US3826883A

US3826883A - Lock-out ball bumper switch

Info

Publication number: US3826883A
Application number: US00286003A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Foster; J Lally
Original assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Midway Amusement Games LLC
Priority date: 1972-09-05
Filing date: 1972-09-05
Publication date: 1974-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-30
Also published as: JPS4963536A; GB1438384A; JPS5319254B2

Abstract

A ball bumper and switch means for pinball games and the like, wherein a blade switch is actuated by a pendantly rocked stem attached to a ball-rocked wafer or other target element. The improvements reside in a simple lock-out action between the stem and switch element which causes the switch to remain in operated condition until a resetting action is effected. Optionally, the lock-out action may be made directionally selective so that the switch means can be actuated by ball impact from any direction but the lock-out action will be effected only by impacts occurring in predetermined directions. A variety of game circuits and scoring arrangements can be controlled by the novel bumper switch means.

Description

Foster et al.

[111 3,826,883 [4 1 July 30, 1974 LOCK-OUT BALL BUMPER SWITCH [75] lnventors: Colin E. Foster, Bensonville; Joseph E. Lally, Mcl-lenry, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corporation,

Chicago, Ill. [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 286,003

[52] US. Cl ZOO/61.11, 273/127 R, 273/129 [51] Int. Cl. HOlh 3/16 [58] Field of Search........ 273/119 R, 119 A, 121 R, 273/121 A, 121 D, 122 R, 122 A, 123 R, 123 A, 124 R, 124 A, 125 R, 125 A,129, 118 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,318,394 5/1943 Hooker ZOO/61.11 2,487,979 11/1949 Neyens 273/118 A Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Callard Livingston [57] ABSTRACT A ball bumper and switch means for pinball games and the like, wherein a blade switch is actuated by a pendantly rocked stem attached to a ball-rocked wafer or other target element. The improvements reside in a simple lock-out action between the stem and switch element which causes the switch to remain in operated condition until a resetting action is effected. Optionally, the lock-out action may be made directionally selective so that the switch means can be actuated by ball impact from any direction but the lock-out action will be effected only by impacts occurring in predetermined directions, A variety of game circuits and scoring arrangements can be controlled by the novel bumper switch means.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTROL PATENTEB JUL 3 0 I974 -scoR 2:2

NTI/Hf FURTHER CONTRO L FUNCTION SCORING OR OTHER CONTROLLED GMT- TZ i 70 6 m T T E S E R L A N m 5 E C R U 0 S 1 LOCK-OUT BALL BUMPER SWITCH Ball bumpers used in pinball and like ball-rolling games are known in numerous forms and many embodiments utilize some type of switch to control game scoring and a variety of novelty and feature functions and subcircuits, dependently upon impact of a ball on a rockable wafer, post, or other target element situated on the ball-rolling surface of the playfield and maintained by spring action in a normal position from which it can be deflected by ball impact.

Switches of the flexible-blade or stack type are commonly employed in such bumpers and are actuated by a pendant leg or stem projecting below the playfield from the wafer and rocked from a normal centralized position whenever a ball strikes and rocks the wafer, post, or other target element. Commonly, the switchactuating leg can rock in any direction 360 about its normally pendant central position, and usually the ball target or wafer can be struck and operated by a ball approaching the bumper from any direction about the center of such pendantly central position.

One popular type of ball bumper, sometimes known in the art as a Thumper Bumper," includes electromagnetic means for repelling the ball comprising a circular reprojecting disc or ring which is elevated normally above the ball target wafer and is snapped downwardly against the impinging ball by electromagnetic means as the result of actuation of the appurtenant bumper switch, the ball thereby being smartly reprojected back onto the playfield in further play.

The present improvements, while not so limited, are particularly useful in connection with the described type of reprojecting bumper, and make possible the elimination of one or more relays and wiring otherwise required for controlling both the electromagnetic reprojecting means and the usual score control means by reason of the fact that the main bumper blade switch,

instead of producing a transient, light and often fluttering signal when ball-actuated, is now caused to be locked in an operated condition until a reset-ting action is effected, so that a positive, reliable switch pulse is achieved sufficient to assure full stroke operation of the reprojecting or resetting solenoid without intervention of relay means.

