Amusement devices: games – Games accessories – All video game accessories
Patent
1990-07-16
1991-10-15
Coven, Edward M.
Amusement devices: games
Games accessories
All video game accessories
434 62, A63F 922, G09B 904
Patent
active
050567870
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a game machine and, more particularly, to the improvement of a steering apparatus for a machine such as video game machine, simulator, or the like for an operator to subject to a simulation of the operation of an automobile.
BACKGROUND ART
Hitherto, a steering apparatus for a machine such as video game machine, simulator, or the like for an operator to subject to a simulation of the operation of an automobile has widely been known.
In such a kind or steering apparatus for the game machine, although a steering wheel can be freely rotated to the right and left, any special device to automatically return to the center has not been made. Therefore, it is difficult to execute the steering operation for accurately moving the automobile displayed on the display screen and the game cannot be sufficiently enjoyed.
The inventor of the present invention has already proposed a steering apparatus which can automatically return the steering wheel to the center (Japanese Patent Application No. 63-249135).
In the steering apparatus for a game machine which has already been proposed by the inventor of the present invention, torsion coil springs for rotating to the right and left are attached to a steering shaft, the steering wheel may be automatically returned to the center from the positions rotated to the right or left directions of the steering operation by the reactions of the torsion coil springs. Stoppers are provided at the end points of the movement in the right and left rotational directions of the steering wheel. That is, a rod member attached perpendicularly to the midway of the steering shaft rotates together with the steering shaft and comes into abutment with a stopper rubber on the base side, thereby stopping the rotation of the steering wheel.
In the above well-known apparatus, gears are used for acceleration from the steering shaft of an input shaft of an apparatus to detect a rotational angle and a rotational direction.
In the above steering apparatus for the game machine, since two torsion coil springs are used to return the steering wheel to the center, there is a problem such that a structure is complicated and the assembly and adjustment are difficult.
On the other hand, since the gear mechanism is used to accelerate the apparatus for detecting the rotational angle and rotational direction, the costs are high.
Further, before the above steering apparatus is attached to a frame, it is divided into three assemblies, so that they cannot be easily attached to the game machine.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made in order to solve the above problems and it is an object of the invention to provide a steering apparatus for a game machine in which the apparatus has an automatic center return mechanism which can be reliably and safely operated by a simple mechanism and the apparatus may be assembled as a single unit.
The above object is accomplished by a steering apparatus for a game machine comprising structural elements disclosed in the following items (a) to (j): thereof and is rotatably supported on said base plate; central axis of said guide roller crosses perpendicularly to the steering shaft; helical surfaces which define one valley in a peripheral portion of one end face and is coaxially provided for the steering shaft and is movably provided in its axial direction so that the cam face comes into contact with the guide roller; in only the axial direction; press the cam face of the end cam to the guide roller; a fixed pin provided on a turning track of the turning pin; coincides with the valley of the cam face of the end cam; and the steering shaft.
On the other hand, the object of the invention may be also accomplished by a modified embodiment in which the positions of the bracket and guide roller and the position of the end cam were exchanged.
With the above structure, according to the first embodiment, the end cam which is exerted by the elastic force of the compression coil spring in the ordinary
REFERENCES:
patent: 3479750 (1969-11-01), Swanson
patent: 4276030 (1981-06-01), Radice
Chiu Raleigh W.
Coven Edward M.
Taito Corporation
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