Device for providing services to players

Abstract

To provide a service providing device for players, which can be easily and stably attached to a stud provided between game machines. [Solution] The device 11 for providing services to players has an arm 20 extending forward from the front portion of a partition 110, and at the base end of the arm 20 is an engagement portion 30 which can be releasably fixed to a locking protrusion 114 provided at the lower end of a POP storage case 113, and at the tip of the arm 20 is a holding portion 40 which holds the player's beverage.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a player service providing device that provides various services to a player who is playing a game on a gaming machine and holds an item. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, amusement halls, parlours and other gaming facilities have begun to install service equipment for players in the so-called "partitions" between adjacent gaming machines, such as partitions to prevent droplet infection between gaming machines, drink holders, and charging devices with USB ports for charging mobile phones, etc. In addition, the partition walls are fitted with storage cases made of synthetic resin and shaped like thin rectangular boxes with openings on the front to store POPs explaining the gaming machines, menus for drink service, and POPs with event information as part of the services provided to players, making it possible to provide a variety of services to players while they are playing.

[0003] However, these various conventional service providing devices were all fixed in approximately the same mounting position as the gaming machine board in the front-to-back direction of the player, which meant that when a player was seated in a chair for the gaming machine and wanted to charge a smartphone or the like using a USB terminal, it was difficult for the player to reach out and insert the smartphone into the charging device.

[0004] Therefore, there has been a demand for a system that allows a player to easily temporarily place and fix drinks near a gaming table while playing a game, to take out the drinks when necessary, drink the drinks, and then put them back, and further to allow a player to easily and quickly use a USB charging device for a smartphone or the like, without having to change his / her position. Further, there has been a demand for a player to be able to fix the smartphone in a position where the smartphone display can be seen even while playing a game, and to play the game while viewing the display or operating the smartphone as necessary.

[0005] From this perspective, we searched prior art documents and extracted the following documents, but we were unable to find any patent documents that could solve the problem at hand. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-135959 [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-73789 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2019-170637 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a facility provided on the studs that provides a more comfortable service to players during play. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention of claim 1 provides a player service providing device that is attached to a stud between adjacent gaming machines, the device comprising: an information medium storage case that is attached to the stud, is generally thin and box-shaped, has an opening that is elongated in the vertical direction and opens to the front of the stud, and has a locking protrusion at the front lower end of the opening, and stores information media that contains information to be provided to players so that the information media can be inserted and removed from the front part of the stud; an arm having an engagement portion formed so as to be capable of engaging with the locking protrusion and being fixed to the information medium storage case, the arm being disposed so as to extend forward from a front surface of the partition; and a holding portion provided at the tip of the arm for holding items that provide various services that the player can use at the gaming machine while playing the game. This is a device for providing services to players.

[0009] The device for providing services to players as described in claim 1 can be easily and stably attached to partition posts installed between adjacent gaming machines by engaging and fixing the engagement portion provided at the base end of the arm to the locking protrusion of the information medium storage case, making it easier for players to use various services.

[0010] In the invention described in claim 2, a hole is formed in the locking protrusion, the engagement portion has an engagement member having a protrusion that engages with the hole, and the arm has an arm body whose base end is connected to the engagement member so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction, and a holding member attached to the tip of the arm body and capable of holding items that provide the various services.

[0011] In the device for providing services to players described in claim 2, the base end of the arm body is connected to the engaging member so that it can be rotated left and right, so that when the board door of the gaming machine is opened or closed, there is no interference between the board door and items providing various services such as mobile terminals and drinks.

[0012] The service providing device for players described in claim 3 is a service providing device for players described in claim 2, characterized in that at least the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm body has flexibility that allows it to be bent and deformed by an external force. The service providing device for players described in claim 3 is difficult to break because at least the central part in the longitudinal direction of the arm body has flexibility that allows it to bend and deform under external force. Also, because it has flexibility, it can deform appropriately even when hit by a player's hand, making it possible to avoid breakage or injury to the player.

