Below the playfield ball delivery system for a pinball game
US5350174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2007/345
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The ball delivery system of the invention consists of a ramp located beneath the playfield where the ramp leads from an inlet accessible by the ball in play to at least one play feature to be loaded. At least one ball is stored in the ramp at each play feature such that the stored ball can be loaded into the play feature. A sensor located adjacent the inlet detects the entrance of the ball in play into the ramp and sends a signal to the game microprocessor indicating that a ball has entered the ramp. The microprocessor, upon receiving this signal, immediately loads the desired play feature with the stored ball such that the play feature can be immediately activated. The ball that entered the ramp inlet is then directed to the just activated play feature and becomes the stored ball for that play feature. Thus, the dead time associated with existing ball delivery system is eliminated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.