Game board mechanism

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices implement game units that have reduced power consumption. Game units include housings and game boards coupled to the housings and configured to receive and hold a plurality of game pieces. The game units further include insert assemblies coupled to the housings and configured to receive payment from a user. The game units also include gating devices coupled to the game boards and configured to hold game pieces in the game boards when in a first position, and further configured to release game pieces from the game boards when in a second position. The game units also include mechanical devices configured to return the gating device to the first position from the second position after a designated period of time, and catches configured to receive game pieces from the game board through the gating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game unit comprising:
 a housing;   a game board coupled to the housing and configured to receive and hold a plurality of game pieces;   an insert assembly coupled to the housing and configured to receive payment from a user;   a gating device coupled to the game board and configured to hold game pieces in the game board when in a first position, and further configured to release game pieces from the game board when in a second position;   a mechanical device configured to return the gating device to the first position from the second position after a designated period of time; and   a catch configured to receive game pieces from the game board through the gating device.   
     
     
         2 . The game unit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pivot; 
 a first linkage bar coupled between the insert assembly and the pivot; and 
 a second linkage bar coupled between the gating device and the pivot. 
 
     
     
         3 . The game unit of  claim 2 , wherein the insert assembly is further configured to receive a force from the user, wherein the first linkage bar is configured to transfer at least some of the force to the pivot, and wherein the transferring of the at least some of the force to the pivot causes the mechanical device to compress and store mechanical energy, and also causes the second linkage bar to pull on the gating device. 
     
     
         4 . The game unit of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device is a spring configured to return to a resting position after the designated period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The game unit of  claim 4 , wherein the spring is a gas spring. 
     
     
         6 . The game unit of  claim 4 , wherein the designated period of time is determined based on an amount of time taken by a column of game pieces to fall from the game board to the catch. 
     
     
         7 . The game unit of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be mounted on a wall. 
     
     
         8 . The game unit of  claim 1 , wherein the payment is a plurality of coins. 
     
     
         9 . The game unit of  claim 1 , wherein the game board comprises a plurality of columns configured to hold game pieces, and wherein each of the plurality of columns comprises a plurality of perforations configured to enable visibility of the held game pieces. 
     
     
         10 . A game unit comprising:
 a housing;   a game board coupled to the housing;   an insert assembly coupled to the housing;   a gating device coupled to the game board and configured to be closed in a first position, and further configured to be open in a second position;   a mechanical device configured to return the gating device to the first position from the second position after a designated period of time;   a pivot included in the housing, the pivot comprising a rotation point and a plurality of attachment points;   a first linkage bar coupled between the insert assembly and one of the plurality of attachment points of the pivot;   a second linkage bar coupled between the gating device and one of the plurality of attachment points of the pivot; and   a catch configured to receive game pieces from the game board through the gating device.   
     
     
         11 . The game unit of  claim 10 , wherein the insert assembly is further configured to receive a force from a user, wherein the first linkage bar is configured to transfer at least some of the force to the pivot, and wherein the transferring of the at least some of the force to the pivot causes the mechanical device to compress and store mechanical energy, and also causes the second linkage bar to pull on the gating device. 
     
     
         12 . The game unit of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical device is a gas spring configured to return to a resting position after the designated period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The game unit of  claim 12 , wherein the gas spring is configurable such that the designated period of time at which the gating device closes is adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . The game unit of  claim 10 , wherein the game board comprises a plurality of columns configured to receive and hold game pieces, and wherein each of the plurality of columns comprises a plurality of perforations configured to enable visibility of the held game pieces. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving a payment and a force at an insert assembly of a game unit, the game unit comprising a game board capable of receiving and holding game pieces;   transferring at least some of the force to a mechanical device capable of storing mechanical energy;   transferring at least some of the force to a gating device;   transitioning the gating device from a closed state to an open state in response to the transferring; and   transitioning the gating device from the open state to the closed stated after a designated period of time.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the transferring of the at least some of the force to the mechanical device further comprises:
 transferring the force from the insert assembly to a pivot via a first linkage bar; and   transferring at least some of the force from the pivot to the mechanical device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the transferring of the at least some of the force to the gating device further comprises:
 transferring at least some of the force from the pivot to the mechanical device via a second linkage bar.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mechanical device is a gas spring capable of returning to a resting position after the designated period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transitioning of the gating device from the open state to the closed state after the designated period of time comprises:
 decompressing the mechanical device to release the stored mechanical energy.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving the payment further comprises:
 receiving a designated number of coins.