[0013] The service providing device for players described in claim 4 is characterized in that the engaging member has an engaging piece that can be engaged and detached with the opening, and the engaging piece can be engaged with the opening to be removably fixed to the information containing medium storage case. The engaging member has an engaging piece that can be inserted into an opening of the information-containing medium storage case for inserting and removing the information-containing medium, and is characterized in that the engaging piece releasably engages with the information-containing medium storage case, thereby allowing the engaging member to be removably fixed to the information-containing medium storage case.

[0014] With the above configuration, the player service provision device described in claim 4 can be easily and stably attached to a partition installed between adjacent gaming machines by inserting the engaging member into the opening of the information containing medium storage case and engaging and fixing it to the information containing medium storage case.

[0015] The service providing device for players described in claim 5 is the service providing device for players described in claim 2, characterized in that the item is a portable terminal, and the holding member has a holding portion capable of holding the portable terminal.

[0016] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the service providing device for players as set forth in claim 5 can hold the beverage of the player at a position that is easily within reach of the player playing a game on the gaming machine.

[0017] The service providing device for players described in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the service providing device for players described in claim 2, the items for providing various services are beverage bottles, and the holding member has a cup-shaped portion capable of accommodating at least the lower part of the beverage bottle.

[0018] With the above-mentioned configuration, according to the device for providing services to players as set forth in claim 6, a player playing on a gaming machine can easily take a beverage bottle, drink a beverage, and then return it as necessary. Effect of the Invention

[0019] In the player service providing device of claim 1, the engagement portion provided at the base end of the arm can be engaged and fixed to a locking protrusion at the lower end of the opening of an information medium storage case provided on a partition wall between adjacent gaming machines, thereby making it possible to easily and stably install the device in a position suitable for the player.

[0020] In the device for providing services to players described in claim 2, the engaging member is engaged with the locking protrusion of the information publishing medium storage case, so that the device can be easily and stably attached to the stud. In addition, since the base end of the arm body is connected to the engaging member so that it can be rotated left and right, it is possible to prevent items providing various services from interfering with the front member when opening and closing the front member of the gaming machine.

[0021] In addition, by adjusting the rotational position of the arm body, the player can easily reach the beverage held by the holding member while remaining in the gaming position, improving convenience for both the staff of the gaming facility and the players.

[0022] The device for providing services to players according to claim 3 is resistant to damage because at least the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm body has flexibility that allows it to bend and deform under external force. Also, even if a player's hand accidentally hits the arm body, it will bend and deform, preventing injury to the player.

[0023] The player service providing device described in claim 4 can be easily and stably attached to the lower end of the opening of a partition wall provided between adjacent gaming machines by inserting the engaging member into the opening of the information containing medium storage case and engaging and fixing it to the left and right inner surfaces of the information containing medium storage case.

[0024] According to the device for providing services to a player as set forth in claim 5, the mobile terminal of the player can be placed in a position where the player can easily see and operate the mobile terminal while playing on the gaming machine.

[0025] According to the device for providing services to players recited in claim 6, the player can easily take a beverage bottle and drink a beverage as needed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an oblique view illustrating a first embodiment of a device for providing services to players according to the present invention, configured to hold a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and illustrating the state in which the device for providing services to players according to the first embodiment is attached to a partition installed between adjacent gaming machines. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the device for providing services to players according to the first embodiment is engaged with and fixed to a locking protrusion of an information medium storage case. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a service providing device for a player according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of an engagement member of the device for providing services to a player in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic structure of an arm body used in a device for providing services to players according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6]1 is an explanatory diagram showing a joint between an arm body and a holding member used in the device for providing services to players in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a joining state between a holding member and an arm body used in the device for providing services to players in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a joining state between a holding member and an arm body used in the device for providing services to players in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the holding portion is formed of a cup-shaped portion capable of storing a drink in the device for providing services to players according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a service providing device for players according to a third embodiment is engaged with and fixed to a locking protrusion and an opening of an information medium storage case. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a device for providing services to a player in a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First embodiment] [composition] The device 11 for providing services to players according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a device for holding a mobile terminal. As shown in Fig. 1, the player service providing device 11 is attached to a stud 110 provided between adjacent gaming machines 101. A partition 111 for preventing droplet infection, a USB terminal 112 for charging, a POP storage case 113, etc. are attached to the panel constituting the stud 110.

