Abstract: A practice aid for dribbling a basketball is disclosed that includes a flat panel and at least one target sensor, an accelerometer, a controller and a display wherein the target sensor detected that impact of a ball on a target and sends a signal to a controller, a accelerometer that detects all impacts of balls on the panel and sends a signal to the controller. and the controller sends a signal to the display that tracks the number of hits of the target and the number of attempts, and displays a score, and the controller also sends a signals to activate and deactivate the target sensor, and accelerometer, and the controller further controls a countdown timer on the display.

Abstract: An amusement game is characterized by a wheel mounted for rotation in a vertical plane on a support member and a control arm to rotate the wheel which also has a plurality of prize containers at winning positions located at angular positions around the wheel wherein each of the containers has a radial passage that may align with a winning position and in alignment with a prize distribution area so when the wheel stops at a winning location, a prize retainer member is moved out of the passage allowing a prize in the container to drop from the wheel to the prize distribution area.

Abstract: A wheel for an amusement game is disclosed that is rotated by a motor at a constant speed and has a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is provided with a sensor that positioned on the wheel and consequently, when a game piece or ball falls passes though the aperture it is immediately read by the sensor and therefore the wheel element can provide a signal to a processor to provide immediate feedback to a player reflecting the detection such as by providing sound effects, lighting effects and the activation of a ticket dispenser.

Abstract: An amusement game with a parabolic ball launcher for projecting a ball that will attempt to strike a primary hoop target, which can pivot or oscillate. The primary target allows the stricken ball to fall through and attempt to hit one of the two openings on a suspended platform positioned on a rotating wheel, which has openings toward the periphery of the wheel to eventually rest the ball. The rotating wheel has programmable displays corresponding to each of the openings on the periphery of the wheel, which can be adjusted based on user input to reflect new parameters or values.

Abstract: An amusement game with a parabolic ball launcher for projecting a ball that will attempt to strike a primary hoop target, which can pivot or oscillate. The primary target allows the stricken ball to fall through and attempt to hit one of the two openings on a suspended platform positioned on a rotating wheel, which has openings toward the periphery of the wheel to eventually rest the ball. The rotating wheel has programmable displays corresponding to each of the openings on the periphery of the wheel, which can be adjusted based on user input to reflect new parameters or values.

Abstract: An basketball arcade game is disclosed that includes a rim, a backboard, a ball sensor for the detection of balls that pass through the rim, a scoreboard for displaying a score relating to the game, a ball control access panel to permit and restrict access to balls that are used with said game, and a central processor that receives input from the ball sensor and provides output to the scoreboard, and the rim further includes a light source and a motor to laterally drive the rim which are both controlled by the central processing unit, and the rim may display light signals reflecting conditions of the game including bonus conditions and the time of play remaining.

Abstract: An amusement game is disclosed that includes a skilled based feature that allows players to try to time the activation of a pressure sensitive switch at the same time a light is illuminated at a target position, and if the player accurately times the activation of the switch, a central proceeding unit sends a signal to a stepper motor to energized and completely open a door that is mounted in a horizontal plane by pivoting downwardly. The door is designed to supports a prize that will be distributed to a player. If the timing is not precise, a signal is sent to a central proceeding unit to incrementally open the door. As the door continues to be opened, any prize that is supported by the door will eventually distributed as the door is allowed to be directed to the prize to a receiving area. Sensors provided on the door detect the absence of a prize on the door and send a signal to a central processing unit to activate a claw mechanism that transfers prizes from a retaining area to a position on said door.

Abstract: An improved device for distributing tickets or coupons is disclosed that includes a plurality of ticket chutes each having a ticket guide assembly for guiding tickets through the chute and an exit slot and biasing tickets against a drive wheel which engages the tickets. The drive wheel is powered by a motor which uses a drive belt to power a screw gear which in turn rotates and axle on which the drive wheel is attached. The motor is activated by a controller in response to an input signal and the controller may also received input from an optical sensor in the chute for the detection of the tickets and the movement of the motor.

