The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 19, 2002
Matthias F. W. Doepner, Harleysville, PA (US);
Connector Set Limited Partnership, Hatfield, PA (US);
Abstract
A tilt contact switch for kinetic activity amusement games, for example pin ball games. A spherical tilt element is confined within a spherical socket and mounted below an opening in a game board surface panel. A contact bumper is mounted by the spherical tilt element and extends above the game board surface for engagement by a moving ball or the like. A wobble plate is fixed to the spherical tilt element and positioned closely adjacent to a switch element molded of soft, elastic silicone rubber material formed with spaced contact bumps. Tilting of the wobble plate, as a result of contact with the bumper, will deform and depress one or more of the contact bumps, serving to complete an electrical circuit through circuit contacts underlying a depressed contact bump. The resiliency of the contact bumps serves to bias the wobble plate to a normal or rest position when tilt forces are removed from the contact bumper. Desirably, the contact bumper is removably mounted on the spherical tilt element and can be replaced by a cover element, to permit reconfiguration of the game board for use without the presence of a particular contact bumper.