Patent Publication Number: US-6340094-B1

Title: Premium supply apparatus and lock mechanism of hook for premium supply apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a premium supply apparatus structured such as to supply a premium suspended in a hook provided within a casing in response to a game result and a lock mechanism for a hook so that a premium can drop down at a predetermined drop position within the casing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, there is an apparatus in which a moving base body having a hook-shaped hook fixed is provided within a casing of a game machine, a premium is suspended to the hook and the premium is dropped down at a predetermined drop position within the casing. At the predetermined drop position within the casing, a rod-like resistance bar is provided on an opposite side to the moving base body with respect to the hook. The resistance bar is formed in such a manner as to be able to stop an integral movement of the premium with the hook by contacting with the premium suspended in the hook. 
     Then, when the moving base body is moved and the premium suspended in the hook reaches the predetermined drop position within the casing of the game machine, the premium is in contact with the resistance bar, so that the movement is stopped. On the contrary, the hook still keeps moving together with the moving base body. As a result, the premium is taken out from the hook in the front end of the advancing direction of the hook on the basis of the resistance bar, and the premium drops down at the predetermined drop position within the casing. 
     However, in the art mentioned above, there have been the following problems. 
     Accordingly, since the hook is formed in a hook shape, the hook is positioned within the casing in a state that an opening portion thereof is open. Accordingly, there has been a problem that the premium is dropped down even at the other position than the predetermined drop portion, in the case that the casing is swung or the premium is not sufficiently locked with respect to the hook. 
     Further, the premium is taken out from the hook by bringing the premium into contact with the resistance bar, however, there has been a problem that an erroneous motion, that is, the premium overrides the resistance bar and is not taken out from the hook, is generated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  1  is to provide a lock mechanism for a hook in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     Further, in addition, an object in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  2  is to provide a lock mechanism for a hook in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing even in the case that the hook relatively moves with respect to the predetermined drop position and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     Still further, in addition, an object in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  3  is to provide a lock mechanism which can securely take out a premium from a hook. 
     Furthermore, in addition, an object in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  4  is to provide a lock mechanism which can be easily mounted to a base body. 
     Moreover, an object in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  5  is to provide a premium supply apparatus in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     The invention is provided so as to achieve the objects mentioned above. 
     (Claim  1 ) 
     A lock mechanism for dropping down a premium  60  suspended in a base body  40  at a predetermined drop position and for preventing the premium  60  from dropping down at the other position than the predetermined drop position, comprising a base member  40 , a hook  10  fixed to the base body  40 , suspending the premium  60  and capable of maintaining a state of being easily dropped, and a lock portion  20  for preventing the premium  60  from dropping down by closing an open portion in the hook  10 , wherein the lock portion  20  comprises a support point portion  21  axially supported to the base body  40 , a rotating piece  22  capable of rotating to both of normal and inverse directions around the support point portion  21  and an operating portion  50  for rotating the rotating piece  22 , and the rotating piece  22  is structured such that an end portion thereof is brought into contact with the hook  10  at the position other than the predetermined drop position so as to close the open portion and at the predetermined position, the rotating piece  22  is rotated to a position which does not prevent the premium  60  from dropping down from the hook  10  so that the premium  60  can be taken out. 
     In this case, the wording “(the hook  10  is) fixed to the base body  40 ” means that the hook  10  capable of integrally moving with the base body  40  is sufficient. Accordingly, in the case that the base body  40  is at a standstill, the hook  10  is also at a standstill, in the case that the base body  40  can be moved as defined in claim  2 , it is sufficient that the hook  10  can move in an integral manner with the movement of the base body  40 , and in addition to the case that the hook  10  is brought into contact with the base body  40  and fixed thereto, the case that the hook  10  is formed in a such a manner as to be attached to and detached from the base body  40  and can be integrally moved with the base body  40  during the movement of the base body  40  are included. 
     An operation of the invention as recited in claim  1  will be described. 
     Since the open portion of the hook  10  is closed at the portion other than the predetermined position, the premium  60  is prevented from dropping down from the hook  10 . On the contrary, at the predetermined drop position, the rotating piece  22  rotates and the premium  60  can be dropped down from the hook  10 . Accordingly, the premium  60  can be dropped down from the hook  10  at the predetermined drop position by controlling a motion of the operating portion  50 , and at the position other than the predetermined drop position, the premium  60  can be prevented from dropping down from the hook  10 . 
