GB2220291A - Display apparatus for amusement machines - Google Patents

Abstract

Display apparatus for an amusement machine comprises a housing 10 which can be viewed internally by a player of the machine, through a screen 12. Means 18 within the housing contain information relevant to the playing of the machine and means are provided for selectively presenting one or more parts of the information to the player. This is achieved by back lighting two-way mirrors on which the information is printed. A transparent film 36 within the housing contains at least one hologram, and a suitable lamp 38 is provided for making the hologram visible to the player. <IMAGE>

Description

Display Apparatus for Amusement Hachines This invention relates to display apparatus for amusement machines, and is particularly concerned with apparatus for use with machines known as "fruit machines" wherein gamble, nudge, collect and other features are selectively required to be displayed to the player of the machine.

According to the present invention there is provided display apparatus for an amusement machine, the apparatus comprising a housing which can be viewed internally by a player of the machine, means within the housing containing information relevant to the playing of the machine, means for selectively presenting one or more parts of the information to the player, means within the housing containing at least one hologram, and means for selectively making the hologram visible to the player.

Preferably the hologram containing means comprises a transparent film extending across the width of the housing and carrying a hologram thereon. The film can be located to extend substantially vertical in use or can be angled relative to the vertical. The means for making the hologram visible may comprise a lamp for back lighting of the hologram. The lamp is preferably located above and behind the film in the direction of viewing.

Preferably also the information containing means comprises an internal support on which the information is carried and which, to the side thereof opposed to that viewed by the player, has an associated plurality of lamps for selectively back lighting parts of the information. The support may comprise a plurality of arrangements of angled two-way mirrors each arrangement having a transparent viewing cover, the information being printed on reverse faces of the mirrors, whereby an associated one of the lamps when lit can illuminate the information on the respective mirror, the selected information being then visible through the cover.

The apparatus may also include means containing a further hologram, and means for selectively making the further hologram visible to the player. The containing means for the further hologram may comprise an internal wall of the housing carrying the further hologram thereon, and lamp means for front lighting of the further hologram may be located above and in front of the further hologram in the direction of viewing. The lamp means may comprise three spaced lamps.

The present invention also provides display apparatus for an amusement machine, the apparatus comprising a housing which can be viewed internally by a player of the machine, means within the housing containing information relevant to the playing of the machine, the information containing means presenting at least one defined location, and means being provided for selectively presenting different parts of information to the player at the or each defined location.

At the or each defined location the information containing means may comprise an internal support on which the information is carried and which, to the side thereof opposed to that viewed by the player, has an associated plurality of lamps for selectively back lighting parts of the information. The support may comprise a plurality of arrangements of angled two-way mirrors each arrangement having a transparent viewing cover, the information being printed on reverse faces of the mirrors, whereby an associated one of the lamps when lit can illuminate the information on the respective mirror, the selected information being then visible through the cover.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a display apparatus according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a component of the display apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a display apparatus for use in a fruit machine comprises a housing 10 having a box configuration and closed at one end by a transparent screen 12, for example of clear glass, the housing 10 being adapted to be accommodated in a fruit machine above the rotatable wheels (not shown) which contain fruit symbols around their peripheries and the rotation of which is randomly stopped to present a random combination of fruit symbols to the player. Depending on the symbol combination presented, information carried by the housing 10 is selectively presented to the player as hereinafter described.

From either side of the front of the housing 10 a wall 14 extends rearwardly and is inwardly angled, the opposed walls 14 terminating in an end wall 16 which is parallel to the screen 12 and therefore spaced inwardly thereof. On each wall there are provided defined locations 18 for the presentation of information to the player of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 2, each location 18 has the respective wall 14 defining a transparent front cover 20. From an upper end of the cover 20 a two-way mirror 22 extends rearwardly and is downwardly angled to a rear wall 24. A further two-way mirror 26 extends between the lower end of the mirror 22 and the lower end of the cover 20. Each location 18 further includes a rearward top wall 28 extending between the upper end of the cover 20 and the rear wall 24 and a lower wall 30. Further there is provided at each location opposed side mirrors (not shown) which are also two-way. A lamp 32 is provided at each location 18 behind the mirror 22, a lamp 34 is provided below the mirror 26 and respective lamps are also provided at the outer sides of the side mirrors. Information relevant to the playing of the game is printed on the reverse side of each mirror.

When none of the lamps are lit at a respective location 18, none of the information at the location is visible to the player looking through the screen 12. When the lamp 32 is switched on, the information on the mirror 22 is illuminated and is visible through the cover 20 and hence through the screen 12. Alternatively if the lamp 32 is lit then the information on the mirror 26 is illuminated and by reflection from the mirrored surface of the mirror 22 is visible through the cover 20 and hence through the screen 12. Similarly the side lamps can illuminate information on the side mirrors which are angled so that, by reflection from the mirror surface of the mirror 22, the relevant information is again visible through the cover 20 and hence through the screen 12.In this way various different parts of information can be selectively made visible from the one location, hence enabling further game information to be available without increase in space in the machine.

