Game machine

Abstract

A game machine comprises a housing, a user access panel having a controller, a money acceptor and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award, a rotating field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon, a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the rotating field, an object return path having an object receiving area, a delivery guide, and an outlet, wherein an award is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the retriever retrieving an object from the rotating field and delivering it to the object receiving area.

1 . A game machine comprising:
 a) a housing and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award;   b) a movable field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon;   c) a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the movable field; and   d) an object return path having an object receiving area and an outlet;   e) wherein an award that is not the same as the object retrieved by the retriever is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the retriever retrieving an object from the movable field and delivering it to the object return path for return of the object to the movable field through the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The game machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a score display and a timer display. 
     
     
         3 . The game machine of  claim 2 , wherein the score and timer displays are incorporated into a digital video display. 
     
     
         4 . The game machine of  claim 3 , wherein the digital video display is positioned on a back of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the award is a redemption ticket. 
     
     
         6 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the retriever includes a magnet or is magnetized, and at least one of the plurality of objects is capable of being magnetically retrieved by the retriever. 
     
     
         7 . The game machine of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one object is spherical and formed from ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         8 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the retriever includes a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of a bird. 
     
     
         9 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a contoured surface that has a three-dimensional contour that causes the plurality of objects to exhibit erratic movement during a rotation of the field. 
     
     
         10 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the movable field rotates in a unidirectional manner, a bidirectional manner, or in a combination of the two. 
     
     
         11 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the movable field rotates continuously, intermittently, or in a combination of the two. 
     
     
         12 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the object receiving area further comprises a bird nest. 
     
     
         13 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the object return path is substantially hidden from view during play of the game machine. 
     
     
         14 . The game machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is positioned above or adjacent to the field. 
     
     
         15 . The game machine of  claim 14 , wherein the outlet is positioned in between the legs of a figure situated on a platform above the field. 
     
     
         16 . The game machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor connected to a network for remote operation or maintenance of the game machine. 
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a game comprising:
 a) retrieving an object from a plurality of objects located on a rotating field using a retriever and delivering the retrieved object to an object return path;   b) receiving an award upon the retrieved object being received in the object return path;   c) wherein the award is not the same as the retrieved object;   d) wherein the retrieved object is returned to the field upon exiting the object return path; and   e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the object is magnetically retrieved by the retriever. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the object is a ball and the award is a ticket. 
     
     
         20 . A game machine comprising:
 a) a housing, a timer and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award;   b) a rotating field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon;   c) a magnetic retriever movable along a track that is supported by the housing for movement of the magnetic retriever relative to the rotating field; and   d) an object return path having an object receiving area and an outlet positioned above or adjacent the rotating field;   e) wherein an award that is not the same as the object retrieved by the magnetic retriever is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the magnetic retriever retrieving an object from the rotating field and delivering the object to the object return path for return of the object to the rotating field through the outlet; and   f) wherein the magnetic retriever is operable to retrieve objects from the rotating field during a predetermined time period indicated by the timer.