GB2305867A - Pinball machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A pinball machine has a playing surface incorporating a ball striking element which is in plan a non-circular element that rotates thus providing a more diverse rebound pattern when a ball hits it.

Description

PINBALL MACHINES This invention relates to pinball machines.

Traditional pinball machines have a slightly inclined playing surface and a metal ball is projected to roll over that surface and various striking mechanisms are provided, some automatic and some under the control of the player, the skill being to use these to retain a ball in play for as long as possible so as to achieve a high score.

One of the automatic mechanisms usually provided on the playing surface is of mushroom shape. Once a ball touches this, the mechanism is pulled downwardly very rapidly with the result that the ball is squeezed out between the head of the mushroom and the playing surface.

This tends to result in the ball being expelled generally radially from the mushroom head and a modest increase in momentum may be imparted to the ball.

An object of the present invention is to provide a different form of automatic striking mechanism which will give a very different effect from that described above.

According to the invention there is provided a pinball machine having one or more striking mechanisms incorporated into the playing surface of a type comprising a striking member which has an eccentric shape when seen in plan view, which is mounted substantially parallel to the playing surface and which is rotated about an upright axis so that, when a ball in play strikes the edge of the member, extra momentum is imparted to the ball and it is driven away from the mechanism. Usually the ball is driven in a direction which is not radial relative the rotational axis of the member but which tends to be more tangential.

Therefore when a pinball machine includes such a striking mechanism an entirely different effect is achieved when the ball in play strikes it from the effect achieved using a traditional mushroom-shaped striking member. In practice one or more rotating striking mechanisms as described above, and one or more traditional mushroom-shaped striking mechanisms can be provided in a pinball machine to give a variety of effects during play.

The striking member can be rotated at a constant rate in one direction or could be rotated at a varying rate including being stationary with change in the direction of rotation from time to time to give further variations in play. For example, the rate of rotation can be from 300 to 4000 rpm, but is more preferably above 1000 rpm and most preferably from 1000 to 3000 rpm.

The eccentric shape of the striking member can vary from an oval shape to one having a number of arms, e.g. one to eight or more preferably two to five, which extend away from the axis of rotation. Different eccentric shapes will impart differing momentum and direction to the ball. A preferred shape is oval.

The maximum radial extent of the striking member from its axis of rotation should preferably be from 1 to 6 cm, i.e. 1 to 6 times the radius of a ball, or more preferably 2 to 6 cm.

An example of a pinball machine according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the playing surface; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational detail of a striking mechanism; and Figure 3 is a plan view detail of the mechanism as shown in Figure 2.

This pinball machine 10 shown in Figure 1 is largely conventional. It has a substantially flat playing surface 12 over which a ball in play can roll. A striker mechanism under manual control is positioned near the lower left corner to put a ball into play and the ball then rolls over the playing surface in the usual way striking various upstanding items or surfaces, some of which are movable under manual control and the objective of the user is to keep the ball in play as long as possible before it enters a lower tray 13 and is lost from play. The score according to the ball striking particular objects is shown by a display 14. It is not felt that any more explanation of these conventional features is required.

Positioned in the playing surface are two striking mechanisms 15 according to the invention which are shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Each of these mechanisms 15 comprise a rotatable striker 20 supported on a spindle 22 which is rotatably driven directly by a small electric motor 24 positioned below the playing surface 12. Alternatively the motor 24 can drive the spindle 22 indirectly via gears, bolts or chains. The rotatable striker comprises an oval shaped member 26 of inverted bowl shape which has a hard upright edge surrounded by a layer of rubber 28 and which is positioned just above the playing surface 12. This is surmounted by an upper circular cap 30. The ring 28 is positioned, as best shown in Figure 2, at a level such that it can contact a playing ball 32 as the latter rolls over the playing surface 12, whilst the cap 30 is positioned above the level of the ball 32.

In operation the striking mechanism 15 is set into rotation, and a ball is projected onto the playing surface.

It rolls down the surface in a conventional fashion but if it encounters one of the striking mechanisms 15, it hits the ring 28 and is flung out with increased momentum.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A pinball machine having one or more striking mechanisms incorporated into the playing surface each of which comprises a striking member which has an eccentric shape when seen in plan view, and which is rotated about an upright axis so that, when a ball in play strikes the edge of the member, extra momentum is imparted to the ball and it is driven away from the mechanism.

2. A pinball machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the striking member is rotated at a constant rate in one direction of rotation.

3. A pinball machine as claimed in Claim 1 in which the striking member is rotated at a varying rate of rotation with a change in direction of rotation from time to time.

4. A pinball machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the rate of rotation of the striking member is from 300 to 3000 rpm.

5. A pinball machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the eccentric shape is oval as seen in plan view.

6. A pinball machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the striking member has from one to eight arms which extend away from the axis of rotation.

7. A pinball machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the maximum radial extent of the striking member from its axis of rotation is from 2 to 6 cm.

8. A pinball machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the striking member is of inverted bowl-shape with an upright edge defining the eccentric shape and attached to an upright rotatable spindle on which the mechanism is supported.

9. A pinball machine as claimed in Claim 8 in which the striking member is surmounted by an upper circular cap.

10. A pinball machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the edge of the member is covered with a rubber layer.

11. A pinball machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.