Multilevel play feature for a pinball game
US5226653A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2009/2444
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The play feature of the invention consists of a three level target assembly where the uppermost level is mounted on a section of the playfield. The two lower levels are mounted to the underside of the playfield section such that upon activation of the play feature's drive system, the playfield section is raised to sequentially expose the two lower levels. In the preferred embodiment, the upper level includes ball ejector holes, the middle level includes button targets and the lower level includes ball diverting chutes. The game's microprocessor can be programmed to allow the ball ejector holes to eject the trapped ball only after the player completes a predetermined series of shots using a second ball. In such a situation, the ejection of the trapped ball will result in multi-ball play where more than one ball is in play at the same time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.