JP7792157B2 - Partition for the gaming machine island - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a partition installed on an amusement machine island to separate the area under players' feet.

Conventionally, gaming parlors have constructed gaming machine islands in which multiple gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, are arranged side by side. At the front of each gaming machine island, chairs are provided for players to sit and play on. In addition, partitions are sometimes installed between the gaming machines on the gaming machine island so that players can concentrate on their games without worrying about the players next to them.
There are various types of partitions, but for example, there is a known partition that separates the space below the gaming machine island from the top panel extending in front of the gaming machines to the floor surface, preventing players sitting in chairs from touching each other's feet (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent Document 1 discloses a partition board that extends from the floor to the underside of the tabletop between adjacent chairs. A portion 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 extends from the floor to the front of the tabletop between adjacent chairs. 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.

When retrofitting the partition panels described in either Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 to an existing gaming machine island, the work is typically carried out after closing time to avoid affecting the business of the amusement parlor. However, if the installation of each partition panel takes time, it may not be possible to complete the work after closing time to install a large number of machines (hundreds of machines). In such cases, the work may take several days, and a method for easier installation was desired.

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

However, with the conventional partition boards mentioned above, the installation process was complicated and time-consuming, especially when aligning the bottom of the partition board to the floor. For example, marking the floor to secure the bottom of the partition board required the use of a laser level or plumb bob (carpenter's tool). Furthermore, each partition board also required alignment using a laser level or similar tool.

Furthermore, when replacing a gaming machine when a divider board is already installed on the gaming machine island, if the divider board protrudes above the top board (especially if there are armrests), the gaming machine is likely to hit the top edge of the divider board. Therefore, there was a problem in that the divider board interfered with the work of replacing the gaming machine.

Furthermore, if the rear edge of the partition board facing the front of the gaming machine island is in contact with or close to the waist board that forms the front of the lower part of the gaming machine island, there is a problem that it interferes with maintenance and inspection work on related equipment located below the gaming machine island. In other words, the partition board located in front of the waist board makes it difficult to open and close the maintenance door on the waist board, and in some cases, it requires the effort of removing the partition board.

The present invention was developed in response to the problems inherent in conventional technology, as described above, and aims to provide a partition for an amusement machine island that can significantly reduce the installation time required for installation on the amusement machine island and does not interfere with the replacement of amusement machines or the maintenance and inspection work under the amusement machine island.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a partition (10) installed on an amusement machine island (1) on which a gaming machine (2) is installed, for separating the area under the player's feet. The partition (10) includes a partition body (11) fixed to the front of both sides of the gaming machine (2) from an attachment point on the gaming machine island (1) toward the floor, and the shortest distance in a plan view between the front end of the partition body (11) and the range of motion of a chair (6) located in front of the gaming machine (2) is set to be equal to or greater than the distance in a plan view between the front end of the attachment point located forward of the front of the gaming machine island (1) and the tip of the seat of the chair (6).

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 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 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. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the upper part of a partition body temporarily placed on the gaming machine island according to 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 gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lower part of the partition body temporarily placed on the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention is in the process of being fixed by the second fixing device. FIG. FIG. 10 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 from the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention, leaving behind the first fixing device and the second fixing device (part thereof). FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a partition according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a partition according to a first embodiment of the present invention 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 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, as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a base of a second fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from below. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a plan view, and FIG. 4C is a right side view of a base of a second fixing device according to a 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, as seen from one side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an angle of a second fixing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from 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 the angle of the second fixing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a gaming machine island according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the 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. This is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between a part of the gaming machine island, a chair, and a seated person, to explain the sitting action when a player sits in a chair on the gaming machine island in an embodiment of the present invention. This is a chart showing 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 the partitions, chairs (players), and tabletops on an amusement machine island according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the actions of players entering and exiting chairs in a conventional gaming machine island and in a gaming machine island according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a partition according to a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a partition according to a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front. 10A is a left side view, FIG. 10B is a plan view, FIG. 10C is a front view, and FIG. 10D is a rear view of a partition according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10A is a perspective view showing a partition body according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper surface installation tool is removed. 10A is a perspective view of a partition according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a partition according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front. 10A is a left side view, FIG. 10B is a plan view, FIG. 10C is a front view, and FIG. 10D is a rear view of a partition according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of an amusement machine island according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a partition according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing the attachment location of a partition body in an amusement machine island according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 30 的径向G径(a)和径向F径(b)是本发明的第5实施方式的游戏机島的トップ板的截面图。 30 angle G radial (a) and angle F radial (b) is a cross-sectional view of the top plate of the gaming machine island of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing 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. FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing the attachment location of a partition body in an amusement machine island according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the top plate of the gaming machine island according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, cut in a direction perpendicular to the arrow H in FIG. 34. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an upper fixing member of a partition according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is fitted into a long fitting groove in a top plate. 13A is a front view, FIG. 13B is a plan view, and FIG. 13C is a right side view 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. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a second fixing device is installed on a carpet covering a floor surface in the embodiment of the present invention. 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 a partially enlarged view thereof. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a modified example 2 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 2 is 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 on a carpet covering a floor surface; FIG. 1C is a partially enlarged view of the modified example 3; and FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the modified example 3. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a part of a fourth modified example of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a fifth modified example of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing an elastic body of the fifth modified example. 10A is a schematic diagram showing a part of a sixth modified example of a lower fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a structure of the sixth modified example, and FIG. 10C is a partially enlarged view thereof.

