Pinball machine

• US 4,840,375 A
• Filed: 06/17/1987
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence E Demar, Patrick M. Lawlor
• Original Assignee: Lawrence E Demar, Patrick M. Lawlor
• Inventors: DeMar, Lawrence E., Lawlor, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/063,126
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 273/109, 273/110, 273/120, 273/118 A, 273/121 B, 273/121 A, 273/121 E, 273/119 A
• US Class Current: 273/121.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/007 with another ball game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3681 with a transparent dome
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3688 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/027 electric

Abstract

A pinball machine has a horizontal playfield as well as a vertical playfield. The playfields are preferably integrated to permit a ball put into play on the horizontal playfield to be carried into the vertical playfield for continued play of the same ball. An elevator mechanism is therefore provided in the form of an electromagnet carried by a motor driven winch. The electromagnet carries the ball from the horizontal playfield along a vertical path for release on a retractable landing. The ball rolls off the landing into play, with one or more flippers on the vertical playfield used to propel the ball under player control. "Mouseholes" are further provided on the vertical playfield which lead to hidden conduits behind the playfield surface through which the ball rolls. Scoring displays set flush with the vertical playfield surface form part of the playfield.

Claims

1. A pinball machine comprising:

a first generally horizontal playfield which includes targets and at least one means operable by a player for propelling a ball that has been put in play on the first playfield, and

a second generally vertical non-pachinko playfield which includes targets and at least one means operable by a player for repeatedly propelling a ball that has been put in play on the second playfield in a manner in which said ball can be indefinitely kept in play on said second playfield.

2. A pinball machine comprising:

a first playfield which is inclined at a small angle to the horizontal, and

a second playfield which is inclined at a large angle to the horizontal,

each playfield including targets and at least one means operable by a player for repeatedly propelling a standard mass pinball that has been put in play on a respective playfield in a manner in which said ball can be indefinitely kept in play on either of said playfields.

3. A pinball machine comprising:

a first playfield which is inclined at a generally small angle to the horizontal and having a rear end and a front end, with said first playfield sloping downwardly from said rear end to said front end,

a second non-pachinko playfield which is inclined at a generally small angle to the vertical and having a top end and a bottom end, with said second playfield sloping downwardly from said top end to said bottom end, said second playfield extending from said first playfield rear end, and

means supported by each of said playfields and operable by a player for repeatedly propelling a ball that has been put in play on a respective playfield in a manner in which said ball can be indefinitely kept in play on either of said playfields, and ball actuated devices on each said playfield for effecting a selected pinball operation when engaged by a ball.

4. The pinball machine of claim 3 further including means for conveying a ball in play on said first playfield to said second playfield for play of the same ball on said second playfield.

5. The pinball machine of claim 3 wherein said ball propelling means includes flipper mechanisms on each of said playfields, said second playfield including a lower set of flipper mechanisms and at least one upper flipper mechanism.

6. The pinball machine of claim 3 further including at least one scoring display located in said second playfield, each said scoring display having a face which is substantially flush with the surface of said second playfield with said scoring display forming part of said second playfield surface.

7. The pinball machine of claim 4 further including at least one ramp means adjacent said bottom end of said second playfield for breaking the fall of the ball, and for directing the ball to a preselected position on the first playfield.

8. The pinball machine of claim 7 further including an inclined ramp carried by said first playfield, said inclined ramp having a portion spaced above said first playfield and beneath said second playfield, said second playfield ramp means directing the ball into said portion of said first playfield ramp to put the ball into play on said first playfield.

9. The pinball machine of claim 4 wherein said ball propelling means comprise a pair of flippers for each playfield, said flipper pair for said second playfield being located near said bottom end, and further including a post located between said second playfield flippers, said post being spaced a distance from an inward end of each of said second playfield flippers which is smaller than the diameter of the ball, such that the ball cannot pass between said post and a second playfield flipper when the latter is in a rest position, and means for moving said post from between said second playfield flippers.

10. A pinball machine comprising:

a first playfield which is inclined at a generally small angle to the horizontal and having a rear end and a front end, with said first playfield sloping downwardly from said rear end to said front end,

a second playfield which is inclined at a generally small angle to the vertical and having a top end and a bottom end, with said second playfield sloping downwardly from said top end to said bottom end, said second playfield extending from said first playfield rear end,

means supported by each of said playfields and operable by a player for repeatedly propelling a ball that has been put in play on a respective playfield in a manner in which said ball can be indefinitely kept in play on either of said playfields,

ball actuated devices on each said playfield for effecting a selected pinball operation when engaged by a ball,

a ball-capture area on said first playfield adjacent said first playfield rear end,

elevator means for carrying the ball from said ball-capture area to a release position on said second playfield,

means for sensing the presence of a ball in said ball-capture area and for engaging said elevator means, and

means for releasing the ball from said elevator means.

11. The pinball machine of claim 10 wherein said elevator means comprises:

an electromagnet,

a winch mechanism for raising and lowering said electromagnet along a path on said second playfield, with said ball-capture area being located at the lower end of said electromagnet path, and

a motor for driving said winch mechanism.

12. The pinball machine of claim 11 further including at least one retractable landing located along said electromagnet path, each said landing comprising:

a floor upon which a ball is momentarily supported when released from said electromagnet,

a slot defined in said second playfield along said electromagnet path through which said floor moves, and

means for moving said floor into and out of said electromagnet path.

13. The pinball machine of claim 12 further including at least one hidden ball passageway in said second playfield, each said hidden passageway comprising:

an entrance opening defined in said second playfield through which the ball passes into said passageway,

an exit opening defined in said second playfield through which the ball passes out of said passageway, and

a conduit located behind said second playfield extending between said entrance and exit openings, and through which the ball passes out of play through said entrance opening and then back into play through said exit opening.

