JP7541389B2 - Game Machine Island - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine island where amusement machines are arranged side by side.

Conventionally, game arcades have constructed game machine islands in which multiple game machines such as pachinko machines are arranged side-by-side. At the front of the game machine island, chairs are provided for players to sit and play at each game machine. In addition, partitions are sometimes provided between the game machines on the game machine island so that players can concentrate on playing without worrying about the players next to them.
There are various types of partitions, one of which is known to separate the space under the gaming machine island from a top panel extending in front of the gaming machines on the gaming machine island to the floor surface and prevent players sitting next to each other from touching each other when seated on chairs (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent Document 1 discloses a partition board that stands between adjacent chairs from the floor to the underside of the tabletop. A part of the upper end of the partition board protrudes above the surface on the tabletop where the gaming machines are installed, and an armrest is provided.
Patent Document 2 discloses a partition board that stands between adjacent chairs from the floor to the front of the tabletop. The upper end of the partition board extends above the surface on the tabletop where the gaming machines are installed, but the space along the front of the lower part of the gaming machine island located directly below the tabletop is not partitioned in any way.

In both of the partition panels described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when retrofitting existing gaming machine islands, the work is usually carried out after closing time so as not to affect the business of the amusement arcade. However, if the installation of each partition panel takes time, it may not be possible to complete the work after closing time in order to install a large number of machines (several hundred). In such cases, the work may take several days, and so a method for making the installation work easier was desired.

Registered Utility Model No. 3033505 Registered Utility Model No. 3136432

However, the problem with the conventional partition plates mentioned above is that installation is complicated and time-consuming, especially when determining the position for fixing the lower part of the partition plate to the floor surface. For example, a laser level or plumb bob (carpenter's tool) must be used to mark out the position for fixing the lower part of the partition plate to the floor surface. Also, it was necessary to use a laser level or the like to determine the position for each partition plate.

In addition, when replacing a gaming machine when a partition board has already been installed on the gaming machine island, if the partition board protrudes above the top board (especially when there are armrests), the gaming machine is likely to collide with the upper end of the partition board. This poses the problem of the partition board interfering with the work of replacing the gaming machine.

In addition, if the rear edge of the partition facing the front of the gaming machine island is in contact with or close to the waistboard that forms the front of the lower part of the gaming machine island, there is a problem that it interferes with the maintenance and inspection work of the related equipment located at the lower part of the gaming machine island. In other words, the partition located in front of the waistboard makes it difficult to open and close the maintenance door on the waistboard, and in some cases, it is time-consuming to remove the partition.

The present invention was made in response to the problems inherent in the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide an amusement machine island equipped with partitions that can significantly reduce the installation time required for installation work on the amusement machine island, and that do not interfere with the work of replacing amusement machines or the maintenance and inspection work under the amusement machine island.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a partition (10) for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines (2) on an gaming machine island (1) where gaming machines (2) are installed side by side, the partition (10) being provided on the gaming machine island (1) and comprising a partition body (11) fixed from an attachment point on the gaming machine island (1) side toward the floor surface in front of the space between the adjacent gaming machines (2), the partition body (11) being capable of being positioned relative to the attachment point when fixed to the attachment point.

1 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a partition is attached to the front between adjacent gaming machines on a gaming machine island in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a partition body is temporarily placed on the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper portion of a partition body temporarily placed on an amusement machine island in the first embodiment of the present invention is fixed by a first fixing device. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first fixing device is fixed to the underside of the top plate of the game machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. FIG. 11 is an oblique view showing a state in which the lower part of a partition body temporarily placed on the gaming machine island in the first embodiment of the present invention is in the process of being fixed by a second fixing device. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the base and one angle of the second fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are combined. 1 is a perspective view showing the state in which the partition body has been completely installed on the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the partition body has been removed, leaving behind the first fixing device and the second fixing device (part) in the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a partition body according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the partition body as seen from the front. 1A is a left side view, FIG. 1B is a plan view, FIG. 1C is a front view, and FIG. 1D is a rear view of a partition body according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view of a first fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a first fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from below. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a bottom view, and FIG. 1C is a right side view of a first fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view of a base of a second fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the base as viewed obliquely from above and below. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a plan view, and FIG. 3C is a right side view of a base of a second fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view of an angle of a second fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the angle from one side and the other side. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a plan view, FIG. 1C is a right side view, and FIG. 1D is a left side view of an angle of a second fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a gaming machine island according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic positional relationship between a part of the gaming machine island, the chair, and the seated person to explain the movement of the feet of a player seated in a chair on the gaming machine island in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between a part of the gaming machine island, a chair, and a seated person, to explain the sitting-down action when a player sits down in a chair on the gaming machine island in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. This is a chart showing a part of the human body size database published by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between partitions, chairs (players), and a tabletop in an amusement machine island according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the actions of players entering and exiting chairs on a conventional gaming machine island and on an gaming machine island according to an embodiment of the present invention; 13A is a perspective view of a partition body according to a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the partition body as seen from the front. 13A is a left side view, FIG. 13B is a plan view, FIG. 13C is a front view, and FIG. 13D is a rear view of a partition body according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 13A is a perspective view showing a partition body according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper surface installation tool has been removed. 13A is a perspective view of a partition body according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the partition body as seen from the front. 13A is a left side view, FIG. 13B is a plan view, FIG. 13C is a front view, and FIG. 13D is a rear view of a partition body according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. A vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a part of an amusement machine island according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a partition according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the mounting location of a partition body in an amusement machine island according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 的径向G径向F径向G径向F径向G径F径向F径F径F, and FIG. 30 的径向G径F, respectively. FIG. 30 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a top plate of a gaming machine island according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. A vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a part of an amusement machine island according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a partition according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the mounting location of a partition body in an amusement machine island according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the top plate of the gaming machine island according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, taken in a direction perpendicular to the arrow H in FIG. 34 . 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an upper fixing member of a partition body according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is fitted into a long fitting groove in a top plate. FIG. 13A, 13B, and 13C are a front view, a plan view, and a right side view, respectively, of an upper fixing device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a carpet covering a floor surface in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is an enlarged view showing the roof pile of the carpet, and FIG. 1C is an enlarged view showing the cut pile of the carpet. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a second fastener is installed on a carpet covering a floor surface in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a portion of a carpet covering a floor surface has been cut in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a second fixing device has been fixed to the cut portion. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a modified example 1 of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the modified example 1 is fixed onto a carpet covering a floor surface, and FIG. 1C is an enlarged partial view thereof. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a part of modified example 2 of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing modified example 2 fixed onto a carpet covering a floor surface, and FIG. 1C is a partially enlarged view thereof. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a modified example 3 of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the modified example 3 is fixed onto a carpet covering a floor surface, FIG. 1C is a partially enlarged view thereof, and FIG. 1D is an oblique view of the modified example 3. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a portion of a fourth modified example of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 13A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a fifth modified example of a lower fixing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view showing an elastic body of the fifth modified example. 13A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a sixth modified example of a lower fixing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13B is a perspective view showing a structural body of the sixth modified example, and FIG. 13C is a partially enlarged view thereof.

Various embodiments representative of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 22 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The partition 10 of the gaming machine island 1 in this embodiment is provided on the gaming machine island 1 on which the gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, and separates the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.

<Overview of Gaming Machine Island 1>
First, an overview of the gaming machine island 1 will be described.
As shown in Fig. 1, the gaming machine island 1 is constructed by arranging multiple gaming machines 2 in the left-right direction in the middle of the island of a frame that serves as the island frame. The gaming machines here are, for example, pachinko machines that shoot gaming balls onto a board on the inside of the glass surface that forms the front. In the gaming machine island 1, the gaming machines 2 are generally arranged back-to-back in two rows, one in front and one in back (see Fig. 17), but there is also a configuration in which the gaming machines 2 are arranged in only one row on one side. Fig. 1 shows only one row of the gaming machines 2 on one side of the two rows. Note that multiple gaming machine islands 1 are usually constructed in an amusement parlor.

