Stern Pinball, Inc.

Keith Elwin

Mark Guidarelli

John Harrison Drake, Jr

J Harrison Drake, Jr

A rotatable ball momentum transfer assembly for an amusement gam, such as a pinball machine includes an impact ball mounted to an inclined playfield and a shaft mounted to the playfield proximate to the impact ball. A travel ball is coupled to the shaft such that the travel ball rests against the impact ball during gameplay to receive momentum from the impact ball when the impact ball is struck by a game ball, causing the travel ball to at least partially rotate about the shaft. In one example, the travel ball rotates in a fixed arc towards one of two resting positions on either side of the impact ball. These two resting positions both open or close different shot paths available during gameplay.

Rotatable ball momentum transfer assembly for an amusement game

A method of determining duration of a play session is described herein using a ball saver. An elapsed game time is tracked and a current round of play identified. Using the current round of play and the elapsed game time, a save time is determined. Finally, an autosave for a duration equal to the save time is activated using mechanical stop, flippers, or programmatic solutions.

Self-adjusting difficulty feature for an amusement game device

A target assembly includes a target post mounted to an underside of a playfield and sized to extend through an opening in the playfield. A centering device is mounted to the target post between a first end of the target post and a second end of the target post and a centering plate secures the target post to the underside of the playfield, wherein the centerplate and the centering device form a fulcrum for the target post to pivot as a lever. Impact of a ball with any portion of the target post, and in any direction, above the playfield causes the target post to pivot about the fulcrum, where a sensing switch senses the target post movement. A biasing element coupled to the centering device biases the target post into a rest position and returns the impacted target lever towards the rest position after impact by the ball.

Growing community of inventors

Park Ridge, IL, United States of America

Keith Elwin