Various embodiments representative of the present invention will be described below 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 according to this embodiment is provided on the gaming machine island 1 where gaming machines 2 are arranged side by side, and separates the area under 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 explained.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine island 1 is constructed by arranging multiple gaming machines 2 side by side in the middle of the island frame. The gaming machines here are, for example, pachinko machines, which shoot gaming balls onto a board inside the glass 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 are also configurations where the gaming machines 2 are arranged in only one row on one side. FIG. 1 only shows one row of 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 located forward of the front of the gaming machine island. The top plate 3 is the area where the gaming machines 2 are lined up in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction of the island). The upper surface of the top plate 3, which extends forward from the front of the gaming machines 2, provides space for placing ball boxes and the like for holding 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. Rather, 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 serves as 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 spilled onto the top plate 3 from falling.

In the gaming machine island 1, the lower part of the gaming machine island, located below the top plate 3, is equipped with related equipment such as a collection trough for collecting gaming balls ejected from the gaming machines 2 and a tank for storing gaming balls, although these are not shown. The front of this 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 refers to 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. Generally, the front of the gaming machine 2 and the front of the waist board 4 are aligned on approximately the same plane, but there may be some difference between them.

Between each gaming machine 2, an inter-machine ball dispenser 5 is provided, which dispenses gaming balls upon insertion of a card or bill. The width of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5 is dimensioned to fit between adjacent gaming machines, but an inter-machine dimension may be added to the width of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5 to increase the spacing between gaming machines 2. Here, studs 9 are arranged in the inter-machine dimension in areas other than the inter-machine ball dispenser 5. Partitions 10, which are the core of this invention, are provided between gaming machines 2 on the gaming machine island 1, so that players can concentrate on their game without worrying about the players next to them. Partitions 10 will be described in more detail below.

In addition, at the front of the gaming machine island 1, each gaming machine 2 is equipped with a chair 6 where a player sits to play. As shown in Figure 17, the chair 6 is supported by a rotation shaft 7 so that it can rotate horizontally relative to the floor A. In this embodiment, the chair 6 has a backrest 6b fixed to the rear end of the seat surface of the seat portion 6a, but the seat portion 6a may be configured to slide forward and backward from the rotation 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 edge of the table top 3 located at the very front of the gaming machine island 1 to the front edge of the seat 6a of the chair 6, based on ergonomics and other factors, to make it easier for players to enter and exit. Note that only some of the chairs 6 are shown in Figure 1.

<Configuration of partition 10>
Next, the partition 10, which is the core of the present invention, will be described.
1, the partition 10 prevents contact between the feet of players seated in the chairs 6 of adjacent gaming machines 2 on the gaming machine island 1. The partition 10 is provided with a partition body 11 fixed to the floor A from the top plate 3, which is the attachment point on the gaming machine island 1, in front of the space between the adjacent gaming machines 2.

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

The partition 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. When the partition 11 is fixed to the top plate 3, it can be temporarily fixed so that it hangs down from the top plate 3. Specifically, the partition 11 is configured so that when its upper portion 12 is temporarily placed on the top plate 3, the lower portion 13 of the partition 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. More specifically, the partition 11 extends linearly so that the rear edge 14 is disposed vertically along the wainscoting 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-shaped portion 123. This arm portion 123 is the portion of the upper part 12 that is temporarily fixed so that it is placed on the top plate 3. At the top end of the notch 122, which forms the base end of the arm portion 123, there is an upward-facing recess 122a that engages with the protrusion 3b on the upper front end of the top plate 3.

Furthermore, at the deepest 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. Except for the deepest part where the recess 122a and jaw 122b are located, the notch 122 is expanded into a roughly rectangular shape with a vertical width greater than the thickness of the top plate 3. This is to ensure installation space for the first fixing device 20 (described below) and to avoid the need for a cigarette butt collection pipe 8 (see Figure 17) and other components arranged 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 base 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. Furthermore, by forming a boundary on the top plate 3 while it is placed there, gaming balls that fall onto the top plate 3 are prevented from rolling over 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 off 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 panel 4, which forms 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 below the gaming machine island, such as the thickness of a maintenance door that can be opened and closed as part of the waist panel 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 vary depending on the specific configuration of the lower part of the gaming machine.

Here, the tip of the arm 123 protrudes rearward (toward the gaming machine) from the rear edge 14 by a specified gap B. 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. Furthermore, 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 body 11 is not simply rectangular; rather, the upper and lower portions 12 and 13 protrude forward (toward the player) by different amounts, with the rear edge 14, which is aligned parallel to the waistboard 4 of the gaming machine island 1, serving as the reference point in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the partition body 11 is formed so that the protrusion increases toward the upper portion 12 and decreases toward the lower portion 13. Therefore, the front edge 15 of the partition body 11 approaches the front of the gaming machine island from the front end of the upper portion 12 toward the front end of the lower portion 13; that is, it is inclined or curved so that the distance to the rear edge 14 becomes shorter.

Furthermore, 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 on the gaming machine island 1. However, the shape of the gaming machine island 1 is not fixed and varies depending on the manufacturer. Even within the same manufacturer, the shape of the waist panel 4, the length of the top plate 3, the height of the gaming machine installation surface, etc. can vary, making it virtually impossible to manufacture a foot partition board that fits tightly to the island using a molded product, etc.

