GB2063077A - Pin-tables - Google Patents

Abstract

When a ball in a pin-table rolls against a detector 212, 200, an abutment on the detector moves out of engagement with an abutment 244 on a member 176 connected to a continuously- running motor thereby allowing the member 176 to rotate until a tooth 248 on its periphery encounters a latch plate 186, so that a gear 250 mounted on the member is moved into engagement with a rack 254 on the bumper to draw the latter member downward, simultaneously striking the ball and releasing the latch plate. The bumper is thus mechanically-operated and introduces a time-lag between possible successive operations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pinball machine The present invention relates to a pinball machine having a sloping playing surface through which bumper members protrude to knock the pinball away after it encounters the ball detector surface of a corresponding bumper member. A continuously running motor within the pinball machine housing is operatively connected to a bumper member actuating mechanism which drives a resetable scoring mechanism to display a score related to the number of "hits" on rotatable scoring wheels, which periodically closes a lamp activating switch to continuously flash a lamp visible through the pinball machine housing, and which closes a sound switch to activate a tone generator when a "hit" occurs.The bumper member actuating mechanism includes a shaft rotated by the motor and, for every bumper member and its corresponding ball detector element, a pair of actuating members mounted on the shaft. This pair includes a fixed actuating member having a gear which rotates along with the shaft, and a rotatable actuating member having a rotatable gear affixed on one side thereof to mesh with the gear of the fixed actuating member, an abutment on the other side, and a tooth on the periphery. When the pinball rolls against the ball detector surface of a ball detector member, an abutment on the ball detector member is moved out of engagement with the abutment on the rotatable actuating member, thereby allowing the latter member to rotate through an arc until the tooth on its periphery encounters an upwardly biased latch plate disposed beneath the shaft.This movement of the rotatable actuating member moves the rotatable gear on one side thereof into engagement with a rack of teeth on the corresponding bumper member, so that continued rotation of the shaft draws the bumper member downward, striking the pinball to propel it away while simultaneously striking the latch plate to dislodge the tooth extending from the periphery of the rotatable actuating member. Freed of the restraint imposed by the latch plate, the rotatable actuating member rotates until its abutment is again engaged by the abutment on the ball detector element.

Independently controllable left and right flipper members are provided above a ball collection trough provided in the pinball machine housing, and a presetable ball advancement mechanism limits the number of times the ball can be tranferred from the ball collection trough to a spring operated plunger member for propelling the ball toward the playing surface. It will be apparent from the foregoing discussion that the pinball machine of the present invention offers a full range of features and yet can be constructed quite inexpensively, since the motor driven bumper member actuating mechanism, the scoring mechanism, and the ball advancement mechanism all operate mechanically without employing solenoids or intricate electrical components.

Moreover, although the sound switch for indicating a "hit" could be used for operating a buzzer or other inexpensive transducer, it has been found that a tone generator circuit disclosed herein produces a twotone sound having an extended decay characteristic closely simulating the sound emitted by the far more expensive, arcade-type pinball machine.

According to the invention there is provided a pinball machine, comprising: a housing; a playing surface mounted on said housing, said playing surface having at least one opening therein; means for propelling a ball toward said playing surface; at least one ball detector element movably mounted in said housing, each said at least one ball detector element corresponding to one said at least one opening and having a ball detector surface positioned in said corresponding at least one opening; at least one bumper member movably mounted in said housing, each said at least one bumper member corresponding to one said at least one ball detector element; a motor mounted within said housing; and bumper member actuating mechanism means operatively connected to said motor for moving said at least one bumper member to propel said ball away after said ball has encountered the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element.

An example of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the pinball machine of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the pinball machine with the transparent cover member and metal sheet constituting the playing surface removed; Figure 3 is a top view of the plunger member and associated ball advancement mechanism for limiting the number of times the pinball can be put in play, and illustrates generally the movement of the plunger member, rotation of the reset wheel which determines the number of plays remaining, and movement of the arm which pushes the pinball towards the plunger member; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the plunger member and ball advancement mechanism illustrated in Figure 3;; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the right flipper member and its cooperation with the right flipper control member.

Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 2, illustrating generally the movement of the pinball againstthe ball detector surface of a ball detector element, the downward movement of the ball detector element to disengage an abutment provided thereon from an abutment protruding from a rotatable actuating member, the rotation of the rotatable actuating member until a tooth on its periphery encounters the edge of a latch plate to rotate a gear rotatably mounted on one side of the rotatable actuating member into engagement with a rack of teeth affixed to a bumper member, and the resulting downward movement of the bumper member to strike the pinball and dislodge the tooth from the latch plate, thereby allowing the rotatable actuating member to resume its initial position.

