Pinball machine with sloping playing field

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6279904
  • Patent Number
    6,279,904
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, June 1, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 28, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
The present invention provides a pinball machine having downward and side sloping playing field and a plurality of slots at the bottom of the playing field. The slots have sensor which can be selectively activated to detect the presence of a ball so as to register a score. Bumpers are also provided to translate a ball throughout a plurality of locations on the playing field.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a pinball machine having a downward and side sloping playing field, and having a plurality of slots at the bottom of the playing field, which change in value according to a program. More particularly, the slots contain one or more slots which sense entry of a ball so as to register a score.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Pinball machines have numerous configurations that are well known in the art. It is conventional practice in a pinball machine apparatus to modify the structure on the game surface, the design and the score value of different targets in order to revive the incentive of practiced players without changing the principal of the game.




There are many commercially available pinball machines that incorporate various scoring indicators, lights, graphics and sound. These machines include mechanical three-dimensional figures that communicate visually and audibly with a player.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,049 to Borg, which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses a pinball machine wherein a section of the playing field is changed by rotating the section to expose different components.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,142 to Arad, which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses a pinball machine having provisions for translating a ball in play throughout a plurality of locations. There is also provided an audio system to provide a speaking effect in response to different play conditions.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to the present invention, there is provided a pinball machine having a slanted playing field and a plurality of playing slots arranged at the bottom of the playing field. The slots are provided with sensors for detecting a ball that enters the slot. A microprocessor is provided, which can activate at least one slot to record a score and change which slot is activated or deactivated so as to alter the playing of the game. Means are provided on the playing field to translate a ball in play throughout a plurality of locations thereon.




Advantageously, audio means are provided in association with the microprocessor for providing speaking and/or sound or light effects in response to different play conditions.




The playing field may optionally be tilted to a side wall so as to provide a double slope either mechanically or manually.




There may also be provided a three dimensional figure, which responds to a play on the field.




It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a pinball game apparatus, which changes in scoring strategy at low cost.




It is a further object of the invention to provide a pinball game apparatus, which alters the playing field to challenge the skill of the user.




It is yet another object of the invention to provide visual and sound effects, which respond to the playing conditions.




It is a further object of the invention to allow a player to alter the playing field according to a programmed selection.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




As seen in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, in the simplest form of the invention there is provided a pinball apparatus


10


comprising a housing


11


having an upper face


12


, which form the playing field. The playing field is conventionally covered by a transparent glass pane


13


.




The housing


11


is defined by a first or top wall


14


, a rear wall


15


and side walls


16


and


17


. The playing field


12


is inclined downwardly toward the rear wall


15


so that a ball will roll downwardly because of gravity. According to the invention, the playing field also can be inclined toward one of the sides


16


and


17


by up to about 10 degrees. This incline to one of the sides can be permanent or variable by selection of a microprocessor or manually by the player.




The playing field has a plurality of path altering pins


18


to accommodate various ball path-altering provisions. The playing field may also contain first ball path altering slots


19


formed by walls


28


. The pins


18


may also comprise various fixed and elastic, active and passive targets as common in the game.




Along the bottom wall


15


there is a second plurality of slots


20


, formed by walls


20


A, which contain sensors


21


that can sense a ball entering one of the slots


20


.




A ball launch guide


20


′, is disposed near one side of the housing


11


. Launch guide


20


′ is bound by a wall


22


which is offset a nominal distance from side wall


17


to form a ball launching channel. A spring loaded pull knob


23


having a grasping handle


22


, ball contact end


24


, and an intermediate body having a compression spring


25


, is collinearly mounted through housing


11


along the longitudinal extent of launch guide


20


′. When knob


23


is fully extended, ball


0


exits launch guide


20


′, and is first expelled by releasing knob


23


. Once ball


0


exits launch guide


20


′, it is in play and may come into contact with wall


14


, pins


18


and enters first slots


19


. The object of the game is to enter into a selected slot


20


. Each slot


20


is provided with a sensor


21


, which is associated with a microprocessor that contains a program which activates or deactivates a sensor


21


in one or more of the slots


20


with each game so that the player would be required to alter his playing strategy with each game. In addition, the microprocessor provides each slot


20


with a value so that the same score will reflect the player's skill in being able to enter a given slot


20


.




Along the upper part of the housing


11


and along the top wall


14


is a display board


32


, which is associated with a microprocessor to provide the score and a visual display on screen


33


in accordance with the play on the playing field and the sensors


21


activated by a ball


0


. At least one sensor


21


provides a bonus score and is displaced by an LED. The microprocessor is also programmed to deactivate a sensor


21


so that when the ball enters a deactivated slot, the play is lost. The microprocessor is further programmed to count the number of balls


0


which enter the slot so that the odds are changed and the player must develop a different strategy. If the ball


0


rests on a lighted slot, the sensor signals the microprocessor, which senses the display board


32


and displays the cumulative score. Generally, there are sixteen slots


20


on the playing field and at least four of the slots


20


are activated and lit by an LED so as to display a slot that allows scoring.




Along the playing field are a plurality of pins


18


, which randomly direct the ball to slots


19


and


20


. The size and shape of the pins as well as their positioning on the playing field have an effect on the ball and the odds of a ball going to a specific slot.





FIG. 3

is a block diagram showing a configuration according to the present invention wherein a microprocessor or CPU


50


is a memory device in which every processing program is stored. CPU


50


controls the LCD display


42


, a coin insertion and detection unit


60


for detecting the insertion of a coin and includes a coin payout unit for paying out coins upon activation of button


24


.