In view of this, the partition 10 of the present invention is configured so that the height dimension of the partition body 11 is 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 using the second fixing device 30 described below. This makes it possible to adjust the height dimension of the entire partition 10 each time the partition body 11 is fixed to match the distance from the underside of the top plate 3 to the floor surface A, which may actually vary.

<Means for fixing the partition body 11>
3 to 8, the partition 11 can be temporarily fixed to the tabletop 3 using only its own configuration, but as fixing means for finally fixing it to the tabletop 3 or the floor surface A, it is provided with a first fixing device 20 that fixes the upper part 12 of the partition 11 to the tabletop 3 and a second fixing device 30 that fixes the lower part 13 of the partition 11 to the floor surface A. 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 (for example, wood), it can be screwed to any position, allowing for a certain degree of freedom in the attachment position.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first fixing device 20 consists of a single bracket that is screwed to the underside of the tabletop 3 near its front end. The first fixing device 20 has a U-shaped cross section, extends vertically, and opens forward. It consists of a vertical portion 21, and a horizontal portion 22 that extends perpendicularly from both sides of the upper end of the vertical portion 21. The vertical portion 21 has side walls 212, 212 bent forward at right angles from both ends of its rear wall 211. The horizontal portion 22 has two separate top walls 221 bent laterally at right angles from the upper ends of the side walls 212, 212. The first fixing device 20 is formed by bending a single metal plate. The side walls 212, 212 and the pair of top walls 221, 221 each have a screw hole. Attachment of the first fixing device 20 will be described in detail below.

As shown in Figures 13 to 16, the second fixing device 30 consists of three brackets: a base 31 placed on floor A, and a pair of angles 32, 32 that are 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 is open upward, with both side walls 312, 312 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. One end of the side wall 321 is bent at a right angle to form the end wall 322, and the tip of the end wall 322 is further bent at a right angle to form a folded wall 323 that faces parallel to the side wall 321 and has a predetermined width. Screw holes are provided at the top and bottom of the side wall 321 and the end wall 322. The installation 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.
As shown in Figure 1, in the gaming machine island 1, the partition 10 is fixed from the top plate 3 toward the floor A at the front between adjacent gaming machines 2. When fixed to the top plate 3 on the gaming machine island 1 side, the partition body 11, which is the main part of the partition 10, can be temporarily fixed in a state in which it hangs down from the top plate 3.

That is, as shown in Figure 2, when the arm 123 on the upper part 12 of the partition 11 is temporarily placed on the tabletop 3, the lower part 13 of the partition 11 hangs 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 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, thereby temporarily securing the tabletop 3. 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, making it easy to position the lower portion 13 for fixing on the floor surface A. In other words, when positioning the second fixing device 30 on the floor surface A, there is no need for the tedious marking work using, for example, a laser level or plumb bob (carpentry tool), as is required for conventional foot partition installation work. This makes it possible to easily and quickly fix the partition body 11 to the gaming machine island 1, significantly reducing the construction time for installation work.

After the partition 11 is temporarily fastened, the upper portion 12 of the partition 11 is fixed to the tabletop 3 with the first fixing device 20. The lower portion 13 of the partition 11 is fixed to the floor surface A with the second fixing device 30. This firmly fixes the partition 11 so that it does not come off while extending from the underside of the tabletop 3 toward the floor surface A. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, if the partition 11 is removed, leaving only the first fixing device 20 and the base 31 and one angle 32 of the second fixing device 30, 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, the side walls 212, 212 are screwed to the partition 11. Furthermore, the pair of top walls 221, 221 forming the horizontal portion 22 are abutted against the underside of the tabletop 3 near the front end and screwed in. The upper portion 12 of the partition 11 is firmly fixed to the tabletop 3 by this first fixing device 20. Note that screws are omitted from Figures 3, 4, 5, 7, etc.

The attachment position of the first fixing device 20 relative to the partition 11 or the tabletop 3 is not strictly defined; if the partition 11 or the tabletop 3 is made of a material that can be screwed (for example, wood), it 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 other configurations may be used, with or without screws, as long as they can secure the upper part 12 of the partition 11 to the tabletop 3.

As shown in Figure 6, the second fixing device 30 is first assembled by combining the base 31 and one of the angles 32. Although not shown in Figure 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 a single component.

The base 31 and one of the angles 32 are positioned so that they cover the rear of one side of the lower part 13, which is hanging down above the floor A by the temporarily fixed partition body 11. At this time, misalignment can be prevented by fastening the base 31 to the floor A with, for example, double-sided tape. Note that screws 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 normally located above these screws, so they do not interfere.

The other angle 32 is then assembled to the base 31 and one angle 32 on floor surface A 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 its 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 be attached at an adjustable height 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 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 where the second fixing device 30 just abuts against floor surface A. Note that screws are omitted from Figures 7, 8, etc.

The attachment position of each bracket fitting of the second fixing device 30 relative to the partition 11 is not strictly determined; as the partition 11 is made of a material that can be screwed (e.g., wood), it can be screwed in any position. The lower part 13 of the partition 11 engages with the floor surface A via this second fixing device 30, so the partition 11 engages vertically from top to bottom between the top plate 3 and 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, such as when a player's foot hits the partition body 11, 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, with or without screws, are acceptable as long as they can firmly fix the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 to the floor surface A.