The gaming machine island 1 is provided with a top plate 3 arranged forward from the front of the gaming machine island. The top plate 3 is a portion for arranging the gaming machines 2 in a left-right direction (longitudinal direction of the island). The top surface of the top plate 3 extending forward from the front of the gaming machines 2 is a space for placing ball boxes and the like for putting gaming balls. In the gaming machine island 1 according to this embodiment, the gaming machine installation surface on which the gaming machines 2 are installed is not the top surface of the top plate 3 itself, but a step-like installation base 3a is fixed to the top surface of the top plate 3 near the rear end of the island, and the top surface of this installation base 3a is the gaming machine installation surface. In other words, the gaming machine installation surface is one step higher than the top surface of the top plate 3. In addition, a protrusion 3b is provided along the upper front end of the top plate 3 to prevent gaming balls that have fallen onto the top plate 3 from falling.

In the lower part of the gaming machine island 1, located below the top plate 3, related equipment such as a collection trough for collecting gaming balls discharged from the gaming machines 2 and a tank for storing gaming balls, which are not shown in the figure, are arranged. The front of the lower part of the gaming machine island is covered by a waist board 4. Part of the waist board 4 is configured as a maintenance door that can be opened and closed when performing maintenance and inspection work on related equipment. Note that the front of the gaming machine island is the front (glass surface) of the gaming machine 2 above the top plate 3, and the front of the waist board 4 at the lower part of the gaming machine island located below the top plate 3. In general, the front of the gaming machine 2 and the front of the waist board 4 are aligned on almost the same plane, but there may be some difference between them.

Between each gaming machine 2, there is provided a ball dispenser 5 which dispenses gaming balls in response to the insertion of a card or bill. The width of the ball dispenser 5 is dimensioned to fit between adjacent gaming machines, but in addition to the width of the ball dispenser 5, a space between the gaming machines 2 may be provided to increase the space between the gaming machines. Here, studs 9 are provided in the space between the gaming machines other than the ball dispenser 5. Partitions 10, which form the core of the present invention, are provided between the gaming machines 2 on the gaming machine island 1 so that players can concentrate on playing without worrying about the players next to them. The partitions 10 will be described in detail later.

In addition, in front of the gaming machine island 1, a chair 6 is provided for each gaming machine 2 on which a player sits to play. As shown in FIG. 17, the chair 6 is supported by a rotating shaft 7 so that it can rotate horizontally relative to the floor surface A. In this embodiment, the chair 6 has a backrest 6b fixed to the rear end of the seat surface of the seat 6a, but the seat 6a may be configured to slide forward and backward from the rotating shaft 7, or the backrest 6b may be configured to be reclined within a predetermined range.

The position of the chairs 6 relative to the gaming machine island 1 is generally determined in advance to a specific dimension, such as 110 mm, from the front end of the table top 3 located at the very front of the gaming machine island 1 to the front end of the seat 6a of the chair 6, so that players can easily enter and exit based on ergonomics, etc. Note that only some of the chairs 6 are shown in Figure 1.

<Configuration of partition 10>
Next, the partition 10 which constitutes the core of the present invention will be described.
1, the partition 10 prevents contact between the legs of players seated on the chairs 6 of adjacent gaming machines 2 on the gaming machine island 1. The partition 10 includes a partition body 11 that is fixed from the top plate 3, which is the mounting location on the gaming machine island 1 side, toward the floor surface A, in the front between the adjacent gaming machines 2.

Here, "fixed toward floor surface A" does not mean that the partition body 11 is limited to being fixed to floor surface A as well, but means that the partition body 11 is fixed at least to the mounting location on the gaming machine island side (top plate 3) while extending toward floor surface A. Therefore, it includes not only the case where the partition body 11 is fixed to both the mounting location on the gaming machine island side (top plate 3) and floor surface A, but also the case where it is fixed only to the mounting location on the gaming machine island side (top plate 3).

The partition body 11 in this embodiment is configured so that its upper portion 12 is fixed to the top plate 3 and its lower portion 13 is fixed to the floor surface A. Here, when the partition body 11 is fixed to the top plate 3, it can be temporarily fixed in a state in which it hangs down from the top plate 3. Specifically, the partition body 11 is configured so that by temporarily placing its upper portion 12 on the top plate 3, the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 hangs down vertically above the floor surface A due to its own weight.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the partition 11 is formed into the shape shown from a board of a specified thickness, and wood is a suitable material for this, for example. More specifically, the partition 11 extends linearly so that the rear edge 14 is arranged vertically along the wainscot 4, and the upper part 12 has an upper edge 121 that extends horizontally from front to back, and the lower part 13 has a lower edge 131 that also extends horizontally from front to back. The upper part 12 has a notch 122 below its upper edge 121 that is recessed forward (towards the player) from the rear edge 14 side.

At least the upper inner edge of the notch 122 extends parallel to the upper edge 121, and the portion including the upper edge 121 located above the notch 122 forms an arm 123 shaped like an arm. This arm 123 is the portion of the upper part 12 that is temporarily fixed so as to be placed on the top plate 3. At the innermost upper side of the notch 122, which forms the base end of the arm 123, an upward recess 122a is provided that engages with the protrusion 3b on the upper front end of the top plate 3.

In addition, at the innermost part of the notch 122 and below the recess 122a, a groove slightly larger than the thickness of the top plate 3 is formed, and a jaw 122b is provided to fit the front end of the top plate 3 between it and the underside of the arm 123. The notch 122, except for the innermost part where the recess 122a and jaw 122b are located, is expanded into a roughly rectangular shape with a vertical width greater than the thickness of the top plate 3. This is to ensure mounting space for the first fixing device 20 described later, and to avoid the cigarette butt collection pipe 8 (see FIG. 17) and the like that is disposed on the underside of the top plate 3.

The vertical width (thickness) of the arm 123 itself is set so that it is equal to or less than the height of the installation table 3a when placed on the top plate 3. In other words, the height of the upper edge 121, which is the uppermost end of the partition body 11, is equal to or less than the height of the gaming machine installation surface. In addition, by forming a boundary on the top plate 3 while placed thereon, gaming balls that have fallen onto the top plate 3 are prevented from rolling to the adjacent gaming machine 2. In addition, the aforementioned protrusion 3b is also provided on the upper front end of the top plate 3, which also prevents gaming balls from falling from the top plate 3.

As shown in Figure 18, the rear edge 14 of the partition 11 is positioned with a specified gap B between it and the waist board 4, which is the front of the gaming machine island. The specified gap B is determined within a range that does not interfere with maintenance and inspection work on the lower part of the gaming machine island, such as the thickness of a maintenance door that can be opened and closed as part of the waist board 4, or a dimension large enough for a person's fingertips to fit through (e.g., 10 to 30 mm). Note that the specified gap B does not have to be a uniform dimension above and below the partition 11, and will differ depending on the specific configuration of the lower part of the gaming machine.

Here, the tip of the arm 123 protrudes rearward (towards the gaming machine) by a specified gap B from the rear edge 14. Therefore, by positioning the tip of the arm 123 so that it abuts the edge of the installation table 3a of the top plate 3, the specified gap B can be easily secured between the rear edge 14 of the partition body 11 and the front of the waist board 4. In addition, below the waist board 4 at the bottom of the gaming machine island, a rear wall 4a is formed that is recessed one step further from the front of the waist board 4, ensuring space for the player's toes.

The overall shape of the partition 11 is not simply rectangular, but rather the upper part 12 and the lower part 13 have different amounts of protrusion forward (towards the player) with the rear edge 14, which is aligned parallel to the waistboard 4 of the gaming machine island 1, as the reference point in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the partition 11 is formed so that the amount of protrusion is greater toward the upper part 12 and smaller at the lower part 13. Therefore, the front edge 15 of the partition 11 is inclined or curved from the front end of the upper part 12 to the front end of the lower part 13, approaching the front of the gaming machine island, i.e., so that the distance to the rear edge 14 becomes shorter.

The height dimension of the entire partition 10 corresponds to the distance from the underside of the top plate 3 to the floor surface A in the gaming machine island 1. However, the shape of the gaming machine island 1 is not fixed and varies depending on the manufacturer, and even the same manufacturer may have variations in the shape of the waist panel 4, the length of the top plate 3, and the height of the gaming machine installation surface, making it virtually impossible to manufacture a foot partition that fits tightly to the island using a molded product, etc.

Therefore, in the partition 10 of the present invention, the height dimension of the partition body 11 is formed to be shorter than the distance from the underside of the top plate 3 to the floor surface A in a typical gaming machine island 1, and the height of the entire partition 10 is adjusted by the second fixing device 30 described below. This makes it possible to match the height dimension of the entire partition 10 to the distance from the underside of the top plate 3 to the floor surface A, which actually varies, each time the partition body 11 is fixed.

