow player input to the joystick controller. 
         [0006]    In a preferred aspect of the invention, the player actuator control arrangement includes a top surface comprised to receive in a side by side manner, two or more fingers of a player to reflect player input to the joystick controller via lateral movement of the player actuator control assembly. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect of the invention, the player actuator control assembly is oversized relative to the joystick controller and protects the joystick controller from abusive forces. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect of the invention, the player actuator covers the joystick controller and directs any liquid poured on the player actuator control assembly past the joystick controller. 
         [0009]    In a further aspect of the invention, the joystick controller includes a button actuator controlled by downward means of a control shaft and the player actuator control assembly accommodates limited downward movement to actuate the button actuator of the joystick controller. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect of the invention, the joystick controller includes an upwardly directive light source and the player actuator control assembly includes a translucent portion through which emitted light of the light source is transmitted. 
         [0011]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the light source is actuated for any games where the control actuator is activated. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the video game terminal with the particular control arrangement; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view taken along line  2 . 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 2  with the joystick control in a different input position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  with a further different position of the joystick controller; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view through the control actuating arrangement; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   b  is a partial cross sectional view of an actuating button associated with the control actuating arrangement; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   c  is a cross sectional view through the control actuating arrangement, including the joystick controller; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   d  is a partial cross sectional view through a further button actuator; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the video game terminal; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view of the video game terminal showing different elements of the control actuating arrangement; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a partial exploded view of certain components of the control actuating arrangement; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the video game terminal with the joy stick control mounted on a base member; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of a cover assembly that includes the player actuator control member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing the various actuators secured in the cover of the control actuating arrangement; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is an exploded top perspective view of the player actuator control being secured in the cover for the control actuator arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The video game terminal  2  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a control actuating arrangement  4  provided at the front of the terminal and at a base position. The particular video game terminal shown is for a counter top application although this control arrangement is suitable for upright video game terminals. 
         [0029]    The control actuating arrangement  4  includes a central player actuator control assembly  6  which is movable laterally through 360 degree movement. The control actuating arrangement  4  preferably includes left and right button actuators  8  positioned to opposite sides of the player actuator control assembly  6 . The player actuator control assembly  6  and the button actuators are secured in the cover  10  for the control actuating arrangement. This will be further described in relation to  FIGS. 10 through 12 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2 through 4  are sectional views of the control actuating arrangement  4  taken along line  2 - 2  illustrating the joystick controller in different positions. The joystick controller  40  includes a short control shaft  42  rigidly connected to the ball actuator  43 . A circuit board  44  is provided at a lower position and senses the position of the ball actuator  43 . This joystick controller is a miniature joystick controller and is commonly available on the market. The miniature joystick controller is capable of more than 1,000,000 (one million) actuations and is based on resistive technology. This is the preferred type of joystick controller but other miniature joystick controllers could also be used. 
         [0031]    The circuit board  44  of the joystick controller  40  is mounted in a raised position above the bottom support plate  50 . This bottom support plate also includes a series of drain and air ventilation slots  52  to allow any liquid to pass through the base plate. These drain slots are provided adjacent the joystick controller and underneath the joystick controller. The joystick controller is fixed to the bottom support plate  50  and the short control shaft  42  extends upwardly into a joystick receiving recess  36  of the player actuator control assembly  6 . 