The partition 10 installation work described above makes it easier to position the partition when fixing it to the floor A compared to conventional installation methods, improving workability and significantly reducing installation time. By installing the partition 10 on the gaming machine island 1, it is possible to separate the feet of players at adjacent gaming machines 2, ensuring a highly personal gaming space that surrounds the feet of each 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 level like this is a common everyday movement.

<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 top plate 3, the arm 123 of the partition 11 forms a boundary that separates the gaming machines 2, as mentioned above. This prevents gaming balls that have spilled onto the top plate 3 from rolling over to the adjacent gaming machine 2. In addition, a protrusion 3b is provided on the upper front end of the top plate 3, which also prevents gaming balls from falling from the top plate 3. Here, the upper part 12 (arm 123) of the partition 11 is positioned at the front of the top plate 3 between adjacent gaming machines 2, but it is preferable to position it so as to avoid being in front of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5. This means that the partition 11 will not get in the way when performing maintenance, inspection, or replacement of the inter-machine ball dispenser 5.

Furthermore, according to the partition 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the rear edge 14 of the partition body 11 that faces the front of the gaming machine island is positioned with a predetermined gap B between it and the front of the gaming machine island. Here, the predetermined 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 mentioned above. As a result, even if maintenance and inspection of related equipment located inside the waist panel 4 becomes necessary, the maintenance door of the waist panel 4 can be opened, closed, or removed, eliminating the need for the additional work of temporarily removing the partition body 11.

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 (toward the player) using 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 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 aforementioned Patent Document 2, when the foot partitions are of a type that protrude significantly 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 chairs 6. In order to make it easier for players to enter and exit, it is necessary to increase the spacing (dimension E) between the gaming machines 2 as shown in Figure 22(a). However, if the spacing between the gaming machines 2 is increased, 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 partitions 11 (particularly those that protrude forward from the table top 3) is that the distance between the partitions 11 and the chairs 6 requires space for players to enter and exit the chairs 6 (for example, the distance between gaming machines 2). This installation condition is particularly important for partitions 11 that protrude further from the front end of the table top 3. This poses a problem in that the gaming machine islands 1 on which partitions 10 can be installed are limited. For example, partitions are especially necessary for players on gaming machine islands 1 where the gaming machines 2 are closely spaced, but this has been difficult to accommodate.

The inventors therefore conducted extensive research to solve these problems, and as a result, discovered the following facts. In order for a player to sit on a chair 6, the player must squeeze in between the chairs 6, and to sit on a chair 6, the player must move in front of the gaming machine 2 while bending their knees, as shown in Figure 19. The reason why the gaming machine 2 and chair 6 are positioned in such a somewhat cramped position is because we wanted to bring the player as close as possible to the gaming machine 2 (to be able to better see the game progress, and it is difficult to operate if the player is too far from the handle), and we have been searching for a position that would allow the player to sit down on the chair 6.

Analysis of this positional relationship reveals 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, reference to the "Human Body Dimensions Database" published by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology reveals that the dimensions that must be secured for a player to sit on the chair 6 of the gaming machine island 1 are greatest around the upper surface of the seat for knee thickness. In other words, the dimensions that the player's knees can fit into are 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 Dimensions 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 of error on these values, the positional relationship between the periphery of the seat of the chair 6 and the front edge of the table top 3 can be determined to be such that it does not interfere with the sitting motion. The same can be said for the clearance dimension for the partition 10. In reality, the player's knees will be below the table top 3 and go into the insulated area, so a dimension slightly smaller than the clearance dimension for knee thickness will suffice.

In light of these required dimensions, we conducted an investigation to determine the optimal dimensional relationship for the partition 10, and found that by not having the front end of the partition 10 (partition body 11) protrude further forward (towards the player) than the tip of the seat of the chair 6, players can enter and exit the chair 6 extremely easily. However, if the front end of the partition 10 protrudes significantly from the gaming machine island 1, as in the past, there will be movement routes in areas that do not fit within the gaming machine island 1, so a required dimension of "knee thickness + α" is necessary.

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 an attachment 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 plan view than the tip of the seat of a chair 6 arranged in front of each gaming machine.

Here, the "foremost end" of the partition 11 refers to the portion of the partition 11's leading edge 15 that protrudes furthest forward (toward the player). 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 partition's foremost end is defined, refers to the seat tip on the seat portion 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 portion 6a has slid backward, for example.

According to this inventive concept, as shown in Figure 22, the front end of the partition 10 (partition body 11) does not protrude further forward (towards the player) than the tip of the seat of the chair 6, making it extremely easy for players to enter and exit 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 enter and exit the chair 6.

The above-mentioned inventive concept focuses on the dimensional relationship in the front-to-back direction, which is perpendicular to the front of the gaming machine. In addition, we also examined the optimal dimensional relationship between the partition 10 and the chairs 6 in the left-to-right direction, which is parallel to the front of the gaming machine island. We found that by specifying the positional relationship between the partition 10 (partition body 11), table top 3, and chairs 6, players can enter and exit the chairs 6 even more easily.

