Williams Electronics Games, Inc.

Capcom Coin-Op, Inc.

Gamestar, Inc.

Python V Anghelo

Raymond J Czajka

Robert S Morrison

Barry S Oursler

Zofia Bil

Katherine A Adams

Dan K Lee

William F Triplett

Wallace W Welch

Raymond Czajaka

A serpentine ramp is rotatable about a horizontal axis between its center and its upper end to lift a pinball from a lower play surface to an upper play surface. A ball is directed from the lower surface into a ball receiving portion in the lower end of the ramp. This closes an optical switch causing the ramp to rotate between a receiving position and a discharge position. A ball disposed in the receiving portion rolls on the ramp to its upper end and then onto the upper surface. A second optical switch is closed by the return of the ramp to the receiving position which terminates the operation of the device.

Serpentine ramp for a pinball game

The invention comprises a multilevel, vertically oriented pinball game arranged in a cabinet that occupies a minimum of floor space. Because the smaller game cabinet limits the depth of the playfield, a single horizontal playfield would not provide the play or challenge of a standard game. To overcome this drawback, the pinball game of the invention includes a plurality of vertically displaced playfields. The playfields are arranged such that the player plays vertically between the playfields as well as playing horizontally on the individual playfields. Each playfield includes a number of play features such that even though the game is contained in a smaller cabinet it will provide a typical number of play features. At least one player controlled flipper is provided on each playfield to allow the player to control the ball when on that level. A wide variety of ramps or other ball transfer devices can be used to convey the ball between the playfields.

Vertically disposed multi-level pinball game

A game apparatus is provided comprising a cabinet defining a playing area including a plurality of shelves mounted therein where each of the shelves has disposed thereon a plurality of game pieces. A receiving mechanism is attached to the cabinet for accepting a playing piece. A player aimable, launching mechanism is linked to the receiving mechanism for launching the playing piece towards the aimed at location for the purpose of dislodging some of the game pieces. A redemption mechanism may be provided for accepting any dislodged game pieces to provide a reward in exchange therefor.

Coin projecting game apparatus

A ball diverter mechanism for use in directing a ball in a pinball game having an entry path and first and second exit paths. The ball diverter mechanism comprises a solenoid having a plunger movable between a first position wherein the plunger is extended and a second position wherein the plunger is retracted, a first ball contacting surface linked to the plunger, and a second ball contacting surface also linked to the plunger. When the plunger is in the first position, the ball will engage the first ball contacting surface and travel under the second ball contacting surface to cause the ball to be diverted from the entry path to the first exit path. When the plunger is in the second position, the ball will engage the second ball contacting surface and travel over the first ball contacting surface to cause the ball to be diverted from the entry path into the second exit path.

Pinball game ball diverter mechanism

The play feature consists of a first surface and second surface for supporting a rolling ball therebetween. The surfaces are made movable relative to one another such that in a first position they support a ball therebetween and in a second position they are spaced far enough apart to allow a ball to fall therebetween. The surfaces are movable relative to one another by a solenoid or other similar driver where the solenoid is controlled by a player operated button. As a ball rides along the first and second surfaces, the player operates the solenoid to move the first and second surfaces apart allowing the ball to fall between the surfaces at a desired location. A plurality of targets, ramps or the like can be provided below the surfaces as target objectives for the player.

Player controlled dump ramp for a pinball game

Pinball game cabinet

The ramp consists of a wire rail formed as a helix. The rail extends between a first elevation where the ball enters the ramp to a second, lower elevation where the ball exits the ramp. A straight rail extends through the center of the helical rail for the length thereof. The helical rail is dimensioned such that the distance between it and straight rail is less than the diameter of the ball. As a result, the ball will contact both the straight rail and helical rail simultaneously as it rolls down the helical rail by the force of gravity.

Helical monorail ramp for a pinball game

The play feature for a pinball game of the present invention comprises a roulette scoring device mounted above the playfield which includes a horizontally rotating wheel having a plurality of apertures arrayed around its periphery. A different point value indicated to the player is associated with each of the apertures. Pinballs can enter the roulette scoring device not only from the shooter lane, but also from a ramp disposed on the playfield. An optical switch or microswitch included in the ramp adjacent a holding device and a microswitch in the shooter lane generate signals sent to the game microprocessor to cause the wheel to rotate. An optical switch mounted on the playfield senses the return of the ball to the playfield and signals the game microprocessor to stop the rotation of the wheel and to add the appropriate point value to the player's score.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Python V Anghelo