Winner every time crane game apparatus and method

Abstract

A prize dispensing game includes a prize retaining housing, a prize dispensing port, a prize dispensing assembly, a play credit registering assembly, a prize dispensing sensor adjacent to the prize dispensing port, and a credit deactivating assembly controlled by the prize dispensing sensor. The retaining housing preferably includes a prize retaining box with a box wall having a prize viewing window. The prize dispensing port preferably includes a passageway having a passageway side wall. The prize dispensing sensor preferably includes an electronic eye in said side wall generating a sensing beam across the passageway. The dispensing sensor preferably additionally includes a circuit for carrying an electronic signal generated by the electronic eye and a signal filtering circuit. The signal filtering circuit preferably includes a circuit for inverting the signal and a resistor. The credit deactivating assembly preferably includes a decade counter integrated circuit for receiving the electronic signal and removing play credit when the signal fluctuates. A method of playing the prize dispensing game includes the steps of registering play credit by inserting a coin into the play credit coin registering assembly, and operating the prize dispensing assembly with a control to place one prize into the prize dispensing port, thereby deactivating the play credit and disabling the game with the credit deactivating assembly.