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 an attachment 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 plan view between the front end of the partition body 11 and the range of movement of the chair 6 arranged in front of the front of each gaming machine is set to be greater than the distance in a plan view between the front end of the mounting point arranged forward (towards the player) from 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. Furthermore, the "movable range" of the chair 6 corresponds to the inside of the rotation trajectory of the part located outermost from the center of rotation of the chair 6 (both corners of the seat tip of the seat portion 6a), as shown in Figure 21. In this embodiment, the chair 6 is supported rotatably, and does not include the movable range of sliding, reclining, etc. However, 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 range of motion of the chair 6 and the front end of the partition 11 corresponds to the distance C (see Figure 21) at which the chair 6 is closest to the front end of the partition 11 in a plan view throughout its entire range of motion. Here, the partitions 11 are attached to each gaming machine 2, and as a result, both sides of the chair 6 are partitioned by the partition 11 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 in front of the chair 6 and the partition 11 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 adjacent to that.

Of these partitions 11 on both sides, a larger space for players to enter and exit is generally secured between the partitions 11 corresponding to each gaming machine 2. Therefore, the "partitions 11" in the above inventive concept correspond to each gaming machine 2, not to adjacent gaming machines 2. However, the inventive concept may also be applied to the dimensions secured 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 front edge of the seat of the chair 6 corresponds to the distance D (see Figure 21) between the front end of the table top 3 and the front edge of the seat of the seat portion 6a of the chair 6. Note that the mounting location of the partition body 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 for the partition body 11.

According to this alternative 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. Alternatively, 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 may be set to be approximately the same as the distance between the front of the gaming machine (glass surface) and the axis of the rotation shaft 7 of the chair 6.

In addition, amusement park chairs 6 generally rotate, but conventional protruding foot partitions did not fully utilize this rotation function. That is, as shown in Figure 22(a), even if a player tried to exit the chair 6 while rotating it, their feet would hit the partition 11, requiring them to change the posture or position of their feet at that point before exiting the chair 6 again. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 22(b), with the partition 10 according to the two inventive concepts described above, players can 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 the same basic structure as 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 redundant explanations will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the arm portion 123 in the upper portion 12 of the partition body 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 those in the partition body 11, but the notch 122A below the arm portion 123 is not a generally rectangular shape with a vertical width. That is, in the partition body 11A, the inner edge of the notch 122A is formed to extend and curve as the rear edge 14A of the partition body 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 specified gap between the partition 11A and the waist board 4, which is the front of the gaming machine island, is not uniform from top to bottom, but rather the width of the gap increases from the lower part 13 to the upper part 12. Therefore, when maintenance or inspection of related equipment inside the waist board 4 becomes necessary, the wider the gap, the easier it is to open, close, or remove the maintenance door on the waist board 4. Furthermore, even at the upper part 12, which is the widest of the specified gaps, it is preferable that the width be such that a player's knees cannot fit inside.

<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 lower inner edge of the notch 122B of the partition 11B is not parallel to the upper surface installation fixture 123A but is inclined downward. Such slight differences in the shape of the partition 11B are a design feature that can be implemented as appropriate. Note that parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

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

When installing the partition 10, the entire partition 11 must be temporarily fixed in place for positioning, which makes it difficult to carry. Therefore, if only the top-surface installation fixture 123A of the third embodiment is carried, the work becomes easier. Furthermore, 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 remove only the main body of the partition 11B and leave the top-surface installation fixture 123A in place to perform the replacement work, and since the positioning work for the partition 11B is already complete, the replacement work can be easily carried out.

Another effect of the third embodiment is that when replacing a gaming machine, the gaming machine 2 and the top-surface installation fixture 123A come into contact and rub against each other, so if the top-surface installation fixture 123A is damaged, it is possible to replace just the top-surface installation fixture 123A. Furthermore, when it is deemed better to remove the top-surface installation fixture 123A for gaming machine replacement or maintenance, it can also be removed. Therefore, the gaming machine manager at the gaming parlor no longer needs to worry about replacement or maintenance, regardless of what type of partition body 11B is installed on the gaming machine island 1.

Furthermore, if the underside of the upper surface installation fixture 123A is attached to the upper 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. Furthermore, it is desirable that the height of the upper surface installation fixture 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 ends 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 fastened 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 11C of the fourth embodiment has its vertical length reduced by approximately half by cutting the lower half of the previously described partition 11. The lower end position of the lower part 13C of the partition 11C is set so that it separates only the knees of a player seated in a chair 6. The partition 11C also has an overall rounded shape from the rear edge 14C to the lower edge 131 of the lower part 13C, and from the lower edge 131 to the front edge 15C. Note that parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

Even with this type of partition 11C, when it is fixed to the top plate 3, which is the mounting location on the gaming machine island 1, 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 using the first fixing device 20 described above.

The lower portion 13C of the partition 11C hangs down toward the floor A, but is spaced above the floor A and is not fixed to the floor A, so positioning on the floor A is not necessary. Furthermore, installation using the second fixing device 30 is not required, allowing for simpler installation work. Furthermore, because the partition 11C is short overall, the structure 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, and 10C of the first to fourth embodiments described above, the partition bodies 11, 11A, 11B, and 11C all have arms 123 and 123A at the upper portions 12, and can be temporarily fixed in a hanging state by temporarily placing the arms 123 and 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 relative to the attachment point (e.g., the top plate 3) when 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, where it is attached, are provided with an engaging portion and an engaged portion that can be positioned relative to each other. As shown in Figure 29, the engaging portion 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 engaged portion is an engaging groove 3c recessed into the underside of the top plate 3 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 toward the rear of the upper part 12 (towards the gaming machine island 1). As shown in Figures 30 and 31, the engaged portion is an engaging groove 3c recessed in a shape that fits into the attachment position of the upper protrusion 124 on the underside of the top plate 3.