The disclosed improvements further afford a lockout bumper switch means which is optionally directionally responsive in that a ball must approach the bumper target from some particular direction in order to effectuate the lock-out action, the switch means being operative also in all other intended directions of ball approach.

The illustrative bumper is of the reprojecting type, and the switch-resetting action is derived from the electromagnetic driving means which activates the ball reprojecting means in response to a hit upon the target.

It is to be understood that the resetting action can be embodying the improved switch means and certain control circuit connections therefor;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental elevational detail of certain parts seen in FIG. 1, but shown in an operated condition and with modified control circuitry;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental perspective detail illustrating parts of the switch resetting means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental plan detail of a modified lockout switch blade having directional characteristics;

FIG. 4-A is a fragmental plan detail of another modifled lock-out switch blade having still further directional characteristics.

As depicted in FIG. 1, a known type of ball bumper -may comprise a dome structure 10 of translucent plastic housing a lamp 1] and having footing means 12 fitted onto the usual ball-rolling panel 13 in which is an opening 14 through which depends a switch-actuating leg or stem 15, the upper end of which is attached to a ball-rocked target wafer 16 yieldingly elevated relative to the ball-rolling surface to a normal centralized position by spring means 17, all in-a known manner, such that wen a ball -B- strikes the bevelled edge of the wafer or target element the latter will be rocked in the manner indicated in full lines in FIG. 2, and the stem 15 will correspondingly be deflected sidewise from its normally centralized position with consequent switchactuating functions to be described.

Aligned above the ball wafer 16, FIG. 1, is a reprojecting means which may take the form of a metal ring 18 supported by a pair of metal rods 19 passing downwardly through suitable holes in the panel for attachment, as by nuts 20, to a metal plate carrier 21 (FIG. 3 also) attached to the upper end of a solenoid plunger 22 movable against a normalizing spring 23 into the bore of an electromagnetic solenoid 24. This plunger assembly, in turn, is joined to a metal bracket 25 (FIG. 3, also) attached by screw means 26 to a larger suspension bracket 27 for the solenoid which is secured by screw means 28 to the underside of the playfield panel.

The operation of the foregoing solenoid means is such that when the coil is energized the plunger 22 is drawn sharply downward and the ball-reprojecting ring 18 follows downwardly by reason of its attachment to the plunger structure by rods 19, with the result, illustrated in FIG. 2, that the slanted rim of the reprojecting ring 18 impinges upon the ball, as shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 2, to throw the ball more or less violently back onto the playfield on a new course, as indicated by the ball shown in full lines, this much of the reprojecting bumper structure and operation being wellknown in the art.

Two switching devices are included in the illustrative bumper structure, an upper switch unit 30 designated for convenience the bumper switch, because it is ball-activated, and a lower switch unit 50 designated the breaker switch," because it opens the solenoid circuit near the end of the plunger stroke, both of these switches being preferably of the simple spring blade or stack type wherein the contact blades are secured at one end in a stack of insulating wafers secured to the underside of the playfield, while the respective free ends of the blades project into space for flexing in switching action, it being understood that more than two contact blades can be arranged in any stack for coactive switching action.

One aspect of the novel dock-out bumper switch means afforded by the present disclosures, as illustrated in FIG. 1, relates to the upper switching unit 30 wherein the longer switch blade 31 is provided near its free end with a lock-out button 32 (FIG. 2 also) which may be of cylindrical shape approximating in diameter the diameter of the lower free end A of the wafer stem. The upper axial end of this lockout button constitutes a land which is juxtaposed with the free end portion 15A of the wafer stem when the latter is in its normally centralized condition, and the switch blade is biased to dispose this land into contact with the said free end portion to hold the switch contacts 34, 35 in open-circuit condition until the wafer is ball-rocked to deflect the stem and its free end from the land and permit the blade to spring upwardly into contact-closing condition. This blade action disposes the lock-out button in a position illustrated in FIG. 2, to block the end of the wafer stem against restoration to its normal position with the result that the bumper switch remains locked up in operated condition, which may be either a closedor open-circuit condition depending upon the relative positioning of the upper and

lower switch blades

33, 31 for normally open or closed-circuit relationship, FIG. 1 illustrating the normally open-circuit condition of these contacts.