Figure 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 2, and illustrates a bumper member having a slightly different configuration from the bumper member illustrated in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7, and illustrates the downward movement of that position of the bumper member extending above the playing surface as it strikes a pinball which has encountered the ball detector surface of the corresponding bail detector element; Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the motion of the elements in the sound switch in response to the motion of the latch plate when it is depressed to free the tooth on the periphery of a rotatable actuating member;; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the rotating shaft of the bumper member actuating mechanism, a fixed and rotatable actuating member pair corresponding to each bumper member and ball detector element pair, the move mentofa hook extending from the latch plate to prevent rotary motion from being transferred from the rotating shaft of the bumper member actuating mechanism to the scoring mechanism except when "hits" occur, and the periodic closure of the lamp activating switch in response to teeth extending from a gear rotated by a worm gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the bumper member actuating mechanism; Figure 11 is a view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 2, illustrating generally the scoring mechanism;; Figure 12 is a view taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 11, and illustrates downward motion on the reset member to bring resilient fingers against cams on the rotatably mounted scoring elements to return them to their initial positions; Figure 13 is a view taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 11, and illustrates a resilient piece of metal encountering a cam on a gear to properly position the figures on a rotatable scoring element; Figure 14 is a view taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 11, and illustrates the gear segment at the end of a first scoring element coming into momentary meshing engagement with a gear which rotates the succeeding scoring element through a small angle for each revolution of the first scoring element;; Figure 15 is schematic diagram illustrating the electrical tone generator circuitry which may be employed between the sound switch and a loud speaker mounted on the pinball machine housing; and Figure 16 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the relationship between the batteries, the main switch controlling operation of the pinball machine, the motor for driving the bumper member actuating mechanism, the periodically closing switch driven by the bumper member actuating mechanism for flashing a light while the main switch is closed, and the sound switch which is closed by the bumper member actuating mechanism when a "hit" occurs to produce an audio frequency signal which the tone generator delivers to the speaker.

Pinball machine 18 of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1, and is provided with plastic housing 20 having transparent cover member 22 through which playing surface 24, which may be in the form of metal sheet 26 having decorative indicia thereon, is visible. Cover member 22, which is spaced apart from playing surface 24to allow metal ball 28 room to roll, is provided with guide flange 30 for guiding ball 28 to the upper portions of playing surface 24, elongated abutments 32,34, and 36, cylindrical abutments 38,40,42,44, and 46, shield flanges 48 and 50, and guide flanges 52, 54, 56, 58, 60,64,68 and 70. Resilient band 72 is wrapped around cylindrical abutments 40 and 42 to provide a rebounding surface for ball 28 and, similarly, resilient band 74 is wrapped around cylindrical abutments 44 and 46.Resilient cylinder 76 is disposed around cylindrical abutment 38 to receive ball 28 and bounce it back towards the middle of playing surface 24. Portions of bumper members 78,80 and 82 protrude upward toward cover member 22 through circular openings 84,86, and 88 in playing surface 24, and portions of bumper members 90 and 92 protrude upward towards cover member 22 adjacent shield flanges 48 and 50, respectively, through rectangular openings 94 and 96 (not illustrated) in playing surface 24. Cylindrical posts 98 and 100, on which flipper members 102 and 104 are rotatably mounted, extend upward from playing surface 24 through holes 106 and 108 in sheet 26. Ball collection trough 110 (see Figure 2) is provided on housing 20 at the bottom of playing surface 24 to collect ball 28 after it is no longer in play.

With continuing reference to Figure 1, housing 20 is provided with indentation 112 having hole 114 therein through which reset wheel 116 protrudes.

Window 118 (see Figure 2) is provided on housing 20 adjacent hole 114 so that numbers marked on reset wheel 116 can be visible to inform the player of the remaining number of times he may shoot ball 28.

Housing 20 is also provided with opening 120 through which plunger member 122 extends. Additionally, housing 20 has openings 124 and 126 (not illustrated) through which flipper control members 128 and 130 (see Figure 2) protrude. Rear legs 132 and 134 (not illustrated) extend downward from housing 20 to tilt playing surface 24 in a generally downward direction. Casing 136 having elongated switch opening 138, elongated reset opening 140 (not illustrated), score openings 142, speaker grill 144, and lamp opening 146, forms part of housing 20 and is permanently attached thereto by some suitable means, such as screws. Main switch handle 148 extends through switch opening 138, reset member 150 extends through reset opening 140, and transluscent cover member 152 may be used to cover lamp opening 146.

With the above preliminaries out of the away, the description of the operation of pinball machine 18 can now being. With reference to Figure 2, bumper member actuating mechanism 154 includes shaft 156, which is journalled for rotation within housing 20. Fixed actuating members 158, 160, 162, 164, and 166 are fixedly attached to shaft 156 at spaced apart positions. Adjacent each fixed actuating member is a corresponding rotatable actuating member rotatably mounted on shaft 156 and identified by reference numbers 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176. Gear 178 is fixedly attached to shaft 156 and is positioned to mesh with gear 180 affixed to shaft 182 extending from motor 184, which powers actuating mechanism 154. Motor 184 is mounted within housing 80 in a manner known in the art, as by being encased within upstanding walls projecting from housing 20.

Although not illustrated in Figure 2, elongated latch plate 186 forms part of mechanism 154 and is pivotably mounted to housing 20 beneath fixed actuating members 158 through 166 and their corresponding rotatable actuating members 168 through 176.

With reference next to Figure 9, a mounting post 188 at either end of latch plate 186 is provided for pivotable attachment to the bottom of housing 20.

Stiffening rod 190 may be attached to plate 186 to provide a degree of stiffening if plate 186 is made of a flexible material.

Turning next to Figure 6, rectangular mounting posts 192 and 194 (not illustrated) having notches 196 and 198 (not illustrated) therein protrude parallel to each other toward playing surface 24 from the plastic forming housing 20. Ball detector element 200 is provided with mounting posts 202 (not illustrated) and 204 at one end thereof for insertion into notches 196 and 198, respectively, to pivotably mount detector element 200. Rod 206 is fixedly disposed in notches 196 and 198 above element 200 to prevent posts 202 and 204 from being dislodged.