<Fixing means for partition body 11>
3 to 8, the partition 11 can be temporarily fixed to the tabletop 3 by its own configuration alone, but as fixing means for finally fixing the partition 11 to the tabletop 3 or the floor surface A, a first fixing device 20 for fixing an upper portion 12 of the partition 11 to the tabletop 3 and a second fixing device 30 for fixing a lower portion 13 of the partition 11 to the floor surface A are provided. The attachment positions of the first fixing device 20 and the second fixing device 30 to the partition 11 are not strictly determined, and since the partition 11 is made of a material that can be screwed (e.g., wood), it becomes possible to screw it to any position, and there is a certain degree of freedom in the attachment positions.

11 and 12, the first fixing device 20 is a bracket that is screwed to the underside of the top plate 3 near the front end. The first fixing device 20 is made up of a vertical section 21 that has a U-shaped cross section, extends in the up-down direction, and opens forward, and a horizontal section 22 that extends at right angles to the left and right from both sides of the upper end of the vertical section 21. The vertical section 21 has both side walls 212, 212 bent forward at right angles from both ends of the rear wall 211. The horizontal section 22 has both upper walls 221 bent at right angles to the side from the upper ends of the both side walls 212, 212. Such a first fixing device 20 is formed by bending a single metal plate. Both side walls 212, 212 and the pair of upper walls 221, 221 each have a screw hole. The installation of the first fixing device 20 will be described in detail later.

As shown in Figures 13 to 16, the second fixing device 30 is made up of three bracket fittings: a base 31 placed on floor surface A, and a pair of angles 32, 32 assembled on the base 31 and screwed to the lower part 13 of the partition body 11. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the base 31 has a U-shaped cross section that extends in the front-to-rear direction and opens upward, and both side walls 312, 312 are bent upward at right angles from both ends of the bottom wall 311.

Each angle 32 is made of the same material. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the angle 32 is formed by bending a rectangular metal plate into an L-shape, with one end of the side wall 321 bent at a right angle to form the end wall 322, and the tip side of the end wall 322 is further bent at a right angle to form a folded wall 323 that faces the side wall 321 in parallel with a predetermined width. Screw holes are provided at the top and bottom of the side wall 321 and the end wall 322. The attachment of the second fixing device 30 will be described in detail later.

<Installation of partition 10>
Next, the installation of the partition 10 will be described.
1, in the game machine island 1, a partition 10 is fixed from the top plate 3 toward the floor surface A at the front between adjacent game machines 2. A partition body 11 forming the main part of the partition 10 can be temporarily fixed in a state of hanging down from the top plate 3 when fixed to the top plate 3 on the game machine island 1 side.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the arm 123 at the upper part 12 of the partition 11 is temporarily placed on the tabletop 3, the lower part 13 of the partition 11 hangs down vertically above the floor surface A due to its own weight. In this way, when the partition 11 is temporarily placed suspended from the tabletop 3, the lower end of the arm 123 abuts against the upper surface of the tabletop 3, and further, within the notch 122 below the arm 123, the front end of the tabletop 3 fits between the recess 122a that engages with the protrusion 3b and the jaw 122b, temporarily fixing it. Here, the jaw 122b may abut against the underside of the front end of the tabletop 3, or it may simply face it in close proximity.

During this temporary fastening, the lower end of the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is close to the floor surface A, so the positioning for fixing the lower portion 13 on the floor surface A can be easily performed. In other words, when positioning the second fixing device 30 on the floor surface A, there is no need for the troublesome marking work using, for example, a laser level or plumb bob (carpentry tool), as in the installation work of conventional foot partition boards. Therefore, the work of fixing the partition body 11 to the gaming machine island 1 can be performed easily and quickly, and the construction time for the installation work can be significantly shortened.

After the partition 11 is temporarily fixed, the upper part 12 of the partition 11 is fixed to the top plate 3 by the first fixing device 20. The lower part 13 of the partition 11 is fixed to the floor surface A by the second fixing device 30. This ensures that the partition 11 is firmly fixed so that it will not come off while extending from the underside of the top plate 3 toward the floor surface A. As shown in FIG. 8, if the partition 11 is removed, leaving only the first fixing device 20, the base 31 of the second fixing device 30, and one of the angles 32, it can be easily replaced with a partition 11 of a different shape.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first fixing device 20 is placed in the notch 122 of the temporarily fixed partition 11, and with the edge of the notch 122 fitted inside the vertical portion 21, both side walls 212, 212 are screwed to the partition 11. In addition, a pair of top walls 221, 221 forming the horizontal portion 22 are abutted against the underside of the top plate 3 near the front end and screwed. With this first fixing device 20, the upper portion 12 of the partition 11 is firmly fixed to the top plate 3. Note that the screws are omitted in Figures 3, 4, 5, 7, etc.

The attachment position of the first fixing device 20 relative to the partition 11 or the top plate 3 is not strictly determined, and since the partition 11 and the top plate 3 are made of a material that can be screwed (e.g., wood), they can be screwed to any position. In this way, there is a certain degree of freedom in the attachment position of the first fixing device 20. Note that the first fixing device 20 is not limited to the specific configuration shown in the figure, and as long as it can fix the upper part 12 of the partition 11 to the top plate 3, it can be of a different configuration, with or without screws.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second fixing device 30 is first assembled by combining the base 31 and one of the angles 32. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the lower side of the side wall 321 of the angle 32 is screwed to one side wall 312 of the base 31, and the lower side of the folded wall 323 of the angle 32 is also screwed to the rear side of the other side wall 312 of the base 31. Therefore, the base 31 and one of the angles 32 can be treated as one part.

The base 31 and one of the angles 32 are positioned so as to cover the rear of one side of the lower part 13 that hangs down above the floor surface A with the partition body 11 temporarily fixed. At this time, misalignment can be prevented by attaching the base 31 to the floor surface A with, for example, double-sided tape. Note that screws will protrude from the inside of both side walls 312, 312 of the base 31, but the lower edge 131 of the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 is usually located above the screws, so there is no interference.

The other angle 32 is then assembled to the base 31 on floor surface A and the one angle 32 so as to cover the other side of the lower part 13 of the partition 11 from the front. Here, the other angle 32 is assembled by screwing the lower side of the side wall 321 to the other side wall 312 of the base 31 with the base 31 and the lower part 13 of the partition 11 housed inside the side wall 321, end wall 322, and folded wall 323. The folded wall 323 of the other angle 32 is fitted between the other side wall 312 of the base 31 and the folded wall 323 of the one angle 32.

The second fixing device 30, which is thus a combination of three bracket fittings, can adjust the height of its attachment position relative to the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11. That is, depending on the distance from the lowest end of the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 to the floor surface A, the upper sides of the side walls 321 of the pair of angles 32, 32 are screwed to the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 at a height position where the second fixing device 30 just abuts against the floor surface A. Note that the screws are omitted in Figures 7, 8, etc.

The mounting positions of the bracket fittings of the second fixing device 30 relative to the partition 11 are not strictly determined, and the partition 11 can be screwed to any position by being made of a material that can be screwed (e.g., wood). The lower part 13 of the partition 11 engages with the floor surface A via the second fixing device 30, so that the partition 11 engages vertically from top to bottom between the top plate 3 and the floor surface A like a brace.

This allows the second fixing device 30 to maintain sufficient attachment strength without being directly screwed to the floor surface A. Therefore, even if an impact is applied to the partition body 11, such as when a player's foot hits it, the partition body 11 will not easily come off or shift position. Note that the second fixing device 30 is not limited to the specific configuration shown in the figure, and other configurations may be used, with or without screws, as long as they can firmly fix the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 to the floor surface A.

According to the above-described installation work for the partition 10, it is easier to position the partition when fixing it to the floor surface A compared to conventional installation methods, improving workability and significantly shortening installation time. By installing the partition 10 on the gaming machine island 1, it is possible to separate the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2, ensuring a highly personal gaming space that surrounds the feet of each individual player. Furthermore, when players enter or exit the facility, as shown in Figure 18, by pulling their toes in, they will not collide with the bottom of the partition 10, making it easier to enter or exit. Pulling the toes in slightly beyond knee position like this is a normal everyday action.

