EP0078914A1 - Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät - Google Patents

Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0078914A1
EP0078914A1 EP82109162A EP82109162A EP0078914A1 EP 0078914 A1 EP0078914 A1 EP 0078914A1 EP 82109162 A EP82109162 A EP 82109162A EP 82109162 A EP82109162 A EP 82109162A EP 0078914 A1 EP0078914 A1 EP 0078914A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
target
playfield
ball
opening
target element
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Withdrawn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
EP82109162A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
John E. Osborne
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.)
D GOTTLIEB AND Co
GOTTLIEB AND CO D
Original Assignee
D GOTTLIEB AND Co
GOTTLIEB AND CO D
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 D GOTTLIEB AND Co, GOTTLIEB AND CO D filed Critical D GOTTLIEB AND Co
Publication of EP0078914A1 publication Critical patent/EP0078914A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • A63F7/30—Details of the playing surface, e.g. obstacles; Goal posts; Targets; Scoring or pocketing devices; Playing-body-actuated sensors, e.g. switches; Tilt indicators; Means for detecting misuse or errors
    • A63F7/305—Goal posts; Winning posts for rolling-balls
    • A63F7/3065—Electric

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to pinball game machines, and more particularly to a target device for a pinball game.
  • Pinball game machines or pinball games have historically had a single, flat playfield or playboard on which numerous target elements are mounted.
  • the playboard is generally disposed such that it is inclined toward the player, thereby causing the ball in play to roll toward the player.
  • the player manipulates flippers or other similar devices in order to propel the ball back up the incline toward certain targets.
  • the present invention provides such an innovative device by providing a roll-down target for transferring a ball in a pinball game from a position on a playfield to a position below the playfield when the ball hits a scoring target.
  • a target assembly includes a target which is movably connected to the playfield and which is urged to a substantially upright position by a biasing element.
  • the target As the ball in play hits the target, the target is moved relative to the playfield to pass through an opening in the playfield near the target.
  • the ball in play which impacts the target follows the target through the opening.
  • the ball is guided through the opening by a guide element to the position underlying the playfield.
  • the target being no longer subject to forces imparted to it by the ball in play, moves back to its original upright position under the urging of the biasing element.
  • the target assembly is equipped with a suitable electrical device for incrementing the player's score when the roll-down target is hit by the ball in play.
  • a new and improved pinball game 10 includes a playfield 12 which lies in a plane sloped away from the usual player position 14 for a pinball game.
  • the pinball game 10 also has a playfield 16 having a traditional slope toward the player position 14.
  • the playfield 12 will be referred to herein as the reverse-sloped playfield and the playfield 16 will be referred to as the primary playfield or the conventionally sloped playfield.
  • the playfields 12, 16 have opposite slopes.
  • the term "opposite slope" as referenced to two surfaces means that a ball rolling in a plane passing through both surfaces would roll in one direction on one surface and in the other direction on the other surface.
  • the pinball game 10 includes the conventional pinball elements.
  • a cabinet 20 is provided for supporting the playfields 12, 16 using conventional hinges and other brackets.
  • the upper playfield 16 is conventionally hinged (hinge not shown) at the end distant from the player.
  • a set of supporting legs 22 is provided for elevating the cabinet 20 to a height convenient to the pinball player.
  • a plunger or shooter 24, and a set of flipper control switches 26 are disposed on the cabinet 20 near the player position 14.
  • Sets of thumper bumpers 28, flipper mechanisms 30, and other ball-propelling devices such as sling- shots, etc., are disposed in a conventional manner on the primary playfield 16.
  • a conventional solenoid-operated out-hole (not shown) is provided to return the ball to the shooter 24 when this ball is lost in play between the flipper mechanisms 30 or when the ball is returned from the lower playfield 12.
  • a back glass assembly 32 is supported at the end of the cabinet 20 opposite the player position 14.
  • the back glass assembly 32 has the usual pinball assemblies such as scoring displays 34, a game talley display 36, and- ball-in-play display 38.
  • a conventional pinball controller (not shown) is employed in pinball game 10.
  • pinball game 10 is of the microcomputer type and is programmed to control scoring and game play, according to state-of-the-art techniques, in response to operations of the ball-propelling devices.
  • a typical pinball game controller is that used by.D. Gottling & Co., Northlake, Illinois, for example, in its current pinball games.
  • the reverse-sloped playfield 12 in the preferred and illustrated embodiment it is supported by conventional brackets (not shown) within the cabinet 20 to underlie the primary playfield 16.
  • the brackets may be movably mounted to allow the operator to adjust the angle of inclination of the playfield 12.
  • the playfield 12 is spaced from the playfield 16 and is generally located centrally under the primary playfield 16.
  • the playfield spacing is at least the diameter of a ball and the height of the ball propelling elements on the playfield 12 to allow ball play on the lower playfield 12.