The bumper switch means 30 may be employed to control a variety of circuits, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1 byway of example. Closure of contacts 34, 35, as aforesaid, causes energization of the solenoid coil 24 from a power source such as transformer winding 37, conductor 38, contacts 34, 35 (when closed by ball action as aforesaid), conductor 39, normally closed breaker contacts 51, 52 of another solenoid or supervisory breaker switch means 50, conductor 40, to one terminal 41 of the coil 24 and thence from terminal 42 via conductor 43 and a known type of feature control circuit means 44 designated as Hi-Score Control Ckt., to the remaining terminal 45 of the transformer winding 37.

The Hi-Score Control Ckt. may be any optional game feature or subcircuit which conditions the particular bumper shown for reprojecting action at some phase of the game cycle, which condition is signalled to the player by illumination of the bumper lamp 11, so that when this lamp is lighted the player knows that the bumper is effective for scoring action and ball reprojecting purposes.

Thus, in this illustrative circuit arrangement, the closure of bumper contacts 34, 35, described above, results, when the feature control circuit is effective, in energization of the reprojecting solenoid and ring means 24, 18, to propel the activating ball back into board action, and as the solenoid plunger 22 reaches the end of its stroke an insulated wafer 29, carried at the head of the plunger, bears upon the free end 52A of the long supervisory switch blade 52, breaking the solenoid power circuit at contacts 51X, 52X and deenergizing the solenoid.

At'this juncture, the bumper switch is automatically reset by means of a resetting bracket which may be in the form of the simple stamping shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, having an offset base flange 61 secured to the plunger assembly plate 21 by the nuts 20 employed to retain the supporting rods 19 for the reprojecting ring. The resetting plate 60 has a central punched-out opening 64 through which the free end of the elongated 4 bumper switch blade 31 projects, FIG. 3, together with a remnant punching tab 65 struck upwardly at an angle (see also FIG. 2) to provide a smooth and widened bladeengaging surface.

FIG. 2 discloses another game control circuit embodying the improved bumper switch means, wherein the bumper switch contacts 34, 35, instead of controlling the reprojecting means directly, are connected via conductors 70, 71 to control another game element or subcircuit 72 designated Scoring Or Other Controlled Ckt., and the resetting function is effected responsive to energization of the solenoid 24 from still another game subcircuit 75 designated as Resetting Signal Source, the normally closed breaker switch contacts 51X, 52X being in series with a source of resetting signal power to the solenoid coil 24 via

conductors

76, 77. In this circuit the resetting signal source may be a manual switch 78 actuated by the player at the instant the ball strikes the bumper target or wafer to procure a sort of Flipper bumper action (F lipper being a term of art), the intent being to exercise skill in energizing the reprojecting means at the proper instant to cause a reprojection, which if the timing fails, will nevertheless reset the bumper switch.

FIG. 2 further illustrates the use of multiple control contact means for the bumper switch by the addition of another contact element 80 connecting via conductor 81 to still another game subcircuit means 83 designated Further Control Function.

In this embodiment, when the bumper-wafer 16 is struck and the switch 30 is operated and locked out, the score register circuit or other subcircuit means 72 will be actuated and an interval is allowed during which the player may actuate the manual reprojecting switch means 78 such that, if the ball is still within the range of the reprojecting ring 18 and the manual switch is actuated in time, the ball can be reprojected or not as the player chooses, and if not, this bumper circuit will re main available for reprojection should the ball again approach this particular bumper for the purpose. A master resetting signal is applied at the end or beginning of each game cycle to restore any locked out bumpers.

The switch lock-out means may be made directionally selective to add interest and skill factors to various game board arrangements, as illustrated by the modified construction of FIG. 4 wherein the elongated wafer actuated contact blade has an enlarged and concavely-dished end portion 91 such as is employed in a widely used type of ball bumper switch disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,487,979.