Here, the upper protrusion 124 is designed to fit tightly into the fitting groove 3c, and if the frictional force of the fitted upper protrusion 124 and fitting groove 3c overcomes 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 down state, and it is sufficient that the fit between the upper protrusion 124 and the fitting groove 3c is simply a configuration used for positioning. Since the arm portion 123 is not necessary in the partition 11D, no notch 122 is provided. Note that parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

To attach the partition 10D to the gaming machine island 1, first insert the upper protrusion 124 on the partition 11D into the mating groove 3c on the underside of the top plate 3 to position it. In this state, the lower part 13 of the partition 11D is close to the floor A, and as with the partition 11 of the first embodiment, the lower part 13 can be fixed to the floor A with the second fixing device 30 without any complicated positioning. In this way, the upper part 12 of the partition 11D does not need to be fixed using the first fixing device 20, etc., and the installation process can be carried out extremely easily.

From this fifth embodiment, in addition to the aforementioned fact that "the 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 the provision of a mating portion (or mating 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 mating portion and mated portion are not limited to the illustrated upper protrusion 124 and mating groove 3c, and may have other structures as long as they can be mated to each other and positioned. In the fifth embodiment, the mating portion is provided on the partition 11D, while the mated portion is provided on the top plate 3, which is the mounting location on the gaming machine island 1 side. Alternatively, the mating portion may be provided on the partition 11D, while the mating portion is 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 the same technical concept as 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 (e.g., the top plate 3) on the gaming machine island 1 side 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 it is attached, are provided with a mating portion and a mated portion for mating with each other so that they can be positioned relative to each other. Here, the mating portion consists of an upper fixing device 40 attached to the upper part 12 of the partition 11E. The upper fixing device 40 consists of a single bracket metal fitting attached to the upper part 12 of the partition 11E. As shown in Figure 37, the upper fixing device 40 consists of a horizontal portion 41 with a U-shaped cross section that extends left and right and opens downward, and a flat vertical portion 42 that extends vertically and continues downward from the lower center end of the horizontal portion 41.

The horizontal portion 41 is a portion that movably fits into the mating portion, described below. Specifically, as shown in Figure 37, the horizontal portion 41 consists of a rear wall 411 with the vertical portion 42 extending downward from the lower center, a front wall 413 facing 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 has multiple mounting holes 412a for later screwing to the top plate 3, which has the mating portion, described below.

The vertical portion 42 is screwed to the vertical end surface of the notch 122 located at the rear end of the upper portion 12 of the partition body 11E. The vertical portion 42 has multiple mounting holes 421 for screwing. The upper fixing device 40 is attached to the partition body 11E in advance, but it can also be attached to the partition body 11E at the construction site of the amusement park.

On the other hand, the mating portion is a mating groove 3d recessed into the underside of the tabletop 3, into which the horizontal portion 41 of the upper fixing device 40 fits. As shown in Figures 34 to 36, the mating groove 3d is recessed into the underside of the tabletop 3 at the front-to-rear position where the upper fixing device 40 is attached, extending in the left-to-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 designed to fit tightly into the mating groove 3d, and if the frictional force when the upper fixing device 40 and the mating groove 3d are fitted together overcomes gravity, the partition 11E can be temporarily fixed in a state where it hangs down from the tabletop 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 with the second fixing device 30. This attachment method is the same as in the fifth embodiment described above, but attaching the partition body 11E of the sixth embodiment has the following unique effect. First, the underside of the top plate 3 can be easily processed to form the long fitting groove 3d.

In addition, because the upper fixing device 40 can be moved relative to the longitudinally extending mating groove 3d before being screwed in, the partition 11E can be positioned as desired. Furthermore, even when the placement of the gaming machines 2 (for example, the distance between gaming machines 2) is changed, the installation position of the partition 11E can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, in the upper fixing device 40, the horizontal portion 41 that fits into the mating groove 3d extends laterally beyond the width of the upper end of the vertical portion 42. This is to ensure that the partition 11E remains strong enough to prevent it from falling over even if a strong lateral force is applied to it after it has been fixed and installed.

<Modification of the second fixing member 30 (fixing means) of the partition body 11>
Regarding installation of the partitions 10, 10A, 10B, 10D, and 10E of the first to third and fifth and sixth embodiments described above, in order to fix the lower part 13 of each partition body 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 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 shifting out of position due to the fact that they are stretched from the underside of the tabletop 3 to the floor A. Hereinafter, when referring to partitions 10, 10A, 10B, 10D, and 10E collectively, they will be referred to as partition 10. Furthermore, when referring to partitions 11, 11A, 11B, 11D, and 11E 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 Figure 38(a), floor surface A may be covered with a flexible material such as carpet B. Carpet B is generally formed by laminating, from bottom to top, a backing material, a base fabric 2, a rubber material, and a base fabric 1, all of which are glued together, with pile yarn woven into the upper layers 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 that make up the surface of carpet B are generally of two types: loop pile and cut pile. As shown in Figure 38(b), loop pile is a regular woven pile of numerous rings on the surface of the base fabric 1, which easily catches hooks and other devices. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 38(c), cut pile is cut pile that has been sheared (cut) from regular ring-shaped pile. With either type of carpet B, as shown in Figure 39, if the second fixing device 30 is pressed against carpet B on floor surface A to fix it, the installation surface of carpet B is soft and smooth, so there is a risk that it may become displaced if subjected to an impact.