     (Claim  2 ) 
     The invention as recited in claim  2  is the invention technically restricting the invention as recited in claim  1 , in which a resistance portion  30  relatively moving with respect to the base body  40  is provided at the predetermined drop position for dropping down the premium  60 , and the resistance portion  30  is formed in a shape for guiding the premium  60  to the open portion in the hook  10  by contacting with the premium  60  and is provided at a position which does not prevent the premium  60  from dropping down from the hook  10 . 
     In this case, the wording “a resistance portion  30  relatively moving with respect to the base body  40 ” means that the resistance portion  30  is formed such that the base body  40  is not relatively at a standstill with respect to the resistance portion  30 . For example, in addition to the case that the base body  40  moves with respect to the standstill resistance portion  30  and the case that the resistance portion  30  moves with respect to the standstill base body  40 , the case that the resistance body  30  and the base body  40  move at a different speed and to a different moving direction is included. 
     An operation of the invention as recited in claim  2  will be described. 
     When the base body  40  relatively moves with respect to the resistance portion  30  so as to reach the predetermined drop position, the premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , so that an integral movement with the base body  40  is stopped. On the contrary, since the hook  10  is fixed to the base body  40 , it moves together with the base body  40 . 
     Accordingly, since the open portion of the hook  10  is open at the predetermined drop position in such a manner that the lock portion  20  does not prevent the premium from dropping down, the premium  60  can be taken out from the hook  10 . 
     (Claim  3 ) 
     The invention as recited in claim  3  is the invention technically restricting the invention as recited in claim  2 , in which the resistance portion  30  is provided with a main body portion  31  positioned at an opposite side to the base body  40  with respect to the hook  10  and contacting with the premium  60 , and a side support portion  32  projecting to a direction of the base body  40  from the main body portion  31 , and the side support portion  32  is formed in such a manner that an upper end portion thereof is at a position higher than an open end  11  of the hook  10  in the predetermined drop position. 
     An operation of the invention as recited in claim  3  will be described. 
     The premium can be securely taken out from the hook  10  due to the presence of the side support portion  32 . 
     (Claim  4 ) 
     The invention as recited in claim  4  is the invention technically restricting the invention as recited in claim  2  or claim  3 , in which the operating portion  50  comprises a projecting piece  53  fixed to a rotating piece  22  of the lock portion  20 , a rotating function portion  51  contacting with the projecting piece  53  in a front side of an advancing direction of the base body  40  so as to rotate and move the projecting piece  53  with respect to the resistance portion  30 , and a keeping function portion  52  for keeping a state that the projecting piece  53  rotates until the open portion of the hook  10  is positioned at a back side of the advancing direction of the base body  40  in comparison with the resistance portion  30 . 
     An operation of the invention as recited in claim  4  will be described. 
     The base body  40  moves toward the resistance portion  30 . In this state, the rotating piece  22  closes the open portion of the hook  10 . When the projecting piece  53  is brought into contact with the rotating function portion  51  so as to rotate, the rotating piece  22  rotates together with the projecting piece  53 , so that the open portion of the hook  10  is opened. Further, when the base body  40  moves toward the resistance body  30 , the premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , so that the integral movement of the premium  60  with the base body  40  is prevented. Then, in the state that the premium  60  stays in the front side of the advancing direction of the base body  40  in the resistance portion  30 , the hook  10  further moves together with the base body  40 . As a result, as well as the premium  60  can be dropped down at the predetermined position, the premium  60  can be prevented from dropping down at the position other than the predetermined position. 
     Further, the rotating piece  22  can be rotated due to a mechanical structure using the movement of the base body  40 . Accordingly, an electrically connecting operation for operating the lock mechanism is not required, and an operation of mounting the lock mechanism to the base body  40  can be made simple. 
     (Claim  5 ) 
     A premium supply apparatus comprising a box-like casing  70 , a base body  40  provided within the casing  70 , a hook  10  fixed to the base body  40 , suspending a premium  60  and capable of maintaining a state of being easily dropped, a lock portion  20  for preventing the premium  60  from dropping down by closing an open portion in the hook  10 , a resistance portion  30  relatively moving with respect to the base body  40  provided at the predetermined drop position for dropping down the premium  60  within the casing  70 , a discharge passage  80  for discharging the premium  60  dropping down the predetermined drop position to an outer portion of the casing  70 , and a discharge port  81  disposed at an end portion of the discharge passage  80  and communicating with the outer portion of the casing  70 , wherein the lock portion  20  comprises a support point portion  21  axially supported to the base body  40 , a rotating piece  22  capable of rotating to both of normal and inverse directions around the support point portion  21  and an operating portion  50  for rotating the rotating piece  22 , and the rotating piece  22  is structured such that an end portion thereof is brought into contact with the hook  10  at the position other than the predetermined drop position so as to close the open portion and at the predetermined position, the rotating piece  22  is rotated to a position which does not prevent the premium  60  from dropping down from the hook  10  so that the premium  60  can be taken out, and wherein the resistance portion  30  is formed in a shape for guiding the premium  60  to the open portion in the hook  10  by contacting with the premium  60  and is provided at a position which does not prevent the premium  60  from dropping down from the hook  10 . 
