GAME MACHINE

• US 3,690,657 A
• Filed: 01/16/1970
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masaya Nakamura
• Original Assignee: Masaya Nakamura
• Inventors: Nakamura, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US05/003,450
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1E 35/11
• US Class Current: 273/442
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/143 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0612 specially adapted for children

Abstract

A game machine wherein three-dimensional models of motor vehicles carried by transparent discs are used for forming the image of motor vehicles on a screen, the three-dimensional models being projected obliquely and directly onto the screen. A light source for projecting the motor vehicle models onto the screen can move with respect the discs. The discs carrying the motor vehicle models and a pictorial road and their drive means can swivel to give realistic banking effect to the screen.

Claims

1. A game machine in which the image of a road and the images of motor vehicles running on said road can be formed on a screen, said game machine comprising a plurality of transparent discs, a first of said discs having a road pictorially represented thereon and the second and third of said discs carrying three-dimensional models of motor vehicles made of a transparent to semitransparent material, said discs being disposed parallel to one another and mounted for rotation relative to one another, a screen, a light source for projecting obliquely and directly on said screen the images of road pictorially represented on said first disc and of models carried by said second and third discs, and drive means for rotating said discs.

2. A game machine as defined in claim 1 in which said three-dimensional models of motor vehicles are mounted on said second and third discs in a space between said two discs in such a manner as to permit said discs to rotate relative to one another.

3. A game machine as defined in claim 1 comprising a movable support for said light source, and means to operate the movable light source from outside the machine.

4. A game machine as defined in claim 1 comprising means for controlling the speed of rotation of said first transparent disc, said last named means being operable from outside the machine.

5. A game machine as defined in claim 4 in which said means for controlling the speed of rotation of said first disc comprises a further light source, a reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted by said further light source, a photoelectric transducer element having a light receiving surface, and a casing for housing the aforementioned elements which is impermeable to light, the distance between said light receiving surface of said photoelectric transducer element and said light source and the relative positions of said light receiving surface and said reflecting surface being capable of variation by operation from outside whereby the rate of revolution of the disc having a road graphically represented thereon can be controlled from outside.

6. A game machine as defined in claim 4, comprising means for supporting the discs and the drive means therefor as a unit, and means for mounting said unit for pivotal motion.

7. A game machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first disc comprises a cylindrical wall extending from the peripheral edge thereof and constructed to provide a background scene.