Abstract:
An electromechanical prize dispensing system is provided for a game used, for example, in the arcade, amusement, carnival, trailer, or group game industries. The invention includes a means of suspending and controlling the movement of prizes on an extensible and retractable telescopic lifting platform.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general field of games, and more particularly, a prize dispensing system for a game used in the arcade, amusement, carnival, trailer, and group game industries. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Many games, particularly arcade, amusement, trailer, and carnival games, offer prizes to players by various means such as dispensation by chutes, tubes, and the like if game-winning criteria are achieved. In order to attract players away from competitive games, new and innovative methods of displaying and dispensing prizes to players are needed. 
   The present invention includes a novel method of lifting and displaying prizes by means of an electromechanical telescopic lifting device. For example a prize, placed atop the lifting device, is raised to various heights in a competing fashion relative to adjacently located lifting devices. In this example, game contestants control the vertical position of the prize by how well he or she scores in the game; the better the score, the higher the prize is elevated relative to competing game opponents. The first contestant to raise his or her prize the highest wins the game and the prize. This novel approach to prize dispensation provides an exciting way to allow contestants to both observe and compete for prizes. 
   In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a pictorial view of the internal face of an example embodiment of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   c  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the band spool housing of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of example bearings; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a pictorial view of the internal face of an example embodiment of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention showing a detailed view of internal components; 
       FIG. 3   c  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the band spool housing of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of internal components; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a plan view of the internal face of an example embodiment of an assembled configuration of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention showing a disposed band spool and prize lift band; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a pictorial view of the internal face of an example embodiment of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention further showing a disposed band spool and prize lift band; 
       FIG. 4   c  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the band spool cover of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of the band spool and prize lift band internal components; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the motor side band of the spool housing of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of the band spool housing cover; 
       FIG. 6   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention with motor subassembly; 
       FIG. 6   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the motor side band spool housing cover of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of the motor subassembly; 
       FIG. 7   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the bearing side of a band spool housing cover of the present invention with exterior prize lift tube subassembly disposed; 
       FIG. 7   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the of the present invention illustrating fastener attachment of the exterior prize lift tube subassembly; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing subassembly of the present invention with a successively smaller prize lift tube disposed; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating assembly of a successively smaller prize lift tube of the prize lift tube subassembly; 
       FIG. 9   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing subassembly of the present invention with a successively smaller prize lift tube disposed; 
       FIG. 9   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating assembly of a successively smaller prize lift tube of the prize lift tube subassembly; 
       FIG. 10   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of a partially assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing subassembly of the present invention with a successively smaller prize lift tube disposed; 
       FIG. 10   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating assembly of a successively smaller prize lift tube of the prize lift tube subassembly; 
       FIG. 11   a  is a pictorial view of an example embodiment of an assembled configuration of the motor side of a band spool housing subassembly of the present invention with an internal prize lift tube and prize display disc disposed; 
       FIG. 11   b  is a pictorial exploded view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating assembly of an internal prize lift tube and prize display disc of the prize lift tube subassembly; 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating a partially-extended configuration; 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the present invention illustrating a fully-extended configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the present invention  10  which comprises, but is not limited to: a motor drive subassembly  20  and spacer  25 , band spool subassembly  30 , an exterior lift tube  40  with internally-disposed telescopic assembly of a plurality of smaller diameter lift tubes, and prize display disc  50 . The motor drive subassembly  20  is controlled by a microprocessor-based electronic controller and is used to drive the prize display disc  50  vertically to specific elevations as dictated by commands from the microprocessor. The microprocessor generates commands based upon the performance of the game contestant. 
     FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b , and  2   c  illustrate one portion of the internal embodiments of the band spool subassembly  30 . The bearing side of the band spool subassembly cover  12  supports a rotary flange bearing  34  which is fastened thereto by means of studs or fasteners  28  and locking nuts  32 . A plurality of roller bearings  14  are mounted to band spool subassembly cover  12  by means of carriage bolts or other fasteners  36 , hex or other nuts  22  and spacers  18 . 
     FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  further illustrate the internal embodiments of the band spool subassembly  30 . A band spool housing  38  is mounted to the interior face of the bearing side of the band spool subassembly cover  12  by means of a plurality of carriage bolts or other fasteners  36 , locking or other nuts  32  and spacers  18 . A band spool housing guide  42  is separately but similarly mounted to the interior face of the bearing side of the band spool subassembly cover  12  by means of a plurality of fasteners such as carriage bolts or other fasteners  36 , locking or other nuts  32 , and spacers  18 . 
     FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  4   c  further illustrate the internal embodiments of the band spool subassembly  30  wherein band spool  44  is concentrically disposed within flange bearing  34  via a flanged shaft  52 . Flanged shaft  52  is retained onto band spool  44  and flanged bushing  56  by means of a plurality of button head or other fasteners  54 . A flexible prize lift band  46  is peripherally disposed upon band spool  44  and retained thereto by means of a roll pin or pins  48 . 
     FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  further illustrate the internal embodiments of the band spool subassembly  30  to which the motor side band spool housing cover  58  is removably attached by means of a plurality of carriage bolts or other fasteners  36 , locking or other nuts  32 , and spacers  18 . 
     FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  further illustrate the embodiments of the band spool subassembly  30  wherein motor drive subassembly  20  is disposed upon motor spacer  25  by means of a plurality of flat head or other fasteners  66 . The motor drive subassembly  20  and motor spacer are further disposed upon the motor side band spool housing cover  58  by means of a plurality of hex bolts or other fasteners  64  and spacers  18  with the shaft of the motor drive subassembly  20  concentrically engaging flange bushing  56 . A positional encoder  69  removably affixed to the shaft of the motor drive subassembly  20  provides for motor shaft positional feedback to a microprocessor control unit. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , an external prize lift tube-A  40  is mounted to band spool subassembly  30  by means of tube clamping brackets  68 , a plurality of studs or other fasteners  28  and  64 , locking nuts or other fasteners  32 , and spacers  18 . 
     FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b ,  9   a ,  9   b ,  10   a ,  10   b ,  11   a  and  11   b  illustrate the telescopically concentric dispositions of internal prize lift tube-B  78 , prize lift tube-C  86 , prize lift tube-D  88 , and prize lift tube-E  90  within exterior prize lift tube-A  40 . Prize lift tubes  78 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  are slidably fixed within the prize lift telescoping assembly  10  and exterior prize lift tube-A  40  by means of tube spacers  74 , tube top bearings  76 , and internal tube bearings  72 , which are attached to their respective prize lift tubes by means of a plurality of spacers  18  and acorn nut or other fasteners  82  and  84 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b , prize display disc  50  is disposed onto prize display disc mount  92  by means of a plurality of button head or other fasteners  54  which are removably affixed within inserts  94  that are embodied within said display disc mount  92 . Display disc mount  92  is concentrically disposed upon band clamp  96  by means a button head or other fastener  51  wherein said band clamp  96  is concentrically affixed within prize lift tube-E  90  by means of a plurality of screw or other fasteners  84 . The band clamp  96  is affixed to prize lift band  46  by means of a roll pin or other fastener  48 . 
   When in operation, the motor drive subassembly  20  of receives positional commands from a microprocessor or other control unit and is driven to a desired position relying on positional encoder  69  for positional feedback based upon the player&#39;s achievement of game-winning criteria. As shown collectively in  FIGS. 4 through 11 , the motor drive subassembly  20  correspondingly drives band spool  44  extending or retracting prize lift band  46  vertically within prize lift tubes  40 ,  78 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90  wherein roller bearings  14  and band spool housing guide  42  provide support and guidance to prize lift band  46  which is respectively and peripherally unwrapped or wrapped upon band spool  44  during telescopic extension or retraction. Full retraction of the telescopic assembly may be determined by but not limited to the following examples, such as by positional feedback directly supplied by the positional encoder  69 , or by sensing an overcurrent condition of the current supplied to the motor drive subassembly  20 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively illustrate partial and full extension configurations of the invention wherein  FIG. 12  illustrates the sequence of prize lift tube deployment which begins with extension of the innermost prize lift tube  90 . Upon full extension of prize lift tube  90 , the concentrically adjacent prize lift tube  88  is mechanically engaged by prize lift tube  90  and is correspondingly extended with subsequent engagement and extension of adjacently exterior prize lift tubes  86  and  78  until full extension of the invention is achieved as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . It should be noted that the number of prize lift tubes is not limited to that described herein and that more or fewer prize lift tubes may be disposed as desired. 
   The embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The preferred embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.