  • the spacing between the playfields 12, 16 extends around the entire periphery of the lower reverse-sloped playfield 12 so that the playfields 12, 16 are not contiguous.
  • the flipper mechanisms 30, 30A Disposed on the lower playfield 12 are the usual thumper bumpers (not shown), flipper mechanisms 30A and other ball-propelling apparatus. Operation of the ball-propelling elements on the lower playfield 12 causes scoring on the displays 34 in a conventional manner. As seen from the figures, the flipper mechanisms 30, 30A are disposed to propel the ball in planes of opposite slope during play. The flipper mechanism 30A actively propels the ball toward the player position 14 after the ball has rolled downwardly away from the position 14 toward the mechanism 30.
  • the playfield 16 is specially designed to allow viewing of the lower playfield 12.
  • one or more window mechanisms are provided in the primary playfield 16.
  • the window mechanism preferably is comprised of a relatively flat, generally transparent material such as a pane 44 of plexiglas.
  • the pane 44 lies in the plane of the primary playfield 16 to minimize disturbance of the roll of the ball during play.
  • the pane 44 may be tinted to facilitate viewing of the underlying playfield 12 and to reduce glare.
  • the playfields 12, 16 are designed to allow them to be confined in a conventional pinball cabinet and yet provide space for one or more roll-down target assemblies 40 which allow transfer of the ball from one playfield to the other.
  • the roll-down target assembly 40 includes a target member having a target bracket 42 and a target element 44.
  • the target element 44 is connected to the target bracket 42, such as by a rivet 46.
  • Other methods of connecting the target element to the target bracket may be employed, or they may be integral.
  • the target assembly 40 also includes a pivot element 48.
  • the target bracket 42 is movably mounted with respect to the pivot element 48 such that the target element 44 is' selectively movable from a position above the playfield 16- as illustrated in Fig. 2 to a position below the playfield as illustrated in Fig. 4. As shown, the preferred motion of the element 44 is pivoted; however, other motions are suitable.
  • a suitable biasing member such as a spring 54, urges the target bracket 42 to return the element 44 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the ball 50 (illustrated with dashed lines) is propelled toward the target element 44.
  • the target element Prior to the ball hitting the target element, the target element has been urged to the upright position illustrated in Fig. 2 by the biasing member. Once the ball hits the target element 44, however, the force imparted to the target by the ball overcomes the biasing force causing the target member to pivot about the pivot element 48.
  • An opening 60 is provided in the playfield 16. As the target element 44 pivots about the element 48, the ball follows the target element 44 through the opening 60 included in the playfield 16. The ball is guided into the opening 60 by a guide element 62 which is fixedly connected to the playfield. The guide element 62 prevents the ball from overshooting the opening in the playfield after the target element 44 has been hit.
  • the target element continues to pivot under the influence of the ball 50 until the ball rolls over the edge of the target element, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and onto underlying structure, such as a ball track or the second playfield 12.
  • the target element is urged by the biasing member back through the opening 60 and into the position illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the structure underlying the opening 60 preferably is a track 64 for transferring the ball to a given location on the underlying playfield.
  • a pair of switch contacts 66 is positioned in the track 64 so that passage of the ball 50 through the opening 60 can be detected for scoring purposes.
  • another embodiment of the target assembly 40 includes a hole cover 52 which covers the opening 60 when the target assembly is in the upright position.
  • the hole cover 52 is connected to the target bracket 42 and essentially lies in the plane of the playfield 16 when the target bracket is in the position illustrated. As the target element pivots under the influence of the ball 50, the hole cover 52 moves with the target bracket 42, thereby uncovering the opening 60.
  • the hole cover may comprise a plurality of members (not illustrated) at least some of which, or all of which, are connected to the playfield 16.
  • the members may be of the "living hinge" type or any other suitable type which permits passage of the target element 44 and the ball 50 through the opening 60.
  • the ball is guided by the guide element 62 and by a second guide element 63 which extends into the region below the playfield 16.
  • the shape of the guide element 63 is chosen to direct the ball to a desired location under the playfield 16.
  • the target member need not be mounted on a pivot element connected to the underside of the playfield. It may be mounted in any suitable fashion which permits passage of both the target element 44 and the ball through the opening 60 in the playfield. Additionally, either or both of the guide elements 62, 63 may be omitted, or they may be an integral part of the playfield, or they may be integral with each other. Moreover, the opening 60 may be chosen sufficiently large so that the target element need not make a large angular movement in order to pass the ball to the underlying position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
EP82109162A 1981-10-27 1982-10-04 Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät Withdrawn EP0078914A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US31540581A 1981-10-27 1981-10-27
US315405 1981-10-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0078914A1 true EP0078914A1 (de) 1983-05-18

