Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Barry S Oursler

Zofia Bil

Gary L Berge

Python V Anghelo

Dwight Sullivan

Joseph Joos

Bill Pfutzenreuter

A wrecking ball play feature for a pinball game includes a crane disposed upon the playfield of the pinball game. A wrecking ball is suspended from the crane by a cable so that it may be impacted by a game ball rolling upon the playfield. After being struck by the game ball, the wrecking ball swings in a pendulum-like fashion so as to strike targets near the crane, thus increasing the player's score. Alternatively, the wrecking ball may block a passage, the access of which by the game ball increases the player's score. The wrecking ball may be raised or lowered so that the pinball game features two or more modes of play. In one embodiment, the wrecking ball is raised and lowered by pivoting the crane arm about a pivot connection with the crane tower by way of a solenoid connected between the crane arm and the playfield. In another embodiment, the wrecking ball is raised by retracting the cable into the crane arm by way of tilting a crank to which the cable is connected.

Wrecking ball play feature for a pinball game

The play feature for a game of the present invention comprises a multiple kicker ramp including a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal dividers which define parallel ball lanes and a plurality of perpendicular paths between the ball lanes. Balls enter the ramp from the playfield. A ball sensor is provided in each of the perpendicular paths, each sensor associated with a different point value. A multiple kicker element, which is activated by a player controlled switch, is provided in one of the ball lanes to direct a ball to the other ball lane over one of the perpendicular paths to activate its ball sensor. This causes the point value of the activated sensor to be added to the player's score.

Multiple kicker ramp for a pinball game

The play feature for a pinball game of the present invention comprises a roulette scoring device mounted above the playfield which includes a horizontally rotating wheel having a plurality of apertures arrayed around its periphery. A different point value indicated to the player is associated with each of the apertures. Pinballs can enter the roulette scoring device not only from the shooter lane, but also from a ramp disposed on the playfield. An optical switch or microswitch included in the ramp adjacent a holding device and a microswitch in the shooter lane generate signals sent to the game microprocessor to cause the wheel to rotate. An optical switch mounted on the playfield senses the return of the ball to the playfield and signals the game microprocessor to stop the rotation of the wheel and to add the appropriate point value to the player's score.

Roulette scoring device

The play feature of the invention includes an electromagnet mounted below the playfield on a reversible screw. The screw is rotated to propel the magnet along its length relative to the playfield. A pinball disposed on the playfield is attracted by the magnet such that the ball will be dragged across the playfield as the magnet is propelled by the screw. Optical switches are used to provide feedback to the game's microprocessor indicative of the status of the play feature. In the preferred embodiment, the game player attempts to strike the ball as it is dragged across the playfield to put the ball in play and create multiple ball play.

Magnetic ball carrier for a pinball game

The play feature of the invention consists of a three level target assembly where the uppermost level is mounted on a section of the playfield. The two lower levels are mounted to the underside of the playfield section such that upon activation of the play feature's drive system, the playfield section is raised to sequentially expose the two lower levels. In the preferred embodiment, the upper level includes ball ejector holes, the middle level includes button targets and the lower level includes ball diverting chutes. The game's microprocessor can be programmed to allow the ball ejector holes to eject the trapped ball only after the player completes a predetermined series of shots using a second ball. In such a situation, the ejection of the trapped ball will result in multi-ball play where more than one ball is in play at the same time.

Multilevel play feature for a pinball game

A play feature for a pinball game having a plurality of wheels rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of ball receiving sockets formed therein. Each wheel can pick up a pinball from a first position on the playfield and after rotating through approximately 180 degrees discharge the pinball at a second position on the playfield. The wheels are arranged in a series whereby the discharge position of the upstream wheel corresponds to the pick up position of the downstream wheel. In this manner the pinball can be conveyed across the playfield in a stepped fashion as it is transferred from the upstream wheel to the downstream wheel. The rotation of the wheels is coordinated by using a single drive motor operatively connected to each of the wheels by a transmission member. Finally, downfield wheels can be arranged at different elevations relative to the playfield such that the pinball can be raised or lowered relative to the playfield by the successive wheels as the pinball is conveyed across the playfield.

Rotary serial play feature

This invention relates to a play feature for a pinball game. It comprises a runway or ball path with a plurality of holes disposed along the side of the runway. The holes are associated with varying scores. The skill of the player striking the plunger determines the hole through which the ball passes, thus registering a score when a wireform below the hole is depressed, signaling a score. If the ball is struck too hard, then it travels the length of the entire runway and no points are registered. One-way wire gates prevent the ball from rolling back toward the plunger.

Pinball runway and scoring feature

This invention relates to a play feature for a pinball game. The invention includes a plurality of targets mounted on a target carrier. The target carrier can be raised above the surface of the playfield where the targets can be hit by a ball or lowered below the playfield so that the ball will pass over the targets. Located behind this first set of targets on the playfield is a second set of targets. This second set of targets is either covered by a visor or exposed to be contacted by a ball. The visor is operatively connected to the target carrier such that downward movement of the target carrier results in upward movement of the visor. In this manner, the two target areas are alternately exposed to the player to vary the scoring opportunities.

Growing community of inventors

Barrington, IL, United States of America

Barry S Oursler