GB2218571A - Handle assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle assembly 10 (e.g. for a gaming machine) comprises a pivotally mounted handle 12. Pulling handle 12 against spring 60 can cause a rotatable cam 56 to operate a plurality of microswitches 42 (also Fig 2) in different combinations whilst simultaneously causing audible clicks to be generated by movement of pawls relatively to inner ratchet teeth 70 and outer ratchet teeth. Also, the handle 12 may comprise an illuminated translucent or transparent cover 82 and/ or translucent or transparent button 88 of a push button switch 90 which is provided for control of functions not controlled by the cam 56. The ratchet/pawl arrangements are detailed (e.g. Fig 4). <IMAGE>

Description

STARPOINT ELECTRICS LIMITED HANDLE ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates generally to handle assemblies and is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with handle assemblies for use with gaming machines, sometimes referred to as fruit machines or amusement machines.

It is well known that gaming machines can include a mechanism comprising a number of reels marked along their circumferential edges with symbols such as fruit. In operation, the reels are caused to spin by pulling on a handle. When the reels come to a standstill, the positions of the symbols on the different reels in relation to a so-called "win" line determine whether or not a player has won. The handle is usually pivotally muted at a side of the gaming machine, and is pulled by the player against a spring force to produce a distinctive sound. The spring or springs not only spin the reels, but cause the handle to be returned to its initial position when released.

A disadvantage of known arrangements of this kind is that the reels are driven mechanically, without the accuracy or versatility of reels driven by electrical stepper motors. Nonetheless, such arrangements are popular because the player can have a feeling of being able to influence the reels by controlling the manner in which the handle is pulled. It is believed that the distinctive sound of pulling the handle also adds to the popularity of such arrangements in contrast to the mere pushing of a button to control the electrical stepper motors.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a handle assembly comprises a pivotally mounted member operable as handle, a cam and a plurality of switches operable by cam follower members arranged such that, when the handle is pivoted, the cam and the cam follower members are rotated relatively to one another, whereupon the cam successively causes different combinations of the switches to be operated by the cam follower members.

It will be appreciated that a peripheral surface on the cam may be formed with a circumferentially arranged series of radially extending irregularities for causing radially directed movement of the cam follower members.

Preferably, it is the cam which is mounted for rotation, rather than the cam follower members, with the cam being rotatable and the handle being pivotable about a common axis. The cam follower members may then operate conventional inicroswitches to make respective electrical circuits when the cam follower members are urged radially outwardly by radial projections or high points on the peripheral surface of the cam. The electrical circuits would be changed when the cam follower members move radially ir.wardly to maintain their contract with the peripheral surface cf the cam. The cam follower members could take various configurations, such as resiliently mounted buttons or resiliently deformable contacts.

Preferably, there are three switches, each of which can be either made or broken to give a total of the eight different combinations of the Gray Code. It is nct necessary that all of the possible combinations can be attainable by pivoting the handle. The circumstances may be such that sufficient control is achieved by a lesser number of switch combinations. For example, in the particular application of a gaming machine, it may be that sufficient control of the speed, direction and extent of turning of the reels could be given by just six switch combinations.

Buffers may be provided at the limits of travel of the handle, and a simple spring return may be provided to return the handle to one of said limits, even if the other of said limits has not been reached. Naturally, the functions of the switches operated by the cam follower members need to be carefully designed in situations where the degree of pivoting of the handle is controlled by the player. To indicate the degree of pivoting of the handle to the player, spring-loaded balls may locate in circumferentially arranged recesses in a plate mounted for rotation with the cam. The arrangement may be such that there is a tangible indication to the player upon reaching each successive switch combination.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a handle assembly comprises a pivotally mountec member operable as a handle te drive one of a pair of ratchet and pawl mechanisms arranged concentrically in opposite senses such that, when the pawl of the inner mechanism is in driving contact with the ratchet of the inner mechanism, the pawl of the outer mechanism is in non-driving contact with the ratchet of the outer mechanism, and vice versa.

It will be appreciated that a distinct click may be heard each time that one of the pawls snaps over a part of the associated ratchet. The clicks may be louder when the handle is pulled, against the force of a restoring spring, and be much softer when the handle is released. The loudness of a click may be dependent on the extent te which the pawl has to be deformed when in non-driving contact with the associated ratchet.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, although other embodiments are possible, the handle is arranged to drive the inner mechanism and, more particularly, the ratchet of the inner mechanism. The pawls of both the inner and outer mechanisms are provided on a ring, with the inner edge of the ring carrying a plurality of pawls for the inner mechanism and the outer edge of the ring carrying a plurality of pawls for the outer mechanism. The ratchet of the outer mechanism is fixed and, more particularly, is fixed to a wall to which the handle is pivotally mounted.