Abstract: An amusement device that includes a horizontally oriented rotating wheel having a plurality of apertures through the wheel and a release mechanism that will release game pieces from a location above the wheel is disclosed. The game can be played by exercising skill or it can be configured to result in a random outcome. In the skilled based embodiment of the invention, a user tries to time the activation of the release mechanism so that a high energy ball drops down from the release mechanism and falls through the rotating wheel. If a ball passes directly through the wheel, the ball is detected by a detector that is positioned below the wheel and an award is provided to the player. In an alternative embodiment of the device, the device is designed to release a plurality of balls which will bounce and roll on the rotating wheel until they are captured in apertures that are provided through the wheel.

Abstract: An amusement device that includes a horizontally oriented rotating wheel having a plurality of apertures through the wheel and a release mechanism that will release game pieces from a location above the wheel is disclosed. The game can be played by exercising skill or it can be configured to result in a random outcome. In the skilled based embodiment of the invention, a user tries to time the activation of the release mechanism so that a high energy ball drops down from the release mechanism and falls through the rotating wheel. If a ball passes directly through the wheel, the ball is detected by a detector that is positioned below the wheel and an award is provided to the player. In an alternative embodiment of the device, the device is designed to release a plurality of balls which will bounce and roll on the rotating wheel until they are captured in apertures that are provided through the wheel.

Abstract: An improved device for distributing tickets or coupons is disclosed that includes a plurality of ticket chutes each having a ticket guide assembly for guiding tickets through the chute and an exit slot and biasing tickets against a drive wheel which engages the tickets. The drive wheel is powered by a motor which uses a drive belt to power a screw gear which in turn rotates and axle on which the drive wheel is attached. The motor is activated by a controller in response to an input signal and the controller may also received input from an optical sensor in the chute for the detection of the tickets and the movement of the motor.

Abstract: This invention relates to coin-operated amusement games referred to as cranes. Cranes have a plurality of prizes that are distributed across the play field of a container that has a claw or other engagement device suspended above the prizes. A player remotely controls the location of the claw above the prizes to a desired location and the claw is then lowered toward the prizes. The play field surface on which the prizes are distributed can be vertically moved as the prizes are withdrawn to maintain the appearance that the container is substantially full of prizes. The drive mechanism that moves the play field surface includes a motor coupled to an drive belt that drives a threaded nut. As the nut is driven, opposite threads on a threaded rod are engaged and the rod is caused to move upward or downward. One end of the threaded rod is received in a bushing on the bottom surface of the play field surface.

Abstract: A ticket counter and cutter includes cutting blades, being complementary and in mesh engagement, during operation; at least one bar code reader; and a belt assembly, for receiving a bar coded ticket and advancing the ticket to the bar code reader and then to the cutter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for playing a computer-based solitaire game including the steps of retrieving an input from an internet server to a computer, playing and scoring the game according to the input. The internet server and the computer are intermittently connected during the game and the input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by the internet. The present invention also provides a computer-based solitaire game comprising a network connection to an internet server for retrieving an input and for comparing scores, and a control system for a player having means for operating on the input and means for displaying the input and the comparison results to the player. The input comprises a scoring method and a game pattern which are controlled and predetermined by the internet server, and the game pattern comprises game features and graphic elements.

Abstract: A golf practice device for attachment to a golf club having a club head and a shaft, includes a swing speed-sensing device and a direction indicating device attached to the shaft. The swing direction indicating device is coupled to the swing speed-sensing device for indicating a swing speed set to given speed value. A light emitter provided in the swing speed indicating device is activated by different inertial masses and indicates with a light trace of a visible light beam directed at the golf player's eyes a swing speed reaching the given speed value, and the direction of the club head compared with a line on the ground. Two light emitters positioned in line with the swing direction can be provided to indicate if the club head is swung squarely in the swing direction.

Abstract: A golf game apparatus which has at least three rotatable targets activatable by a golf ball, which has a horizontal supporting arrangement for rotatably supporting the targets, wherein each target has a rest position indicating a forward facing target surface in the rest position; a rotation-detecting arrangement coupled to each target, a computing arrangement coupled to the rotation-detecting arrangement for computing game-related scores and parameters.