     An operation of the invention as recited in claim  5  will be described. 
     Since the open portion of the hook  10  is closed at the portion other than the predetermined position within the casing  70 , the premium  60  is prevented from dropping down from the hook  10 . On the contrary, at the predetermined drop position, the rotating piece  22  rotates and the premium  60  can be dropped down from the hook  10 . Then, the premium  60  dropped down at the predetermined drop position reaches the discharge port  81  through the discharge passage  80 , and the premium  60  can be taken out to the outer portion of the casing  70  from the discharge port  81 . 
     Accordingly, the premium  60  can be dropped down from the hook  10  at the predetermined drop position by controlling a motion of the operating portion  50 , as well as at the position other than the predetermined drop position, the premium  60  can be prevented from dropping down from the hook  10 , and further, the dropped premium  60  can be taken out to the outer portion of the casing  70 . 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view which shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view which shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view which shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view which shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a totally perspective view which shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention will be described below further in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings used here are FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 . FIG. 1 is a side elevational view for showing an embodiment in accordance with the invention, which shows a summary of a whole of a base body. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view for showing an embodiment in accordance with the invention, which shows a positional relation between a lock portion and a resistance portion. FIG. 3 is a plan view for showing an embodiment in accordance with the invention, which shows a summary of a whole of the base body. FIG. 4 is a schematic view for showing an embodiment in accordance with the invention, which shows an operating state of the lock portion. FIG. 5 is a totally perspective view for showing an embodiment in accordance with the invention, which shows a summary of a casing  70  of a game machine. 
     A premium supply apparatus shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to an apparatus for supplying a premium  60  within a box-like casing  70  when the operator wins a prize in a game. Concretely speaking, the apparatus is provided with the box-like casing  70 , a plurality of disc-like base bodies  40 ,  40 , . . . disposed within the casing  70  and rotating in a horizontal direction, and hooks  10 ,  10 , . . . fixed to the base body  40 . The premium  60  is suspended in each of the hooks  10 . The base body  40  is provided with a lock portion  20  capable of dropping down the premium suspended in the hook  10  at a predetermined drop position within the casing  70 . 
     Further, a resistance portion  30  for dropping down the premium from the hook  10  by contacting with the premium  60  is provided at the predetermined drop position within the casing  70 . Still further, the casing  70  is provided with a discharge passage  80  for discharging the premium  60  dropped down from the hook  10  at the predetermined drop position within the casing  70  to an outer portion of the casing  70 . The discharge passage  80  is communicated with a discharge port  81  provided in a front surface  71  of the casing  70 . 
     The casing  70  is provided with a control apparatus for performing a calculation operation of a game, an illustration of which is omitted. The control apparatus is provided with an input apparatus for inputting an execution condition for a game, a calculating apparatus for calculating on the basis of the input condition and an output apparatus for outputting a calculating result. When a command of supplying the premium  60  is output from the output apparatus as a result of the calculation processing under the given condition, the lock portion  20  of the hook  10  is released in accordance that the base body  40  moves, so that the premium  60  is taken out from the hook  10 . Then, the premium  60  is discharged from the discharge port  81  through the discharge passage  80 , and can be taken out from the outer portion of the casing  70 . 
     (Base Body) 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the base body  40  is rotatably formed such that a horizontal cross sectional shape thereof is a substantially hollow circular shape and a rotating axis thereof is in parallel to a perpendicular direction. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of hooks  10  having a vertical cross sectional shape projecting downward from the body  40  formed substantially in a J shape are provided in a lower end portion of the base body  40 . An upper end portion of the hook  10  is made a fixed end fixed to the base body  40 , and the other end is made an open end  11  capable of taking out the premium  60  locked to the hook  10  from the hook  10 . The hook  10  is formed in such a manner as to suspend the premium  60  and to keep a state of being simply dropped down. A ring is provided in an upper portion of the premium  60 , and the ring is locked to the hook  10 , thereby suspending the premium  60  to the hook  10 . 
