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:
Jul. 04, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2002
Lonnie Ropp, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Joe Blackwell, Worth, IL (US);
Dwight Sullivan, West Chicago, IL (US);
Lonnie Ropp, Schaumburg, IL (US);
Joe Blackwell, Worth, IL (US);
Dwight Sullivan, West Chicago, IL (US);
Stern Pinball, Inc., Melrose Park, IL (US);
Abstract
A pinball machine having an inclined playfield supporting a plurality of game features and a rolling game ball. A processor is used to control the function of the pinball machine including permitting game play in a tournament mode wherein game play allows a player to earn a score that is evaluated to determine if a prize is to be awarded. The processor may also allow for game play in a normal mode wherein game play does not provide for a prize to be awarded. When both game play modes are available, a player operated switch may be provided for permitting player selection of the mode of play at the beginning of each game.