EP0051374A1 - Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen - Google Patents

Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0051374A1
EP0051374A1 EP81304815A EP81304815A EP0051374A1 EP 0051374 A1 EP0051374 A1 EP 0051374A1 EP 81304815 A EP81304815 A EP 81304815A EP 81304815 A EP81304815 A EP 81304815A EP 0051374 A1 EP0051374 A1 EP 0051374A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
playfield
ball
pinball machine
machine according
path
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81304815A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Steven S. Ritchie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Williams Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
Williams Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Williams Electronics Inc filed Critical Williams Electronics Inc
Publication of EP0051374A1 publication Critical patent/EP0051374A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
    • A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
    • A63F7/36—Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, i.e. constructional details of rolling boards, rims or play tables, e.g. frame, game boards, guide tracks
    • A63F7/3622—Specially shaped rolling boards for the balls, e.g. ball tracks
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
    • A63F7/02—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks using falling playing bodies or playing bodies running on an inclined surface, e.g. pinball games
    • A63F7/025—Pinball games, e.g. flipper games
    • A63F7/027—Pinball games, e.g. flipper games electric
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
    • A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
    • A63F7/36—Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, i.e. constructional details of rolling boards, rims or play tables, e.g. frame, game boards, guide tracks
    • A63F2007/3666—Rolling boards with a plurality of playing surfaces, e.g. on different levels

