METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND RANDOMLY DETECTING THE COLOR OF HOCKEY PUCKS TO ENHANCE THE FUN OF GAMING AND SCORING

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 113132932 filed on Aug. 30, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring. In particular, the invention provides a mechanism to automatically and randomly set the dominant color of the scoring hockey pucks at the very beginning of each round of the air hockey game as the score multiplication or addition color for this round of the game through coordinated operations among the entrance detection device, the motherboard device, and the exit detection device. During the game, once a hockey puck enters the puck entrance slot holes on both sides of the game table, the exit detection device can automatically detect whether the color of the entered puck is the dominant color set by the motherboard device. If so, a multiplication or addition is granted to the score. Otherwise, the player only scores 1 point. This mechanism can increase the overall game scores and provide more fun to consumers of the game machine. It is truly a unique and interesting invention that can enhance the gaming performance and enjoyment.

2. Description of Related Art

With the advancement of technology today, along with high work pressure and mental stress, people are paying more and more attention to their need for relieving mental stress. In particular, game machines that can help people relax while providing some exercise benefits are extremely popular. Currently, the tabletop air hockey game machines on the market are quite favored by consumers. This type of game machine uses air buoyancy to make the air hockey pucks float on the tabletop. Consumers hold the striker to hit the puck into the opponent's scoring area. Each time the player hits a puck into the puck entrance slot hole on the opponent's side of the game machine, the player only scores 1 point. However, this type of game machine with pucks of one single color and the scoring method where each goal only scores 1 point gradually lose attraction to consumers. Therefore, manufacturers are seeking improved design of the method and device to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring, and develop creative air hockey game machines to catch consumers'eyes and arouse their interest.

Relying on years of research and development experience in the relevant field, the inventor conducted an in-depth analysis of the aforementioned shortcomings and actively sought solutions based on the aforementioned needs. After assiduous research and repeated tests, the invention was finally developed to address the drawbacks of the conventional method and device. It provides unprecedented inventive features as well as practical values.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a “method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring.” In each round of the game, the method and device can automatically and randomly determine the primary puck color to be used for multiplication or addition when a goal is scored. An entrance detection device is installed at the puck entrance portion to automatically detect the hockey pucks of various colors coming in from the track exit, and transmit the color detection signal to the motherboard device after counting. Then, the motherboard device can automatically and randomly use the dominant color in this round of game as the color for multiplication or addition when a goal is scored. This unique mechanism can significantly enhance the entertainment value of the game machine and bring more fun to consumers.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a “method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring”. When hockey pucks of various colors enter the puck entrance slot holes on the left and right sides of the game machine main body, the entered hockey pucks will undergo color detection through the exit detection device installed on the puck exit portion between the inclined track device and the track. If the entered hockey puck matches the color set by the motherboard device, a multiplication or addition is granted to the score. Otherwise, the player only scores 1 point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the operation of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective status view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a combined perspective status view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the invention illustrating the operation when hockey pucks enter the puck entrance portion and are detected by the entrance detection device, the pucks of different colors being positioned in their respective track slots.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the invention illustrating the operation where a hockey puck enters the puck entrance slot hole on the side of main body and is detected by the exit detection unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To provide a more detailed and clear understanding of the objectives, effects, and structural features of the present invention, the following preferred embodiments are illustrated and described in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Firstly, please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. The present invention is a method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring. It mainly comprises a puck serving device 6, an entrance detection device 2, a game machine main body 7, an exit detection device 5, and a motherboard device 3. Its operation steps are as following:

Firstly, through the swash plate 601 inside the puck serving device 6 installed in the game machine main body 7, hockey pucks 8 of various colors are randomly and sequentially rotated and transmitted to the track 602, and continuously pushed upward. Then, hockey pucks 8 of various colors will fall down from the track exit 603.

The hockey pucks 8 of various colors falling down from the track exit 603 will now slide from the puck entrance portion 1 into the track slots 101. At this point, the pucks will be detected by the entrance detection device 2 configured on the puck entrance portion 1. The entrance detection device 2 will automatically detect the color of each hockey puck 8 sliding down. The signal of the color detection will be automatically transmitted via the signal wire 303 to the motherboard device 3 for counting and recording.

When hockey pucks 8 of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion 1, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck 8 positioned in the lowest track slot 101 and automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left. During the process when the hockey pucks 8 of various colors automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left, each hockey puck 8 of its individual color will firstly be detected by the entrance detection device 2 configured on the puck entrance portion 1 to judge what color is the hockey puck 8 sliding down (please refer to FIG. 4). The signal of color detection will be automatically transmitted via the signal wire 303 to the motherboard device 3 for counting and recording.

When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors no longer enter the track slots 101, as the entrance detection device 2 cannot detect any hockey puck 8 sliding down, the entrance detection device 2 will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device 3. Now, the motherboard device 3 will automatically calculate and judge which color is the most, and set this dominant color of hockey puck 8 as the primary color of hockey puck 8 for score multiplication and addition 301. Each entering hockey puck 8 other than the designated color can only score 1 point 302.

After start of the game (please refer to FIG. 5), all of the hockey pucks 8 of various colors positioned inside the track slots 101 will fall from the puck slide-way 102 to the tabletop of the game machine main body. The consumer can start hitting the hockey pucks. Once a hockey puck 8 is hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701 on the left or right side of the game machine main body 7, the hockey puck 8 will slide into the inclined track device 703. Due to the structural design of the inclined track device 703, from whatever angle the hockey pucks 8 come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another. When they roll to the puck exit portion 4 of the track 702 and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks 8 will pass the exit detection device 5 configured near the puck exit portion 4. Now, the exit detection device 5 will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck 8, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire (not shown in the figure) to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will read the signal and make a judgement. If the color detected by the exit detection device 5 is the one set by the motherboard device 3 at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition 301 will be granted, so that the score will be high. Otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point 302.