Hollow cylinder 208 protrudes upward from the plastic forming housing 20 to support spring 210 in order to bias element 200 upward, with ball detecting surface 212 thereof projecting through circular opening 84. It will be apparent that when a ball 28 rolls onto ball detecting surface 212, element 200 will be pivoted against the restoring force of spring 210 to move abutment 214 provided at the end of element 200 downward.

With continuing reference to Figure 6, rectangular mounting posts 216 and 218 (not illustrated), like posts 192 and 194, protrude upward parallel to each other from the plastic forming housing 20. Mounting posts 216 and 218, which are not as tall as posts 192 and 194, are provided with mounting holes 220 (not illustrated) and 222 (not illustrated) through which mounting rod 224 extends. Arm 226 of bumper member 78 has mounting hole 228 therein through which rod 224 extends to pivotably mount bumper member 78 beneath detector element 200, with portion 230 of bumper member 78 extending upward through opening 232 in surface 212 of ball detector element 200.Although not illustrated in Figure 6, bumper member 78, like ball detector element 200, is spring biased upward by a cylindrical spring 234 (not illustrated) housed within a hollow cylinder 236 (not illustrated) protruding upward from the plastic forming housing 20. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that ball detector element 200 and bumper member 78 are both pivotably mounted within housing 20 for independent movement, with portion 230 of bumper mem ber 78 movably extending through an opening 232 in ball detecting surface 212. Ball detector element 200 and bumper member 78 are both spring biased upward, and can be moved independently downward against the biasing force.Ball detector element 200 moves downward, to the extent permitted by hollow cylinder 208, when ball 28 rolls against or encounters ball detecting surface 212; the structure responsible for the downward movement of bumper member 78 against its spring biasing force will be described shortly.

With reference next to Figure 10, it will be recalled that bumper member actuating mechanism 154 includes shaft 156 on which are mounted fixed actuating members 158, 160, 162, 164, and 166 along with their corresponding rotatable actuating members 168,170,172,174, and 176. Shaft 156 is continuously rotated via gears 178 and 180 by motor 184. Fixed actuating member 166 and its corresponding rotatable actuating member 176 illustrated in Figure 10 are representative of the remaining actuating member pairs mounted on shaft 156.

Actuating member 166 is a unitary piece of plastic including spacer portion 238, flange 240, and gear 242. Rotatable actuating member 176 is also of unitary construction, being formed from a single piece of plastic, and is provided with abutment 244 on one side, mounting post 246 on the other side, and tooth 248 along its periphery. Gear 250 is rotatably mounted on post 246 and is retained in place by being sandwiched between the body of member 176 and flange 240 of member 166. It will be apparent that although actuating member 176 is rotatably mounted on shaft 156, frictional forces will rotate it along with actuating member 166 unless actuating member 176 is restrained. Gear 250, which meshes with gear 242, will be rotated by gear 242 when actuating member 176 is restrained from rotation.

Returning now to Figure 6, the constituent eie- mentsoffixed actuating member 164 and rotatable actuating member 174 illustrated in Figure 6 will be identified with the same reference numbers used to identify the constituent elements of actuating members 166 and 176 in Figure 10. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, when ball detector element 200 is in its normal position, abutment 214 at the end thereof encounters abutment 244 on rotatable actuating member 174 to keep member 174 from rotating along with fixed actuating member 164. In this normal position gear 242 of fixed actuating member 164 rotates gear 250 borne by rotatable actuating member 174, but gear 250 does not mesh with other elements in the normal position so its rotation is transmitted no further. When ball 28 encounters ball detecting surface 212 of ball detector element 200, however, abutment 214 is moved downward out of engagment with abutment 244 to allow rotatable actuating element 174 to rotate along with fixed actuating element 164 until tooth 248 encounters edge 252 of elongated latch plate 186.

The engagement of tooth 248 and edge 252 stops further rotation of rotatable actuating member 174 and rotates gear 250 into engagement with rack of teeth 254 affixed to arm 256 of bumper member 78.

Arm 256 is curved beneath spacer position 238 of fixed actuating member 164 to avoid contact therewith. With tooth 248 in contact with edge 252 and with gear 250 meshing with both rack of teeth 254 and gear 242 of fixed actuating member 164, further rotation of shaft 156 moves bumper member 78 rapidly downward so that portion 230 of member 78 strikes ball 28 to propel it away from bumper member 78. Spring 258 is disposed between latch plate 186 and housing 20 to upwardly balance latch plate 186 which, it will be recalled, is pivoted for rotation by posts 188 along edge 260 thereof. After rack of teeth 254 moves downward it encounters latch plate 186 to move latch plate 186 downward against the biasing force of spring 258, thereby disengaging tooth 248 from edge 252.This disengagement allows rotatable actuating member 174 to continue rotating until abutment 214 thereof again encounters abutment 244 of ball detector element 200, which was restored to its initial position by spring 210 when ball 28 was expelled. Similarly, the rotation of actuating member 174 removes gear 250 from its meshing engagement with rack of teeth 254, allowing spring 234 to restore bumper member 78 to its original position.

Turning now to Figure 9, sound switch 262 includes resilient metallic elements 264 and 266 affixed to housing 20 and extending beneath latch plate 186. When rack of teeth 254 depresses latch plate 186, in the manner previously described, elements 264 and 266 come into electrical contact to close sound switch 262. The resilience of these elements opens switch 262 when latch plate 286 is returned to its normal position. The purpose of switch 262 will be explained later in conjunction with the electrical circuit of pinball machine 18.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that bumper member 80 cooperates with bumper member actuating mechanism 154 in precisely the same way as bumper member 78, which was described with reference to Figure 6. As is illustrated in Figure 2, bumper members 78 and 80 are mounted adjacent to each other in the upper part of housing 20.

