Riding game machine

• US 5,951,404 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagao, Hirofumi, Oishi, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/775,119
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59, 472/60, 472/61, 472/130, 472/135, 463/7, 463/36, 463/37, 434/37, 434/55, 434/60, 434/61, 434/62
• US Class Current: 472/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/063 by using visual displays

Abstract

A riding game machine for playing the game of a jet ski race, for example has a display unit for displaying a simulated image of an object on a wavy surface, and a riding device swingable depending on the simulated image displayed by the display unit. The riding device has a riding unit for a player to ride thereon, a handle coupled to the riding unit for changing a direction of travel of the object of the simulated image displayed by the display unit, an accelerator lever mounted on the handle for changing a speed of the object of the simulated image displayed by the display unit, a pitching member for swinging the riding unit about a horizontal transverse axis, a rolling member for swinging the riding unit about a horizontal longitudinal axis, and a pitching mechanism for actuating the pitching member in relation to travel of the object on the wavy surface in the simulated image displayed by the display unit.

Claims

1. A riding game machine comprising:

a display unit for displaying a simulated image of an object on a wavy surface; and

a riding device swingable depending on the simulated image displayed by said display unit;

said riding device comprising;

a riding unit for a player to ride thereon;

a handle coupled to said riding unit for changing a direction of travel of the object of the simulated image displayed by said display unit;

an accelerator lever mounted on said handle for changing a speed of the object of the simulated image displayed by said display unit;

swinging means for swinging said riding unit, said swinging means having a pitching member for swinging said riding unit about a horizontal transverse axis and a rolling member for swinging said riding unit about a horizontal longitudinal axis; and

pitching means for actuating said pitching member in relation to travel of the object on the wavy surface in the simulated image displayed by said display unit.

2. A riding game machine according to claim 1, wherein said pitching means comprises:

a vertical drive shaft;

actuating means for rotating said vertical drive shaft about its own axis; and

a movable member threaded over said vertical drive shaft for movement along said vertical drive shaft in response to rotation of the vertical drive shaft by said actuating means;

said movable member being coupled to said pitching member.

3. A riding game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pitching member comprises a pitching frame having a front end coupled to said movable member and movable about said horizontal lateral axis in response to movement of the movable member along said vertical drive shaft, and wherein said rolling member comprises a rolling plate, said pitching frame having an inner space defined therein, said rolling plate being disposed in alignment with said inner space and angularly movable about a shaft mounted on said pitching frame in alignment with said horizontal longitudinal axis.

4. A riding game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said swinging means further comprises a yawing member for swinging said riding unit about a vertical axis.

5. A riding game machine according to claim 4, wherein said pitching member comprises a pitching frame having a front end coupled to said movable member and movable about said horizontal lateral axis in response to movement of the movable member along said vertical drive shaft, wherein said rolling member comprises a rolling plate, said pitching frame having an inner space defined therein, said rolling plate being disposed in alignment with said inner space and angularly movable about a shaft mounted on said pitching frame in alignment with said horizontal longitudinal axis, and wherein said yawing member comprises a yawing plate disposed on said rolling plate and having a front portion angularly movable about a shaft disposed on a rear portion thereof in alignment with said vertical axis.

6. A riding game machine comprising:

a riding unit for a player to ride thereon, said riding unit being swingable about at least a horizontal lateral axis and a horizontal longitudinal axis thereof;

a pitching member coupled to said riding unit for swinging said riding unit about said horizontal transverse axis;

a rolling member coupled to said riding unit for allowing said riding unit to swing about said horizontal longitudinal axis depending on movement of the player on said riding unit;

a display unit for displaying a simulated image of an object on a wavy surface;

a handle coupled to said riding unit and operable by the player for changing a direction of travel of the object of the simulated image displayed by said display unit;

an accelerator lever mounted on said handle and operable by the player for changing a speed of the object of the simulated image displayed by said display unit;

pitching means for actuating said pitching member; and

control means for controlling said pitching means depending on the direction and speed of the object on the wavy surface in the simulated image displayed by said display unit.

7. A riding game machine according to claim 6, wherein said pitching means comprises:

a vertical drive shaft;

actuating means for rotating said vertical drive shaft about its own axis; and

a movable member threaded over said vertical drive shaft for movement along said vertical drive shaft in response to rotation of the vertical drive shaft by said actuating means;

said movable member being coupled to said pitching member.

8. A riding game machine according to claim 6, wherein said pitching member comprises a pitching frame having a front end coupled to said movable member and movable about said horizontal lateral axis in response to movement of the movable member along said vertical drive shaft, and wherein said rolling member comprises a rolling plate, said pitching frame having an inner space defined therein, said rolling plate being disposed in alignment with said inner space and angularly movable about a shaft mounted on said pitching frame in alignment with said horizontal longitudinal axis.

9. A riding game machine according to claim 6, wherein said swinging means further comprises a yawing member for allowing said riding unit to swing about a vertical axis depending on movement of the player on said riding unit.

10. A riding game machine according to claim 9, wherein said pitching member comprises a pitching frame having a front end coupled to said movable member and movable about said horizontal lateral axis in response to movement of the movable member along said vertical drive shaft, wherein said rolling member comprises a rolling plate, said pitching frame having an inner space defined therein, said rolling plate being disposed in alignment with said inner space and angularly movable about a shaft mounted on said pitching frame in alignment with said horizontal longitudinal axis, and wherein said yawing member comprises a yawing plate disposed on said rolling plate and having a front portion angularly movable about a shaft disposed on a rear portion thereof in alignment with said vertical axis.