In this dished type of switch blade the bumper stem 15X is normally centered over the center of the circular concavity and the stem is free to move in any direction from this normal central position to engage radi ally closer wall portions of the concavity and thereby operate the switch. In this modified construction of FIG. 4 one side portion 93 of the concavity is removed (or struck down) to provide a smooth riding edge to a depth such that if the wafer stem 15X moves away from centered position within a range of as much as 40 the end of the stem can move beyond the margins of the concavity and thereby become blocked in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

Still another modification of selective locking or holding action is depicted in FIG. 4A wherein a suitably widened stem-engaging button member 96 is disposed near the end of the switch blade 95 and upon the top land 96A of which the free end of the wafer stem X would normally rest in the manner of the stem shown in FIG. 1. But in this selective locking embodiment, one or

more side portions

97A, 97B of the button are cut away or of lesser radial distance from the center of the land, with the result that when the wafer stem is deflected sufficiently beyond the margins of these re lieved or narrowed side portions the stem 15X will be blocked and locked out, as depicted in FIG. 4A, it being evident that such selective configurations of the button can be located at any point about the center of the land to render the action selective in some desired direction or more than one direction. The resetting means and action for such directionally selective modifications may be the same as for the construction of FIG. 1.

In prior reprojecting apparatus of this type it has been necessary to employ relays sensitive enough for control by the relatively fast and often weak pulses from the wafer or ball switch in order to assure a reliable and sustained heavy-current pulse for the solenoid to produce a positive full-stroke response of the latter. Without relays the ball switch pulses are commonly fluttering, impositive, and too rapid to be depended upon to actuate the reprojecting means or score register with every hit. In part, this characteristic is sometimes relied upon as a playing hazard of the game in the respect that it is required that any scoring ball strike the bumper wafer energetically and in a head-on rather than glancing approach; othertimes, the hit is not scored. But relays are commonly employed even under such conditions, because they can be adjusted to respond to marginal as well as strong ball hits, and one of the important advantages of the lock-out means, apart from eliminating relays, resides in the fact that the stack switch can be utilized with only the simple addition of the lock-out button of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the marginally cut or formed land arrangements of FIGS. 4 and 4A.

We claim:

1. In a ball bumper switch assembly having a ballactuated stem with pendulum-like action and a free end activating a switch element by rocking from a normally centralized position into which the stem is springurged, improvements comprising, namely: the combination of lock-out means on the switch element providing a limited land area confronting and engageable with said free end of the stem and in said normally centralized position of the stem whereby to prevent the switch element from moving into a first operative condition in the general direction of the axis of said stem, and permitting said element to move into said first operative condition responsive to ball-actuating movement of said stem and displacement of the free end thereof beyond predetermined marginal portions of the land area, said lock-out means having portions disposed in said free operative condition thereof to block return of the free end of the stem from said displaced to said normally centralized condition; and reset means operative to move said switch element in a direction away from said first and second operative conditions and permit return of the stem and said free end thereof to said normally centralized position and thereafter to permit reengagement of said land area with said free end of the centralized free end of the stem.

2. In a ball switch, a rockable stem member and ballactivated means for rocking the same, said member having a free end portion and spring means yieldingly urging said member into a normal position to dispose said end portion in a centralized position; a switch member yieldingly urged toward and into engagement with said free end portion in said centralized position and movable therebeyond to a first operative condition when said free end portion is deflected from said centralized position a predetermined amount; lock-out means carried by the switch member including stemengaging land portions engageable with said free end of the stem in said normalized position thereof to prevent movement of the switch member into said first condition, and stem-blocking portions engageable with the stem when the latter is deflected said predetermined amount whereby the stem is blocked from returning to normal position; electromagnetic resetting means operative to move the switch member oppositely from its movement into said first operative condition to a nonblocking position permitting the stem to return to said normal position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized by the provision of circuit means controlled by said switch member in said first operated condition thereof to actuate said electromagnetic means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further characterized by the provision of ball-reprojecting means operatively associated with said ball-activated means and moved by said electromagnetic means responsive to actuation thereof as aforesaid, whereby to effect a reprojection of a ball which activates the ball-activated means.