Bumper members 82, 90, and 92, which are mounted in the lower portion of housing 20, operate in a very similar manner, the primary difference being attributable to the fact that the racks of teeth provided on each of bumper members 82, 90, and 92 are mounted on the same side of shaft 156. For example, rack of teeth 254 of bumper member 78 faces toward mounting rod 224, and arm 256 supporting rack of teeth 254 arches beneath shaft 156. In contrast, Figure 7 illustrates that the rack of teeth provided on bumper member 90 face away from its point of pivotal movement, and the arms supporting this rack of teeth does not extend past shaft 156. Due to the similarities in structure and operation, the bumper members mounted in the lower part of housing 20 will be only briefly described, with reference to Figure 7.

Figure 7 illustrates ball detector element 268 having ball detecting surface 270 and abutment 272 pivotably mounted in housing 20, with surface 270 protruding slightly through rectangular opening 94.

Bumper member 90 having straight arm 274 supporting rack of teeth 276 is pivotably mounted in housing 20 beneath element 200, with portion 278 of bumper member 90 extending through opening 280 in ball detector element 268. Springs 282 (not illustrated) and 284 (not illustrated) bias bumper member 78 and ball detector element 268 upward.

When ball 28 encounters ball detecting surface 270, abutment 272 is moved downward out of engagement with abutment 244 on rotatable actuating member 176 to allow member 176 to rotate until tooth 248 encounters edge 252 and gear 250 is rotated into engagement with rack of teeth 276, which then moves downward to strike portion 278 against ball 28 and depress elongated latch plate 186. Sound switch 262 is momentarily closed, and the elements are returned to their original positions to await a return engagement with ball 28.

Figure 8 illustrates the action of bumper member 90 striking ball 28 to propel it away.

Returning to Figure 2, elongated scoring member 514 is pivotably mounted in housing 20 and is provided with arm 524 resting upon arm 526 protruding from ball detector element 200. Portions 528 of member 514 protrude through elongated openings 530 in playing surface 24. It will be apparent that, when ball 28 rolls between abutments 32 and 34 or abutments 34 and 36, member 514 will be depressed and this motion will be conveyed via arms 514 and 526 to ball detector element 200, and thence to bumper member actuating mechanism 154.

Returning to Figure 10, the elements operatively connecting bumper member actuating mechanism 154 to scoring mechanism 286 will now be described. Stopper element 288 is fixedly disposed on shaft 156 adjacent gear 290, which is friction-fitted to shaft 156. Spring 292 is disposed around shaft 156 between rotatable actuating member 176 and gear 290 to force gear 290 against element 288. The resulting frictional engagement allows gear 290 to rotate along with shaft 156 unless such rotation is restrained. Shaft 294 is journalled for rotation in housing 20 perpendicular to shaft 156. Element 296 affixed to the end of shaft 294 is provided with central crown gear 298, which meshes with gear 290, and with circular flange 300.Abutment 302 is provided on flange 300 away from the periphery thereof, and is positioned to engage hook 304 extending upward from elongated latch plate when plate 186 is in its normal or raised position. Engagement of abutment 302 by hook 304 prevents element 296 from rotation, so that gear 290 is not allowed to rotate and no rotary motion is transmitted to shaft 294. When one ofthe bumper members depresses latch plate 186, however, hook 304 is moved downward out of engagement with abutment 302 to free element 296 for rotation by gear 290. It will be apparent, then, that when ball 28 encounters a ball detector element, the corresponding bumper mem berwill be depressed to propel ball 28 away while simultanteouslydepressing latch plate 186, thereby removing hook 304 from engagement with abut ment 302 to free element 296 for a single rotation. It is not uncommon, however, for ball 28 to be propelled by one bumper member to the ball detector element associated with another bumper member, a phenomenon which might aptly be described as "multiple hits." In the case of multiple hits the second or even successive bumper mem bers may depress latch plate 186 before abutment 302 rotates again into a position to engage hook 304 following the initial hit, so that not every hit in chain of multiple hits will cause shaft 294 to rotate.That is, the configuration illustrated in Figure 10 enables shaft 294 to rotate through a full revolution after ball 28 encounters a ball detector element only if abutment 302 is engaged by hook 304 when the corresponding bumper member depresses plates 186, making scoring mechanism 286 unresponsive to hits which occur rapidly after an initial hit. If desired this period of unresponsiveness can be diminished by spacing additional abutments at periodic positions inward from the periphery of flange 300, so that element 296 would not rotate 360 degrees following an initial hit. Moreover, an abutment can be provided on flange 300 near the periphery thereof and 180 degrees from abutment 302 to engage hook 304 when plate 186 is depressed but not when it is in its normal position so as to momentarily impede the rotation of element 296 during multiple hits to regulate the rotation of shaft 294.Gear 306 is fixedly attached to the other end of shaft 294.

