Abstract:
A blocking mechanism for a table-type amusement game, and a table type amusement game equipped with a blocking mechanism. The blocking mechanism utilizes a blocking bar which goes from a closed position, which blocks a playing piece from scoring to an open position, which permits the playing piece to score. The blocking mechanism may be manually or electrically operated. When the blocking mechanism is electrically operated, it may be activated by the insertion of a coin into a coin and/or bill acceptor of the type found on table-type amusement games.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is claiming the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), of the provisional application filed Jun. 21, 2010, under 35 U.S.C. 111(b), which was granted Ser. No. 61/356,772. This provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to amusement games. More particularly, the present invention relates to table-type amusement games. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a blocking device which will prevent the table-type amusement game from being played without the payment of the fee for playing the game. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For as long as there have been amusement table games, there have been efforts on the part of certain people who wish to use the amusement game table to play the game without the payment of the required fee. The present invention provides a solution to this long felt need in the art. 
     Previous solutions for this type of problem have been relatively expensive. For example, for shuffleboard type table games there has been known in the art a mechanism that does not release the shuffleboard pucks to the player until the fee is deposited, and then does not return the puck to the player once the game is completed. Similarly, for bowling table-type games, a bowling ball will not be released to the player until the fee is deposited, and then after a certain number of frames, the ball will not be returned to the player. Due to the expense and complexity of the mechanism needed to accomplish this, those skilled in the art continue to search for a simple and less expensive solution to the problems in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel and unique solution to the above-mentioned problems in the art by providing an automatic blocking mechanism which prevents the playing piece of table-type amusement games, such as tabletop bowling and tabletop shuffleboard, from being played without payment of the requisite fee. A blocking means, such as a blocking bar, or blocking rod or other blocking device, which is operated upon depositing the fee into a coin and/or bill acceptor of a tabletop amusement game, remains in its closed position before the fee is deposited, opens when the fee is deposited, and closes again after the game is completed, whether by a certain event occurring, such as the playing of a certain number of innings, frames, etc., elapsing of a certain amount of time, or other events. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a construction embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of one end of the construction shown in  FIG. 1  comprising a pivot box. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the other end of the construction shown in  FIG. 1  comprising a motor box. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view showing the construction of  FIG. 1  mounted immediately in front of the bumper bar on a shuffleboard game and showing the pivot box mounted adjoining one side of a planar surface, and a motor box mounted adjoining the other side of the planar surface, with the blocking bar extending between the motor box and the pivot box, thereby extending across the entire playing surface. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the construction shown in  FIG. 4 , with the blocking bar closed, so that a game piece, such as a shuffleboard puck, would be blocked by the blocking bar from hitting the bumper pad. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view, taken in the direction of the arrows, along the section line  6 - 6 , of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a construction embodying the present invention. The blocking mechanism, generally designated by the numeral  10 , comprises a blocking means, such as a blocking bar  20 , rotatably mounted to a rotation means, which may comprise a motor box  21  and a pivot box  22 . The blocking bar  20  is mounted at one end to the motor box  21 , and at its other end to the pivot box  22 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the motor box  21  and the pivot box  22  are axially aligned, the blocking bar  20  may rotate. The motor box  21  and the pivot box  22  may be mounted in any desired position with respect to the table type amusement game on which it is used, but it is preferred that they be mounted adjoining the playing surface as shown in  FIG. 4 . It can be understood by those skilled in the art that various types of joints or flexible connections may be used between the blocking bar  20  and the motor box  21  and/or pivot box  22 . 
     Additionally, the blocking bar  20  may be made in any desired configuration to adapt the blocking mechanism  10  to a particular table-type game. For example, if a table-type bowling game were to have a blocking mechanism  10  mounted thereon, the blocking bar  20  may have suitable protuberances (not shown) at each end to fit in the “gutters” of the game. Those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the blocking mechanism  10  to virtually any table-type game. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exploded, view of the right-hand end of the construction shown in  FIG. 1 . The pivot box, generally designated by the numeral  22 , comprises a cabinet  23 , which is closed by a front end plate  27 . Four mounting pegs  29  extend axially inwardly of the front end plate  27  and provide for the mounting of a middle plate  24  by means well known in the art (not shown). 
     Between the front end plate  27 , and the middle plate  24 , are a pair of bearings  25  which rotatably capture a driven shaft  26 , which extends through an aperture  30  in the front end plate  27  and provides for mounting the blocking bar  20  to the shaft  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exploded view of the other end of the construction shown in  FIG. 1 . The motor box, generally designated by the numeral  21 , comprises a second cabinet  32  which is closed by a second front end plate  41 . A motor  34  is mounted to a mounting plate  36 , and the motor shaft  34 A carries a fan-shaped coupling  37  between the mounting plate  36  and a driven gear plate  33 . A plurality of shaft mounting bearings  25  provide for rotatably mounting a driven gear  40  and a driving gear  39 . 
     The driving gear  39  is driven by the motor shaft  34 A through the fan-shaped coupling  37 . The driving gear  39  drives a driven gear  40  which, in turn, is connected to the blocking bar  20 . Four extensions  41 A are provided on the second front end plate  41  to provide for the mounting of the driven gear plate  33  and the mounting plate  36 . The second front end plate  41  and the driven gear plate  33  capture there between the plurality of bearings  25 , and the driven gear  40 . When the motor shaft  34 A rotates, the blocking bar  20  will rotate. A pair of photoelectric switches  35  is provided for limiting the rotation of the blocking bar  20  by cooperation with the fan shaped coupling. Power will be supplied to the motor  24  and the photoelectric switches  35 , by means well known in the art. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , there is shown a construction embodying the present invention. The blocking mechanism  10  comprising the blocking bar  20 , the motor box  21 , and the pivot box  22 , is shown mounted on a shuffleboard game table, generally designated by the numeral  50 , comprising a playing surface  51  and a scoreboard  52 . The blocking bar  20  is shown in its closed position in  FIGS. 4-5 , preventing the shuffleboard puck  53  from passing under the blocking bar  20  and impacting the bumper pad  54 . 
     A coin and/or bill acceptor will accept the players money and start the rotation means rotating the blocking bar  20  between a first (closed) position and a second (open) position where the shuffleboard puck  53  may be played. After the occurrence of a pre-determined event, the rotation means will rotate the blocking bar  20  to its&#39; closed position, which will block the puck  53  from being played. until additional money is inserted into the coin and/or bill acceptor (not shown). If the player has scored, the player&#39;s score will appear on the scoreboard  52 . Sufficient knowledge is possessed by those skilled in the art to provide power to, and coordinate the operation of the blocking mechanism  10 , the scoreboard  52  and the coin and/or bill acceptor. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a sectional view taken through the blocking bar  20 , and showing the blocking bar  20  in its open position in phantom lines. 
     While the present invention is illustrated in connection with a shuffleboard game, it is well within the scope of the present invention that it be used on the many types of amusement games which are coin-operated, and have a playing surface. 
     By carefully investigating the problems present in the art concerning obtaining payment for amusement games, we have developed a unique and novel invention which solves many problems in the art. 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.