5. A ball bumper of the type including a ball engageable member movably responsive to ball engagement therewith from a normal position into which it is yieldingly urged together with a cooperative axially elongated pendulant stem having a free end normally disposed in a centralized position in said normal position of the ball-engageable member, and switch means controlled by displacements of said stem end from said centralized position, improvements characterized in that said switch means includes a switch member fixed at one end and having an opposite end movable in the general direction of the stem axis toward and away from said free stem end, said switch member having spring bias urging the same in a bias direction to dispose said opposite end thereof toward abutting relation with said stem end in said centralized position and toward successive first and second operative positions in such bias direction; and lock out means situated at said opposite end of the switch member and including a land of predetermined small area to abut said stem end and thereby maintain the switch member in said first operative position against bias movement into the second operative position so long as the stem end remains on said land, ball-effected displacement of the stem a predetermined minimal amount displacing said stem end beyond marginal portions of the land and out of abutting engagement with the lock out means, thereby freeing the switch member for movement into said second operative position wherein other portions of the lock out means become disposed to block return of the stem to normal position, such return being effected by a resetting movement of the switch member responsive to application thereto of a resetting force acting to move the same oppositely from said bias direction into a reset position wherein said lock out means is in a non-blocking relation to the stem, withdrawal of said resetting force permitting bias movement of the switch member back from reset position into said first-operative position with said land again in abutting engagement with the stem end.

6. A bumper structure according to claim wherein said land has a central zone abutting said free stem end in said centralized position thereof, and in at least one particular direction radially outward from said central zone with respect to the stem axis, said marginal portions of the land lie radially beyond the maximal range of displacement of the stem and said free end thereof such that said stem end cannot escape from abutting relation with the land in such particular direction but can do so in other directions, whereby operation of the switch means is rendered directionally selective in dependance upon the direction in which the stem is displaced by ball action from said normal position thereof.

7. The construction of claim 5 wherein said lock out means is a stud secured at one end to said opposite end of the switch member to project laterally therefrom toward and in alignment with said stem end in the centralized position thereof, and said stud has an opposite end abuttingly confronting said stem end and constituting said land, said stud having a length between said ends thereof such that on displacement of the stem end from the land in any direction radially of the stem axis, the stud escapes abutting blocking action of the stem and thereby permits the switch member to move into said second operative position wherein the body of the stud blocks return of the stem to normal position as aforesaid.

8. A ball bumper according to claim 5 further characterized in that said switch member is an elongated blade fixed at one end to project generally traversely of the stem axis and lie in a plane with one side and the opposite endof the blade facing said free end of the stem in said normal centralized position thereof; and

. said lock out means comprises a configuration at said facing end of the blade projecting laterally therefrom and in alignment with the centralized stem end, said configuration having a portion defining said land, said blade being provided with spring bias urging the same toward the stem end and said first and second operative positions whereby said land is thrust against said stem end in the centralized position thereof and obstructs the switch member from moving into said second operative position so long as the stem remains in substantially normal position to maintain said free end thereof substantially within the area defining said land, said configuration including a marginal edge portion situated closer to a central zone thereof than the remaining marginal portions thereof and beyond which movement of the stem end escapes from said configuration and becomes blocked by said edge portion from return to centralized position.

9. In a ball-actuated bumper switch for pinball games of the type having a target element engageable by a ball or similar playing piece and means yieldingly urging the same into a normal position in which such element can be engaged by a ball and thereby displaced from such normal position, together with switch means including an axially elongated stem projecting from said target element and having a free end portion disposed in a centralized position from which it is deflected by ball movement of the target element from said normal position, together with switch means actuated by deflection of the stem from said centralized position, improvements comprising, namely: the provision of an elongated switch member fixed at one end and having an opposite free end region spring biased to move toward said free end of the stem in the general direction of the axis thereof; stem blocking lock out means movable with said switch member at said opposite end thereof providing a land engageable with the free end of the stem in said normally centralized position thereof; said bias yieldingly urging said switch member into a first operative position determined by abutting engagement of the land with the free end of the stem as aforesaid, whereby the switch member is releasably prevented from bias movement into a second operative position, displacement of the stem a predetermined amount responsive to ball movement of the target element as aforesaid with corresponding movement of the free end of the stem beyond predetermined margins of said land freeing the switch member for movement to the second operative position and disposing said lock out means in position to obstruct return of the stem to said centralized position; and resetting means operative to move the switch member in a direction reversely back away from said second and first operative positions sufficient to permit the stem to pass the blocking lock out means for return to centralized position, said resetting means being thereafter operative to free the switch member to effect reengagement of the land with the free end of the stem.