To solve this problem, it is possible to prevent misalignment by fixing the base 31, which forms the second fixing device 30, with anchors or concrete screws using holes in the bottom wall 311 of the base 31 (see Figure 6), but this creates the following problems.

First, there is a problem in that 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. One solution is to cut a portion of the carpet B where the second fixing device 30 will be installed, as shown in Figure 40(a), but this is a very time-consuming process.

The second issue is that when the floor surface A on which 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, sufficient fixing strength cannot be ensured, and there is a risk that the carpet may become displaced if subjected to an impact.

Therefore, in light of the above issues, the following modifications to the second fixing device 30 are possible.

<<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 the same basic structure as the second fixing device 30 (see Figures 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of three bracket metal parts: 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 spikes 313 that protrude downward from the bottom wall 311 thereof.

Spikes 313 are nail-shaped protrusions that protrude downward, for example, by being inserted through holes in the 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. Furthermore, the number of holes in the bottom wall 311 of base 31 (see Figure 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 the bottom wall 311 of base 31, the heads of spikes 313 may be flattened and configured to be adhered to the underside of the 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 issue 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. Furthermore, because the carpet B has a laminated structure made by bonding fabric and rubber or other materials, it will deform when subjected to impacts. Therefore, in situations where impacts are applied, it may be difficult to keep the carpet in place for an extended period of time without shifting.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the first modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to the floor surface A via a fixing device 30A.
The fixing device 30A is characterized by having spikes 313 that are inserted into the floor surface A side.
The floor surface A to which this modification 1 is applied does not necessarily have to be 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 fixed by inserting spikes 313.

<<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 Figures 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket metal parts: 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 that form 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 to and detached from 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 substrate, and the other side of the substrate is adhered to the underside of the bottom wall 311. Note that the specific shape of the individual hooks 314 is not limited to the hook-like protrusions shown in the figure, and there are other variations, such as click-type protrusions with mushroom-shaped protrusions and shark-tooth type protrusions with sawtooth protrusions.

This type of 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 its compatibility with carpet B varies depending on the type of surface fabric. Specifically, if the surface fabric of carpet B has loop pile pile (see Figure 38(b)), it can be firmly fixed, but is not suitable for cut pile (see Figure 38(b)). Furthermore, because the hooks 314 are firmly attached to the pile yarn, they may shift slightly when pressure is applied. However, they return to their original position when pressure is removed.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the second modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to 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 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 Figures 5 to 7) described above, and is made up of a total of three bracket metal parts: 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 upside down.

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 positioned on the upper side and the side walls 312, 312 face downward. Here, the downward-facing edges of the side walls 312, 312 of the base 31 are set to be positioned higher than the outer peripheral wall tips 324, which are made up of the side walls 321, end walls 322, and folded walls 323 of each angle 32. Therefore, with the second fixing device 30C, the outer peripheral wall tips 324, which are connected in a rectangular shape, come into contact with the floor surface A.

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, making it less likely to shift even when an impact is applied to the partition 11. Furthermore, even when repeated impacts are applied to the partition 11, the wall tip 324 does not penetrate into the rubber layer of the carpet B (to the extent that it is depressed), so the base material of the carpet B will not be 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 yarns on the surface of the carpet B, so the pile yarns 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 resistant to slippage in the left-to-right direction. Generally, the impact applied to the partition body 11 from the player's knees and feet is from the left-to-right direction, so it is even more resistant to slippage.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the third modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to the floor surface A via a fixing device 30C.
The fixture 30C is characterized by having a peripheral wall tip 324 that abuts against the carpet B on the 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 modification, the second fixing device 30D has the same basic configuration as the third modification (see Figure 43) described above, but differs from the configuration of the third modification 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 in a row, for example, at equal intervals. The height of the protrusions 325 is preferably such that they dig into the surface 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. This type of second fixing device 30D can secure the lower part 13 of the partition 11 to the carpet B on the floor surface A more firmly than the third modification described above.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the fourth modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to 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 protrusions 325 that dig into the surface side of the carpet B are provided along the wall tip 324.

<<Second Fixing Device 30E According to Modification 5>>
FIG. 45 shows a second fixing device 30E according to the fifth modification.
In this variant 5, the second fixing device 30E has the same basic configuration as the previously described variant 3 (see Figure 43), but as shown in Figure 45 (a), a high-friction elastic body 315 is provided inside the base 31 that constitutes the second fixing device 30E.

The elastic body 315 is made of a material with high friction, such as vibration-damping rubber or vibration-damping gel. As shown in Figure 45 (b), the elastic body 315 is shaped to fit into the inside of the base 31 from below. The bottom surface of the elastic body 315, which comes into contact with 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 type of second fixing device 30E, not only does the wall tip 324 bite into the carpet B on the floor surface A, but the elastic body 315 also comes into contact with the carpet B on the floor surface A with high friction, so the lower part 13 of the partition body 11 can be even more firmly fixed 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 aforementioned variation 3, and may also be combined with the second fixing device 30D according to the aforementioned variation 4.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the fifth modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to the floor surface A via a fixing device 30E.
The fixture 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 carpet B, but it is sufficient if the installation surface on the floor surface A side generates frictional force when it comes into contact with the elastic body 315.