14. The pinball machine of claim 13 wherein said entrance opening is located at a higher point on said second playfield than said exit opening, such that the ball travels through said conduit under the force of gravity.

15. A pinball machine comprising:

a first generally horizontal playfield which includes targets and at least one flipper means operable by a player for propelling a ball that has been put in play on said first playfield, and

a second generally vertical playfield which includes targets and at least one flipper means operable by a player for propelling a ball that has been put in play on said second playfield, and

elevator means for conveying a ball in play on said first playfield to said second playfield for play of the same ball on said second playfield.

16. The pinball machine of claim 15 wherein said ball conveying means comprises:

a ball-capture area on said first playfield adjacent said first playfield rear end, said elevator means carrying the ball from said ball-capture area to a release position on said second playfield,

means for sensing the presence of a ball in said ball-capture area and for engaging said elevator means, and

means for releasing the ball from said elevator means.

17. The pinball machine of claim 16 wherein said elevator means comprises:

an electromagnet,

a winch mechanism for raising and lowering said electromagnet along a path on said second playfield, with said ball-capture area being located at the lower end of said electromagnet path, and

a motor for driving said winch mechanism.

18. The pinball machine of claim 17 further including at least one retractable landing located along said electromagnet path, each said landing comprising:

a floor upon which a ball is momentarily supported when released from said electromagnet,

a slot defined in said second playfield along said electromagnet path through which said floor moves, and

means for moving said floor into and out of said electromagnet path.

19. The pinball machine of claim 18 further including at least one hidden ball passageway in said second playfield, each said hidden passageway comprising:

an entrance opening defined in said second playfield through which the ball passes into said passageway.

an exit opening defined in said second playfield through which the ball passes out of said passageway, and

a conduit located behind said second playfield extending between said entrance and exit openings, and through which the ball passes out of play through said entrance opening and then back into play through said exit opening, said entrance opening being located at a higher point on said second playfield than said exit opening, such that the ball travels through said conduit under the force of gravity.

20. The pinball machine of claim 19 further including at least one scoring display located in said second playfield, each said scoring display having a face which is substantially flush with the surface of said second playfield with said scoring display forming part of said second playfield surface.

21. The pinball machine of claim 15 further including at least one inclined ramp adjacent a bottom end of said second playfield for breaking the fall of the ball, and for directing the ball to the first playfield, and further including an inclined ramp carried by said first playfield, said inclined ramp of said first playfield, having a portion spaced above said first playfield and beneath said second playfield, said inclined ramp of said second playfield directing the ball into said portion of said ramp of said first playfield to put the ball into play on said first playfield.

22. The pinball machine of claim 15 wherein each playfield has a pair of flippers, said flipper pair for said second playfield being located near a bottom end of said second playfield, and further including a post located between said second playfield flippers, said post being spaced a distance from an inward end of each of said second playfield flippers which is smaller than the diameter of the ball, such that the ball cannot pass between said post and a second playfield flipper when the latter is in a rest position, and means for moving said post from between said second playfield flippers.

23. A pinball machine comprising:

a playfield which is inclined at a generally small angle from the vertical and having a top end and a bottom end, with said playfield sloping downwardly from said top end to said bottom end,

flipper means supported by said playfield and operable by a player for propelling a pinball that has been put in play on said playfield,

pinball actuated devices on said playfield for effecting a selected pinball operation when engaged by a pinball,

a pinball-capture area on said playfield adjacent said bottom end,

elevator means for carrying the pinball from said pinball-capture area to a release position higher on said playfield,

means for sensing the presence of a pinball in said pinball-capture area and for engaging said elevator means, and

means for releasing the pinball from said elevator means.

24. The pinball machine of claim 23 wherein said elevator means comprises:

an electromagnet,

a winch mechanism for raising and lowering said electromagnet along a path on said playfield, with said ball-capture area being located at the lower end of said electromagnet path, and

a motor for driving said winch mechanism.

25. The pinball machine of claim 24 further including at least one retractable landing located along said electromagnet path, each said landing comprising:

a floor upon which a ball is momentarily supported when released from said electromagnet,

a slot defined in said playfield along said electromagnet path through which said floor moves, and

means for moving said floor into and out of said electromagnet path.

26. The pinball machine of claim 23 further including at least one scoring display located in said playfield, each said scoring display having a face which is substantially flush with the surface of said playfield with said scoring display forming part of said playfield surface.

27. The pinball machine of claim 23 wherein said flipper means comprises a pair of flippers for said playfield, said flipper pair being located near said bottom end, and further including a post located between said flippers, said post being spaced a distance from an inward end of each of said flippers which is smaller than the diameter of the ball, such that the ball cannot pass between said post and a flipper when the latter is in a rest position, and means for moving said post from between said flippers.

28. A pinball machine comprising:

a playfield which is inclined at a large angle to the horizontal,

targets and at least one flipper means operable by a player for propelling a ball that has been put in play on said playfield,

at least one hidden ball passageway in said playfield, each said hidden passageway having an entrance opening defined in said playfield through which the ball passes into said passageway, an exit opening defined in said playfield through which the ball passes out of said passageway, and a conduit located behind said playfield extending between said entrance and exit openings, and through which the ball passes out of play through said entrance opening and then back into play through said exit opening, said entrance opening being located at a higher point on said second playfield than said exit opening, such that the ball travels through said conduit under the force of gravity.

29. The pinball machine of claim 28 including a lower set of flipper mechanisms and an upper set of flipper mechanisms.