U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,615

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1, shows part of a floor standing cabinet1having an upper front wall structure2in which is set a video screen3of a VDU4(CRT or LCD) a coin slot5and a pay-out outlet tray6.

The video screen3has touch sensors7.

There is also a lower panel8which houses operating buttons9.

Within the cabinet1there is a control unit10comprising a microprocessor unit11connected to a coin-mechanism12arranged to receive coins from the slot5, the VDU4, the screen touch sensors7, the operating buttons9, and a pay-out device13linked to the pay-out outlet tray6.

In use, the machine is actuated for play of a game by insertion of coins into the coin-mechanism12to a predetermined game play credit value.

The VDU4produces a graphic display of a flat playing bed14having an inner edge region15leading to a pay-out outlet16.

There is a second raised region17comprising a flat area18and a front face19which together form a pusher27which slides repeatedly forwards and backwards over and in contact with the upper surface of the playing bed14relative to the inner edge15. The movement may be of the nature of an angular sweep or rectilinear reciprocal movement or otherwise as desired.

On the upper surface of the playing bed14between the front face19of the raised region and the free edge20of the inner edge region15there are multiple flat circular discs21of the same or different kinds, preferably identical, distributed randomly or in a predetermined pattern, so as to be edge to edge and/or overlapping and/or stacked in any suitable combinations.

In an upper region of the screen there is a graphic representation of a fall zone24positioned perpendicular to the flat area18of the raised region17, along the top horizontal edge of the fall zone24is a graphic representation of a coin run22.

After introduction of sufficient game play credit, a graphic representation of an introduced coin23, identical to the existing coins21on the playing bed14, can be seen in the coin run22, such coin23being shown vertical or face on to the VDU.

The player now has to use his judgement in deciding at what point the introduced coin23is released into the fall zone24as the coin run22moves transversely from side to side relative to the fall zone24. This can be done by touching the screen3to operate the touch sensors7. This phase may be timed so that the release opportunity lapses after a predetermined time.

This causes the coin23to leave the coin run22and enter the fall zone24whereupon the coin falls downwardly, it's route being guided by a series of graphically represented protruding pins25, onto the flat area18of the raised region17there beneath, and possibly bounce, then fall flat onto the flat area18, directly onto the flat area18or overlapping or stacked on top of any coin or coins23already occupying that position on the flat area18. The direction in which the coin23is deflected following collision with protruding pin25may be determined either on a random or pseudo random basis or on a computed basis whereby the control unit10utilises parameters such as the position of release of the coin23from the coin run22and the position of the coins centre of gravity when it collides with the pin25to determine the route which the coin follows after colliding with a pin25.

The player may have the opportunity to influence the route of the coin23through the fall zone24by touching the protruding pins25on the VDU screen3. This causes the pins to be retracted thereby eliminating any deflection of the coin23which might otherwise occur. This is illustrated inFIG. 3, showing how the image of pin25ais in retracted condition relative to the wall defining fall zone24, after the player has touched the image of pin25a.

The introduced coin23takes up a position on the flat area18where it will be engaged by the bottom region26of the fall zone24as the raised region17moves backwards, the coin will be pushed forwards by the bottom region26of the fall zone24. If there is a row of aligned edge to edge coins21between the introduced coin23and the free edge28, the result will be that a number of coins21will fall over the edge28onto the playing bed14. As the raised region17then moves forwards the newly fallen coins will engage with it's front face19thereby being pushed forwards. If there is a row of aligned edge to edge coins21between the newly fallen coins and the free edge20, the result will be that a number of coins21will fall over the edge15into the pay-out outlet16, and this triggers award of a corresponding prize to the player which may be a pay-out through the opening6of a corresponding number or value of coins, or may be an addition to a ‘bank’ which the player can use to credit further games or take as a pay-out as and when desired.

If, as will tend to happen in most cases, there is no aligned row of edge to edge coins21between the introduced/newly fallen coins23and the free edges28and15respectively, the action of the pusher will be to deflect the introduced/newly fallen coins and/or one or more of the other coins21between the introduced/newly fallen coins and the free edges28and15so that the coins18become overlapped or stacked to a greater degree and no coins21are displaced into the pay-out chute16.

The above mentioned movements of the falling introduced coins23the pusher27and the existing coins21on the flat area17and the playing bed14respectively are all computed and displayed on a real-life basis. That is, the control unit10is programmed with data representing parameters such as the height of the coin run22, the position and instant of release of the coin23from the run22, the centre of gravity of the coin23as it collides with a pin25, the movement cycle of the pusher, the relative angular positions of the existing coins21on the playing bed14and flat area17respectively whereby the movements take place as far as possible identical with the movements which would occur in a mechanical machine as a consequence of gravity, applied pushing forces and contact geometry of coins21of a particular size.

Accordingly, the player can exercise skill in like manner to a mechanical machine and can derive much entertainment and interest from this.

However, the control unit10influences the overall progression of the game with the machine being programmed to pay-out a pre-determined percentage of the value of the introduced credit.

On first play, the layout of coins21on the playing bed14and flat area17respectively are generated in a predetermined or random or pseudo random manner. With subsequent games the layout may be modified, and the modifications carried forward from game to game, by addition of the introduced coins23and by deflection of the existing coins21by the action of the pusher27.

If desired, periodically (predictably or randomly) or following certain predetermined events (such as a jackpot win), the layout may be re-set. Also, if desired, on a predetermined or random basis there may be movements and pay-outs not dictated by the normal game play. For example, coins may be added to the layout, or pay-out may be made which have not been derived from a win. Also, the coins layout may be such that a large ‘jackpot’ win is periodically available e.g. because the layout includes a relatively large stack.

The machine has been described in relation to one player but if desired provision may be made for two or more players to play from different coin slots, coin runs or other suitable arrangement onto the same playing bed.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the embodiment which are described by way of example only for example instead of a touch screen sensor multiple operating buttons may be used to play the game described herein.