10. A construction according to claim 9 wherein said lock out means comprises an offset configuration on the switch member and said land area comprises a predetermined limited area of said configuration confronting the free end of the stem to provide an area of abutting engagement for the free end of the stem in the normally centralized condition of the latter, such that the switch member is releasably held in said first operative position and will be freed for movement into said second operative position by displacement of the stem a predetermined minimum amount from said normally centralized position to carry said free end of the stem beyond marginal portions of said land area.

11. The construction of claim 10 wherein said switch member is a spring blade and said lock out means comprises a circularly dished concave formation on said blade the concavity of which confronts the free end of the stem, and said land area comprises portions of the concavity engaged by said free end of the stem in said normally centralized condition of the latter whereby the blade is maintained in said first operative position, said concave formation having a marginal portion of lesser radial distance from the center of the concavity than certain remaining marginal portions thereof and beyond which said free end of the stem can escape whereby to permit said free end of the blade to move into said second operative position and into blocking relation to the stem as aforesaid.

12. In a ball bumper assembly having a ball-actuated stem with pendulum-like action and a free end activating a switch element by rocking from a normally centralized position into which the stem is spring-urged, improvements comprising, namely: the combination of lock out means on the switch element providing a limited land area confronting said stem end in a first operative condition thereof and prevented thereby from moving to a second operative condition in a direction generally toward said stem, but permitting said element to move into said second operative condition responsive to ball-actuated movement of said stem and displacement of the free end thereof beyond a predetermined marginal portion of the landarea, said lock out means having portions disposed in said second operative condition to block return of the free end of the stem from said displaced back to said normally centralized position and thereafter permit reengagement of the centralized stem end with the land on restoration of the switch element to said first operative condition.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further provided with means for resetting said switch element from the second operative to the first operative condition comprising electromagnetic means energizable to move the switch element in a direction reversely away from the stem and free end thereof to a reset position in which said lock out means does not block return movement of the stem to normally centralized position; circuit means operative to energize said electromagneticmeans controlled by said switch element in the second operative condition thereof, and further switch means actuated responsive to said energization of the electromagnetic means to effect deenergization of the latter.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further characterized by the provision of contact means operatively associated with said switch element and operative to control further circuit functions dependently upon the operative condition of said switch element with respect to said first and second operative conditions thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 8,826,883 Dated July 80, 1874 Inventor(S) Colin E. Foster and Joseph E. Lally It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 59 (Claim 1), "free" before operative" should read "first".

Signed and Scaled this Third Day of A 197.6 [sun A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ufPatents and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,826,883 Dated July 30, 1874 Inventor(s) Colin E. Foster and Joseph E. Lally It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 59 (Claim 1), Tree before "operative should read "first".

Signed and Scaled this Third Day of Au 1976 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oflatents and T rade'marks

Claims

1. In a ball bumper switch assembly having a ball-actuated stem with pendulum-like action and a free end activating a switch element by rocking from a normally centralized position into which the stem is spring-urged, improvements comprising, namely: the combination of lock-out means on the switch element providing a limited land area confronting and engageable with said free end of the stem and in said normally centralized position of the stem whereby to prevent the switch element from moving into a first operative condition in the general direction of the axis of said stem, and permitting said element to move into said first operative condition responsive to ball-actuating movement of said stem and displacement of the free end thereof beyond predetermined marginal portions of the land area, said lock-out means having portions disposed in said free operative condition thereof to block return of the free end of the stem from said displaced to said normally centralized condition; and reset means operative to move said switch element in a direction away from said first and second operative conditions and permit return of the stem and said free end thereof to said normally centralized position and thereafter to permit reengagement of said land area with said free end of the centralized free end of the stem.

2. In a ball switch, a rockable stem member and ball-activated means for rocking the same, said member having a free end portion and spring means yieldingly urging said member into a normal position to dispose said end portion in a centralized position; a switch member yieldingly urged toward and into engagement with said free end portion in said centralized position and movable therebeyond to a first operative condition when said free end portion is deflected from said centralized position a predetermined amount; lock-out means carried by the switch member including stem-engaging land portions engageable with said free end of the stem in said normalized position thereof to prevent movement of the switch member into said first condition, and stem-blocking portions engageable with the stem when the latter is deflected said predetermined amount whereby the stem is blocked from returning to normal position; electromagnetic resetting means operative to move the switch member oppositely from its movement into said first operative condition to a non-blocking position permitting the stem to return to said normal position.