Turning nowto Figures 11,12, 13, and 14, the operation of scoring mechanism 286 will now be described. Shaft 308 is journalled for rotation within casing 136 of housing 20, while shafts 310 and 312 are fixedly mounted therein. Crown gear 314 is fixedly attached to one end of shaft 308 where it meshes with gear 306, and gear 316 is fixedly attached at the other end of shaft 308. Gear 318 is rotatably mounted on shaft 310 and is positioned to mesh with gear 316 and gear 320 provided by cylindrical scoring element 322. Scoring element 322, which is rotatably mounted on shaft 312, is provided with gear 320 and cam 324 at one end thereof and with gear segment 326 (illustrated in Figure 14) at the other end.Paper 328 earing a column of three digit indicia is attached around the periphery of cylindrical scoring element 322. It will be apparent that each rotation of shaft 294 is transmitted via gear 306 and crown gear 314 to shaft 308, and thence via gears 316 and 318 to gear 320 to rotate scoring element 322 so that three new digits are visible through scoring openings 142. That is, each rotation of element 296 advances scoring element 322 to reveal the next three digit number on paper 328.

With continuing reference to Figures 11,12,13, and 14, cylindrical scoring element 330 having gear 332 and cam 334 on the end thereof and gear segment 336 (not illustrated) on the other end is rotatably mounted on shaft 312 adjacent scoring element 322. Gear 388 from which cam 340 extends is rotatably mounted on shaft 310 and positioned to mesh with gear 332. Gear 338 also meshes with gear segment 326, so that once per revolution of cylindrical scoring element 322 rotary motion is transmitted from element 322 via gear segment 326 and gear 338 to gear 332, thereby rotating cylindrical scoring element 330 through a small angle. Paper 342 bearing numbers thereon is attached to the periphery of element 300 so that the number visible through the corresponding score opening 142 is advanced once per revolution of scoring element 322.The remaining cylindrical scoring element 344 is advanced in a similar manner. Element 344 having numbered paper 346 attached to its periphery is rotatably mounted on shaft 312 and is provided with cam 248 and gear 350. Gear 352 from which cam 354 protrudes is rotatably mounted on shaft 310 and is positioned to mesh with gear 350 and, once per revolution of scoring element 330, with gear segment 336. Resilient metallic element 356 having bent portion 358 is attached to casing 136 so that portion 138 engages cams 340 and 354 to regulate the positions of scoring elements 330 and 344 each time they are advanced in order to centerthe numbers visible through score openings 142.

With continuing reference to Figure 12, element 360 is provided with hook 162 and mounting posts 164 and 166 (not illustrated) for insertion in openings in casing 136 to pivotably mount element 360.

Spring 368 extends between hook 362 and hook 370 extending from casing 136 to bias rear portion 372 of element 360 upward. Rear portion 372 is provided with holes 374 (not illustrated) to loosely receive mounting posts 376 (not illustrated) projecting from reset member 150, which extends out of casing 136 through elongated reset opening 140. Element 360 is provided with a flexible finger 378 positioned to engage cam 324, a flexible finger 380 (not illustrated) positioned to engage cam 334, and a flexible finger 382 (not illustrated) positioned to engage cam 348.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that depression of reset member 150 will pivot portion 372 of element 360 downward, thereby pressing flexible finger 378 against cam 324, flexible finger 380 against cam 334, and flexible finger 382 against cam 348 to rotate cylindrical scoring elements 322, 330 and 344 so that only zeroes are visible through score openings 142. Thereafter, a score representing the number of times element 296 has been rotated, that is, a socre related to the number of times ball 28 has encountered a ball detector element, will be displayed through score openings 142.The phrase "related to" has been used in the preceding sentence in lieu of "corresponding to" since, it will be recalled, not every engagement of ball 28 with a ball detector element during a sequence of multiple hits will cause a 360 degree rotation of shaft 294 in the presently disclosed embodiment of pinball machine 18.

Returning now to Figure 10, the operation of lamp activating switch 384 will be described. Worm gear 386 is fixedly attached to shaft 156, and shaft 388 is journalled for rotation adjacent worm gear 386. Gear 390 having teeth 392 extending therefrom is fixedly attached to shaft 388 at a position to mesh with worm gear 386. Resilient metallic elements 394 and 396 extend from subchassis 398 (not illustrated) within housing 20 and are positioned at slightly spaced apart positions above teeth 392. It will be apparent that the rotation of shaft 156 under the influence of motor 184 will rotate gear 396 to periodically bring teeth 392 into engagement with element 394, forcing element 394 against element 396 to periodically close lamp activating switch 384.

The function of switch 384 will be described later in conjunction with Figures 15 and 16.

With reference now to Figures 2 and 5, the operation of flipper members 102 and 104 will now be described. Housing 20 is provided with elongated slot 400 having upstanding guide rib 402. Flipper control members 128 and 130 are disposed within slot 400 at spaced apart positions, each being provided with a slot 404 to receive guide rib 402.

Spring 406 is disposed between flipper control members 128 and 130 to bias them away from each other. Control members 128 and 130 each have a depression 408 with an elongated opening 410 therein through which a screw 412 (not illustrated) extends, into housing 20, to limitthe motion of control members 128 and 130 toward and away from each other. Control member 128 is also provided with a slot 414 for receiving posts 416 extending downward from flipper member 104 and, similarly, flipper control member 130 is provided with a slot 418 (not illustrated) for receiving posts 420 (not illustrated) extending from flipper member 102. It will be apparent that when flipper control member 128 is depressed, slot 414 will move inward carrying posts 416 with it to pivot flipper member 104, which returns to its normal position when flipper control member 128 is released.Similarly, depression of flipper control member 130 pivots flipper member 102 upward.

With reference next to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the operation of ball advancement mechanism 422 will now be described. Subchassis 424 is part of housing 20 and is attached thereto in some suitable manner, as by the use of screws. Subchassis 424 is provided with guide flanges 426, elongated slot 428 between guide flanges 426, abutment 430, and cylindrical mounting posts 432, which has threaded screw hole 434 therein and which is surrounded by cam 436.