Family

ID=23224271

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82109162A Withdrawn EP0078914A1 (de) 1981-10-27 1982-10-04 Schikane-Falle für Flippergerät

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0078914A1 (de)
JP (1) JPS5881060A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5383663A (en) * 1993-10-22 1995-01-24 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Player controlled dump ramp for a pinball game
EP0754479A2 (de) * 1995-07-21 1997-01-22 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Absenkbares Ziel für Flipper

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4628379B2 (ja) * 2007-02-13 2011-02-09 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント ゲーム機
KR102089126B1 (ko) 2017-05-24 2020-03-13 주식회사 엘지화학 선택적 촉매 환원 시스템

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2103191A (en) * 1934-12-28 1937-12-21 John A Russell Amusement game
US2167352A (en) * 1936-09-26 1939-07-25 Fritz W Falck Table marble game
FR1524021A (fr) * 1964-01-15 1968-05-10 Jeu de quilles semi-automatique formant billard de table
US4180267A (en) * 1978-01-11 1979-12-25 Atari, Inc. Ball rollover switch assembly
EP0051374A1 (de) * 1980-10-24 1982-05-12 Williams Electronics, Inc. Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2103191A (en) * 1934-12-28 1937-12-21 John A Russell Amusement game
US2167352A (en) * 1936-09-26 1939-07-25 Fritz W Falck Table marble game
FR1524021A (fr) * 1964-01-15 1968-05-10 Jeu de quilles semi-automatique formant billard de table
US4180267A (en) * 1978-01-11 1979-12-25 Atari, Inc. Ball rollover switch assembly
EP0051374A1 (de) * 1980-10-24 1982-05-12 Williams Electronics, Inc. Doppelniveauflipper mit Ballspiel über beide Ebenen

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5383663A (en) * 1993-10-22 1995-01-24 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Player controlled dump ramp for a pinball game
EP0754479A2 (de) * 1995-07-21 1997-01-22 Williams Electronics Games, Inc. Absenkbares Ziel für Flipper
EP0754479A3 (de) * 1995-07-21 1997-04-09 Williams Electronics Games Inc Absenkbares Ziel für Flipper

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5881060A (ja) 1983-05-16

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
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

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB LU NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19831024

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19850124

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: OSBORNE, JOHN E.