     (Lock Mechanism) 
     The base body  40  is provided with the lock mechanism  20  for dropping down the premium  60  suspended in the hook  10  at the predetermined drop position and for preventing the premium  60  from dropping down from the hook  10  at the position other than the predetermined drop position. The lock portion  20  can be detachably mounted to the base body  40 . The lock portion  20  is structured such as to mount the lock portion  20  along a peripheral edge of the base body  40 , however, in FIG. 3, the lock portion  20  is illustrated in a partly omitted manner. 
     The lock portion  20  is provided with a support point portion  21  axially supported to the base body  40 , a rotating piece  22  capable of rotating to both of a normal and an inverse directions around the support point portion  21  and an operating portion  50  for rotating the rotating piece  22 . A lower end portion of the rotating piece  22  is positioned below the open end  11  of the hook  10 . Further, a projecting piece  53  projecting to an upper portion of the base body  40  is continuously fixed to the upper portion of the rotating piece  22 . The projecting piece  53  is positioned in a portion close to the fixed end of the hook  10  with respect to the center axis of the rating piece  22 . Then, a rotating force is applied to the projecting piece  53  around the support point portion  21  to a direction of the fixed end of the hook  10 , and the lower end portion of the rotating piece  22  resists the force by contacting with the portion close to the open end  11  of the hook  10 . Accordingly, at the position other than the predetermined drop position, the state that the rotating piece  22  is brought into contact with the portion close to the open end  11  of the hook  10  can be maintained. 
     (Operating Portion) 
     The operating portion  50  is formed such as to comprise the projecting piece  53  fixed to the rotating piece  22  of the lock portion  20 , a rotating function portion  51  contacting with the resistance portion  30  at the portion in front of the advancing direction of the base body  40  and rotating and moving the projecting piece  53 , and a keeping function portion  52  for keeping a state that the projecting piece  53  rotates until the open portion of the hook  10  is positioned at a back side of the advancing direction of the base body  40  in comparison with the resistance portion  30 . The rotating function portion  51  and the keeping function portion  52  is formed by a plate-like member having a vertical cross sectional shape thereof formed substantially in an L shape as shown in FIG.  1 . Then, the rotating function portion  51  and the keeping function portion  52  are provided at a position substantially opposing to the resistance portion  30  with respect to the base body  40 . More concretely speaking, the rotating function portion  51  is provided at a position in front of the advancing direction in comparison with the resistance portion  30  and capable of being brought into contact with the projecting piece  53 . Further, the keeping function portion  52  is continuously formed to a position in which the end portion opposite to the rotating function portion  51  corresponds to the position at the back of the advancing direction of the resistance portion  30 . Still further, a gap  54  having a height corresponding to a thickness of the projecting piece  53  is formed between the keeping function portion  52  and the base body  40 . 
     (Resistance Portion) 
     In the predetermined drop position for dropping the premium within the casing  70 , the plate-like resistance portion  30  extending to a direction of a peripheral edge from the portion close to the center portion of the base body  40  is provided at the position opposing to the base body  40  with respect to the hook  10  as shown in FIG.  2 . The resistance portion  30  stands still from the predetermined drop position within the casing  70 , and the base body  40  relatively moves with respect to the resistance portion  30 . 
     The resistance portion  30  is provided with a main body portion  31  positioned below the hook  10 , and a side supporting portion  32  projecting to a direction of the base body  40  from the main body portion  31 . The side supporting portion  32  is provided at positions opposing to a left side edge and a right side edge of the hook  10 . Further, an upper end portion of the side supporting portion  32  is positioned above the open end  11  of the hook  10 . In accordance with this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a notch portion is provided at a position corresponding to the hook  10  of the plate-like resistance portion  30 , and it is structured such that the hook  10  can pass through the notch portion. 