<Other Characteristic Functions of the Partition 10>
In the partition 10 of this embodiment, the height of the upper edge 121 of the uppermost part 12 (arm 123) of the partition body 11 fixed to the top plate 3 is set to be equal to or lower than the height of the installation stand 3a that forms the gaming machine installation surface on the top plate 3. As a result, when replacing a gaming machine on the gaming machine island 1, even if the gaming machine 2, which is a heavy object, is removed by pulling it out of the island, the gaming machine 2 itself and its accessories do not interfere with the partition body 11, and the gaming machine 2 can be easily replaced.

On the other hand, on the table top 3, the arm 123 of the partition 11 forms a boundary that separates the gaming machines 2 as described above. This prevents gaming balls that have fallen onto the table top 3 from rolling to the adjacent gaming machine 2. In addition, a protrusion 3b is provided on the upper front end of the table top 3, which also prevents gaming balls from falling from the table top 3. Here, the upper part 12 (arm 123) of the partition 11 is positioned at the front between the adjacent gaming machines 2 on the table top 3, but it is preferable to position it so as to avoid the front of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5. This means that there is no risk of the partition 11 getting in the way when performing maintenance, inspection, or replacement of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5.

In addition, according to the partition 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the rear end edge 14 of the partition body 11 that faces the front of the gaming machine island is positioned with a specified gap B between it and the front of the gaming machine island. Here, the specified gap B is determined within a range that does not interfere with maintenance and inspection work on the lower part of the gaming machine island, as described above. As a result, even if maintenance and inspection of related equipment arranged inside the waist board 4 becomes necessary, the maintenance door of the waist board 4 can be opened, closed, or removed, etc., and the extra work of temporarily removing the partition body 11 is not required.

Furthermore, in the partition 10 of this embodiment, the overall shape of the partition body 11 is not simply rectangular, and the amount of protrusion forward (towards the player) using the rear edge 14, which is aligned parallel to the waistboard 4 of the gaming machine island 1, as the reference in the front-to-rear direction is greater at the upper part 12 and smaller at the lower part 13. This allows more space for players to enter and exit the chairs 6, especially below the partition 10. Therefore, the partition body 11 can provide both a separating function and ease of entry and exit.

<Features of Partition 10 from Another Perspective>
However, as described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, when the foot partition plate is a type that protrudes considerably forward from the front end of the table top 3, there is a problem that it is difficult for players to enter and exit the chair 6. In order to make it easier for players to enter and exit, it is necessary to provide a space (dimension E) between the gaming machines 2 as shown in Figure 22(a). If the space between the gaming machines 2 is made wider, a new problem arises in that the number of gaming machines 2 that can be installed on the gaming machine island 1 is reduced.

As such, one of the installation conditions for the partition 11 (particularly the type that protrudes forward from the table top 3) is that the distance between the partition 11 and the chair 6 requires space (for example, the distance between the gaming machines 2) for players to enter and exit the chair 6. This installation condition is particularly prevalent the more the partition 11 protrudes from the front end of the table top 3. This creates a problem in that the gaming machine islands 1 on which the partition 10 can be installed are limited. For example, players on gaming machine islands 1 where the spacing between the gaming machines 2 is narrow would need a partition board, but this has been difficult to accommodate.

The inventors conducted extensive research to solve these problems, and as a result, the following facts became clear. That is, in order for a player to sit on a chair 6, the player must squeeze in between the chairs 6, and in order to sit on a chair 6, the player must move to the front of the gaming machine 2 in a state that almost seems like bending his knees, as shown in Figure 19. The reason why the gaming machine 2 and the chair 6 are in such a somewhat cramped positional relationship is because of the desire to bring the player as close as possible to the gaming machine 2 (so that the player can get a better view of the game progress; it is difficult to operate if the player is too far from the handle) and the result of searching for a position that would allow the player to somehow sit on the chair 6.

When analyzing this positional relationship, it can be seen that the player's knees are positioned between the upper surface of the seat 6a of the chair 6 and the underside of the table top 3. Furthermore, when referring to the "Human Body Dimensions Database" published by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, it can be seen that the dimension that must be secured in order for a player to sit on the chair 6 of the gaming machine island 1 is the knee thickness dimension, which is the largest around the upper surface of the seat. In other words, the dimension that the player's knees can fit into is the basis for determining the relationship between the player and the island equipment.

To give some specific numerical values, as shown in Figure 20, when looking at knee thickness in the "Human Body Dimension Database" for young adults, the 50th percentile (0-50%) is 116.0 mm, the 75th percentile is 121.0 mm, and the 97.5th percentile is 129.0 mm. If there is some margin on these values, the positional relationship between the periphery of the seat of the chair 6 and the front end of the tabletop 3 can be determined so that there is no hindrance to the sitting action. The same can be said about the dimensions to be secured with the partition 10. Note that in reality, the player's knees will go into the island below the tabletop 3, so a dimension slightly smaller than the secured dimension for knee thickness will suffice.

In consideration of these required dimensions, the partition 10 was examined to determine the most optimal dimensional relationship, and it was found that by not having the front end of the partition 10 (partition body 11) protrude forward (towards the player) beyond the tip of the seat of the chair 6, it becomes extremely easy for players to enter and exit the chair 6. However, if the front end of the partition 10 protrudes too far from the gaming machine island 1 as in the past, there will be a movement route in a part that does not enter the gaming machine island 1, so a required dimension of "knee thickness + α" is essential.

Based on the above verification results, the following inventive concept is derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side toward a floor surface A,
The partition 10 of the gaming machine island 1 is characterized in that the front end of the partition body 11 is located closer to the front side of the gaming machines in a plan view than the tip of the seat of the chair 6 arranged in front of each gaming machine.

The "front end" of the partition 11 here refers to the part of the partition 11 that protrudes furthest forward (towards the player) among the leading edges 15 that are connected vertically. Therefore, it refers to the front end of the upper part 12 of the partition 11, not the lower part 13. The "seat tip" of the chair 6, whose positional relationship with the front end of the partition is defined, refers to the seat tip on the seat 6a of the chair 6 when normally seated, and not the position when the chair 6 has rotated so that the seat tip does not face the front of the gaming machine, or when the seat 6a has been slid backwards, for example.

According to this inventive concept, as shown in FIG. 22, the front end of the partition 10 (partition body 11) does not protrude forward (towards the player) beyond the tip of the seat of the chair 6, making it extremely easy for players to get in and out of the chair 6. In this way, even in the limited space on the gaming machine island 1, the partition can be installed without any problems, without increasing the spacing between the gaming machines 2 and reducing the number of gaming machines 2 installed, and space can be secured for players to easily get in and out of the chair 6.

The above-mentioned inventive concept focuses on the dimensional relationship in the front-to-rear direction perpendicular to the front of the gaming machine. In addition, we also verified the optimal dimensional relationship between the partition 10 and the chairs 6 in the left-to-right direction parallel to the front of the gaming machine island, and found that by specifying the positional relationship between the partition 10 (partition body 11), table top 3, and chair 6, it becomes even easier for players to enter and exit the chair 6.

Based on the above verification results, the following inventive concept is derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side toward a floor surface A,
A partition 10 for a gaming machine island 1, characterized in that the shortest distance in a planar view between the front end of the partition body 11 and the range of movement of a chair 6 located in front of the front of each gaming machine is set to be greater than the distance in a planar view between the front end of the mounting point located forward (on the player side) of the front of the gaming machine island and the tip of the seat of the chair 6.

Here, the "front end" of the partition 11 and the "seat tip" of the chair 6 are as described above. Also, the "movable range" of the chair 6 corresponds to the inside of the rotation trajectory of the parts located outermost from the center of rotation of the chair 6 (both corners of the seat tip of the seat 6a), as shown in FIG. 21. The chair 6 in this embodiment is supported rotatably, and does not include the movable range of sliding, reclining, etc., but in the case of a chair that is capable of displacement other than rotation, it is advisable to determine the movable range to include all movements such as sliding and reclining.

The "shortest distance" between the movable range of the chair 6 and the front end of the partition 11 corresponds to the distance C (see FIG. 21) at which the chair 6 is closest to the front end of the partition 11 in a plan view within the entire movable range of the chair 6. Here, the partitions 11 are attached to correspond to each gaming machine 2, and as a result, both sides of the chair 6 are partitioned by a partition 11 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 in front of the chair 6 and a partition 11 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 next to it.

