Pinball game bumper electrically responsive to ball impact

Claim 1

A bumper means for a pinball game positioned through an opening in the board of said game and electrically responsive to the impact of a ball propelled against said bumper means from any direction on the upper surface of said board, means forming a circular hollow pedestal secured to the upper surface of said board coaxial with the central axis of said opening and including a plurality of like pillars extending from the lower circular edge of said pedestal with holes through two opposite said pillars for fastening said pedestal by screw means on the upper surface of said board, a cylindrical collar means having a predetermined inner diameter secured in said opening coaxial with said axis and having an integral planar spring seat extending inward a predetermined distance from the lower portion of said collar means, a circular trigger disc of predetermined dimensions having a downward divergent upper marginal surface and including a central stem of predetermined length extending centrally downward from the under side thereof, said disc having a clearance hole therethrough corresponding to each said pedestal pillar with a diameter larger than each pillar for permitting free tilting movement of said disc when positioned under said pedestal and in coaxial relation with said axis and against the lower side of said pedestal with predetermined clearance from the said upper surface of said board and the said stem thereof projecting downward through said collar coaxial with said axis, a coil spring positioned around the upper portion of said stem with one end thereof positioned against the under side of said disc and the opposite end thereof positioned against said spring seat in said collar for normally urging said disc and said stem into an idle position coaxial with said axis, an electric switch means self urged into closed position secured to the under side of said board with a cylindrical operating member therefor normally positioned with the axis thereof substantially coaxial with said axis and in pressure contact with the end of said stem holding said switch means in said open position when said disc and said stem are in idle position, said electric switch means adapted to close when the end of said stem is tilted from the upper end of said operator member, an electric solenoid coil secured under said board by a bracket means with the core thereof coaxial with said axis, restoring means secured to said core for engaging and moving said switch means from its closed to its open position and simultaneously permitting the said coil spring to move the end of the tilted stem to reseat to its position on the upper end of said operating member for holding said switch means in its idle open position whereby a ball rolling on the surface of said board and impinging upon the said marginal surface of said disc will tilt the latter and permit said switch means to move into closed position and whereby said switch means will initiate the energizing of said solenoid to restore all movable elements of said bumper means to their idle positions when connected to an electric control circuit.