Plunger member 122 is provided with finger depression 438, mounting posts 440, ball engagement surface 442, and hook 444. Portion 446 extending from plunger member 122 is provided with notch 448 for clearing abutment 430 and with post 450.

Plunger member 122, which is guided by flanges 426, is movably mounted to subchassis 424 by screw 452 (not illustrated) which extends through slot 428 into post 440. Spring 454, which extends from hook 444 to hook 456 (not illustrated) on subchassis 424, biases plunger member 122 into housing 20. It will be apparent that, when ball 28 is moved from ball collection trough 110 to the vicinity of surface 442, the player's finger can be inserted into finger depression 438 to allow plunger member 122 to be withdrawn from housing 20 and then released, propelling ball 28 away from surface 442 by the biasing action of spring 454. Ball advancing member 458 is provided with slot 460 for movable engagement with post 450, central opening 462, and arm 464terminated by ball engaging abutment 466.

Member 458 is mounted with cam 436 extending through central opening 462 and with post 450 extending into slot 460. Reset wheel 116 is provided with a central cavity 468 into which cylindrical portion 470 extends. Teeth 472 protruding from cylindrical portion 470 engage cam 436 to orient reset wheel 116, which is mounted to post 432 above member 458 by a screw 474, which extends through spring 476 into threaded screw hole 434. One side of reset wheel 116 is provided with semicircular flange 478 from which abutment 480 protrudes, while the other side is provided with teeth 482 and 484 defining three indentations 486, 488, and 490. If desired, reset wheel 116 may be provided with indicia visible through window 118 to indicate the number of times ball 28 can be shot during the remaining course of the game.

With continuing reference to Figure 3, it will be apparent that reset wheel 116 has been rotated so that abutment 480 engages abutment 430 and ball 28 can be shot three times. When ball 28 is positioned in indentation 486, it will be apparent that pulling plunger member 122 will cause post 450 extending through slot 460 to rotate ball advancing member 458 and force ball 28 up inclined surface 492 toward surface 442. As ball 28 advances up surface 492, it pushes wheel 116 along with it, rotating wheel 116 until teeth 472 are re-set in the corresponding teeth of cam 436. The next time ball 28 arrives in trough 110 it will roll into indentation 188. Pulling plunger member 122 again will rotate ball advance member 458, as before, so that ball engaging abutment 466 forces ball 28 towards surface 442, with ball 28 being forced against tooth 428 during this movement to rotate wheel 116 again.On the third shot ball 28 will be delivered into indentation 490, and wheel 116 will be rotated again when plunger 122 is pulled to propel ball 28 towards surface 442. By this time abutment 480 has been rotated against abutment 494 (not illustrated) provided on subchassis 424 to prevent further ciockwise rotation of wheel 116. The next time ball 28 arrives in trough 110 it will not encounter an indentation 486, 488, or 490, but instead will encounter flange 478. Should plunger member 122 be pulled again, member 458 will be rotated but ball engagement abutment 466 cannot force ball 28 over flange 478 and up surface 492. Ball 28 will remain in trough 110 instead of being delivered to surface 442 in preparation for another shot. Reset wheel 116 must be manually rotated in the counter-clockwise direction before use of pinball machine 18 can continue.

Returning now to Figure 2, battery compartment 496 is provided within housing 20 and is accessible through a ciosable door 498 (not illustrated) on the underside of housing 20. Main switch 500 is fixedly mounted on compartment 496 and is positioned so that switch handle 148 extends through elongated switch opening 138 in housing 20. Subchassis 502, which forms a part of housing 20, is fixedly mounted thereon in some suitable manner, as by the use of retaining wall provided within housing 20. Subchassis 502 is provided with enclosure 504 into which lamp 505 is wedged at a position behind lamp opening 146, and speaker 506 of construction known in the art is mounted to subchassis 502 behind speaker grill 144.Tone generator circuit board 508 (not illustrated) for delivering an audio frequency signal to speaker 506 after sound switch 262 has been closed is also affixed to subchassis 508.

With reference nowto Figures 15 and 16, the electrical system employed in pinball machine 18 will now be described. When main switch 500 is closed a circuit is formed through motor 184, which immediately begins to rotate shaft 156. The rotation of shaft 156 periodically closes lamp activating switch 384, so that lamp 505 begins to flash. The closure of switch 500 also delivers power to terminals 510 and 512 of tone generator circuit board 508, which produces a sound each time the movement of a bumper member causes sound switch 262 to close.

While virtually any type of oscillator circuit, or even a buzzer or beil, might be employed to produce a sound, it has been found that the circuit of Figure 15 works admirabiy, producing a first tone when switch 262 is closed and a second tone decaying in intensity immediately after switch 262 is opened. The resulting sound emitted from speaker 506 closely resembles the sound produced by conventional arcadetype pinball machine.

Claims (1)

1. A pinball machine, comprising: a housing; a playing surface mounted on said housing, said playing surface having at least one opening therein; means for propelling a ball toward said playing surface; at least one ball detector element movably mounted in said housing, each said at least one ball detector element corresponding to one said at least one opening and having a ball detector surface positioned in said corresponding at least one opening; at least one bumper member movably mounted in said housing, each said at least one bumper member corresponding to one said at least one ball detector element; a motor mounted within said housing; and bumper member actuating mechanism means operatively connected to said motor for moving said at least one bumper member to propel said ball away after said ball has encountered the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element.

