Game machine wager sensor

• US 5,909,876 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven R. Pyykkonen
• Original Assignee: Steven R. Pyykkonen
• Inventors: Brown, J. Breck
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaMarca, William
• Application Number:
  US09/050,687
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 434/128, 434/129, 273/274, 273/292, 273/309, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/29
• US Class Current: 273/309
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2444 Light detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A game board for playing a game upon which wagers are made. The board comprises an upper playing surface (12) presenting a plurality of player areas with each of the player areas including at least one wager indicator (20, 22, 24). Each wager indicator (20, 22, 24) is characterized by including a lens (27) substantially flush with the playing surface (12) and a sensor (28) for sensing the presence of a chip on the lens (27). The sensor (28) comprises a photocell under the lens (27) and in the center thereof for sensing the presence of a chip on the lens (27). The lens (27) is circular and a light (30), comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in a circular tube, is disposed about the circumference of the lens (27) and around the sensor (28). A register (34) accumulates the wagers on each indicator (20, 22, 24) and a switching device (36) maintains the light (30) for each indicator (20, 22, 24) illuminated after a chip is removed from the lens (27).A light shield (54) is disposed between the sensor (28) and thelight for preventing light rays from the light from reaching the sensor (28).

Claims

1. A game board for playing a game upon which wagers are made, said board comprising:

an upper playing surface (12) presenting a plurality of player areas, each of said player areas including first, second and third wager indicators (20,22,24), each of said wager indicators (20,22,24) including lens (27) substantially flush with said playing surface (12) sensor (28) for sensing the presence of a chip on said lens (27),

said sensor comprising a photo-cell under each said lens (27) and in the center thereof for sensing the presence of a chip on said lens (27), and a light (30) surrounding each of said sensors for indicating that a wager has been placed on said lens of said wager indicator (20,22,24), and

a light shield (54) having a lower end adjacent said photo cell and a upper end adjacent said lens for preventing light rays from said light from reaching said photo-cell.

2. A game board as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield (54) is cylindrical.

3. A game board as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lens presents an annular recess (58), a wafer (60) with indicia thereon disposed in said recess (58), and an opaque ring (62) filling said recess (58) over said wafer (60) whereby the indicia on said wafer (60) is visible through said wafer (60).

4. A game board as set forth in claim 3 wherein a first of said wafers (60) for said first (20) of said indicators for each player area presents the numbers 7 and an 11 for first odds, a second of said wafers (60) for a second (22) of said indicators for each player area presents the numbers 2, 3 and 12 for second odds, and a third of said wafers (60) for a third (24) of said indicators for each player area presents the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 for third odds.

5. A game board as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said indicators has a cylindrical body (38) with said lens at an upper end thereof and presenting an open lower end.

6. A game board as set forth in claim 5 said lens having an annular periphery extending radially outwardly from said cylindrical body (38).

7. A game board as set forth in claim 6 wherein said periphery of said lens is tapered (40) to engage a beveled countersunk hole in said playing surface.

8. A game board as set forth in claim 5 including a circuit board (44) secured to said bottom of said cylindrical body (38).

9. A game board as set forth in claim 8 wherein said light comprises a plurality of lights (52) supported about a circle on said circuit board (44) and extending into said open bottom of said cylindrical body (38).

10. A game board as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cylindrical body (38) has a central cavity (42) extending from said open bottom to said lens, said photo-cell being disposed on said circuit board (44) axially aligned with said central cavity (42), light shield (54) disposed in said cavity (42) around said photo-cell and between said photo-cell and said light for preventing light rays from said light from reaching said photo-cell.

11. A game board as set forth in claim 10 wherein said shield (54) comprises a light impervious layer and a tube surrounded by said light impervious layer.

12. A game board as set forth in claim 10 including fasteners (46) extending through said circuit board (44) and into said cylindrical body (38) for securing said circuit board (44) to said body (38).

13. A game board as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lens presents an annular recess (58), a wafer (60) with indicia thereon disposed in said recess (58), and an opaque ring (62) filling said recess (58) over said wafer (60) whereby the indicia on said wafer (60) is visible through said wafer (60).

14. A game board as set forth in claim 13 including a light dispersion ring (64) disposed around said light shield (54) and above said light and below said opaque ring (62) for dispersing light around said opaque ring (62).

15. A game board (44) as set forth in claim 14 wherein said body (38) includes a depending skirt (48) to define the lower end of said cavity (42) and to define an annular space (50) in the open bottom of said body (38), said light dispersion ring (64) being disposed in said annular space (50).