AMUSEMENT GAME WITH ROTATING TARGET
An amusement game with a rotating target displays different targets to players on opposing teams. Players on each team throw objects at the targets to score points. The rotating target includes sensors that sense if the object hits the target.
The present invention relates generally to the field of amusement games. More particularly, the present invention relates to an amusement game wherein a player throws an object at a target including a plurality of faces, each with a unique target configuration that rotates between turns, allowing players to throw at more than one target configuration during the course of a game.
BACKGROUNDCoin operated amusement games where a player throws an object at a target are known in the art. Typically, such games are placed against a wall, thereby providing an upright target at which the object may be thrown. Most coin operated amusement games for bars and arcades were developed as adaptations of popular games played elsewhere. Examples of existing target games include dart boards and automatic basketball games. Target games such as those previously described may be played by one or more player simultaneously. In the case of the automatic basketball game, arcades often have multiple games arranged side by side to allow players to compete against each other at the same time.
Beer pong is a popular drinking game that takes the concept of a target game and adds the social elements of teams and, in the case of traditional beer bong, drinking Typically, beer pong includes two teams of players and is played on and around a free-standing table. Each team has a grouping of target cups partially filled with beer, arranged in a triangular pattern at the opposite end of the table from where the team stands. The teams alternate throwing ping pong balls at the target cups. When a player successfully throws a ball into one of the cups, a player on the opposing team removes the cup from the pattern. The team that successfully clears the cups wins the game.
Existing beer pong games have a number of limitations that prohibit the game from being played as a coin-operated amusement game. First, typical beer pong games require that the players arrange loose cups in formation at either side of the table and partially fill those cups with beer. Second, when a player successfully throws a ball into a cup, a player on the opposing team must pick up the cup and drink its contents thereby removing the cup from the field of play. It should be apparent that providing loose cups to players to use in a bar or arcade environment would be problematic. The cups would inevitably get dirty, lost, broken, etc., causing the maintenance and attention needed to be paid to such a game to be prohibitive. Second, if the cups were to be filled with beer, as is typical in beer pong games, the cups would be prone to spilling, requiring constant cleaning by the bar or arcade operator. It is simply not feasible to have an arcade amusement game that includes loose cups and/or liquid.
Thus, there is a need for an amusement game that captures the team aspect of beer pong, but eliminates the messiness of the game.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to an amusement game wherein teams of players throw objects at a target that rotates between turns to display a plurality of target configurations. The amusement game includes a cabinet having a target apparatus that is rotatably attached to the cabinet. The target apparatus has a plurality of faces, each of which includes at least one target. Each target include es a sensor for sensing when an object hits the target. A motor is attached to the target apparatus that rotates the target apparatus to display one of the faces to a player.
In one embodiment of the invention that emulates the game play of beer pong, the target apparatus is a platform having two target faces. Attached to each target face is an array of target cups arranged in a triangular pattern. The target apparatus is centrally located between two ends of the cabinet so that players on opposing teams may throw from opposite ends of the cabinet. After one team has completed a turn throwing balls at one array of target cups, the target apparatus rotates to display the other array of target cups to the team at the other end of the cabinet. At the bottom of each target cup, is a sensor that senses if a ball passes through the cup. A game controller scores a point for either team when one of its players throws a ball into one of the cups and displays the results on at least one screen located in the cabinet.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.
Referring to
A controller 111 controls all aspects of the amusement game 100 including but not limited to scoring, payment, sounds, lights, and position of the rotating target apparatus 114. In the embodiment shown, the controller is a computer program that may be stored on any suitable computer that includes memory and a central processing unit (CPU). In the embodiment shown, the controller 111 is located inside the cabinet.
In the embodiment shown, one end 106 of the cabinet 102 includes a coin/bill/card acceptor 112 which accepts payment to enable the start of a game. The game 100 can also be configured to operate without payment or by alternative payment means without departing from the invention.