[0028] The POP storage case 113 is a plastic case that houses a POP panel or the like (not shown) so that it can be inserted and removed from the front of the stud 110. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the POP storage case 113 extends in the vertical direction and has a slit-shaped opening 113a that opens toward the front of the gaming machine 101. Locking protrusions 114 that protrude from the front surface of the partition 110 are provided at both the upper and lower ends of the POP storage case 113. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the locking protrusions 114 have rectangular holes 114a for connecting wires (not shown) for connecting a POP panel or the like (not shown) to the POP storage case 113. The holes 114a penetrate the locking protrusions 114 in the vertical direction.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the service providing device 11 for players has an arm 20 extending forward from the front portion of a partition 110, and an engagement portion 30 is provided at the base end of the arm 20 which can be releasably fixed to a locking protrusion 114 at the lower end of a POP storage case 113, and a holding portion 40 is provided at the tip of the arm 20 for holding the player's mobile terminal SF. In this embodiment, the overall dimension of the arm 20 and the engaging portion 30 is formed to be about 16 cm or about 13 cm. With a length of this order, when the device is attached to the studs of a gaming table, the distance between the device and the player when the player is seated and playing is appropriate for allowing the player to use various services using the items held by the holding member 41 without changing his / her posture during play.

[0030] More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the device 11 for providing services to a player has an engagement member 31 having a protrusion 32 that engages with the hole 114a of the locking protrusion 114, an arm body 21 whose base end is connected to the engagement member 31 so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction, and a holding member 41 attached to the tip of the arm body 21 so as to hold the player's beverage (not shown).

[0031] The engaging member 31 has an arm connecting portion 33 to which the base end of the arm body 21 is connected so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the arm connecting portion 33 has a bracket portion 34 having a pair of support pieces 34a facing each other vertically. A screw hole 34b penetrating in the vertical direction is provided in the center of both support pieces 34a when viewed from above. The protrusion 32 protrudes downward from the base end of the bracket part 34. Locking protrusions 32a that are locked to the lower ends of the left and right ends of the locking protrusions 114 are provided on both left and right sides near the lower end of the protrusion 32.

[0032] 2 and 3, a rotating piece 22 is formed at the base end of the arm body 21, and is inserted between both support pieces 34a of the arm connecting part 33. A screw hole 22a (see FIG. 5) penetrating in the vertical direction is provided at the center of the rotating piece 22 in a plan view. The arm main body 21 and the arm connecting portion 33 are connected to each other so that they can rotate left and right by inserting the rotating piece 22 of the arm main body 21 between the two support pieces 34a of the arm connecting portion 33, screwing a screw 35 into the screw holes 34b of the two support pieces 34a and the screw hole 22a of the rotating piece 22, and tightening the two support pieces 34a and the rotating piece 22. At least the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm body 21 has flexibility such that it can be curved and deformed by an external force.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the device 12 for providing services to players in this embodiment is configured to function as a smartphone holder. The holding member 41 of the service providing device 12 for a player is composed of a holding portion 44 for holding a smartphone SF, which is a type of mobile terminal, and a universal joint portion 49 (see Figure 5) formed between the holding portion 44 and the arm main body 21.

[0034] 2 and 3, the grip portion 45 is generally U-shaped in plan view and is formed of a rectangular planar portion 45a and a pair of grip pieces 45b, 45b protruding from both ends of the planar portion 45a. Elastic cushioning members (not shown) are provided on the inner sides of the grip pieces 45b, 45b. As shown in Fig. 5, the universal joint portion 49 is composed of a spherical joint portion 46 connected to the large diameter portion 43 on the tip side of the arm body 21, a cylindrical connecting portion 47 provided on the back side of the flat plate portion 45a as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, and a fixing cap 48 screwed onto the connecting portion 47. The fixing cap 48 is screwed onto the connecting portion 47 and is configured to be removed during assembly.