The CPU has a motor control unit


61


which controls the activation of the sensors


21


, a lamp control unit


62


which illuminates the apparatus upon insertion of a coin, a LED control unit


63


for the LED's


48


of the sensors


21


and other illuminations, a LCD control unit


64


for the video display


33


which also contains a graphic RAM for storing graphic data to be sent to the video display


33


and a character ROM in which character data are stored, and a sound control unit


65


which stores sounds for different activities on the video display


33


.




Upon inserting a number of coins into the slot


42


prior to playing the game, a sensing means senses the coins inserted so as to provide pulse signals corresponding to the number of coins which are transmitted to and counted by detection unit and by pressing buttons


41


A, a signal is sent to activate the reel control unit


61


which provides a signal to the microprocessor to activate the game.




In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the playing field can be tilted to the right side or left side. A mechanism such as a step motor


31


is mounted on the underside of the playing field surface. The motor


31


can be operated manually by the player or as part of the program within the CPU


50


.




The game need not be limited to enter the slots


20


for scoring. The playing field may be provided with active and/or inactive pins and bumpers which not only provide scoring but activate a video or sound program. The balls


0


as they roll down the inclined plane randomly bump into pins or bumpers to deflect the path of the ball. At the bottom of the playing field here may be provided thrust levers or flippers


52


controlled by buttons


50


which can put the ball


0


back into play for additional scoring or direction. The length of the flippers can be as conventionally used in pinball apparatus.




The playing field at the back wall is provided with a gutter or return mechanism which is conventional in the art. One such mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,213 which is herein incorporated by reference.




The game is played in a manner similar to known pinball machines. In the preferred embodiment the general rules are as follows: The player gets five balls, 30 per game. Scoring is made by having a ball enter into one of lit or activated slots


20


. The game can be started by placing coins into slot


42


whereby coin insert and detection unit


60


signals the CPU


50


. The CPU


50


has a control unit which illuminates the game board by LED's, an LCD for visual display and the audio units.




The player selects the desired odds by pressing button


41


. These odds are displayed on the display


33


together with activation, or lighting the select number of slots


20


, a play button


41


A is pressed to lock in the odds. The start button


41


″ which causes the release of a ball


0


into launch channel


20


′. Optionally, button


41


″ controls the slope of the game field to the right or left. However, it is understood that the slope to either side may be permanent.




The ball


0


is put into play by extending and releasing knob


32


. The ball in play can be controlled by the skill of the player in being able to control the direction of the ball by a controlled vibration of the machine. Optionally, a tilt mechanism


66


may be provided to control the degree of vibration. If the tilt detector is activated the game is over.




The ball


0


travels downward toward the back wall


15


so as to enter one of the slots


20


and activate one of the sensors


21


which are lit. According to the game, either initial failure to enter an activated slot terminates the game or registers no score and permits play of the remaining balls


0


. If the ball enters an activated slot, the CPU senses the display and displays the cumulative score.




The projected images and sounds can be triggered b one or more targets or pins


18


which are electrically connected with the CPU


50


to trigger a image or sound upon impact with a ball


0


. There may be provided a projector (not shown) which comprises a cassette with an endless film which cyclically produces an image on the display. There is further the possibility to trigger image reproduction and sound or change when two or more targets have been hit, whether in a predetermined or random sequence.




The player may choose to continue to play based on the cumulative score or he may choose to pay out. The machine may be programmed to dispense tickets or coins.




Within the housing there can be a step motor


31


associated with the playing field so as to tilt the playing field to one of the sides


16


,


17


.




While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments shown, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. In a pinball machine with a housing having a top wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls and of which the upper face is designed as a playing area, said housing having means for translating at least one ball throughout a plurality of locations therein, means for selectively scoring points responsive to play action and means for displaying said points responsive to said play action, the improvement which comprises that said play area is inclined downwardly so that a ball will roll downwardly because of gravity and inclined toward one of the side walls, and a plurality of slots about the rear wall, said slots having a means for sensing said balls in communication with said means for scoring, whereby at least one slot contains a selectively activated sensor to communicate entry of a ball to provide a score.
  • 2. The pinball machine of claim 1 wherein said means for scoring comprises a microprocessor.
  • 3. The pinball machine of claim 1 wherein the playing area is manually inclined toward a side wall up to about 10 degrees.
  • 4. The pinball machine of claim 1 wherein the inclination to a side wall is variable.
  • 5. The pinball machine of claim 4 wherein motor means in association with a microprocessor varies the inclination to a side wall.
  • 6. The pinball machine of claim 1 wherein said slots are selectively activated to sense a ball.
  • 7. The pinball machine of claim 1 including a tilt detector.
  • 8. The pinball machine of claim 2 including flipper means for flipping a ball.
  • 9. The pinball machine of clam 1 comprising up to 16 slots containing sensing means.
  • 10. The pinball machine of claim 9 including means for providing a visual display and sound when a ball enters a selected slot with an activated sensing means.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
3224775 Ritz Dec 1965
3870307 Meyer et al. Mar 1975
3884472 Meyer May 1975
3963241 Meyer Jun 1976
4015847 Myers Apr 1977
4030555 Boyce et al. Jun 1977
4046380 Goldfarb et al. Sep 1977
4176844 Ryan et al. Dec 1979
4650190 Geiger Mar 1987
5112049 Borg May 1992
5607155 Cambell Mar 1997