Trap door amusement game

Abstract

An amusement game is disclosed that includes a skilled based feature that allows players to try to time the activation of a pressure sensitive switch at the same time a light is illuminated at a target position, and if the player accurately times the activation of the switch, a central proceeding unit sends a signal to a stepper motor to energized and completely open a door that is mounted in a horizontal plane by pivoting downwardly. The door is designed to supports a prize that will be distributed to a player. If the timing is not precise, a signal is sent to a central proceeding unit to incrementally open the door. As the door continues to be opened, any prize that is supported by the door will eventually distributed as the door is allowed to be directed to the prize to a receiving area. Sensors provided on the door detect the absence of a prize on the door and send a signal to a central processing unit to activate a claw mechanism that transfers prizes from a retaining area to a position on said door.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An amusement game comprising a prize retaining area for receiving and storing a plurality of prizes, a prize moving element, for moving prizes from said prize retaining area to a prize chute, said prize chute further comprising a door mounted to open and close access to said chute, said door further having an engine for incrementally opening the door. 
     
     
         2 . The amusement game recited in  claim 1  wherein said door is incrementally opened by said engine upon the successful execution of a skilled-based task. 
     
     
         3 . The amusement game recited in  claim 1  wherein said skilled based task comprises the activation of a switch when a light is illuminated at a target position. 
     
     
         4 . The amusement game recited in  claim 1  wherein said prize moving element comprises a mechanical claw. 
     
     
         5 . The amusement game recited in  claim 1  wherein said mechanical claw further comprises opposite spring biased opposite arms and a trigger element, wherein when said trigger element is released, said springs cause said arms to close together. 
     
     
         6 . The amuse device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a central processing unit and a least one door position sensor, wherein said sensors provide a signal to a central processing unit relating to the presence of a prize on said door. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a credit sensor and a game activate switch, said credit sensor in communication with a central processing unit wherein said central processing unit will activate said game switch in response to the detection of a credit to allow for the play of said skilled based game. 
     
     
         8 . The device recited in  claim 7  wherein said skill based game comprises a plurality of lights that are sequentially illuminated and a switch that may be activated by a player, wherein the object of the dame is to activate the switch when a light is illuminated at a target position. 
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a cabinet including a transparent window that encloses said prize area and the top portion of said prize chute. 
     
     
         10 . An amusement device comprising at least one door that is oriented in a horizontal plane when in a closed position, said door functions to separate a passage to a prize chute and when in a closed position to support a prize, said door mounted to allow to allow for pivotal motion having a first side attached to a frame and an opposite second, said door further mounted to provide for the incremental opening, wherein the second side may pivot from said closed position in incrementally distances downwardly, and wherein when said door is allowed to pivot past a threshold point, any object on said may be released from said door and allowed to fall into a prize chute and prize access area.