[0035] Therefore, in the player service providing device 12 of this embodiment, when assembling, the fixing cap 48 is removed from the connection portion 47, the spherical portion 46 of the arm body 21 is inserted into the connection portion 47, and then the fixing cap 48 is inserted into the arm body 21 to which it is connected. Thereafter, the ball joint 46 is inserted into the connecting portion 47 , and in this state the fixing cap 48 is moved to the connecting portion 47 and screwed into it, thereby fixing the grip portion 44 to the arm body 21 .

[0036] Therefore, in the player service providing device 12 of this embodiment, the smartphone SF is inserted and fixed between the gripping pieces 45b, 45b of the gripping portion 45, and the smartphone SF is supported at its back by the flat plate portion 45a and at both widthwise sides by the pair of gripping pieces 45b, 45b, so that it is removably held and fixed to the holding member 41.

[0037] [Effects] In the player service providing device 11 configured as described above, the engagement portion 30 provided at the base end of the arm 20 can be engaged with and fixed to the locking protrusion 114 at the lower end of the POP storage case 113, thereby making it possible to easily and stably attach the device to a partition 110 provided between adjacent gaming machines 101. More specifically, the player service providing device 11 can be easily and stably attached to a partition 110 provided between adjacent gaming machines 101 by engaging and fixing the engaging member 31 to a locking protrusion 114 provided at the lower end of the POP storage case 113.

[0038] Furthermore, the device 11 for providing services to players has the base end of the arm body 21 connected to the engagement member 31 so that it can be rotated left and right, so that when the front member of the gaming table 101 is opened or closed, the items providing various services do not interfere with the front panel. In addition, by adjusting the rotational position of the arm body 21, the player can easily reach the beverage held by the holding member 41 (holding portion 40) while remaining in the position in which he or she plays the game, that is, while sitting on a chair 120 (see FIG. 1) in front of the gaming machine 101 and facing the gaming machine 101. This improves convenience for the staff of the gaming facility and for the players.

[0039] In addition, the device 11 for providing services to players has flexibility in that at least the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm body 21 can be curved and deformed by an external force, and is therefore less likely to be damaged.

[0040] In particular, in this embodiment, the holding member 40 is configured to be able to fix the smartphone SF, and is further fixed to the arm body 21 by a universal joint portion 49. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding member 40 can rotate (A) the smartphone SF in a 360-degree direction around the tip of the arm body 20, and position it. This, together with the left-right movement (B) of the arm 20, makes it possible to form the optimal position of the smartphone SF and the optimal angle of the display D for the player. As a result, while playing on a gaming machine, the player can view the screen of the smartphone SF placed in an appropriate position as necessary without significantly changing his / her posture while playing, and similarly, the player can operate the smartphone SF as necessary without significantly changing his / her posture while playing.

[0041] [Second embodiment] [composition] In the following description, components that are the same as or in common with components already described will be given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0042] 9, the holding member 41 is an attachment member having a cylindrical cup-shaped portion 42 with a bottom and an open top, and an arm fitting portion 43 protruding rearward from the rear of the cup-shaped portion 42. The cup-shaped portion 42 has dimensions and a shape selected so as to accommodate and hold at least the lower end of a player's beverage (not shown). The arm fitting portion 43 is a portion that fits and is fixed to the tip of the arm body 21. The cup-shaped portion 42 is formed with a diameter and height dimension that allows a single-serving PET bottle to be stably stored therein.

[0043] [Action, effect] Therefore, in this embodiment, the player can store plastic bottles, canned drinks, etc. in the cup-shaped portion 42, so in addition to the effects and advantages of the above embodiment, the player can drink the beverages in the plastic bottles and canned drinks in the cup-shaped portion 42 as needed without having to significantly change his / her playing posture during play, making it possible to play comfortably.

[0044] [Third embodiment] [composition] The third embodiment of the player service providing device 13 shown in Figures 10 and 11 has the same configuration as the player service providing device 11 of the first embodiment, and in addition, the engaging member 31 has a pair of left and right engaging pieces 36 that can be inserted into the opening 113a of the POP storage case 113. Both engagement pieces 36 protrude upward and rearward from the base end of the bracket portion 34 of the engagement member 31. The outer surface portions of both engagement pieces 36 are provided with locking projections 36a that are engaged with slit-shaped locking holes 113b provided in the vicinity of the opening 113a of the POP storage case 113.

