Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Housing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-10
2003-02-04
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Housing
C463S020000, C273S14300R, C273S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06514145
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a game machine installed in arcades and game facilities, particularly to a game machine which comprises a monitor for displaying a game screen and the game is proceeded as a player operates buttons or levers.
BACKGROUND ART
The game machines with monitors installed in game facilities and arcades are mainly divided into the game machines which a standing player operates the input devices such as buttons and levers (“stand-up-type game machine”), and the game machines which a seated player operates the input devices (“sit-down-type game machine”).
FIG. 9
shows an example of a conventional sit-down-type game machine. A console
52
is provided at the front part of a box-shaped body
50
, a monitor
54
is mounted above the console
52
, and a decorative plate
56
is mounted above the monitor
54
. A conventional stand-up-type game machine employs a higher body than the body
50
of the sit-down-type game machine in
FIG. 9
so that the height of the console
52
allows a standing player to easily operate the game machine.
When supplying a developed game as a game machine to a market, whether setting it as a stand-up-type game machine or a sit-down-type game machine is nowadays determined depending on the content of the game. For example, a shooting game using a gun-type input device tends to have a stand-up-type game machine considering the operational characteristic of the input device. On the contrary, the games which require much thinking and which take long hours to complete one game, such as a mah-jongg game and a poker game, tends to have a sit-down-type game machine considering the strain caused to the player's body.
On the other hand, which game is more desirable over the other is different among countries and districts because the national characters, customs, and surrounding environments of the arcades are different. For example, in Europe and the U.S., the majority of the game machines are the stand-up-type devices regardless of the content of the games. Therefore, it is required to manufacture two types of game machines for a same game depending on the shipping destination. Moreover, because of the differences in the size of the body for containing a monitor, each and separate assembly lines are necessary and the cost tends to be high as a whole.
The object of this invention is to provide a game machine where the height of the game machine can be adjusted so that it can be easily adapted to a stand-up-type game machine and a sit-down-type game machine depending on the situation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The object can be achieved by a game machine which comprises a base, a standing member raised from the base, and a game operation member and a monitor retained above the base by the standing member. In this structure, the constituting elements necessary for a game machine are made into units as a base, game operation member, and monitor, and these are retained by the standing member. Therefore, the height of the whole machine can be altered by only changing the length of the standing member and it is possible to switch between the stand-up-type and sit-down-type depending on the situation. Moreover, it can be carried in compact units, therefore, it is preferable when shipping. Furthermore, it is preferable that the monitor is kept close to the game operation member by the standing member.
In the game machine described above, it is desirable that the game machine comprises a plurality of standing members and that the plurality of standing members are raised from at least both lateral edges of the base. Because of this structure, the light and compact standing member has the strength to bear practical uses.
Also, it is desirable that the width of the standing member is narrower than the length of the base and the monitor. Because of this structure, the standing member can be compact.
Moreover, it is desirable that the length of the standing member is determined such that the height of the game operation member allows a seated player to easily operate the game machine. Because of this structure, it is possible to alter the height of the game operation member to allow a standing player to easily operate the game machine, only by adjusting the standing member to make it longer or replacing the standing member with a longer member.
Furthermore, it is desirable that the length of the standing member is determined such that the height of the game operation member allows a standing player to easily operate the game machine. Because of this, it is possible to alter the position of the game operation member to allow a seated player to easily operate, only by adjusting the standing member to make it shorter or replacing the standing member with a shorter member.
And yet, it is desirable that the position of the game operation member can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the standing member. Because of this, it is possible to alter the position of the game operation member without exchanging any members.
Regarding the game machine described above, the game machine can be formed both as a machine having the height which allows the seated player to easily operate it, and as a machine having the height which allows the standing player to easily operate it.
Regarding the game machine described above, the standing member is constituted of a plurality of members that are slidably engaged, and the length of the standing member can be adjusted by changing the length of the slidably engaged part. Because of this, the length of the standing member can be adjusted easily.
The standing members are separated into a left and right part at least at its bottom most part, and there is a gap between the left and right part. Because of this structure, it is possible to prevent the player's feet or legs from interfering with the bottom most part of the standing member or with the base. Particularly, when the standing members are inclined rearward, it is possible to avoid the interference with the player's feet or legs by providing a gap between the right and left part at the bottom most part of the standing member.
Regarding the game machine described above, the base can be provided such that it protrudes rearward away from the standing members. Because of this, the center of gravity of the whole game machine becomes stable. Also, interference with the player's feet or legs can be avoided.
Moreover, it is desirable that the height of the base at the parts to which the standing members are fixed is higher than the height of the rear part of the base. Because of this, it is possible to fix the standing members with the base firmly, and make a compact base by lowering the height of the rear part of the base.
Regarding the game machine described above, the game operation member can be provided such that it protrudes forward away from the standing members. Because of this, the player can operate the game easily and the center of gravity of the whole game machine becomes stable.
Moreover, it is desirable that the monitor is provided such that it protrudes rearward away from the standing member. Because of this, the monitor is arranged not too close to the player but at a position that allows the player to easily see the monitor. And, when the width of the standing member is narrow, the monitor is provided such that it protrudes rearward so that it is arranged in the position which allows the player to easily see the monitor.
It is also desirable that the monitor has at least its left and right laterals supported by the standing members along the end portion of the front side of the monitor. Because of this, the monitor can be supported firmly. Moreover, because the standing members support the monitor along the end portion of the front side of the monitor, the angle of the monitor can be set at the angle which allows the player to easily see the monitor by having the standing members inclined with a predetermined angle.
It is desirable that the standing members are inclined rearward. It is also desirable that the inclination ang
Kawabata Masaki
Tsuda Kimio
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
Layno Benjamin H.
LandOfFree
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