Claims
- 1. In a flipper-type pinball game machine of the type having an inclined playfield having an opening therein and which supports a rolling ball and one or more play features, the improved play feature comprising:
- (a) ball target means extending through said opening to be contacted by a ball rolling on said playfield;
- (b) means for rotating said ball target to a plurality of predetermined positions, said positioning means include: i linear actuating means and ii cam means engaging said linear actuating means to control movement of said ball target means to said predetermined positions.
- 2. The playfield feature of claim 1 further including sensing means for sensing the position of said for means for rotating and for registering a score based on the position.
- 3. The playfield feature of claim 1 wherein said linear actuating means includes a solenoid having a plunger-shaft and a cam pin carried thereon;
- said cam means including a rotatable shaft to which said ball target is mounted and having a cam track thereon, said cam pin extending into said cam track;
- whereby operation of said solenoid causes movement of said cam pin in said cam track to rotate said rotatable shaft and said target mounted thereon.
- 4. The play feature of claim 1, wherein said linear actuator means comprises a solenoid having a plunger-shaft carrying a cam pin; said cam means include a rotatably supported barrel cam having a cam track an output shaft extending above the playfield and connected to said ball target means, said cam pin extends into said cam track of said barrel cam whereby operation of said solenoid causes movement of said cam pin in said cam track to rotate said output shaft and said target connected thereto.
- 5. The play feature of claim 4 wherein said cam track includes locking positions and said cam pin can be locked in one of at least two positions along said cam track.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 018,480 filed on 2/25/87, filed 2/25/87 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,046.
This invention relates generally to pinball games and, more particularly, to a play feature for a pinball game.
Pinball games, as is well known, consist, generally, of a slanted playfield and a plurality of play features arranged on the playfield. A player uses flippers to direct a pinball at desired targets thereby scoring points.
The players of pinball machines are selective as to the machines they choose to play and base their selections on the various types of play feature schemes offered. Therefore, the popularity of a manufacturer's line of pinball games resides in its ability to appeal to the players by offering new and different play features.
It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved pinball machine play feature able to assume a plurality of scoring positions.
Another object is to provide a play feature which is economical to manufacture in terms of both the cost of the component parts, and the ease of assembly.
Another object is to provide a play feature which is durable enough to withstand the repetitive cycles of play over a sustained period of time.
Other objects of the invention, in addition to those set forth above, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.
The invention, in summary, consists of a target assembly which is able to be positioned to a plurality of orientations such that variable scoring opportunities are presented to the player. Three embodiments are contemplated, the first two being two-position targets and the third being a four-position target.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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18480 |
Feb 1987 |
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Patent Grant
4892309