2. The pinball machine of claim 1, wherein each said at least one ball detector element is movable between a raised position closest to said playing surface and a lowered position more distant therefrom, wherein each at least one bumper member has a portion thereof extending above the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element and is movable between a raised position closest to said playing surface and a lowered position more distant therefrom, and further comprising biasing means for biasing each said at least one ball detector element and each said at least one bumper member in their raised positions.

3. The pinball machine of claim 2, wherein each said at least one ball detector element has an abutment thereon, wherein each said at least one bumper member has a rack of teeth thereon, and wherein said bumper member actuating mechanism means comprises a shaft journalled for rotation in said housing, said shaft being operatively connected to said motor, at least one fixed actuating member having a gear thereon fixedly attached to said shaft, each said at least one fixed actuating member corresponding to one said at least one ball detector element, at least one rotatable actuating member having a rotatably mounted gear on one side thereof and an abutment on the other side thereof rotatably mounted on said shaft, each said at least one rotatable actuating member corresponding to one said at least one ball detector element and being positioned adjacent said corresponding at least one fixed actuating member with its rotatably mounted gear meshing with the gear thereof and with its abutment positioned to engage the abutment of said corresponding at least one ball detector element when said corresponding at least one ball detector element is in its raised position, and means for retaining said rotatable gear in engagement with the rack of teeth of said corresponding at least one bumper member to move said corresponding at least one bumper member to its lowered position after said corresponding at least one ball detector element has been moved to its lowered position.

4. The pinball machine of claim 3, wherein said means foor retaining said rotatable gear in engagement with said rack of teeth comprises at least one tooth, each said at least one tooth being mounted on the periphery of one said at least one rotatable actuating member, a latch plate pivotably mounted in said housing beneath said shaft, and spring means for biasing said latch plate toward said shaft to a position to engage said at least one tooth, said latch plate being knocked away from said at least one tooth to relieve said means for retaining said rotatable gear when said at least one bumper member moves to its lowered position.

5. The pinball machine of any of the preceding claims, wherein said housing includes a ball collection trough adjacent said playing surface, and further comprising ball advancement mechanism means operatively connected to said means for propelling a ball toward said playing surface for limiting the number of times said ball can be propelled toward said playing surface to a preset number.

6. The pinball machine of claim 5, wherein said ball advancement mechanism means comprises a ball advancement member having an arm with a ball engagement abutment thereon, said ball advancement member being rotatably mounted on said housing adjacent said ball collection trough and operatively connected to said means for propelling a ball, and a reset wheel rotatably mounted to said housing above said ball advancement member, said reset wheel having a flange along one side thereof preventing said ball engagement abutment from moving said ball from said ball collection trough to said means for propelling a ball and at least one tooth on the other side thereof defining a plurality of indentations allowing said ball engagement abutment to move said ball from said ball collection trough to said means for propelling a ball.

7. The pinball machine of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a lamp mounted on said housing and means operatively connected to said bumper member actuating mechanism means for flashing said lamp.

8. The pinball machine of claim 7, wherein said means for flashing said lamp comprises a worm gear mounted on said bumper member actuating mechanism means, a gear having teeth protruding from one surface thereof rotatably mounted in said housing in meshing engagement with said worm gear, and a lamp activating switch mounted in said housing and positioned for periodic engagement by said teeth.

9. The pinball machine of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a scoring mechanism mounted on said housing and operationally connected to said bumper member actuating mechanism means.

10. The pinball machine of claim 9, wherein said scoring mechanism comprising a first scoring mechanism shaft mounted on said housing, first, second, and third scoring elements having indicia around their peripheries mounted adjacent to each other on said first scoring mechanism shaft, and score change means for rotating said second scoring element to display a new indicia each time said first scoring element has undergone a complete revolution and for rotating said third scoring element to display a new indica each time said second scoring element has undergone a complete revolution.

11. The pinball machineofclaim 10, wherein said first scoring element has a gear segment on the side thereof adjacent said second scoring element, said second scoring element has a gear on the side thereof adjacent said first element and a gear segement on the side thereof adjacent said third scoring element, and said third scoring element has a gear on the side thereof adjacent said second scoring element, and wherein said score change means comprises a second scoring mechanism shaft mounted in said housing parallel to said first scoring mechanism shaft, a first advancement gear rotatably mounted on said second scoring mechanism shaft permanently meshing with the gear on said second scoring element and positioned to mesh with the gear segment on said first scoring element once per revolution thereof, and a second advancement gear rotatably mounted on said second scoring mechanism shaft permanently meshing with the gear on said third scoring element and positioned to mesh with the gear segment on said second scoring element once per revolution thereof.

12. The pinball machine of claim 11, wherein said first and second advancement gears each have cams thereon, and further comprising a resilient element mounted on said housing and contacting said cams.

13. The pinball machine of claim 12, further comprising a reset member movably mounted on said housing and reset means operatively connecting said reset member to said first, second, and third scoring elements for restoring said first, second, and third scoring elements to their initial positions when said reset member is depressed.

14. The pinball machine of claim 13, wherein said reset means comprises cams mounted on the gears of said first, second, and third scoring elements, an element having three flexible fingers extending therefrom pivotably mounted on said housing, said element being connected to said reset member and said flexible fingers being positioned to contact the cams on the gears of said first, second, and third scoring elements when said reset member is depressed.

15. The pinball machine of any of the preceding claims, further comprising sound emitting means mounted in said housing and means operationally connected to said bumper member actuating mechanism means for activating said sound emitting means each time said at least one bumper member mechanism is moved.