Of these partitions 11 on both sides, generally the partitions 11 corresponding to each gaming machine 2 provide a larger space for players to enter and exit. Therefore, the "partitions 11" in the concept of the invention correspond to each gaming machine 2, and do not correspond to adjacent gaming machines 2. However, the concept of the invention may also be applied to the dimensions provided between the partitions 11 corresponding to adjacent gaming machines 2.

In addition, the "mounting location" on the gaming machine island 1 side is the table top 3 in this embodiment. Therefore, the distance in a plan view between the front end of the mounting location located forward of the front of the gaming machine island and the tip of the seat of the chair 6 corresponds to the distance D (see FIG. 21) between the front end of the table top 3 and the tip of the seat of the seat 6a of the chair 6 in this embodiment. Note that the mounting location of the partition 11 is not necessarily limited to the table top 3, and may be any island-side structure other than the table top 3 as long as it is located forward of the front of the gaming machine island and serves as the mounting location of the partition 11.

According to this other inventive concept, the relative positions of the partition 10 (partition body 11), table top 3, and chair 6 actively ensure space for players to easily enter and exit the chair 6 not only in the front-to-back direction perpendicular to the front of the gaming machine, but also in the left-to-right direction parallel to the front of the gaming machine island. This makes it even easier for players to enter and exit the chair 6. In addition, the distance between the front end of the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 and the axis of the rotation shaft 7 of the chair 6 and the distance between the front of the gaming machine (glass surface) and the axis of the rotation shaft 7 of the chair 6 may be set to be approximately the same.

In addition, the chairs 6 in game centers generally rotate, but the conventional protruding foot partition boards could not fully utilize this rotation function. That is, as shown in FIG. 22(a), even if a player tries to exit the chair 6 while rotating the chair 6, his feet hit the partition body 11, and he had to change the posture or position of his feet at that point before exiting the chair 6 again. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 22(b), the partition 10 according to the two inventive concepts described above allows the player to more effectively utilize the rotation function of the chair 6 to enter and exit the chair 6.

<Partition 10A according to the second embodiment>
23 and 24 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
The partition 10A according to this embodiment has a basic structure in common with the partition 10 according to the first embodiment described above, but the shape of the partition body 11A is slightly different. Note that the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the arm 123 in the upper portion 12 of the partition 11A and the front edge 15 extending from the front end of the upper portion 12 to the front end of the lower portion 13 have the same shape as the partition 11, but the notch 122A below the arm 123 is not a substantially rectangular shape with a vertical width. That is, in the partition 11A, the inner edge of the notch 122A is formed to extend while curving as the rear edge 14A of the partition 11A from the jaw portion 122b at the innermost part of the notch 122A to the rear end of the lower portion 13.

As a result, in the second embodiment, the partition body 11A has a predetermined gap between the waist board 4, which is the front of the gaming machine island, that is not uniform from top to bottom, but the width of the gap increases from the lower part 13 to the upper part 12. Therefore, when maintenance and inspection of related equipment inside the waist board 4 becomes necessary, the wider the gap, the easier it becomes to open, close, or remove the maintenance door of the waist board 4. It is preferable that even the upper part 12, which is the widest of the predetermined gap, is narrower than the width that a player's knees cannot fit through.

<Partition 10B according to the third embodiment>
FIG. 25 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
The partition 10B of this embodiment has the same basic configuration as the partition 10 of the first embodiment described above, but the arm portion of the upper part 12 of the partition body 11B is configured as an upper surface installation device 123A separately from the partition body 11B.

The shape of the partition 11B itself is also slightly different from that of the partition 11. That is, the shape of the partition 11B is such that the lower side of the inner edge of the notch 122B is not parallel to the upper surface installation tool 123A but is inclined downward. Such slight differences in shape of the partition 11B are a design matter that can be made as appropriate. Note that the same reference numerals are used for parts similar to those in the first embodiment, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

The top installation tool 123A is an arm-like metal member that has a U-shaped cross section that extends in the front-to-rear direction and opens downward, and its base end is fastened by screws or the like while covering the upper part 12 of the partition body 11B. Other possible methods of fastening the top installation tool 123A and the partition body 11B include, for example, fastening by fitting multiple dowels or the like together, or fastening by inserting one side into a pin on the other side so that the partition body 11B hangs down under its own weight. Regardless of the fastening method, the top installation tool 123A can be temporarily fixed in a hanging state by placing it on the top plate 3.

When installing the partition 10, it is necessary to temporarily fix the entire partition 11 in position, but this is difficult to carry. Therefore, if only the top surface installation tool 123A of the third embodiment is carried, the work becomes easier. Also, if the partition 11B is damaged and needs to be replaced, or if you want to install a partition with a different shape, you can leave the top surface installation tool 123A in place and remove only the main body of the partition 11B to perform the replacement work, and since the work to position the partition 11B is already complete, the replacement work can be easily performed.

Another effect of the third embodiment is that when replacing a gaming machine, the gaming machine 2 and the top surface installation tool 123A come into contact and rub against each other, so if the top surface installation tool 123A is damaged, it is possible to replace only the top surface installation tool 123A. Furthermore, when it is considered better to remove the top surface installation tool 123A for gaming machine replacement or maintenance, it can also be removed. Therefore, the gaming machine manager of the amusement facility does not need to worry about replacement or maintenance, regardless of what type of partition body 11B is installed on the gaming machine island 1.

In addition, if the underside of the top installation tool 123A is attached to the top surface of the tabletop 3 with double-sided tape or the like, the partition 11B will not shift out of position even during construction work on the partition 11B (including replacement of the partition 11, etc.). This also applies to the other partitions 11, 11A mentioned above. In addition, it is desirable that the height of the top installation tool 123A be set below the height of the gaming machine installation surface (the upper surface of the installation table 3a), just like the height of the top end of the other partitions 11, 11A.

<Partition 10C according to the fourth embodiment>
26 and 27 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The partitions 10, 10A, 10B of the first to third embodiments described above can all be temporarily fixed in a state in which the lower edge 131 of the lower portion 13 of the partition body 11, 11A, 11B is close to the floor surface A. In contrast, the partition 10C of the fourth embodiment is configured such that the vertical length of the partition body 11C is short.

The partition body 11C of the fourth embodiment has its vertical length reduced by approximately half by cutting the lower half of the partition body 11 described above. Here, the lower end position of the lower part 13C of the partition body 11C is set so that it can separate only the knees of a player seated on a chair 6. In addition, the partition body 11C is formed into an overall rounded shape from the rear end edge 14C to the lower end edge 131 of the lower part 13C, and from the lower end edge 131 to the front end edge 15C. Note that the same reference numerals are used for parts similar to those of the first embodiment, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

Even with this type of partition 11C, when it is fixed to the top plate 3, which is the mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side, it can be temporarily fixed in a state where it hangs down from the top plate 3. In other words, when the arm portion 123 on the upper part 12 of the partition 11C is temporarily placed on the top plate 3, the lower part 13C of the partition 11C hangs down vertically above the floor surface A due to its own weight. At this time, the upper part 12 of the partition 11C can be fixed to the top plate 3 by the first fixing device 20 described above.

The lower portion 13C of the partition 11C hangs down toward the floor surface A, but is spaced above the floor surface A and is not fixed to the floor surface A, so positioning on the floor surface A is not necessary. In addition, installation work using the second fixing device 30 is also not required, and installation work can be carried out with simpler construction. In addition, because the partition 11C is short overall, the configuration can be simplified, and sufficient installation strength can be maintained by fixing only the upper portion 12.

<Partition 10D according to the fifth embodiment>
28 to 31 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
In the partitions 10, 10A, 10B, 10C of the first to fourth embodiments described above, the partition bodies 11, 11A, 11B, 11C all have arms 123, 123A at the upper portion 12, and can be temporarily fixed in a hanging state by temporarily placing the arms 123, 123A on the top plate 3. In contrast, the partition 10D of the fifth embodiment also has a partition body 11D that is fixed from an attachment point on the gaming machine island 1 side toward the floor surface A, but the partition body 11D is characterized in that it can be positioned with respect to the attachment point (e.g., the top plate 3) when it is fixed to the attachment point.

