GB2118050A - Target having spin direction detecting means - Google Patents

Abstract

The target, which spins when struck by a projectile 14 moving across a playfield 12, has means sensing the number of rotations and the direction of rotation in order to assign a player a score. The target has wings 22 extending outwardly from a shaft 20 and a detectable member 26 mounted eccentrically on the shaft. A pair of spaced-apart sensing means, e.g. 28, are disposed adjacent the sweep of the detectable means for sensing passage of the detectable member, and means associated with the sensing means interpret the number of rotations of the shaft and the direction of rotation, according to the number of times the detectable member passes by the sensing means and the order in which it passes, and provide a score. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spinner target for game projectile with direction detecting means The present invention relates to targets for pinball machines and more particularly to a novel spinning target.

Games of skill known as "pinball games" test the skill of a player in manipulating a projectile, such as a metal ball, over a playfield having various targets for the ball to hit. The skill of the player in keeping the ball in play and directing the ball to the various targets is reflected in a score which is recorded automatically in response to the ball hitting the various targets. In addition to testing the player's skill, pinball games create an audio and a visual experience by means of artwork, lights, sound apparatus and a variety of movable targets.

Among the various types of targets used in pinball machines are spinner targets which rotate when struck by the ball. A typically spinner includes a rotating shaft and wings extending outward therefrom in the path of the rolling ball.

Means associated with the spinner count the number of spins of the target and reflect this in the player's score. The greater the velocity of the ball striking one of the wings, the greater the rotational speed of the spinner and the more times it will rotate before friction brings it to a stop. In this manner a spinner target rewards a player not only for the direction which the player propels the ball, but the force which the player propels the ball as well.

In order that pinball games reflect the skill of the player, scoring systems are set up to reflect the skill of the player, and harder to hit targets are generally assigned a greater point value than easy to hit targets. Heretofore, spinner targets have assigned points to the players score according to the number of rotations of the spinner shaft. Thus the player scores points of roughly equal value irrespective of which side of the spinner target the ball strikes. Generally, both sides of the spinner target are not equally easy to strike, and a spinner target which rewards the player equally irrespective of the side struck is not fully reflecting his skill in the score.Even if both sides of the spinner target are equally accessible, assignment of different point values according to the side of the target struck and the rotational direction of the spinner occasioned thereby would provide the player with an incentive for more carefully aiming the bail.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinner target for a pinball game or the like which detects rotational direction in addition to counting rotations and awards points accordingly.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, a target is provided for a game, such as a pinball game or the like, which spins when struck by a projectile moving across a playfield and has means for sensing both the number of target rotations as well as the direction of rotation in order to assign a player score accordingly. The spinner target has a shaft mounted for rotation, wings extending radially outward from the shaft to be struck by and spun by the projectile and a detectable member mounted eccentric to the shaft axis.A pair of spaced-apart sensing means are disposed adjacent the sweep of the detectable member for sensing passage thereof, and means associated with the sensing means interpret the number of rotations of the shaft and the direction of rotation according to the number of times the detectable member passes by the sensing means and the order in which it passes by the sensing means.

A feature of the invention is that the spinner target assumes a predetermined rest position which is preferably maintained both by weight unbalancing the shaft, so that the target assumes a preferred position with respect to the incline of the playfield, and magnetically, by having a member mounted eccentrically to the shaft magnetically attractive to a member located at a particular angular position with respect to the rotation of the shaft.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a small portion of a pinball playfield on which is mounted a spinner target embodying various features of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a spinner target 10 mounted on a portion of a pinball playfield 1 2. The playfield 1 2 is flat and inclined toward the front of the game whereby the projectile or ball 14 naturally tends to roll down the playfield in the direction of arrow 1 6 (FIG. 2) unless propelled by means of a plunger, flippers, kickers etc. to roll upward along the playfield in the direction of the arrow 18, 1 8' (FIG. 1).The spinner target 10 has a shaft 20 extending upward of the playfield 1 2 and mounted for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the surface of the playfield and wing means 22 extending radially outwardly from the shaft so that when the ball strikes the wing means, it causes the shaft to rotate and the wing means to spin.

