Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Other

Peter J Piotrowski

Dwight Sullivan

Brad D Cornell

John R Krutsch

Lawrence E DeMar

Charles R Bleich

George A Gomez

James A Patla

Francis A Fenton, Jr

Carl A Biagi

Steve Ritchie

Walter D Roeder

Mark A Weyna

Louis N Koziarz

A method of making a golf club shaft with a bent angular tip using a main shaft body mandrel and a secondary tip mandrel disposed at an angle therewith and a mandrel apparatus for the same.

Bent tip composite golf shaft

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 playfield panel, an electronics system, and a video display. The playfield is mounted in the cabinet with the playfield 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 playfield panel for viewing by the player. When the pinball machine is retrofitted, diagnostics can be performed while the playfield panel is still removed from the pinball machine by displaying diagnostic video images/information onto a partially reflective member positioned below the video display. The partially reflective member may, for example, be the glass or plastic structure that is mounted on the backbox and acts as the marquee for the pinball machine.

Method of displaying video images projected from a video display of a

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 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

The jet bumper of the invention consists of a body mounted to the playfield. A solenoid actuator and rebound ring are mounted on the body. An eddy current sensor is disposed about the body to detect the approach of a ball. Upon detection of the ball, the eddy current sensor energizes the solenoid actuator to retract the rebound ring and propel the ball.

Jet bumper for a pinball game

The disclosed device relates to an improved system for mounting a game playfield within a game cabinet. The device provides pivotal and sliding movement of the playfield with respect to the cabinet while allowing quick removal of the playfield entirely from the game cabinet. The game cabinet is provided with a groove on each side thereof and spring-biased pivot pins are mounted on the playfield for travel within a respective groove in the cabinet.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Peter J Piotrowski