In the fifth embodiment, the upper part 12 of the partition body 11D and the underside of the top plate 3, which is the mounting location, are provided with a fitting part and a fitted part that can be fitted to each other so as to be able to be positioned. As shown in FIG. 29, the fitting part is an upper protrusion 124 that protrudes upward from the upper edge 121 of the upper part 12 of the partition body 11D. On the other hand, the fitted part is a fitting groove 3c that is recessed on the underside of the top plate 3 and into which the upper protrusion 124 fits. The upper protrusion 124 protrudes in a convex shape that is one step higher than the upper edge 121 at a position closer to the rear of the upper part 12 (the gaming machine island 1 side). As shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, the fitted part is a fitting groove 3c that is recessed in a shape that fits the upper protrusion 124 at the mounting position of the upper protrusion 124 on the underside of the top plate 3.

Here, the upper protrusion 124 is set to fit tightly into the fitting groove 3c, and if the frictional force of the fitting state between the upper protrusion 124 and the fitting groove 3c exceeds gravity, the partition 11D can be temporarily fixed in a state where it hangs down from the top plate 3. However, in the fifth embodiment, the partition 11D is not necessarily limited to being able to be temporarily fixed in a hanging state, and it is sufficient that the fitting between the upper protrusion 124 and the fitting groove 3c is a configuration that is simply used for positioning. In the partition 11D, the arm portion 123 is not necessary, so the notch 122 is not provided. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in the first embodiment, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

To attach the partition 10D to the gaming machine island 1, first the upper protrusion 124 on the partition 11D is inserted into the mating groove 3c on the underside of the top plate 3 to fit and position it. In this state, the lower part 13 of the partition 11D is close to the floor surface A, and similar to the case of the partition 11 in the first embodiment, the lower part 13 can be fixed to the floor surface A by the second fixing device 30 without any troublesome positioning. In this way, there is no need to fix the upper part 12 of the partition 11D using the first fixing device 20, etc., and the installation work can be carried out extremely easily.

From this fifth embodiment, in addition to the aforementioned "partition body 11D can be positioned relative to the mounting location when fixed to the mounting location," the inventive concept can be derived that "processing is performed on the gaming machine island 1 to assist in the installation of the partition 10D." Here, "assisted processing" refers, for example, to providing a fitted portion (or fitting portion) used to position the partition body 11D. Therefore, as mentioned above, when the partition body 11D of the partition 10D is fixed to the mounting location (top plate 3, etc.) of the gaming machine island 1, it does not matter whether it can be temporarily fixed in a state where it hangs down from the mounting location.

The aforementioned engaging portion and engaged portion are not limited to the upper protrusion 124 and engaging groove 3c shown in the figure, and may have other structures as long as they can be engaged with each other to be positioned. In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the engaging portion is provided on the partition 11D, while the engaged portion is provided on the top plate 3, which is the mounting location on the gaming machine island 1 side. However, in the reversed embodiment, the engaging portion may be provided on the partition 11D, while the engaging portion may be provided on the top plate 3.

<Partition 10E according to the sixth embodiment>
32 to 37 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
The partition 10E of this embodiment shares a common technical concept with the partition 10D of the fifth embodiment described above, and is characterized in that the partition body 11E can be positioned relative to the mounting location on the gaming machine island 1 (e.g., the top plate 3) when fixed to the mounting location.

In the sixth embodiment, the upper part 12 of the partition 11E and the underside of the top plate 3, where the partition 11E is attached, are provided with a fitting portion and a fitted portion for fitting together so that they can be positioned relative to each other. Here, the fitting portion is made up of an upper fixing device 40 attached to the upper part 12 of the partition 11E. The upper fixing device 40 is made up of a single bracket metal fitting that is attached to the upper part 12 of the partition 11E. As shown in FIG. 37, the upper fixing device 40 is made up of a horizontal part 41 that has a U-shaped cross section, extends left and right, and opens downward, and a flat vertical part 42 that continues downward from the lower center end of the horizontal part 41 and extends up and down.

The horizontal portion 41 is a portion that movably fits into the mating portion described later. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 37, the horizontal portion 41 is made up of a rear wall 411 with the vertical portion 42 extending downward from the lower center end, a front wall 413 that faces the rear wall 411 from the front to the rear, and a top wall 412 that connects at a right angle between the upper edges of the rear wall 411 and the front wall 413. The top wall 412 is provided with a number of mounting holes 412a for later screwing to the top plate 3 on which the mating portion described later is located.

The vertical portion 42 is a portion that is screwed to the vertical end surface of the notch 122 provided on the rear end side of the upper portion 12 of the partition body 11E. The vertical portion 42 is provided with a number of mounting holes 421 for screwing. The upper fixing device 40 is attached to the partition body 11E in advance, but it may of course be attached to the partition body 11E at the construction site of the playground.

On the other hand, the fitted portion is a long fitting groove 3d recessed on the underside of the top plate 3 into which the horizontal portion 41 of the upper fixing device 40 fits. As shown in Figures 34 to 36, the long fitting groove 3d is recessed on the underside of the top plate 3 at the front and rear positions where the upper fixing device 40 is attached, so that it extends in the left-right direction (the island longitudinal direction) with a cross-sectional shape that exactly matches the horizontal portion 41. Here, the upper fixing device 40 (its horizontal portion 41) is set to fit tightly into the long fitting groove 3d, and if the frictional force in the fitted state between the upper fixing device 40 and the long fitting groove 3d exceeds gravity, the partition body 11E can be temporarily fixed in a state where it hangs down from the top plate 3, just like in the fifth embodiment described above.

To attach the partition 10E of the sixth embodiment to the gaming machine island 1, first, the upper fixing device 40 attached to the partition body 11E is fitted into the long fitting groove 3d, and then the lower part 13 is fixed to the floor surface A by the second fixing device 30. This attachment method is the same as that of the fifth embodiment described above, but the attachment of the partition body 11E of the sixth embodiment has the following unique effects. That is, first, the underside of the top plate 3 can be easily processed to form the long fitting groove 3d.

Before being screwed, the upper fixing device 40 can be moved relative to the longitudinally extending long fitting groove 3d, so the partition 11E can be positioned at any desired position. Furthermore, even when the arrangement of the gaming machines 2 (for example, the dimension between the gaming machines 2) is changed, the mounting position of the partition 11E can be easily adjusted accordingly. Note that in the upper fixing device 40, the horizontal portion 41 that fits into the long fitting groove 3d extends left and right beyond the width of the upper end of the vertical portion 42. This is to ensure that the partition 11E has the strength to not fall over even if a strong force is applied to it from the side after it is fixed and installed.

<Modification of the second fixing device 30 (fixing means) of the partition body 11>
Regarding installation of the partitions 10, 10A, 10B, 10D, 10E of the first to third and fifth and sixth embodiments described above, in order to fix the lower portion 13 of each partition body 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, 11E to the floor surface A, if the floor surface A is, for example, a flat surface made of a hard material, the second fixing device 30 can be pressed against the floor surface and fixed without installing an anchor.

These second fixing devices 30 prevent the partitions 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E from being pushed up against the floor surface A from the underside of the top plate 3, so that they do not shift out of position. Hereinafter, when partitions 10, 10A, 10B, 10D, and 10E are referred to collectively, they will be referred to as partition 10. In addition, when partitions 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E are referred to collectively, they will be referred to as partition 11.

However, floor surface A is not limited to a flat surface made of a hard material. For example, as shown in FIG. 38(a), floor surface A may be covered with a soft material such as carpet B. Carpet B is generally formed by laminating from the bottom a backing material, a base fabric 2, a rubber material, and a base fabric 1 by gluing, with pile yarn woven into the upper layer of base fabric 1 and rubber material. The bottom layer of backing material is, for example, a soundproofing or heat insulating material such as rubber, and the rubber material between the upper and lower base fabrics 1 and 2 is suitably made of, for example, natural rubber (latex).

The pile yarns forming the surface of carpet B are generally of two types: loop pile and cut pile. As shown in FIG. 38(b), loop pile is a regular woven pile of numerous rings on the surface of the base fabric 1, which is prone to hooking. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 38(c), cut pile is cut pile obtained by shearing (cutting) regular ring-shaped naps. In either type of carpet B, as shown in FIG. 39, when the second fixing device 30 is pressed and fixed against carpet B on floor surface A, there is a risk that it may become displaced if an impact is applied, because the installation surface on carpet B is soft and smooth.