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to pinball machines and more specifically to pinball machines having a multiple level playfield.
  • playfield refers to the active playing area in a pinball machine.
  • a conventional pinball machine includes a spring loaded plunger for impelling a ball onto the upper portion of an inclined planar board comprising the playfield.
  • a variety of devices are normally.incorporated in these machines such as bumpers, kickers, targets, and flippers which are activated by external player controlled buttons. The object of the player is to keep the ball in play as long as possible and to score as many points as possible by hitting the various targets.
  • a numerical display shows the player's cumulative score.
  • United States Patent No. 3,582,074 discloses a p inball game having two playfields, sloped in opposite directions, in which are provided holes, doors, and bumpers in addition to ball impelling elements.
  • the upper ends of each of the sloped play fields are adjacent each other, thereby effectively providing a rectangular playfield which slopes towards each end from an elevated mid-section apex.
  • French Patent No. 1,422,335 discloses a pinball machine having a plurality of parallel inclined playfields wherein each such playfield has a hole or a ramp to allow the ball to descend to successively lower levels. Upper levels are transparent so that the view of lower levels is not blocked.
  • One embodiment of the invention disclosed in this patent includes a common vertical shaft connecting each of the parallel playfields and an elevating device located within the shaft for carrying balls that fall into the shaft to an upper level.
  • the present invention provides a p inball machine having a plurality of parallel inclined playfields which are linked by at least one path allowing the ball to descend to the next lower playfield and a path allowing a ball to be propelled by a player controlled flipper to an upper playfield.
  • Both the up and down paths between adjacent playfields may be comprised of a single ramp which permits bidirectional travel of the ball.
  • flippers located on a lower playfield a player can impel a ball up a ramp to the upper playfield for further action at that level.
  • additional flippers are employed near the entrance to the ramp on the upper playfield to allow the player an opportunity to prevent the the ball from returning by this path to the lower playfield.
  • This invention also provides a means for initially delivering a ball onto the uppermost playfield.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a new and exciting challenge of the player's skills by means of a pinball machine having a playfield consisting of more than one playing level wherein a player can cause a ball to travel between levels.
  • a pinball machine 10 is illustrated having a head 12, which includes numerical score display 14, and a cabinet 16 which is supported by four conventional legs.
  • a lower playfield 18 and an upper playfield 20 are housed within cabinet 16.
  • the lower playfield contains a plurality of circular inserts 22 and arrow shaped inserts 24 which comprise plastic transparent inserts of varying colors that are recessed even with the surface of the playing field. Individual lights are disposed beneath each insert and are controlled in a conventional manner either in response to ball contact switches or by other means.
  • the playfield 18 also contains a player operable means for propelling a ball such as complementary left and right flippers 26L and 26R, and sling- shot kickers 28L, 28R, as well as bumpers 30, and drop targets - 32.
  • the flippers are controlled by solenoids which are responsive respectively to left and right push buttons 44L, 44R.
  • two exit lanes 34 and flipper return lanes 36 are separated by dividers 38 and 39. Exit lane 34 and flipper return lane 36 have respectively ball sensing switches 40 and 41.
  • a ball may exit out-hole 42 either by passing directly between the flippers 26 or by exit lanes 34.
  • Upper playfield 20 contains similar features including circular light inserts 46, arrow light inserts 47, drop targets 48L, 48R, a kicker 50 and flippers 52L, 52R.
  • the push buttons have sequentially staggered contacts such that the flippers controlled by each are not energized simultaneously.
  • push button 44L can include sequential contacts connected such that depressing this push button inwardly would first energize the solenoid controlling flipper 26L and then activate the solenoid controlling flipper 52L. Completely depressing push button 44L thus causes both left flippers to operate.
  • Sequential activation of the flippers is desirable because the current drawn by the respective solenoids does not occur simultaneously but at spaced time intervals thereby minimizing any momentary voltage drop in the power supply which drives the solenoids allowing full power for flipper activation.
  • the solenoid utilized in the preferred embodiment consists of conventional 28 volt DC solenoids which are powered by a 28 volt DC power supply.
  • the playfield 20 is parallel to and mounted above an upper portion of inclined planar playfield 18 by suitable spacers.
  • Inclined ramps 54, 56 and 58 provide different paths connecting the upper playfield to the lower playfield. These ramps provide a means by which balls may descend by gravity from the upper to the lower playfield and provide a means by which balls may be propelled from the lower playfield to the upper playfield.
  • flippers 52L, 52R guard the upper entrance to ramp 56 thereby providing the player with an opportunity to prevent a ball on upper playfield 20 from descending by gravity to the lower playfield by means of a ramp 56.
  • Ramp 54 has a U-shaped portion on upper playfield 20 requiring that a ball must be shot down as well as up this ramp.
  • the ramps 54, 56, 58 may be made out of any suitable material, such as strips of sheet metal, and preferably have side walls 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b, 58a, 58b, respectively to prevent balls from falling off.
  • divider 60 Adjacent the lowermost edge 21 of upper playfield 20 is divider 60, bumper 62, flipper 52L, and divider 64 which prevent balls on upper playfield 20 from falling to the lower playfield 18.
  • a spring loaded plunger 66 provides a means for impelling a ball up an inclined track 68 mounted to lower playfield 18 and around an arcuate channel 70 which connects track 68 with upper playfield 20.
  • Figure 1 illustrates that a portion of the track is disposed between the playfields.
  • the arcuate channel delivers a.ball onto entry chute 72 of upper playfield 20 in a direction opposite to the travel of the ball in the track, i.e. in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center line of cabinet 16.
  • a one directional gate 73 mounted to chute 72 allows a ball to be shot onto playfield 20 but prevents a ball from entering the chute from the playfield.
  • the arcuate channel 70 and its relation to the playfield is illustrated.
  • the arcuate channel is comprised of a suitable material such as a formed strip of sheet metal 74 and has a mounting bracket 76.
  • a portion 78 of strip 74 is formed into a semicircular configuration having a radius of curvature greater than the diameter of ball 79..
  • the strip 74 has a V-shaped slot 80 which separates guides 81 and 82 which contain countersunk holes 84 that are utilized to mount the guides to the bottom of track 68 by means of screws.
  • the V-shaped slot 80 is designed to provide a smooth transition of the ball from track 68 to channel 70.
  • Mounting bracket 76 has two outwardly extending flanges 86 which have two holes therein. The holes in flanges 86 allow the bracket 76 to be mounted directly to the playing surface of upper playfield 20. Bracket 76 which is preferably formed of sheet metal can be secured to the upper semicircular portion 78 of strip 74 by any conventional means such as welding. Channel 70 provides a unique means for delivering the ball 79 onto upper playfield 20 so as to maximize the usable area on playfield 20 by minimizing the area allocated for entry of a ball onto the playfield. I
  • the lower playfield 18 and upper playfield 20 are comprised of conventional materials such as half inch plywood sheets and are preferably spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of ball 79 which is shown entering arcuate channel 70.
  • Upper playfield 20 could be constructed of a suitable transparent material.
  • a horseshoe feature 90 on lower playfield 18 extends underneath the coextensive portion of upper p layfield 20.
  • a horseshoe feature provides a means for making a 180 degree U-turn of a ball.
  • This horseshoe feature is merely illustrative that the area of playfield 18 underneath upper playfield 20 is usable as part of lower playfield 18 and may have a variety of features thereon.
  • ramps 54, 56, 58 which provide a bidirectional path for ball travel
  • conventional one-way gates could be employed so as to convert selective ramps to one-way directional paths.
  • means other than ramps may be used to provide a path from the upper playfield to the lower playfield, such as a hole 94 in the upper playfield, as shown in dashed line in Figure 2.
  • multiple balls could be simultaneously played on the playfields.
  • each playfield was constructed from different sheets of material as described above, a single sheet of suitable material could be appropriately contoured so as to provide different levels of play.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
EP81304815A 1980-10-24 1981-10-15 Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen Withdrawn EP0051374A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20048980A 1980-10-24 1980-10-24
US200489 1980-10-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0051374A1 true EP0051374A1 (de) 1982-05-12