16. The pinball machine of claim 15, wherein said sound emitting means comprises a speaker mounted on said housing and electrically connected to tone generator circuit means for generating a first tone signal as said ball is being propelled away followed by a second tone signal of falling amplitude after said ball has been propelled away.

17. The pinball machine of any of the preceding claims, wherein said playing surface has a plurality of openings therein and there are a plurality of corresponding ball dectector elements and bumper members, and further comprising left and right flipper members pivotably mounted adjacent said p!aying surface, and means mounted on said housing for manually controlling said flipper members.

18. The pinball of claim 17, wherein said housing has an elongated slot passing adjacent said flipper members, and wherein said means for manually controlling said flipper members comprises left and right elongated flipper control members movably mounted in said elongated slot, each of said left and right flipper control members having a slot therein, a post mounted on said left flipper member and extending into the slot in said left flipper control member, a post mounted on said right flipper member and extending into the slot in said right flipper control member, and a spring disposed between said left and right flipper control members in said slot passing adjacent said flipper members.

19. The pinball machine of claim 18, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings is generally round and the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element has an opening therein through which a generally conically shaped portion of said corresponding at least one bumper members extends to a centrally disposed position above the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element, and wherein at least one of said plurality of openings is generally rectangular.

20. The pinball machine of claim 19, further comprising a transparent cover member mounted on said housing spaced apart from said playing surface, said cover member having flanges thereon extending toward said playing surface, at least one of said flanges being a shield flange extending along one side of said at least one generally rectangular opening in said playing surface.

21. The pinball machine of claim 4, further comprising sound emitting means mounted on said housing and sound switch means mcunted between said housing and said latch plate for activating said sound emitting means each time said latch plate is knocked away from said at least one tooth.

22. The pinball machine of claim 21, wherein said sound emitting means comprises a transducer mounted on said housing and tone generator means for generating an audio frequency signal electrically connected to said transducer following closure of said sound switch means.

23. The pinball machine of claim 22, wherein said transducer is a speaker and said tone generator means comprises transistorized circuit means for producing a signal of a first frequency when said sound switch is closed and a signal of a second frequency and decreasing amplitude after said sound switch is opened.

24. The pinball machine of any of claims 21 through 23, further comprising a lamp mounted on said housing and means for flashing said lamp, said means for flashing said lamp comprising a worm gear mounted on said shaft, a gear having teeth protruding from one surface thereof rotatably mounted in said housing in meshing engagement with said worm gear, and a lamp activating switch mounted in said housing and positioned for periodic engagement by said teeth protruding from the surface of said gear.

25. The pinball machine of any of claims 21 through 24, further comprising a scoring mechanism having at least one rotatable scoring element with indicia disposed thereon and means operationally connecting said bumper member actuating mechanism means to said scoring mechanism for rotating said at least one rotatable scoring element, said means operationally connecting said bumper member actuating mechanism means to said scoring mechanism comprising a gear rotatably mounted on said shaft, a crown gear having at least one abutment moutned at the periphery thereof journalled for rotation in said housing in meshing engagement with said gear rotatably mounted on said shaft, an element mounted on said latch plate and positioned to engage said at least one abutment mounted at the periphery of said crown gear except when said latch plate is knocked away from said at least one tooth, and means operationally connecting said crown gear to said scoring mechanism for rotating said at least one rotatable scoring element.

26. The pinball machine of claim 25, further comprising reset means mounted on said housing for restoring each said at least one rotatable scoring element to its initial position when said reset means is manually depressed.

27. The pinball machine of any of claims 21 through 26, wherein said housing includes a ball collection trough adjacent said playing surface, and further comprising ball advancement mechanism means operationally connected to said means for propelling a ball toward said playing surface for limiting the number of times said ball can be moved from said ball collection trough to said means for propelling a ball toward said playing surface to a manually preset number.

28. The pinball machine of any of claims 21 through 27, wherein there are a plurality of openings in said playing surface, wherein at least one of said plurality of openings is generally round and the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element has an opening therein through which a portion of said corresponding at least one bumper member extends to a centrally disposed position above the ball detector surface of said corresponding at least one ball detector element, wherein at least one of said openings is generally rectangular, and wherein at least one of said plurality of openings is an elongated opening smaller in dimensions than said at least one rectangular opening, and further comprising an elongated scoring member having one end thereof pivotably mounted in said housing and the other end thereof mounted on one said at least one ball detector elements, said elongated scoring element having a portion thereof extending through said elongated opening.

30. The pinball machine of any of claims 21 through 29, wherein said housing has a slot extending from one side thereof to the other, and further comprising left and right flipper members pivotably mounted on said housing between said playing surface and said cover member, an elongated right flipper control member having an opening therein movably mounted in said slot, a post mounted on said right flipper member and extending into said opening in said right flipper control member, an elongated left flipper control member having an opening therein movably mounted in said slot at a position spaced apart from said right flipper control member, a post mounted on said left flipper member and extending into said opening in said left flipper control member, and a spring disposed in said slot between said left and right flipper control members.

31. A pinball machine wherein there is provided means defining a playing surface having at least one aperture in which, in use of the machine, temporarily to receive a playing ball and ball displacement means for displacing such a ball from said aperture in response to detection of said ball by a ball detection surface disposed in said aperture for contact by a ball received in said aperture, said ball displacement means comprising a member movable to exert on a ball received in said aperture a force having a vector parallel to said playing surface and said member being in connection with actuation means for transmission to said member of power for exerting said force.