A transparent film 36, for example of clear acetate, is provided within the housing 10 at a location between the screen 12 and the wall 16 to extend between the walls 14.

By way of holography, the film 36 is provided with a hologram (not shown). A suitable lamp 38 for illuminating the hologram is supported by the housing 10 on a top wall thereof above the level of the film 36 and rearwardly thereof in the direction of viewing through the screen 12. The size of a hologram may vary for example from 2" to 9" with the lamp 38 spaced from the film 36 at a distance for example between 2" to 9" depending on the size of the hologram. The lamp 38 is provided with a reflector which is angled such that when the lamp 38 is switched on, the film 36 is back lit to produce the three-dimensional image, i.e. to render the hologram visible.

The angle of the film 36 with the hologram can be varied between the vertical and an angle of 450 to provide for a different viewing distance. As the angles of viewing vary, then the position of the lamps 38 may also require to be adjusted, for example at a lower position for a more angled image. The arrangement can be such as to present an image visible at a close spacing of for example 1 foot from the machine or alternatively at a location spaced some 10-12 feet away so that the image can be viewed by a person close to the machine and invisible to a person 10-12 feet away, or vice versa.

A further hologram (not shown) can be provided on the wall 16, this hologram being arranged to be a front lit hologram with a plurality of lamps 40-44 being provided in the housing above the wall 16 and to the front thereof in the viewing direction. The lamp 40 is positioned to one side, the lamp 44 to the opposed side, and the lamp 42 centrally positioned. The hologram can then be lit in such a way that a two-way image can be obtained by consecutive lighting of the lamps in one direction or the other, and another image may be constantly lit by the centre lamp 42.

The use of holograms adds greatly to the interest which can be generated by the machine and thus to the enjoyment of the player. To compete with existing machines it is nowadays desirable to provide many additional and interesting features offering more winning chances to the player and more gamble facilities. The described apparatus provides for this without any increase in the size of the machine and without any considerable increase in cost.

It is to be appreciated that the arrangement for displaying different parts of information selectively at the one location may be utilised in machines other than with hologram displays. It will also be appreciated that only one hologram display may be utilised and that the hologram displays may be used on a machine without the facility for displaying different parts of information selectively at the one location. Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the housing and the components may differ from that described and shown, provided the apparatus can function as required.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (16)

1. Display apparatus for an amusement machine, the apparatus comprising a housing which can be viewed internally by a player of the machine, means within the housing containing information relevant to the playing of the machine, means for selectively presenting one or more parts of the information to the player, means within the housing containing at least one hologram, and means for selectively making the hologram visible to the player.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hologram containing means comprises a transparent film extending across the width of the housing and carrying a hologram thereon.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the film is located to extend substantially vertical in use or can be angled relative to the vertical.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for making the hologram visible comprise a lamp for back lighting of the hologram.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lamp is located above and behind the film in the direction of viewing.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the information containing means comprises an internal support on which the information is carried and which, to the side thereof opposed to that viewed by the player, has an associated plurality of lamps for selectively back lighting parts of the information.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the support comprises a plurality of arrangements of angled two-way mirrors each arrangement having a transparent viewing cover, the information being printed on reverse faces of the mirrors, whereby an associated one of the lamps when lit can illuminate the information on the respective mirror, the selected information being then visible through the cover.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further including means containing a further hologram, and means for selectively making the further hologram visible to the player.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the containing means for the further hologram comprise an internal wall of the housing carrying the further hologram thereon.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 -or 9, wherein lamp means for front lighting of the further hologram are located above and in front of the further hologram in the direction of viewing.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lamp means comprise three spaced lamps.

12. Apparatus for an amusement machine, the apparatus comprising a housing which can be viewed internally by a player of the machine, means within the housing containing information relevant to the playing of the machine, the information containing means presenting at least one defined location, and means being provided for selectively presenting different parts of information to the player at the or each defined location.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at the or each defined location the information containing means comprise an internal support on which the information is carried and which, to the side thereof opposed to that viewed by the player, has an associated plurality of lamps for selectively back lighting parts of the information.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the support comprises a plurality of arrangments of angled two-way mirrors each arrangement having a transparent viewing cover, the information being printed on reverse faces of the mirrors, whereby an associated one of the lamps when lit can illuminate the information on the respective mirror, the selected information being then visisble through the cover.

15. Apparatus for an amusement machine, substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.