Family

ID=22741940

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81304815A Withdrawn EP0051374A1 (de) 1980-10-24 1981-10-15 Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0051374A1 (de)
AU (1) AU540968B2 (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3141122A1 (de) * 1980-10-29 1982-04-29 Bally Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, Ill. "flipper-spielgeraet und spielbauteil fuer dieses spielgeraet"
FR2492672A1 (fr) * 1980-10-29 1982-04-30 Bally Mfg Corp Billard electrique a aire de jeu a plusieurs niveaux
EP0068451A2 (de) * 1981-06-25 1983-01-05 D. GOTTLIEB & CO. Flipperspielautomat
EP0078914A1 (de) * 1981-10-27 1983-05-18 D. GOTTLIEB & CO. Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät
FR2582953A1 (fr) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-12 Tabart Christian Billard electrique
GB2270847A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-03-30 Tomy Co Ltd Mechanism for amusement devices
FR2714844A1 (fr) * 1995-01-11 1995-07-13 Williams Electronics Games Inc Billard électrique vertical à plusieurs niveaux.
EP0699461A1 (de) * 1994-09-01 1996-03-06 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Speiserampe für Flipper
AU2022200621B2 (en) * 2021-02-01 2023-03-09 Bartos, Ian Keith MR A Multi-Faceted Arcade Game Device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1350082A (en) * 1919-09-16 1920-08-17 Sato Ryuji Toy and game
FR612322A (fr) * 1926-02-26 1926-10-21 Jeu de société
US2101188A (en) * 1935-01-21 1937-12-07 Joseph W Orcutt Game apparatus
US2167352A (en) * 1936-09-26 1939-07-25 Fritz W Falck Table marble game
FR1064056A (fr) * 1952-10-02 1954-05-11 Jeu de quilles
US3764143A (en) * 1970-09-08 1973-10-09 E Takahashi Target apparatus including a plurality of mesh layers and sensors on each layer
US3941381A (en) * 1974-08-07 1976-03-02 Trbovich Nicholas D Board game amusement device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1350082A (en) * 1919-09-16 1920-08-17 Sato Ryuji Toy and game
FR612322A (fr) * 1926-02-26 1926-10-21 Jeu de société
US2101188A (en) * 1935-01-21 1937-12-07 Joseph W Orcutt Game apparatus
US2167352A (en) * 1936-09-26 1939-07-25 Fritz W Falck Table marble game
FR1064056A (fr) * 1952-10-02 1954-05-11 Jeu de quilles
US3764143A (en) * 1970-09-08 1973-10-09 E Takahashi Target apparatus including a plurality of mesh layers and sensors on each layer
US3941381A (en) * 1974-08-07 1976-03-02 Trbovich Nicholas D Board game amusement device

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3141122A1 (de) * 1980-10-29 1982-04-29 Bally Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, Ill. "flipper-spielgeraet und spielbauteil fuer dieses spielgeraet"
FR2492672A1 (fr) * 1980-10-29 1982-04-30 Bally Mfg Corp Billard electrique a aire de jeu a plusieurs niveaux
DE3140983A1 (de) * 1980-10-29 1982-05-13 Bally Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, Ill. Flipper-spielgeraet
EP0068451A2 (de) * 1981-06-25 1983-01-05 D. GOTTLIEB & CO. Flipperspielautomat
EP0068451A3 (en) * 1981-06-25 1983-08-10 D. Gottlieb & Co. Pinball machine
EP0078914A1 (de) * 1981-10-27 1983-05-18 D. GOTTLIEB & CO. Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät
FR2582953A1 (fr) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-12 Tabart Christian Billard electrique
GB2270847A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-03-30 Tomy Co Ltd Mechanism for amusement devices
GB2270847B (en) * 1992-09-25 1995-12-06 Tomy Co Ltd Mechanism for amusement devices
EP0699461A1 (de) * 1994-09-01 1996-03-06 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Speiserampe für Flipper
FR2714844A1 (fr) * 1995-01-11 1995-07-13 Williams Electronics Games Inc Billard électrique vertical à plusieurs niveaux.
AU2022200621B2 (en) * 2021-02-01 2023-03-09 Bartos, Ian Keith MR A Multi-Faceted Arcade Game Device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU540968B2 (en) 1984-12-13
AU7671281A (en) 1982-04-29

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

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STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19830414

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Inventor name: RITCHIE, STEVEN S.