Depending on which side of the shaft and which direction the ball is rolling, i.e., up or down the playfield, the shaft 20 will be rotated in one of its two rotational directions. The velocity at which the ball hits the wing means 20 determines the speed of rotation.

In accordance with the present invention, means indicated generally at 24 are provided for measuring not only the number of rotations of the spinner shaft 20, as was heretofore common in spinning pinball targets, but the rotational direction as well. Herein, a detectable member 26 is connected eccentrically to the spinner target shaft 20 and a pair of spaced-apart sensing means 28 are mounted to sense passage of the detectable member 26 in its sweep about the shaft axis. The sensing means 28 are consecutively acted upon by the sweeping detectable member 26, and through the use of appropriate interpreting means, such as microprocessors as are known in the art, rotational direction can be determined according to the order which the sensing means detect the sweeping member.It is preferred that the sensing means that are disposed at spaced-apart angular positions with respect to rotational axis of the shaft 20 are not diametrically opposed, that is, they do not lie along a line extending through the rotational axis of the shaft. With the sensing means 28 not diametrically opposed, rotational direction can be interpreted according to a difference in time between tripping the first 28a and second 28b sensing means and the time between tripping the second 28b and first 28a sensing means. The sensing means should be spaced at least about 200 apart to ensure consecutive tripping, and if the timing is used to interpret direction, the sensing means should be spaced no more than about 1200 apart.

The illustrated shaft 20 is a unitary metal member which has a portion that extends about the playfield 12 supporting the wing means 22 and a portion that extends below the playfield carrying the detectable member 26. At the upper end of the shaft is an integral threaded segment 30 that is received in a threaded bore 32 of the wing means 22 for securing the wing means thereon. At the bottom of the shaft is an integral narrow pin segment 34 which is received in a bearing assembly 36 that facilitates smooth rotation of the shaft. The illustrated wing means 22 comprises a central core 38 having the threaded bore 32 by which it is applied to the shaft, and a pair of wings 40 extending on diametrically opposite sides thereof. The core 38 has a non-functional design for contributing to the visual experience provided by the pinball game.

The wings 40, which are formed integraily with the core 38, e.g., from molded plastic, extend outward from the core a distance of one or more ball diameters to be struck by the ball 14 moving across the playfield 1 2.

The shaft 20 is mounted for rotation in a U-shaped bracket 44 having a lower panel 45 which carries the bearing assembly, an upper panel 48 attached to the under surface of the playfield board and a connecting vertical front panel 50.

The bearing assembly 36, which is disposed on the upper surface of the lower panel 46 and attached to the lower panel by a bolt 52 extending through the lower panel, has a narrow well 54 opening upward. The narrow pin portion 34 of the shaft extends into the well 54 standing on a ball bearing 56 retained therein. The upper panel 48 has an aperture 60 continuous with an aperture 62 of the playfield board through which the shaft 20 extends and has a low-friction grommet 64 which, along with the bearing assembly 36, facilitates smooth rotation of the shaft 20.

Means in the form of electrical switches 28 sense the number of rotations and rotational direction of the shaft. The switches are mounted on a rear panel 70 which is attached by screws 72 to a pair of integrally formed tabs 74 depending from the front end of the upper bracket panel 48.

As shown, the switches 28 are mounted on the face 76 of the rear panel 70 away from the shaft 22 and are tripped by proximity, but not actual contact of the detectable member 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the detectable number 26 is a magnet and the switches 28 are reed switches tripped by the sweeping magnet mounted at the end of an arm 80 extending radially outward of the shaft 20. Because the reed switches 28 are magnetically tripped, the rear panel 70 on which they are mounted is non-metallic, e.g., a pc board, whereas the bracket 44 itself is formed of metal, such as steel. The rear panel 70 may also have electronic components associated with the switches 28 including printed circuitry, and the switches and associated circuitry are connected by leads 82 to microprocessors for interpretation of the tripping of the switches.

The tripping of both switches 28 indicates a full rotation of the shaft. The order of switches tripped is a function of the rotational direction of the shaft.