To solve this problem, the holes in the bottom wall 311 of the base 31 constituting the second fixing device 30 (see FIG. 6) can be used to fix the device with anchors or concrete screws to prevent misalignment, but this creates the following problems:

First, as a first problem, if the second fixing device 30 is fixed directly onto the carpet B, the pile yarns may overlap unevenly, making it difficult to install the second fixing device 30 vertically. As a solution to this problem, as shown in FIG. 40(a), one method is to cut a part of the carpet B where the second fixing device 30 is to be installed, but this is a very time-consuming task.

The second problem is that when the floor surface A on which the carpet B is laid is made of mortar or the like, as shown in Figure 40(b), even if anchors or concrete screws are used to secure the carpet B, the securing strength is not sufficient, and there is a risk that the carpet B may become displaced if it is subjected to an impact.

Therefore, in consideration of the above issues, the following modified examples of the second fixing device 30 are considered.

<<Second fixing device 30A according to modification example 1>>
FIG. 41 shows a second fixing device 30A according to the first modification.
In this first modified example, the second fixing device 30A has a basic structure in common with the second fixing device 30 (see Figs. 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket fittings: a base 31 that is brought into contact with the carpet B, and a pair of angles 32, 32 that are combined on the base 31. Here, the base 31 is provided with a spike 313 that protrudes downward from its bottom wall 311.

Spikes 313 are nail-shaped protrusions that protrude downward, for example, by being inserted through holes in bottom wall 311. Spikes 313 should be long enough to penetrate from the upper base fabric 1 of carpet B to the lower backing material. The number of holes in bottom wall 311 of base 31 (see FIG. 6) is not limited to two, and the number of holes may be increased to three or more spikes 313. Furthermore, regardless of the holes in bottom wall 311 of base 31, spikes 313 may have flat heads and be configured to be attached to the underside of bottom wall 311.

This second fixing device 30A allows the lower portion 13 of the partition 11 to be firmly fixed to the carpet B on the floor surface A. However, one problem with the second fixing device 30A is that if the partition 11 is subjected to repeated impacts, the holes in the carpet B where the spikes 313 were inserted may become larger, causing it to become loose. In addition, the carpet B has a laminated structure in which fabric and rubber material are bonded together, and so it will deform when subjected to impact. Therefore, in situations where impacts are applied, it may be difficult to keep the carpet in place for a long period of time.

From the above-described configuration of the present modified example 1, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30A.
The fixing device 30A is characterized by having a spike 313 that is inserted into the floor surface A side.
The floor surface A to which this modification 1 is applied is not necessarily limited to a surface covered with carpet B, but it is sufficient if the installation surface on the floor surface A side is made of a material that can be secured by inserting spikes 313 into it.

<<Second fixing device 30B according to modification example 2>>
FIG. 42 shows a second fixing device 30B according to the second modification.
In this second modification, the second fixing device 30B has the same basic structure as the second fixing device 30 (see Figs. 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket fittings: a base 31 that is brought into contact with the carpet B, and a pair of angles 32, 32 that are combined on the base 31. Here, the base 31 is provided with a number of hooks 314 forming a hook-and-loop fastener on the underside of its bottom wall 311.

The hooks 314 are a group of protrusions that can be attached and detached to the loop pile on the surface of the carpet B. A large number of the hooks 314 are provided on one side of, for example, a sheet-like base material, and the other side of the base material is glued to the underside of the bottom wall 311. Note that the specific shape of each hook 314 is not limited to the hook-like protrusions shown in the figure, and there are other variations, such as a click type with mushroom-shaped protrusions and a shark bite type with sawtooth protrusions.

This second fixing device 30B allows the lower part 13 of the partition 11 to be firmly fixed to the carpet B on the floor surface A. One issue with the second fixing device 30B is that it is only suitable for installation depending on the type of surface fabric of the carpet B. That is, if the pile yarn of the surface fabric of the carpet B is loop pile (see FIG. 38(b)), it can be firmly fixed, but if it is cut pile (see FIG. 38(b)), it is not suitable. Also, since the hook 314 is fixed to the pile yarn, it may shift slightly when pressure is applied. However, the shift returns to the original state when the pressure is removed.

From the above-described configuration of the present modified example 2, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30B.
The fixture 30B is characterized by having a hook-and-loop fastener (hook 314) that is attached to a carpet B on a floor surface A.

<<Second fixing device 30C according to modification example 3>>
FIG. 43 shows a second fixing device 30C according to the third modification.
In this third modified example, the second fixing device 30C has the same basic structure as the second fixing device 30 (see Figs. 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket fittings: a base 31 that is brought into contact with the carpet B, and a pair of angles 32, 32 that are assembled on the base 31. However, the base 31 is assembled with the top and bottom facing inversely.

As shown in Figures 43(a) and (d), the base 31 of the second fixing device 30C is combined with a pair of angles 32, 32 so that the bottom wall 311 is located on the upper side and both side walls 312, 312 are facing downward. Here, the downward-facing edges of both side walls 312, 312 of the base 31 are set to be located above the outer peripheral wall tip 324 consisting of the side wall 321, end wall 322, and folded wall 323 of each angle 32. Therefore, in the second fixing device 30C, the outer peripheral wall tip 324, which is connected in a rectangular shape, comes into contact with the floor surface A side.

This second fixing device 30C allows the lower portion 13 of the partition 11 to be firmly fixed to the carpet B on the floor surface A, and the partition 11 is less likely to shift even when an impact is applied to the partition 11. In addition, even if the partition 11 is repeatedly impacted, the wall tip 324 does not penetrate into the rubber layer of the carpet B (only to the extent of causing a dent), so the base material of the carpet B is not damaged or deformed.

In other words, as shown in Figures 43(b) and (c), the wall tip 324 of the second fixing device 30C is inserted linearly between the pile threads on the surface of the carpet B, so the pile threads themselves function to prevent slippage. Here, the wall tip 324 is rectangular, but since it is longer in the front-to-back direction, it is very unlikely to slip left-to-right. Generally, the impact applied to the partition body 11 from the player's knees and feet comes from the left-to-right direction, so it is even more resistant to slippage.

From the above-described configuration of the present modified example 3, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30C.
The fixture 30C is characterized by having a peripheral wall tip 324 that abuts against a carpet B on a floor surface A.

<<Second fixing device 30D according to modification example 4>>
FIG. 44 shows a second fixing device 30D according to the fourth modification.
In this fourth modified example, the second fixing device 30D has a basic configuration in common with the third modified example described above (see FIG. 43 ). However, it differs from the configuration of the third modified example in that a protrusion 325 is provided along the outer peripheral wall tip 324 of the second fixing device 30D.

The protrusions 325 on the wall tip 324 of the second fixing device 30D may be arranged, for example, in a row at equal intervals. The height of the protrusions 325 is preferably such that they dig into the surface side of the carpet B but do not reach the rubber layer, for example. The specific shape and number of the protrusions 325 are design factors that can be determined as appropriate. With this second fixing device 30D, the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 can be fixed to the carpet B on the floor surface A more firmly than with the third modification described above.

From the above-described configuration of the fourth modified example, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30D.
The fixing device 30D has a peripheral wall tip 324 that abuts against the carpet B on the floor surface A, and is characterized in that a protrusion 325 that bites into the surface side of the carpet B is provided along the wall tip 324.

<<Second fixing device 30E according to modification example 5>>
FIG. 45 shows a second fixing device 30E according to the fifth modification.
In this variant 5, the second fixing device 30E has a basic configuration in common with the previously described variant 3 (see FIG. 43). However, as shown in FIG. 45(a), a high-friction elastic body 315 is provided on the inside of the base 31 constituting the second fixing device 30E.

The elastic body 315 is formed from a material with high friction, such as anti-vibration rubber or anti-vibration gel. As shown in FIG. 45(b), the elastic body 315 is shaped to be fitted from below into the inside of the base 31. The bottom surface of the elastic body 315, which contacts the carpet B together with the wall tip 324 on the outer periphery of the second fixing device 30E, is set to be at the same height as the wall tip 324, for example.

With this second fixing device 30E, not only does the wall tip 324 bite into the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 against the carpet B on the floor surface A, but the elastic body 315 comes into contact with it with high frictional force, so that the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 can be fixed even more firmly to the carpet B on the floor surface A. Note that the elastic body 315 is not limited to the second fixing device 30C according to the above-mentioned modification example 3, and may be combined with the second fixing device 30D according to the above-mentioned modification example 4.