         [0032]    The player actuator control assembly  6  includes a top member  30  having a full insert  32  in the center of the top member and exposed within the top surface of the player actuator control assembly. This insert includes a series of downwardly extending lock legs  33  which engage via a snap fit with the bottom member  34 . With this arrangement, the top member  30  is provided to the upper side of the cover  10  and the bottom member is provided below the cover  10 . The player actuator control assembly  6  is free to move within the oversized recess  70  provided in the top cover  10 . This allows the player actuator control assembly  6  to move laterally within the oversized recess while the player actuator control assembly is effectively trapped on the cover  10 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  also shows the support collar  60  having a large center recess  62  of a size to allow the joystick controller  40  to be located in this recess. The support collar  60  cooperates with the top cover  10  and the bottom member  34  of the player actuator  6  to support the player actuator  6  such that any substantial downward abusive force on the player actuator  6  is carried by the player actuator  6  and the collar  60 , as opposed to being carried by the joystick controller  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the player actuator  6  can exert some downward force on the joystick controller  40  to allow the player actuator control assembly  6  to also act as a button actuator. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the joystick controller  40  also includes a light source which emits light upwardly through the player actuator control assembly  6  when the control actuator is activated for a particular game. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 3 and 4  demonstrate different positions of the joystick controller as the player actuator control assembly  6  is moved. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates the player actuator control member in a central position, whereas  FIG. 3  shows the player actuator control assembly moved to an extreme position closer to the base of the touch screen, whereas  FIG. 4  shows the player actuator control assembly  6  moved to an extreme position away from the touch screen. 
         [0037]    As can be seen, the control cover  10  and the bottom member  34  cooperate with the collar  60  to positively support the player actuator control assembly  6 . 
         [0038]    Furthermore, it can be seen from reviewing  FIGS. 2 through 4  that the joystick receiving recess  36  is somewhat oversized such that lateral movement of the player actuator control assembly  6  affects pivoting of the control shaft  42  without tilting of the player actuator control assembly  6 . This particular action has been found to be more natural for a player where the effective movement of the player actuator control assembly  6  is generally in one plane and is not appreciably affected by any tilting. 
         [0039]    The upper surface of the player actuator control assembly  6  is of size to comfortably receive at least two fingers of a player in a side by side relationship on the upper surface. Preferably, the top surface of the player actuator control assembly  6  is about two inches in diameter. A player will typically have two or three fingers on the player actuator control assembly  6  and move his hand and arm in controlling the position of the player actuator control assembly  6 . This type of action is more natural and does not require separate movement of the fingers or wrist of the player. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 through 12 , the cover member  10  receives the player actuator control assembly  6  as part of an assembly of the cover  10  and similarly, the button actuators  8  are also received and maintained in this assembly. Each of the button actuators  8  are received in button actuator pockets  16  of the cover  10  and are spring loaded. The assembled cover  10  for the control actuating arrangement  4  is shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates securement of the cover assembly  10  above the joystick controller  40 . The joystick controller is mounted on the printed circuit board  45  and this printed circuit board  45  cooperate with the button actuators  8 . The circuit board  45  as shown in the cross sectional views is at a raised position and is above the drain holes  52  shown in  FIG. 9 . The support collar  60  straddles the circuit board  45  and has the joystick controller  40  exposed within the large center port  62 . The cover assembly  10  can then be combined with the bottom support plate  50  and attached thereto by means of a series of screws or fasteners  63 . 
         [0042]    Each of the button actuators includes a switch arrangement for completing a circuit with the circuit board  45  and preferably, this circuit board  45  also includes an LED  47  associated with each button actuator  8 . When the device is activated, for use with that particular game, these LED&#39;s are on and light is transmitted through the button actuators. The button actuators preferably include a translucent portion to allow the light to pass therethrough. This provides a further visual enhancement of the control actuating arrangement. 
         [0043]    This particular arrangement has proven to be effective in both the assembly of the video game terminal and the durability of the video game terminal. Any liquid which is poured on the player actuator control assembly  6  is directed away from the joystick controller. As shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 4 , the cover  10  includes a raised support surface  18  that serves to support the actuator control assembly  6  while also directing any poured liquid to flow off of the cover member  10 . Any liquid which passes through the oversized recess  70  in the cover member will strike the bottom member  34  and be directed outwardly of the joystick controller  40 . Furthermore, the raised position of the circuit board  45  and the drain holes provided about the joystick controller allow any liquid that enters through the cover to pass out the base of the video game terminal. Thus, the arrangement provides effective support and protects the joystick controller  40  and also serves to protect the joystick controller from liquid damage caused accidentally or deliberately. 
         [0044]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.