Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Other

Dwight Sullivan

Peter J Piotrowski

Brad D Cornell

Barry S Oursler

Carl A Biagi

Steve Ritchie

Kenneth Fedesna

A game ball cradle is positioned upon the playfield of a pinball game. A player-controlled solenoid plunger mechanism 'pops' a ball positioned within the cradle into the air. A wire form jump rope is rotatably connected to an electric motor. The jump rope is positioned so that when it is rotated, it will pass under a game ball that has been properly 'popped' by the player. A switch indicates to the game microprocessor that the jump rope has completed a revolution. Optical detectors indicate to the game microprocessor that the game ball is within the cradle so that the electric motor may be activated and, upon completion of a successful 'jump', the player's score incremented and the speed of the jump rope rotation increased.

Jump rope play feature for a pinball game

A play feature for a pinball game features a multimode target with a variable trajectory ball ramp. The multimode target features a pair of distinct targets mounted upon the playfield of the pinball game in a rotating fashion. The multimode target may be rotated between positions whereby each of the distinct targets is exclusively accessible by the game ball thus providing the pinball game with more than one mode of play. A variable trajectory ball ramp is positioned upon the playfield and is curved and banked towards the multimode target. A pinball properly negotiating the ramp may strike the multimode target so as to increase the player's score. The multimode target may oscillate and the distinct targets may feature a number of sub-targets as well as oscillating barriers.

Multimode target with variable trajectory ball ramp

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

A pinball game is provided with a control system which enables a game player to choose between a novice mode of play and a normal mode of play. In novice mode, game play proceeds for a predetermined time, regardless of the number of game balls played and selected game features, such as the tilt sensor, may be disabled. Game bonuses and free games may be made unavailable in novice mode to encourage experienced players to play in normal mode.

Pinball game having novice play mode

The play feature of the invention consists of a ball projecting mechanism mounted for rotary motion about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the playfield. When a ball enters the projecting mechanism, a motor is activated which rotates the projecting mechanism about the axis. The player, by pressing a button, can control when the projecting means is fired thereby to control the direction of travel of the ball. A series of play features can be located at a position on the playfield spaced from the projecting mechanism to provide targets for the player.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Dwight Sullivan