Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

John A Popadiuk

John W Skalon

Ernest Pizzarro

A ball locking device includes a plurality of posts arranged to retract into or extendabove apertures in the game playfield. In the extended position, the posts form a cage which confines a game ball therein. The posts are arranged, for example, in a circular pattern and spaced from one another at a distance less than the diameter of the game ball. A solenoid, in conjunction with sensing devices, controls the movement of the posts to capture the ball in play or to release the captured ball at an appropriate time during game play. The locking device is hidden from the players view when in its retracted position.

Retractable ball cage for a rolling ball game

The play feature of the invention comprises a planar surface which is rotatable above the playfield of a pinball game between a ball receiving and a ball discharge position. An electromagnet is attached to the planar surface. A ball detector, such as an eddy current sensor, is mounted to the playfield adjacent the housing to detect the approach of a pinball to the electromagnet. The magnet can be energized to suspend a ball from the planar surface which is then rotated to a ball discharge position where the magnet is deenergized to discharge the ball.

Rotating magnetic box play feature for a pinball game

A pinball momentum transfer device or Newton ball device utilizes an impact bail anchored to the playfield. The impact ball, in cooperation with guide elements on the playfield, defines a ball travel area for captive balls to which momentum can be transferred from a game ball via the impact ball so as to project one of the captive balls towards a target element contained within the ball travel area.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

John A Popadiuk