<<Second fixing device 30F according to modified example 6>>
FIG. 46 shows a second fixing device 30F according to the sixth modification.
In this sixth modification, the second fixing device 30F has the same basic configuration as 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 abuts against 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 wall tips 324 of each angle 32, and a structure 316 that abuts against 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 Figure 46 (b), the structure 316 is shaped to fit along the bottom wall 311 of the base 31 from the inside of the bottom surface of the second fixing device 30F. The bottom surface of the structure 316, which abuts the carpet B together with the outer 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 portion 13 of the partition 11 is brought into contact with carpet B on floor surface A via this second fixing device 30F, the lattice-shaped lower wall of the structure 316 fits between the pile yarns, allowing for even stronger fixation to carpet B on floor surface A. Note that instead of the structure 316, the elastic body 315 of the fifth variation described above may be installed in the space inside the bottom surface of the second fixing device 30F, with the height dimension adjusted accordingly.

The following inventive concept is derived from the configuration of the sixth modified example described above.
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, which is fixed from a mounting point on the gaming machine island 1 side to a floor surface A in front of the space between adjacent gaming machines 2,
The lower portion 13 of the partition body 11 is fixed to the floor surface A via a fixing device 30F.
The fixture 30F is characterized by having a structure 316 that contacts and bites into the carpet B on the floor surface A.
In addition, the structure 316 in this variant example 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 it has a structure that can come into contact with and dig 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 modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included in 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 Figure 1, and it is also possible to apply this to a small gaming island with only a few gaming machines lined up on one side, front or back, or on both sides. The gaming machines are not limited to pachinko machines, and could be, for example, slot machines that use medals as gaming media.

Furthermore, when fixing the partitions 11, 11A, etc. to the mounting location, if the partitions 11, 11A, etc. can be held hanging down even temporarily, it is considered "temporarily fixed," and if the mounting position can be regulated even if they cannot be held down, it is considered "positioned." However, 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 being placed on the top surface of the tabletop 3 as in the first to fourth embodiments, but are the type that is temporarily fixed or positioned on the underside of the tabletop 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.

That is, for example, a magnetically attracted metal material such as an iron plate can be placed in a predetermined position on the underside of the top plate 3, and a magnet or magnetic sheet can be placed on the upper end of the upper part 12 of the partition body 11, 11A. In addition to magnetic methods, temporary fastening or positioning using adhesive tape or hook-and-loop fasteners is also possible as a surface contact method.

Furthermore, when the second fixing device 30 (including each modified example) is installed and the partitions 10, 10A, etc. are in a vertically stretched state, the first fixing device 20 is not necessarily required as long as the method for temporarily fastening the upper part 12 of the partitions 11, 11A, etc. is relatively strong or does not cause misalignment. For example, in the fifth embodiment described above, a fixing device for screwing the upper part 12 of the partition 11D is not required. Also, in the sixth embodiment, the upper fixing device 40 is screwed to the top plate 3, but since a snug fit makes it difficult for the fixing device to shift left and right, screwing to the top plate 3 is not necessary.

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

In addition, wood is a suitable material for the partitions 11, 11A, etc., as it can be fastened with screws. In particular, wood is not only easy to process and fasten with screws, but also easy to paint the surface and to process to attach other components. However, the material for the partitions 11, 11A, etc. is not limited to wood, and as long as it can be fastened with screws, it can also be made of a material that is easy to process, such as synthetic resin.

In addition, it is a good idea to attach a protective sheet or cover made of an elastic material to the areas around the dividers 11, 11A, etc. that the player will come into contact with (particularly the upper edge 121 and front edge 15, etc.). This will prevent safety issues even if the player makes strong contact with the dividers 11, 11A, etc. A suitable protective sheet or cover here would be, for example, elastic tape that is attached along the edge surfaces of the upper edge 121 and front edge 15, with an elastic material layer between the smooth surface and adhesive surface.

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 device holders, accessory compartments, advertising boards, displays, and partitions that separate the upper part of the tabletop 3, to be attached as options. The various accessories can be easily and detachably attached by, for example, forming a dovetail groove along the upper edge 121 of the upper part 12 and providing an attachment portion that fits into the dovetail groove on the underside of the various accessories. Of course, the various accessories may also be fixed to the upper part 12 with screws or the like. Furthermore, 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, it is also possible to remove the upper surface installation fixture 123A and attach an upper surface installation fixture 123A equipped with the various accessories.

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 dividers 11, 11A, etc., either as part of the structure itself or as an optional add-on, 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 does not encroach on the space of adjacent players, such as by pointing it toward the player using the bag, so that it does not interfere with adjacent players.

The gaming machine island partition of the present invention can be widely applied as ancillary equipment to various types of gaming machine islands where gaming machines are installed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Gaming machine island 2... Gaming machine 3... Top board 4... Wainboard 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 end edge 15... Front end edge 20... First fixing device 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F... Second fixing device 40... Upper fixing device

Claims (1)

A partition installed on an arena where gaming machines are installed to separate the area under players' feet,
A partition body is provided, which is fixed to the floor surface from a top plate on the gaming machine island side that extends forward from under the front of the gaming machine at the front of both sides of the gaming machine, and whose front end protrudes forward from the front end of the top plate ,
A partition for a gaming machine island, characterized in that the shortest distance in a planar view between the front end of the partition body located to the left of the chair placed in front of the front of the gaming machine and the range of motion of the chair is set to be greater than the distance in a planar view between the front end of the table top located in front of the front of the gaming machine island and the tip of the seat of the chair.