Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Gordon Barlow Design

American Screen Printing Equipment Company

Lowbar, Inc.

American Screen Printing

John R Krutsch

Gordon A Barlow

Patrick M Lawlor

James A Patla

Bradley D Cornell

Henry J Bubley

Richard A Karlin

Charles R Bleich

George A Gomez

Thomas W Uban

Winston H Schilling

Mark D Ritchie

Claude H Oltra

James M Shird

Joseph Joos

Marvin Smollar

Andrew W Eloff

John W Skalon

Lawrence E Demar

Timothy T Tutt

Peter J Piotrowski

Ronald Liedtke

Anthony T Janiszewski

Bradley A Hume

Manu Jayswal

John R Newcomer

Fred Bezark

Pat Lawlor

Michael J Zidman

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield mounted to the cabinet, and a backbox extending upwardly from a rear portion of the cabinet. To facilitate modification of electronics controlling the operation of the pinball machine, a controller box assembly is installed in the backbox. The controller box assembly comprises a rail structure mounted within the backbox and a controller box movably mounted relative to the rail structure to open and close the controller box. The controller box containing the electronics may be pivoted downwardly while remaining in engagement with the rail structure to provide easy access into the controller box. To limit the movement of the controller box during shipping, a locking mechanism mounted to the backbox includes a locking arm rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking arm maintains the controller box in the closed position when the locking arm is disposed in the locked position.

Method of modifying electronics contained in a controller box of a

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. One of these features is a novel playfield assembly for the pinball machine. For ease of movement of the playfield into and from a cabinet of the pinball machine, the playfield has skid rails which extend substantially along the length of the playfield. The skid rails are spaced from the lower side of the playfield by a distance that is greater than the distance by which components protrude from the lower side of the playfield. Thus, the playfield can be placed on the ground without any chance for damage of its components. The playfield may also include a slide stop at one or both of its ends. The slide stops engage the front molding of the cabinet to ensure the playfield does not fall into the cabinet or fall from the cabinet as the skid rails are being slid across the front molding.

Playfield assembly for a pinball-machine

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield, a panel, an electronics system, and a video display. The playfield is mounted in the cabinet with the panel mounted to the cabinet and overlaying at least a portion of the playfield. The video display is mounted generally above the cabinet and is disposed to project video images onto the panel for viewing by the player. The electronics system includes a control unit and a plurality of input/output elements which are mounted to the playfield. The control unit, which includes a controller and memory for storing game instructions and video images, is coupled to the plurality of input/output elements. The controller executes the game instructions to cause the video images to be displayed upon the video display. A retrofitting kit for the pinball machine provides a replacement memory that stores second game instructions and second game video images therein for operation in is the pinball machine. Thus, the types of video images of displayed by the pinball machine, the times the video images are displayed, and the manner in which they are displayed can be entirely modified. The kit may also include a new playfield to alter the physical environment which the rolling ball of the machine interacts to complement the new video images.

Method and kit retrofitting a pinball machine

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily serviceable and is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. One of these features is a novel mounting mechanism for a playfield of the pinball machine. The pinball machine includes a cabinet to which the playfield is mounted. The cabinet includes slides rails having notches for mating with corresponding pieces of the playfield thereby permitting easy rotation of the playfield within the cabinet during servicing or game conversion. Thus, the electronics and mechanical components below the playfield can be readily accessed.

Mounting mechanism for a playfield of a pinball machine

A lock-down bar release system for a pinball machine serviceable in a location-service mode and an operator-service mode. The pinball machine includes a playfield disposed within a game cabinet and a lock-down bar for securing a playfield glass over the playfield and onto the game cabinet. A handle mechanism and associated latching structure is operable to release the lock-down bar. In the location-service mode, the movement of the handle and release of the lock-down bar is effected automatically by using a location-service key. In the operator-service mode, the operator uses an operator-service key to access the interior of the game cabinet through a coin door from wherein the operator may physically pull the handle to release the lock-down bar. The pinball machine includes a restraint mechanism for inhibiting removal of the playfield (and thereby preventing access to the coin box or cash box under the playfield) in the location-service mode. The restraint mechanism moves to a non-blocking position when the coin door is opened in the operator-service mode so as to permit removal of the playfield in the operator-service mode.

Lock-down bar release system for a pinball machine

A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a playfield mounted to a cabinet. Unlike previous pinball machines, electrical wires and their associated 'playfield-side' connectors extending from input/output elements mounted to the playfield are limited in movement to a region generally beneath and in close proximity to the playfield. This allows the playfield to be more easily handled than prior playfields, which had long dangling electrical wires and connectors which could be easily tripped over or severed. Additionally, the plurality of playfield-side connectors are configured for easy installation and integration with corresponding 'cabinet-side' connectors. The cabinet-side connectors are electrically connected to a driver electronics board mounted within the cabinet and carry all input/output functions of the driver electronics board.

Method of replacing a playfield of a pinball machine

A pinball machine having a vertically displaceable ramp play feature. The ramp moves between an upper position in which it does not interfere with gameplay, and a lower position in which the lower edge of the ramp rests on the playfield. When the ramp is in the lower position, balls can be directed up the ramp towards a suitable target, such as a raised playfield.

Vertically displaceable ramp

A display panel for a pinball machine utilizes a lightweight plastic housing member with a plurality of apertures therein for retaining light bulbs. A glass lens and film having an image thereon are resiliently retained on the housing member with channel members that extend about the periphery of the lens and housing. The display may be removed and installed as a unitary piece in a pinball game cabinet.

Display panel for a pinball machine

A ramp element is provided on the top of a drop target member so that when the target is activated and moved to its lower position, the ramp is accessible by the game ball and may travel thereover to reach elevated game features. A series of ramp elements may be provided in a row so that when all targets have been lowered, there is provided a ramp of increased size providing increased access to the elevated game feature.

Dual function drop target for pinball game

The ball diverter of the invention consists of a pivoting cage located above an elevated track. The cage, when in its lowered position, will intercept a ball rolling on the track. The cage can then be pivoted to remove the ball from the track and deposit it on a surface disposed beneath the track. When the cage is in the raised position, the ball is allowed to traverse the track uninterrupted.

Ball diverter for raised ramp

A pinball game playfield feature includes a circular table which is rotated by a motor and linkage. Mounted on the table is a target housing having optical emitters disposed therein. Optical detectors are located in the table. Each emitter-detector pair forms a light beam which can be interrupted by a pinball to signal the game microprocessor for scoring or other purposes. Rotation of the table permits selectable positioning of the optical target bank.

Movable optical target bank for a rolling ball game

An amusement game operates in conjunction with a trading card dispenser to dispense trading cards to game players who achieve predetermined game objectives through skill during the course of game play.

Amusement device with trading card dispenser

The present invention is a computer-controlled interactive playfield feature for pinball games. The system microprocessor monitors activity on the playfield and controls the interactive playfield feature, directing the player's attention to specific targets and activities on the playfield. The playfield feature operates in conjunction with a speech synthesizer, which may be programmed to taunt and challenge game player, increasing player appeal. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive playfield feature is in the shape of a jocular human head. The mouth, eyelids and eyes are movable under microprocessor control. The mouth serves as a ball target. When the player successfully shoots the ball in the mouth, a solenoid ball ejector returns the ball to the playfield. The eyes may be programmed to follow the travel of the pinball on the playfield.

Growing community of inventors

Glenview, IL, United States of America

John R Krutsch