US4244574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pinball machine with conical playfield
Assignee: Midway Games West Inc
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Filing: 1979-03-29
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Granted: 1981-01-13
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Expires: 1999-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A pinball machine having a main body with a circular upper margin and a conical playing surface extending downwardly from said upper margin and inwardly toward the center of the body. The body has a ball-actuating plunger and curved track near said upper margin so that a ball can be propelled in a circular path along said upper margin and away from the track so that the ball can follow a spiral path and strike one or more targets as it moves over the surface toward the lower extremity thereof. A bumper is mounted on the body near the lower extremity of the conical surface, and the bumper has a shiftable element which is manually actuated by a push-button switch to cause an outward force to be exerted on a ball as the ball approaches the bumper near the lower extremity of the conical surface. The element applies a force to the ball in a certain direction to cause the ball to move upwardly on the conical surface and to strike one or more targets on the conical surface. A display means coupled with the targets receives and displays numerical or other scores associated with the striking of the targets. The body has a return hole and passage near the lower extremity of the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Milner
- 👤 Nolan K. Bushnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/02; A63F7/025; A63F7/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A pinball machine comprising: a body having a generally circular upper margin and a conical surface extending downwardly from the upper margin and inwardly toward the central axis of the upper margin, said surface defining a playfield over which a number of balls can move along spiral paths; means near the upper margin for propelling the balls one-by-one along the upper margin for travel onto said conical surface for movement toward the lower extremity thereof; means defining a number of spaced targets on said conical surface at spaced locations thereon; means coupled with the targets for displaying scoring indicia corresponding to striking of the targets by a ball; means near said lower extremity of the surface for defining an actuatable bumper for applying forces to a ball to force the ball upwardly of said lower most extremity; and a manually actuated push-button mounted on the body near the upper margin thereof for actuating said bumper defining means, said body having a ball-return passage communicating with the space above said conical surface near the bumper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A pinball machine comprising: a body having a generally circular upper margin and a conical surface extending downwardly from the upper margin and inwardly toward the central axis of the upper margin, said surface defining a playfield over which a number of balls can move along spiral paths; means near the upper margin for propelling the balls one-by-one along the upper margin for travel onto said conical surface for movement toward the lower extremity thereof; means defining a number of spaced targets on said conical surface at spaced locations thereon; means coupled with the targets for displaying scoring indicia corresponding to striking of the targets by a ball; means near said lower extremity of the surface for defining an actuatable bumper for applying forces to a ball to force the ball upwardly of said lower most extremity; and a manually actuated push-button mounted on the body near the upper margin thereof for actuating said bumper defining means, said body having a ball-return passage communicating with the space above said conical surface near the bumper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pinball machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bumper has a shiftable structure thereon for engaging and applying a force to a ball when the ball approaches the bumper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A pinball machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ball propelling means includes a curved track near said upper margin, one end of the track being open, there being a spring-biased plunger near the opposite end of the track for striking a ball along the track and out of the open end and onto said conical surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a pinball machine: a body having a generally circular upper margin and a conical surface extending downwardly from the upper margin and inwardly toward the central axis of the upper margin, said surface defining a playfield over which a number of balls can move along spiral paths; means near said lower extremity of the surface for defining an actuatable bumper for applying forces to a ball to force the ball upwardly of said lower most extremity; and a manually actuated push-button mounted on the body near the upper margin thereof for actuating said bumper defining means, said body having a ball-return passage communicating with the space above said conical surface near the bumper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a pinball machine: a body having a generally circular upper margin and a conical surface extending downwardly from the upper margin and inwardly toward the central axis of the upper margin, said surface defining a playfield over which a number of balls can move along spiral paths; means near said lower extremity of the surface for defining an actuatable bumper for applying forces to a ball to force the ball upwardly of said lower most extremity; and a manually actuated push-button mounted on the body near the upper margin thereof for actuating said bumper defining means, said body having a ball-return passage communicating with the space above said conical surface near the bumper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a pinball machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said bumper has a shiftable structure thereon for engaging and applying a force to a ball when the ball approaches the bumper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a pinball machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said conical surface extends subatantially to said bumper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2618486A
Cited
US3785653A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |