Game machine

{
  "publication_number": "US6454261B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Game machine",
  "abstract": "A game machine played by a player to fish amusement objects. The game machine has a tank containing water. The amusement objects float on water. A fishing member engages one of the amusement objects and fishes the amusement object. The fishing member is lifted to catch the amusement object. A driving mechanism supports the fishing member and vertically moves the fishing member. A forcible object mover forcibly moves the amusement objects on the water surface. A manipulator, which is manipulated by the player, lowers the fishing member with the driving mechanism. A dropping mechanism drops the amusement object when the amusement object is lifted together with the fishing member by the driving mechanism.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A game machine having a play area partitioned from an external environment, wherein a player manipulates the game machine in the external environment to play a predetermined game while conditions in the play area change, the game machine comprising: a tank containing liquid; an amusement object that floats on the surface of the liquid; a fishing member for engaging the amusement object and fishing the amusement object, wherein the fishing member is lifted to fish the amusement object; a driving mechanism for supporting the fishing member and vertically moving the fishing member; a forcible object mover for forcibly moving the amusement object on the liquid surface; a manipulator manipulated by the player for lowering the fishing member with the driving mechanism; and a dropping mechanism for dropping the amusement object when the amusement object is lifted together with the fishing member by the driving mechanism.",
    "2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the forcible object mover sends air into the tank to produce a current and forcibly move the amusement object on the liquid surface.",
    "3. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the produced current swirls.",
    "4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the amusement object is a model fish.",
    "5. The game machine according to claim 4, wherein the model fish has a mouth-like portion, the fishing member engaging the vicinity of the mouth-like portion.",
    "6. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the dropping mechanism includes a passage restriction member having a hole, and wherein, when the fishing member is lifted, the passage restriction mechanism permits passage of the fishing member and prohibits passage of the amusement object.",
    "7. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein, when the amusement object is engaged with the fishing member, the dropping mechanism temporarily lifts the fishing member and then drops the fishing member by a predetermined distance to cause inertial force to disengage the amusement object from the fishing member.",
    "8. A game machine having a play area partitioned from an external environment, wherein a player manipulates the game machine in the external environment to play a predetermined game while conditions in the play area change, the game machine comprising: a tank containing liquid; an amusement object that floats on the surface of the liquid; a fishing member for magnetically engaging the amusement object and fishing the amusement object, wherein the fishing member is lifted to fish the amusement object; a driving mechanism for supporting the fishing member and vertically moving the fishing member; a forcible object mover for forcibly moving the amusement object on the liquid surface; a manipulator manipulated by the player for lowering the fishing member with the driving mechanism; and a dropping mechanism for dropping the amusement object when the amusement object is lifted together with the fishing member by the driving mechanism.",
    "9. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the forcible object mover sends air into the tank to produce a current and forcibly move the amusement object on the liquid surface.",
    "10. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein the produced current swirls.",
    "11. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the amusement object is a model fish.",
    "12. The game machine according to claim 11, wherein the model fish has a mouth-like portion, the fishing member engaging the vicinity of the mouth-like portion.",
    "13. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein the dropping mechanism includes a passage restriction member having a hole, and wherein, when the fishing member is lifted, the passage restriction mechanism permits passage of the fishing member and prohibits passage of the amusement object.",
    "14. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein, when the amusement object is engaged with the fishing member, the dropping mechanism temporarily lifts the fishing member and then drops the fishing member by a predetermined distance to cause inertial force to disengage the amusement object from the fishing member.",
    "15. A game machine having a play area partitioned from an external environment, wherein a player manipulates the game machine in the external environment to play a predetermined game while conditions in the play area change, the game machine comprising: a tank containing liquid; an amusement object that floats on the surface of the liquid; a fishing member for magnetically engaging the amusement object and fishing the amusement object, wherein the fishing member is lifted to fish the amusement object; a driving mechanism for supporting the fishing member and vertically moving the fishing member; a forcible object mover for sending air into the tank to produce a current and forcibly moving the amusement object on the liquid surface; a manipulator manipulated by the player for lowering the fishing member with the driving mechanism; and a dropping mechanism for dropping the amusement object when the amusement object is lifted together with the fishing member by the driving mechanism.",
    "16. The game machine according to claim 15, wherein the produced current swirls.",
    "17. The game machine according to claim 15, wherein the amusement object is a model fish.",
    "18. The game machine according to claim 17, wherein the model fish has a mouth-like portion, the fishing member engaging the vicinity of the mouth-like portion.",
    "19. The game machine according to claim 15, wherein the dropping mechanism includes a passage restriction member having a hole, and wherein, when the fishing member is lifted, the passage restriction mechanism permits passage of the fishing member and prohibits passage of the amusement object.",
    "20. The game machine according to claim 15, wherein, when the amusement object is engaged with the fishing member, the dropping mechanism temporarily lifts the fishing member and then drops the fishing member by a predetermined distance to cause inertial force to disengage the amusement object from the fishing member."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a game machine for lifting amusement objects floating on water.\n\nIn the prior art, there is a game machine that accommodates a plurality of prizes in a prize accommodating compartment. A player externally manipulates an arm to lift and carry the prizes from the prize accommodating compartment to a predetermined position, at which the prizes are awarded to the player. Such game machine is referred to as a crane game machine. The crane game machine is played in the following manner. The player pushes a button, which is located outside the prize accommodating compartment, to move the arm, which is located in the prize accommodating compartment, in a horizontal direction (in the left, right, forward, and backward directions) to a position where a desired prize is located. The arm is then automatically lowered to perform a grasping action. If the arm is located at an appropriate position, the arm grasps a prize. The arm is then lifted. Upon completion of the lifting action, the arm is horizontally moved to the vicinity of a prize discharge port. The arm then releases and drops the prize. This discharges the prize from the prize accommodating compartment through the prize discharge port.\n\nHowever, the above conventional game machine has a few shortcomings. For example, the player moves only the arm in the prize accommodating compartment. Thus, the player performs only a few manipulations. As a result, playing the game machine and watching the game machine being played may become somewhat boring.",
  "cpc": [
    "A63F 9/305",
    "A63F 2250/0407",
    "A63F 7/0088"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A63F 9/00",
    "A63F 9/30"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ohiragiken Ind Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Teruo Ohira"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2001-04-23",
  "publication_date": "2002-09-24",
  "grant_date": "2002-09-24",
  "priority_date": "2000-05-25",
  "application_number": "US-84137001-A",
  "family_id": "26592536",
  "cited_by_count": 18,
  "citations": [
    "US1910863A",
    "US3106394A",
    "US3627316A",
    "US3788641A",
    "US4272075A",
    "US4432544A",
    "US5615881A"
  ]
}