[0045] [Effects] The player service providing device 13 of the third embodiment configured as described above can be easily and stably attached to a partition 110 provided between adjacent gaming machines 101 by engaging the convex portion 32 of the engaging member 31 provided at the base end of the arm 20 with the locking convex portion 114 provided at the lower end of the POP storage case 113, and by engaging the pair of left and right engaging pieces 36 with the left and right inner surfaces of the POP storage case 113. The player service providing device 13 of the third embodiment has a pair of left and right engagement pieces 36 that engage with the POP storage case 113 in addition to the protrusion 32 of the engagement member 31, so that it can be attached to the partition wall 110 with greater strength than the player service providing device 11 of the first embodiment.

[0046] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or altered examples within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the components in the above-described embodiment may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention.

[0047] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration is illustrated in which the engagement portion 30 engages with the locking protrusion 114 at the lower end of the POP storage case 113, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the engagement portion 30 engages with the locking protrusion 114 at the upper end of the POP storage case 113.

[0048] In addition, in the third embodiment, the engagement member 31 of the service providing device 13 to the player is provided with a convex portion 32 and an engagement piece 36, but if the service providing device 13 to the player can be stably attached to the POP storage case 113 using only the engagement piece 36, the convex portion 32 may be omitted.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, examples of items that can provide various services to players have been described as mobile terminals, USB-compatible charging devices, and beverage bottles, but these are not limited to these and may also be, for example, ashtrays or jackpot lamps provided by the store, and these can be realized as appropriate by changing the shape and structure of the holding part. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a service providing device for players in amusement facilities, and has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 11. Device for Providing Services to Players (First Embodiment) 12. Device for Providing Services to Players (Second Embodiment) 13. Device for Providing Services to Players (Third Embodiment) 20 Arm 21 Arm body 30 Engagement part 31 Engagement member 32 Convex 36 Engagement piece 40 Holding part 41 Retaining member 42 Cup-shaped part 44 Gripping part 45a Plane plate part 45b Grip piece 46 Spherical joint 47 Connection 48 Fixing cap 49 Universal joint part 101 Gaming Machines 110 Stud 113 POP storage case (information media storage case) 113a opening 114 Locking protrusion 114a Hole SF Smartphone (Mobile Device)

Claims

1. A service providing device for a player of a gaming machine, which is attached to a stud provided between adjacent gaming machines, comprising: an information medium storage case that is provided on the stud, has an overall thin rectangular box shape, is elongated in the vertical direction, has an opening that opens to the front of the stud, and has a locking protrusion at the front lower end of the opening, and stores information media containing information to be provided to players in a manner that allows them to be inserted and removed from the front part of the stud; an arm having an engagement portion formed so as to be capable of engaging with the locking protrusion and being fixed to the information medium storage case, the arm being disposed so as to extend forward from a front surface of the partition; A device for providing services to players, characterized in that it has a holding section provided at the tip of the arm for holding items that provide various services that the player can use at the gaming machine while playing.

2. The engaging protrusion has a hole formed therein, the engaging portion has an engaging member having a protrusion that engages with the locking protrusion through the hole, The arm is an arm body having a base end connected to the engaging member so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction; 2. The device for providing services to players according to claim 1, further comprising: a holding member attached to a tip of said arm body, said holding member being capable of holding items for providing said various services.

3. 3. The device for providing services to players according to claim 2, wherein at least a central portion of said arm body in the longitudinal direction has flexibility such that it can be curved and deformed by an external force.

4. The device for providing services to players as described in Claim 2, characterized in that the engaging member has an engaging piece that can be engaged and detached with the opening, and the engaging piece can be engaged with the opening to thereby enable the device to be removably fixed to the information medium storage case.

5. 3. The device for providing services to players according to claim 2, wherein the article is a portable terminal, and the holding member has a gripping portion capable of gripping the portable terminal.

6. A service providing device for a player as described in Claim 2, characterized in that the item is a beverage bottle, and the holding member has a cup-shaped portion capable of accommodating at least the lower part of the beverage bottle.

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