Where the switches 28a,b are spaced apart on a non-diametric line, the time differential between tripping the first 28a and second switch 28b and tripping the second and first switch is a measurement of the order of switching. However, because as explained below, the spinner target 10 is designed to have a predetermined rest position, the rotational direction can be determined by the order of switch tripping alone.

In order that the wings 40 are fully exposed to the upward or downward travel of the ball 14, the spinner target 10 assumes a predetermined rest orientation in which the wings 40 are generally perpendicular to the incline of the playfield board.

Herein, the rest orientation is effected both by gravity and magnetically. The bracket 44 is formed of a ferro-magnetic metal to which the magnet 26 is attracted. Also, the magnet 26 and arm 80 by which it is connected to the shaft 20 weight unbalance the shaft. The bracket 46 is mounted so that its front panel 50 is towards the front of the game, downward along the incline, and the weight of the magnet 28 and arm 80 and the attraction of the magnet for the front panel reinforce each other in establishing the rest position of the spinner target 10 with the magnet towards the front of the game and the wings 40 perpendicular to the incline of the playfield 12. Thus the wings 40 at rest are fully exposed to the upward or downward roll of the ball 14.

Although the arm 80 and magnet 26 are intended to weight imbalance the shaft 20, the imbalance is not so great that it would interfere with the free spinning of the target 1 0. The arm 80 is a thin flat bar of light metal, preferably ferrous metal, having a collar 86 at one end through which the shaft 20 passes and which is secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 88. A lightweight magnet 26 is provided by a polymeric material having magnetic particles imbedded therein, and the magnet is sandwiched between the arm 80 and a flat upper plate 90 riveted thereto.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, modifications obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the magnet and magnetically actuated switches could be replaced by mechanical switches within the sweep of a swinging arm. Rotation of the spinner could also be detected by a pair of opto-electronics devices.

The detectable member, e.g. a magnet, could be carried in the wings and the sensing switches mounted in the playfield surface. The spinning target could have a single wing which is rotated in different directions according to whether it is struck from above or below.

Various features are set forth in the foliowing

Claims (11)

claims. CLAIMS

1. A target for a pinball game or the like having a generally flat playfield over which a projectile moves, said target comprising a shaft; wing means extending radially outward from said shaft; means for mounting said shaft for rotation with said wing means above said playfield positioned to be struck by the projectile, whereby the projectile striking said wing means rotates said shaft; means for determining both the number of rotations of said shaft and the direction of its rotation; and means for assigning a score according to the number of rotations and direction of rotation.

2. A target for a pinball game or the like having a generally flat playfield over which a projectile moves, said target comprising a shaft; wing means extending radially outward from said shaft; means for mounting said shaft for rotation with said wing means above said playfield positioned to be struck by the projectile, whereby the projectile striking said wing means rotates said shaft; a pair of sensing means and means for mounting said pair of sensing means adjacent said shaft at spaced-apart angular positions with respect to the rotational axis of said shaft; means carried by said shaft eccentric to its rotational axis detectable by each of said sensing means, in turn, on each rotation of said shaft; and means for interpreting rotational direction according to the order passage of said detectable means by said sensing means.

3. A target according to Claim 2 wherein said wing means extends in two radial directions from said shaft.

4. A target according to Claim 3 wherein said wing means extend in opposite radial directions from said shaft.

5. A target according to Claim 2 wherein said detectable means is a magnet and said sensing means are magnetically sensitive.

6. A target according to Claim 5 wherein said sensing means are a pair of electrical switches which are tripped by said magnetic on each rotation of said shaft.

7. A target according to Claim 2 having means for returning said shaft and said connected wing means to a predetermined rotational position following cessation of rotation.

8. A target according to Claim 7 for use on an inclined playfield where said position returning means comprises means for weight imbalancing said shaft.

9. A target according to Claim 7 wherein said position returning means is a first member eccentrically connected to said shaft and a second member mountable adjacent the sweep of said first member, one of said members being magnetic and the other being magnetically attractive.

1 0. A target according to Claim 2 wherein said pair of sensing means are mounted along a line that does not pass through the axis of said shaft, whereby the direction of rotation is interpretable according to the time difference between said detectable means passing between the first and second sensing means and between the second and first sensing means.

11. A target as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.