     Further, the resistance portion  30 , an illustration of which is omitted, is fixed to the predetermined drop position within the casing  70  through an elastic member in such a manner that the resistance portion  30  can be swung to a horizontal direction in the case that the premium  60  is in contact with the resistance portion  30 . A contact sensor capable of detecting an oscillation of the resistance portion  30  is provided in a side portion of the resistance portion  30 . Then, when the premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , the resistance portion  30  is horizontally swung so as to be brought into contact with the contact sensor and an oscillation of the resistance portion  30  can be detected, so that the contact sensor is turned on. Thereafter, when the premium  60  is released from the hook  10  so as to be supplied, it is detected that the resistance portion  30  is returned to the state in which the premium  60  is not in contact therewith, so that the contact sensor is turned off. Whether or not the premium  60  is supplied out is detected by these series of switching operations between on and off states. Then, in the case that the premium  60  is supplied out, the movement of the base body  40  is stopped. On the contrary, it is structured such that in the case that it is not detected that the resistance portion  30  is returned to the preceding state after the premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , and the premium  60  is not supplied out, an error state is judged, so that an error alarm is displayed and a supply motion is again performed. In this case, in accordance with this embodiment, whether or not the premium  60  is normally supplied out is detected by the contact sensor for detecting an oscillation of the resistance portion  30 , however, in place thereof, there may be provided with a contact sensor for detecting whether or not the premium  60  passes through the discharge passage  80  or an optical sensor. 
     (Operation) 
     An operation of the invention will be described below with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     1) The base body  40  moves toward the resistance portion  30 . 
     In this state, the rotating piece  22  is brought into contact with the portion close to the open end  11  of the hook  10  and the open portion of the hook  10  is closed. 
     2) The projecting piece  53  projecting to the upper portion of the base body  40  is brought into contact with the rotating function portion  51 . 
     3) The projecting piece  53  rotates to the direction opposite to the advancing direction around the support point portion  21 . 
     4) Together therewith, the rotating piece  22  following to the projecting piece  53  also rotates, and the open portion of the hook  10  is opened. 
     5) When the base body  40  further moves toward the resistance portion  30 , the projecting piece  53  passes through the gap between the base body  40  and the keeping function portion  52  in a rotating state. 
     6) The premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , and is stopped an integral movement with the hook  10 . 
     7) In a state that the premium  60  stays in the portion close to the front portion of the advancing direction of the base body  40  in the resistance portion  30 , the open end  11  of the hook  10  further moves to the back side of the advancing direction of the resistance portion  30 . 
     8) The premium  60  is released from the hook  10 , and the premium  60  is dropped down at the predetermined drop position within the casing  70 . 
     9) The dropped premium  60  reaches the discharge port  81  through the discharge passage  80 , and the premium  60  can be taken out to the outer portion of the casing  70 . 
     Accordingly, by controlling the motion of the operating portion  50 , the premium  60  can be dropped down from the hook  10  at the predetermined drop position, and the premium  60  can be prevented from dropping down from the hook  10  at the portion other than the predetermined drop position. 
     Further, since the resistance portion  30  is provided with the side supporting portion  32 , a contact area between the resistance portion  30  and the premium  60  can be increased. Accordingly, the premium  60  can be easily taken out from the hook  10 . Particularly, in the case that the premium  60  is suspended in the hook  10  by an easily deformable member such as a band-like member, when the premium  60  is brought into contact with the resistance portion  30 , there is a case that the band-like member is bent and the premium  60  is hard to be taken out from the hook  10 . However, since the side supporting portion  32  can be brought into contact with the bent band-like member, the premium  60  can be easily dropped down from the hook  10 . Further, the rotating piece  22  can be rotated by a mechanical structure using the movement of the base body  40 . 
     (Variation) 
     The lock mechanism for the hook in accordance with the invention can be used even in the case the rotating axis of the base body  40  has an inclined angle with respect to the vertical direction. Further, the base body  40  may be at a standstill and the resistance portion  30  may move. still further, the base body  40  and the resistance portion  30  may move at a different rotating speed and in a different rotating direction. Furthermore, in accordance with this embodiment, the rotating piece  22  is rotated by the operating portion having a base-like structure using the movement of the base body  40 , however, the rotating piece  22  may be electrically operated. 
     In accordance with the invention as recited in claim  1 , there is provided a lock mechanism for a hook in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     Further, in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  2 , there is provided a lock mechanism for a hook in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing even in the case that the hook relatively moves with respect to the predetermined drop position and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     Still further, in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  3 , there is provided a lock mechanism which can securely take out a premium from a hook. 
     Furthermore, in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  4 , there is provided a lock mechanism which can be easily mounted to a base body. 
     Moreover, in accordance with the invention as recited in claim  5 , there is provided a premium supply apparatus in which a premium can be taken out from a hook at a predetermined drop position within a casing and the premium is prevented from dropping down from the hook at the other position than the predetermined drop position. 
     FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL USE 
     This invention is utilized in the field of industry of Game machine, especially premium supply apparatus and a lock mechanism for a hook of game machine.