Therefore, after completion of the above steps, the method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring disclosed in the present invention can automatically make a judgement based on the hockey pucks 8 of various colors at the puck entrance portion 1, and randomly determine what color is used as the primary puck color in this round of game for granting multiplication or addition to the scoring, thus enhancing the fun of the game and attracting the attention of consumers. As the consumers do not know which color of the many pucks falling onto the tabletop of the game machine main body will be granted multiplication or addition when the pucks are hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701, when a hockey puck 8 scores a goal, the consumer may be awarded an unexpected score, with multiplied or added points, and thus enjoy more fun in the game.

First, please refer to FIGS. 2 to 4. The present invention is a device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring, mainly comprising a puck serving device 6, an entrance detection device 2, a game machine main body 7, an exit detection device 5, and a motherboard device 3. Specifically, the puck serving device 6 is installed inside the center part of the rear side of the game machine main body 7. On the bottom of the puck serving device 6, there is a swash plate 601 that can transmit hockey pucks 8 of various colors into the track 602 and continuously push them upward. Now, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will slide down from the track exit 603 to the puck entrance portion 1. When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors continuously slide down from the puck entrance portion 1, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors will automatically and sequentially go across the hockey puck 8 positioned in the lowest track slot 101 and automatically and sequentially fill up the track slots 101 on the left.

The entrance detection device 2 is a device capable of color detection, installed at the puck entrance portion 1 below the track exit 603 of the puck serving device 6. It can detect the color of each of the hockey pucks 8 of various colors passing by. It is connected to the motherboard device 3 in series via a signal wire 303, and can automatically transmit the signal of color detection for each hockey puck 8 to the motherboard device 3 via the signal wire 303 for counting and recording.

When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors no longer enter the track slots 101, as the entrance detection device 2 cannot detect the hockey pucks 8 sliding down, the entrance detection device 2 will transmit a no-color signal to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will automatically count which color is the most, and set this color as the primary color of hockey pucks 8 for score multiplication or addition 301 in this round of the game. If a hockey puck of any other color scores a goal, the player can only score 1 point.

The game machine main body 7 can hold a puck serving device 6, which is mounted in the center of the rear part of the game machine main body 7. It has a tabletop (not shown in the figure) with a puck entrance slot hole 701 respectively on the left and right side. In each puck entrance slot hole 701, an inclined track device 703 is installed, and a track 702 is integrally connected with the inclined track device 703. The tracks 702 respectively extend backward to an appropriate position above the swash plate 601 of the puck serving device 6. In this way, the hockey pucks 8 entering the track 702 can automatically fall into the puck serving device 6 to enable an automatic recycling. The hockey pucks 8 of various colors will enter the track 602 again through the swash plate 601, and move again to the puck entrance portion 1 of the track exit 603.

The exit detection device 5 (please refer to FIG. 5) is configured at the connecting point between the inclined track device 703 and the track 702, near the puck exit portion 4. When the hockey pucks 8 of various colors roll through the puck exit portion 4, the exit detection device 5 can detect the color of each hockey puck 8 entering the puck entrance slot hole 701, and judge if it is the dominant color for score multiplication or addition 301 set by the motherboard device 3 for this round of the game.

The motherboard device 3 is configured inside the game machine main body 7. It can be connected to the entrance detection device 2 and the exit detection device 5 in series via the signal wire 303, to receive the color detection signals respectively from the entrance detection device 2 and the exit detection device 5.

During operation, after start of the game, the hockey pucks 8 of various colors positioned inside the track slots 101 will all slide down from the puck slide-way 102 to the tabletop of the game machine main body. Now, the consumers can start hitting the pucks. When a hockey puck 8 is hit into the puck entrance slot hole 701 on the left or right side of the game machine main body 7, the hockey puck 8 will slide into the inclined track device 703. Due to the structural design of the inclined track device 703, from whatever angle the hockey pucks 8 come in, they will be positioned upright and will roll downward one after another. When they roll to the puck exit portion 4 of the track 702 and continuously roll downward, the hockey pucks 8 will pass the exit detection device 5 configured on the track 702. The exit detection device 5 will instantly detect what color is the hockey puck 8, and immediately transmit the color detection signal via the signal wire (not shown in the figure) to the motherboard device 3. The motherboard device 3 will read the signal and make a judgement. If the color detected by the exit detection device 5 is the one set by the motherboard device 3 at the beginning of this round of the game, a score multiplication or addition 301 will be granted, so that the score will be high. Otherwise, if it is not the color set in this round of the game, the player can only score 1 point 302.

In summary, the present invention provides a method and device for automatically and randomly detecting the color of hockey pucks to enhance the fun of gaming and scoring. This invention was meticulously designed by the inventor using the power of the brain. It not only possesses practical scoring functionality but also features enhanced entertainment value and player engagement. The invention fully complies with the requirements for an invention patent under patent law. Therefore, we hereby formally submit this application, respectfully requesting the examination committee of your esteemed office to review and approve the patent. We deeply appreciate your consideration.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF NOTATIONS

• • 1 . . . puck entrance portion 101 . . . track slot
  • 102 . . . puck slide-way
  • 2 . . . entrance detection device
  • 3 . . . motherboard device 301 . . . score multiplication or addition
  • 302 . . . score 1 point 303 . . . signal wire
  • 4 . . . puck exit portion
  • 5 . . . exit detection device
  • 6 . . . puck serving device 601 . . . swash plate
  • 602 . . . track 603 . . . track exit
  • 604 . . . puck path exit
  • 7 . . . game machine main body 701 . . . puck entrance slot hole
  • 702 . . . track 703 . . . inclined track device
  • 8 . . . hockey puck