From the above-described configuration of the fifth modified example, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30E.
The fixing device 30E is characterized by including an elastic body 315 that contacts the floor surface A side and applies frictional force.
In addition, the floor surface A to which this variant example 5 is applied does not necessarily have to be covered with a carpet B, but it is sufficient if the installation surface on the floor surface A side is one that generates frictional force by contact with the elastic body 315.

<<Second fixing device 30F according to modification 6>>
FIG. 46 shows a second fixing device 30F according to the sixth modification.
In this sixth modified example, the second fixing device 30F has a basic structure in common with the second fixing device 30 (see Figures 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket fittings: a base 31 that is brought into contact with the carpet B, and a pair of angles 32, 32 that are combined on the base 31. However, the bottom wall 311 of the base 31 is located above the outer circumferential wall tips 324 of each angle 32, and a structure 316 that is brought into contact with the carpet B is provided in the inner space between the bottom wall 311 and the wall tips 324.

The structure 316 is formed, for example, by combining thin narrow plates in a dense grid pattern. As shown in FIG. 46(b), the structure 316 is shaped to be fitted from the inside of the bottom surface of the second fixing device 30F so as to fit along the bottom wall 311 of the base 31. The bottom surface of the structure 316, which contacts the carpet B together with the outer peripheral wall tip 324 of the second fixing device 30F, is set to be at the same height as the wall tip 324, for example.

When the lower part 13 of the partition 11 is brought into contact with the carpet B on the floor surface A via this second fixing device 30F, the lattice-shaped lower wall of the structure 316 fits between the pile yarns, so that it can be more firmly fixed to the carpet B on the floor surface A. Note that the elastic body 315 of the above-mentioned modified example 5 may be provided in place of the structure 316 in the space inside the bottom surface of the second fixing device 30F, with the height dimension adjusted accordingly.

From the above-described configuration of the sixth modified example, the following inventive concept can be derived.
A partition 10 is provided on a gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, for separating the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines 2.
A partition body 11 is provided in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2, and is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 to a floor surface A.
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed onto the floor surface A via a fixing device 30F.
The fixing device 30F is characterized by having a structure 316 that comes into contact with and bites into the carpet B on the floor surface A.
In addition, the structure 316 in this modification 6 is not necessarily limited to a lattice shape, and other structures can be adopted, such as a pinholder-like structure with numerous pins, as long as the structure is capable of contacting and digging into the carpet B.

Although the embodiments and variations of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. For example, the number of gaming machines 2 installed on the gaming machine island 1 does not need to be large as shown in FIG. 1, and it is also possible to apply to a small gaming island with only a few gaming machines lined up on one side, front or back, or on both sides. Here, the gaming machines are not limited to pachinko machines, and may be, for example, slot machines that use medals as the gaming medium.

In addition, when the partitions 11, 11A, etc. are fixed to the mounting location, if they can be held hanging down even temporarily, it is considered "temporarily fixed", and if they cannot be held down but the mounting position can be regulated, it is considered "positioned", but the specific configuration is not limited to the various embodiments described above. For example, in the fifth and sixth embodiments, which are not the type that is temporarily fixed by placing it temporarily on the top surface of the top plate 3 as in the first to fourth embodiments, but are the type that is temporarily fixed or positioned on the underside of the top plate 3, it is not limited to the fitting relationship between the fitting portion and the fitted portion described above, and other configurations such as the following are also possible.

For example, a metal material that is attracted to magnetic force, such as an iron plate, may be provided at a predetermined position on the underside of the top plate 3, and a magnet or magnetic sheet may be provided on the upper end side of the upper portion 12 of the partition body 11, 11A. In addition to the magnetic force method, it is also possible to temporarily fasten or position the product using adhesive tape or hook-and-loop fasteners, which are surface contact methods.

In addition, when the second fixing device 30 (including each modified example) is installed and the partitions 10, 10A, etc. are in a vertically stretched state, if the method of temporarily fixing the upper part 12 of the partitions 11, 11A, etc. is relatively strong or does not cause misalignment, the first fixing device 20 is not necessarily required. For example, in the fifth embodiment described above, a fixing device for screwing the upper part 12 of the partition 11D is not required. In addition, in the sixth embodiment, the upper fixing device 40 is screwed to the top plate 3, but if it fits snugly, the structure is such that it is unlikely to shift left or right, so screwing to the top plate 3 is not necessary.

The partitions 11, 11A, etc. that make up the partitions 10, 10A, etc. do not necessarily need to be made of flat plate material, but may also be made by combining rods into a frame like a panel, for example. Also, an upper partition extending above the tabletop 3 may be added above the partitions 11, 11A, etc., if necessary, to block cigarette smoke, noise, etc. from adjacent players.

In addition, wood is suitable as a material for the partitions 11, 11A, etc., as it can be screwed in. In particular, if wood is used as the material, not only is it easy to process and screw in, but the surface can also be easily painted, and processing such as attaching other components can also be easily performed. However, the material for the partitions 11, 11A, etc. is not limited to wood, and as long as it can be screwed in, it may be made of a material that is easy to process, such as synthetic resin.

It is also a good idea to attach a protective sheet or cover made of an elastic material to the areas around the partitions 11, 11A, etc. that the player will come into contact with (particularly the upper edge 121 and front edge 15, etc.). This will ensure that there are no safety issues even if the player makes strong contact with the partitions 11, 11A, etc. A suitable protective sheet or cover here would be, for example, an elastic tape that is attached along the edge faces of the upper edge 121 and front edge 15, with an elastic material layer between the smooth surface and the adhesive surface.

In addition, the upper part 12 of the partition body 11, 11A, etc. may be configured to allow various accessories, such as hand rests (armrests), cup holders, mobile terminal holders, small item storage, advertising boards, displays, and partitions that separate the upper part of the top plate 3, to be attached as options. Here, the various accessories can be attached easily and detachably, for example, by forming a dovetail groove in advance along the upper edge 121 of the upper part 12 and providing an attachment part that fits into the dovetail groove on the lower side of the various accessories. Of course, the various accessories may be fixed to the upper part 12 with screws or the like. In the case of the third embodiment described above, instead of attaching various accessories to the upper part 12 of the partition body 11B as options, the upper surface installation tool 123A can be removed and the upper surface installation tool 123A equipped with the various accessories can be attached.

Furthermore, hooks or notches for hanging players' bags, carrier bags, umbrellas, etc., may be provided in appropriate locations such as the front edge 15 of the upper part 12 of the partitions 11, 11A, etc., either as part of the structure itself or as an option to be added later, in addition to the various accessories mentioned above. Here, it is advisable to orient and position the hooks etc. so that the bag or other item hung does not encroach on the space of the neighboring player, for example by setting them facing the player who will use the bag, so that the bag or other item does not get in the way of the neighboring player.

The gaming machine island equipped with the partition of the present invention can be widely applied to various types of gaming machine islands where various gaming machines are installed side by side.

1...Amusement machine island 2...Amusement machine 3...Tabletop 4...Waistboard 5...Inter-machine ball lending machine 6...Chair 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E...Partition 11, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E...Partition body 12...Upper part 13...Lower part 14...Rear edge 15...Front edge 20...First fixing device 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F...Second fixing device 40...Upper fixing device

Claims (1)

In an island where gaming machines are lined up,
A partition is provided on the gaming machine island to separate the feet of players of adjacent gaming machines, the partition having a partition body fixed from an attachment point on the gaming machine island side toward a floor surface in front of the space between the adjacent gaming machines,
The partition body is positionable with respect to the attachment location when fixed to the attachment location,
The attachment location is a top plate disposed forward from the front of the gaming machine island,
a fitting portion and a fitted portion that can be fitted to each other so as to be positioned without using a separate member are provided on an upper portion of the partition body itself and on a lower surface of the top plate itself ,
the fitting portion is a protrusion protruding from either the upper portion of the partition body or the lower surface of the top plate, and the fitted portion is a fitting groove recessed into the other of the upper portion of the partition body or the lower surface of the top plate in a shape that matches the protrusion, into which the protrusion fits;
The partition body can be temporarily fixed in a state in which it hangs down from the top plate against gravity by the frictional force of the engagement between the protrusion and the engagement groove .

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