In operation of the particularly preferred embodiment, the ratchet of the inner mechanism is turned as the handle is pulled. There is driving contact between the ratchet of the inner mechanism and the pawls of the inner mechanism, whereby the ring is also caused to turn. The pawls of the outer mechanism are in non-driving contact with the ratchet of the outer mechanism, and thus snap over the ratchet cf the outer mechanism to give a series of audible clicks. When the handle is returned to its initial position, the ratchet of the inner mechanism is turned in the other sense in which it has a non-driving contact with the pawls of the inner mechanism, and the ring thus remains stationary.

Preferably, the ratchet of the inner mechanism is formed with, or secured to, a cam which operates a cam follower member which, in turn, operates a switch to control a gaming machine or other apparatus.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a handle assembly comprises a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle and an electrical switch located on the free end of the handle, actuation of the switch being arranged to control particular features cf an apparatus which are not controlled by pivoting actuation of the handle.

With the handle arranged in this fashion a user can control functions such a "hold" functions on a gaming machine without removing his hand from the handle and so, for example, prevent one or more of the reels spinning on the next actuation of the handle. Preferably the handle includes a handgrip located on its free end and an actuating member of the electrical switch is incorporated into the handgrip to lie immediately beneath a thumb of the user when his hand is located on the handgrip.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, a handle assembly comprises a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle, a translucent handgrip mounted on the free end of the handle and/or a translucent cover mounted over the pivot axis of the cover, and illuminating means mounted in the handgrip and/or cover respectively.

The illuminating means may flash to attract attention to a gaming machine or may be used to provide an indication of the current status of the machine by, for example, being illuminated to show that money has been inserted or that credit remains in the machine or by indicating a win. The translucent handgrip or cover may be coloured and either may be opaque or transparent. The illuminating means may be formed by a tungsten filament lamp or, particularly when a flashing indication is required, by a xenon flash tube. The illuminating means may also provide an indication during programming of the machine to provide an alarm indication or an indication that data has been entered correctly.

Preferably, all aspects of the present invention are combined, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an axial section through a handle assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of part of Figure 1 particularly showing a cam and a plurality of cam follower members; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III - III of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a front view of part of Figure 1, similar to Figure 2 but taken along the line IV - IV of Figure 3 particularly showing a pair of ratchet and pawl mechanisms.

Referring initially to Figure 1, a handle assembly 10 embodying all aspects of the present invention comprises a handle 12 having a hub 14 at one end and a generally spherical handgrip 16 at its other end.

The hub 14 is pivotally connected to sidewall 18 of a gaming machine in any convenient manner. For example, the hub 14 can have a peripheral flange 20 sandwiched for sliding movement between a support plate 22 and a support ring 24. The support plate 22 lies mainly within an opening 26 through the sidewall 18 but has its owr peripheral flange 28 over-lying the edge of the opening 26. The peripheral flange 28 is formed with holes 3C through which threaded studs 32 on the support ring 24 are inserted. The threaded studs 32 also extend through aligned holes in the sidewall 18 and a cover 34 located or, the inside of the sidewall 18. The entire handle assembly 10 is held in position by nuts 36.The handle 12 with its hub 14 is thus capable of pivotal movement about an axis 38 extending perpendicularly to the sidewall 18 while the support plate 22 and the support ring 24 remain stationary.

It will be convenient to consider the first and second aspects of the present invention with reference te Figures 2 to 4 before coming back to Figure 1 to consider the third and fourth aspects of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the support plate 22 is formed with three pairs of pillars 40 which are shaped to allow three separate microswitches 42 to be secured thereto by screw fasteners 44. Each of the microswitches 42 is of conventional construction and has a reciprocally mounted operating member 46 and a pivotally mounted arm member 48. The operating members 46 are continuously urged to their illustrated positions but are retractable under the control of cam follower members 50 rotatably mounted at the free ends of the arm members 48. The cam follower members 50 are themselves under the control of radially extending and circumferentially arranged irregularities such as projections or high points 52 and depressions or low points 54 presented by a cam 56.

The cam 56 is mounted for rotation with a non-cylindrical pivot shaft 58 which extends through a central aperture in the support plate 22. The pivot shaft 58 is either secured to or formed integrally with the hub 14. Thus, the cam 56 is rotated by the pivot shaft 58 when the handle 12 is pulled against the force of a restoring helical spring 60. One end of the spring 60 is located in a sleeve 62 formed in the hub 14 and the other end of the spring 60 is located in a slot 64 between a pair of abutments formed on the support plate 22. In practice, the cam 56 is held on the pivot shaft 58 by a split washer 66. When the handle 12 is pivoted, the cam 56 is rotated and the high points 52 on the cam 56 successively cause different combinations of the cam follower members 50 to be urged radially outwardly to operate the microswitches 42.In the illustrated rest position of the handle 12 none of the microswitches 42 has been operated.

The second aspect of the present invention is shown most clearly in Figure 4, from which it can be seen that the cam 56 is either secured to or preferably integrally formed with a sleeve 68.