Turning now to
A motor 140 is connected to the rotating target apparatus 114 and causes it to rotate about an axle 138. As shown, the axle 138 passes horizontally through the rotating target apparatus 114, but alternative axle orientations may be used without departing from the invention. The motor 140 drives the rotating target apparatus 114 by a belt 142 and two pulleys 144. The belt 142 is a timing belt and the pulleys 144 are timing belt pulleys. Using a timing belt along with timing belt pulleys allows consistent turning of the rotating target apparatus 114 in either direction. Alternately, the motor 140 may be directly connected to the rotating target apparatus 114 by a driveshaft, a system of gears, or any other suitable method without departing from the invention. In the embodiment shown, the controller controls the position of the rotating target apparatus 114. Similarly to electronic dart boards that sense the number of throws in a designated turn and automatically commence a new turn, when the controller in the present invention determines that a turn has been completed, the computer turns on the motor 140 for a predetermined period of time, rotating the rotating target apparatus 114 one hundred eighty degrees. In the embodiment shown, the motor 140 is a typical brushless electric motor, but any suitable motor may be used without departing from the invention. Other suitable motors may include but are not limited to stepper motors or servo motors. Of course, if the rotating target apparatus 114 has more than two target surfaces, the controller can operate the motor 140 in either direction and for more or less time as desired to achieve the degrees of rotation called for by the game.
Turning now to
At the bottom of the gutter 130 is a gutter sensor that senses when a ball 128 passes into the ball return tube 134. If the sensor at the base of the gutter 130 senses a ball before one of the cup sensors 117, the computer understands that a missed shot has occurred. On the other hand, if one of the cup sensors 117 senses a ball 128 pass through a cup before the ball passes the gutter sensor, the controller understands that a shot has been successful. Each cup sensor 117 sends a discrete signal to the controller so that the controller can understand which cup 116 the ball 128 has passed through. Unlike a basketball arcade game where the only target is a hoop, in the present invention, once a ball 128 passes through a cup 116, a point is scored, but the cup is no longer “in play” meaning that another ball passing through the same cup will not score a point. In alternative embodiments, which cups are “live” may be change during the game, with the in-play cups being shown on the screen 122.
Turning now to
Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.
Claims
1. An amusement game for use with at least one object for throwing at a target, the amusement game comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a controller that controls the gameplay of the amusement game mounted in relation to the cabinet;
- a target apparatus rotatably attached to the cabinet and having a plurality of faces, each face having at least one target through which the object must pass to score;
- a motor attached to the target apparatus that selectively rotates the target apparatus to display one of the faces to a first player; and
- a sensor near each target that senses the object passing through the target.
2. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the cabinet further includes a return mechanism for returning the object thrown at the target to a second player.
3. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein each target is a cup.
4. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the target apparatus rotates to display a different face upon the completion of the player's turn.
5. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein each face includes a unique array of targets.
6. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the target apparatus is attached to a motor by a timing belt and timing pulleys.
7. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the target apparatus is attached to a motor by a gear set.
8. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the target apparatus is attached directly to a driveshaft of a motor.
9. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein the cabinet further includes at least one screen showing game related information.
10. The amusement game of claim 9, wherein the controller deactivates a target after an object has passed through the target.
11. The amusement game of claim 9, wherein the controller displays targets that are active on the screen.
12. An amusement game to be used with at least one throwable object, the amusement game comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a controller mounted to the cabinet and controlling the gameplay of the amusement game;
- a target apparatus rotatably attached to the cabinet and having a plurality of faces, each face having at least one target with which the object must engage to score;
- a motor selectively rotating the target apparatus to display one of the faces to a player; and
- a sensor near each target that senses when the object engages with the target.
13. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the cabinet further includes a return mechanism for returning the object thrown at the target to the player.
14. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the target apparatus rotates to display a different face upon the completion of the player's turn.
15. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein each face includes a unique array of targets.
16. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the motor rotates the target apparatus by means of a timing belt and timing pulleys.
17. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the motor rotates the target apparatus by means of a gear set.
18. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the motor has a driveshaft, and the motor rotates the target apparatus by means of the driveshaft being directly connected to the target apparatus.
19. The amusement game of claim 12, wherein the cabinet further includes at least one screen showing game related information.
20. The amusement game of claim 19, wherein the controller deactivates a target after an object has passed through the target.
21. The amusement game of claim 20, wherein the controller displays targets that are active on the screen.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
Inventor: Toccata Gaming International, LLC
Application Number: 13/856,302