5. A ball bumper of the type including a ball engageable member movably responsive to ball engagement therewith from a normal position into which it is yieldingly urged together with a cooperative axially elongated pendulant stem having a free end normally disposed in a centralized position in said normal position of the ball-engageable member, and switch means controlled by displacements of said stem end from said centralized position, improvements characterized in that said switch means includes a switch member fixed at one end and having an opposite end movable in the general direction of the stem axis toward and away from said free stem end, said switch member having spring bias urging the same in a bias direction to dispose said opposite end thereof toward abutting relation with said stem end in said centralized position and toward successive first and second operative positions in such bias direction; and lock out means situated at said opposite end of the switch member and including a land of predetermined small area to abut said stem end and thereby maintain the switch member in said first operative position against bias movement into the second operative position so long as the stem end remains on said land, ball-effected displacement of the stem a predetermined minimal amount displacing said stem end beyond marginal portions of the land and out of abutting engagement with the lock out means, thereby freeing the switch member for movement into said second operative position wherein other portions of the lock out means become disposed to block return of the stem to normal position, such return being effected by a resetting movement of the switch member responsive to application thereto of a resetting force acting to move the same oppositely from said bias direction into a reset position wherein said lock out means is in a non-blocking relation to the stem, withdrawal of said resetting force permitting bias movement of the switch member back from reset position into said first operative position with said land again in abutting engagement with the stem end.

6. A bumper structure according to claim 5 wherein said land has a central zone abutting said free stem end in said centralized position thereof, and in at least one particular direction radially outward from said central zone with respect to the stem axis, said marginal portions of the land lie radially beyond the maximal range of displacement of the stem and said free end thereof such that said stem end cannot escape from abutting relation with the land in such particular direction but can do so in other directions, whereby operation of the switch means is rendered directionally selective in dependance upon the direction in which the stem is displaced by ball action from said normal position thereof.

8. A ball bumper according to claim 5 further characterized in that said switch member is an elongated blade fixed at one end to project generally traversely of the stem axis and lie in a plane with one side and the opposite end of the blade facing said free end of the stem in said normal centralized position thereof; and said lock out means comprises a configuration at said facing end Of the blade projecting laterally therefrom and in alignment with the centralized stem end, said configuration having a portion defining said land, said blade being provided with spring bias urging the same toward the stem end and said first and second operative positions whereby said land is thrust against said stem end in the centralized position thereof and obstructs the switch member from moving into said second operative position so long as the stem remains in substantially normal position to maintain said free end thereof substantially within the area defining said land, said configuration including a marginal edge portion situated closer to a central zone thereof than the remaining marginal portions thereof and beyond which movement of the stem end escapes from said configuration and becomes blocked by said edge portion from return to centralized position.

12. In a ball bumper assembly having a ball-actuated stem with pendulum-like action and a free end activating a switch element by rocking from a normally centralized position into which the stem is spring-urged, improvements comprising, namely: the combination of lock out means on the switch element providing a limited land area confronting said stem end in a first operative condition thereof and prevented thereby from moving to a second operative condition in a direction generally toward said stem, but permitting said element to move into said second operative condition responsive to ball-actuated movement of said stem and displacement of the free end thereof beyond a predetermined marginal portion of the land area, said lock out means having portions disposed in said second operative condition to block return of the free end of the stem from said displaced back to said normally centralized position and thereafter permit reengagement of the centralized stem end with the land on restoration of the switch element to said first operative condition.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further provided with means for resetting said switch element from the second operative to the first operative condition comprising electromagnetic means energizable to move the switch element in a direction reversely away from the stem and free end thereof to a reset position in which said lock out means does not block return movement of the stem to normally centralized position; circuit means operative to energize said electromagnetic means controlled by said switch element in the second operative condition thereof, and further switch means actuated responsive to said energization of the electromagnetic means to effect deenergization of the latter.