The inner surface of the sleeve 68 is of a non-cylindrical outline complementary to that of the pivot shaft 58. The outer surface of the sleeve 68 is formed with a series of teeth forming a ratchet 70. The cam 56 always turns in unison with pivoting of the handle 12. Thus, when the handle 12 is pivoted towards a user, in opposition to the restoring force of the helical spring 60, the cam 56 is rotated in a clockwise sense.

The ratchet 70 is then is driving contact with a plurality of pawls 72 formed on the inner edge of a freely mounted ring 74. The pawls 72 and the ratchet 70 together form an inner ratchet and pawl mechanism. As the cam 56 is rotated in a clockwise sense, the ring 74 is caused to rotate in a clockwise sense.

An outer edge of the ring 74 is formed with a plurality of pawls 76. When the ring 74 is rotated in a clockwise sense, the pawls 76 are in non-driving contact with a series of teeth forming a ratchet 78. The ratchet 78 is itself formed on an inner edge of an upstanding wall 80 presented by the support plate 22. The pawls 76 and the ratchet 78 - together form an outer ratchet and pawl mechanism. As the pawls 76 snap past each of the teeth of the ratchet 78, they produce an audible click.

When the handle 12 is returned to its initial position, the ratchet 70 is turned in the opposite sense and there is non-driving contact with the pawls 72 so that the ring 74 remains stationary. As each of the teeth of the ratchet 70 snaps past the pawls 72, an audible click is again produced.

In other arrangements, the handle might be arranged to drive the ratchet of the outer mechanism for example, with the ratchet of the inner mechanism being fixed, and indeed it might be possible for the ring to be formed with both a ratchet and at least one pawl.

Reverting to Figure 1, the hub 14 includes a cover 82 which can be formed of a transparent or at least translucent material, such as a plastics material.

Mounted behind the cover 82 is illuminating means in the form of a tungsten filament lamp 84 connected to appropriate circuitry for causing continuous or intermittent illumination as desired. The handgrip 16 also has illuminating means in the form a tungsten filament lamp 86 mounted inside it and behind a button 88 of a push button switch 90. A helical spring 92 continuously urges the button 88, which is transparent or at least translucent, to the illustrated extended position where, in use, it is readily engageable by the thumb of a user. Depressing the button 88 operates appropriate circuitry connected to the push button switch 90. The user normally pulls the handle 12 towards himself by curling his fingers around the opposite side of the handgrip 16 from that occupied by the button 88 so that normal operation of the handle 12 does not actuate the push button switch 90.

Between the hub 14 and the handgrip 16, the handle 12 includes an arm 94 formed of a plastics material but strengthened by an inner sleeve 96 of metal.

Claims (16)

1. A handle assembly comprising a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle, a cam and a plurality of switches operable by cam follower members arranged such that, when the handle is pivoted, the cam and the cam follower members are rotated relatively to one another, whereupon the cam successively causes different combinations of the switches to be operated by the cam follower members.

2. A handle assembly according to claim 1, in which a peripheral surface on the cam is formed with a circumferentially arranged series of radially extending irregularities for causing radially directed movement of the cam follower members.

3. A handle assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cam is mounted for rotation, about the pivot axis of the handle.

4. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which there are three of the switches.

5. A handle assembly comprising a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle to drive one cf a pair of ratchet and pawl mechanisms arranged concentrically in opposite senses such that, when the pawl of the inner mechanism is in driving contact with the ratchet of the inner mechanism, the pawl of the outer mechanism is in non-driving contact with the ratchet of the outer mechanism, and vice versa.

6. A handle assembly according to claim 5, in which the handle is arranged to drive the inner mechanism.

7. A handle assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the pawls of both the inner and outer mechanisms are provided on a ring, with the inner edge of the ring carrying a plurality of pawls for the inner mechanism and the outer edge of the ring carrying a plurality of pawls for the outer mechanism.

8. A handle assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the inner mechanism is formed with, or secured to, the cam of any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the handle is provided with a spring return.

10. A handle assembly comprising a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle and an electrical switch located on the free end of the handle, actuation of the switch being arranged to control particular features of an apparatus which are not controlled by pivoting actuation of the handle.

11. A handle assembly according to claim 10, in which the handle includes a handgrip located on its free end and an actuating member of the electrical switch is incorporated into the handgrip to lie immediately beneath a thumb of the user when his hand is located on the handgrip.

12. A handle assembly according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the handle forms part of a handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

13. A handle assembly comprising a pivotally mounted member operable as a handle, a translucent handgrip mounted on the free end of the handle and/or a translucent cover mounted over the pivot axis of the cover, and illuminating means mounted in the handgrip and/or cover respectively.

14. A handle assembly according to claim 13, in which the handle forms part of a handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim when mounted to a gaming machine.

16. A handle assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompaning drawings.