Abstract: A pinball game includes a playfield board on which is mounted a plurality of drop target assemblies, each including a target member movable through an opening in the playfield board between a playing condition projecting above the playfield board and a retracted condition withdrawn beneath the playfield board, each target member being spring biased to its retracted condition and solenoid-actuated to its playing condition where it is latched in place. A programmable computer controls the sequence in which the target members are moved to their playing conditions. A manually controllable rotating shooter mechanism can be aimed to propel pinballs toward the raised target members. A display indicates the status of each target assembly.

Abstract: The trackball device includes two supports for the trackball, each of which has a code wheel associated therewith. The journals on the end of each shaft and the bearing surfaces of the pillow block associated with the shaft are constructed to have substantially point contact and thereby minimize friction.

Abstract: A pinball game includes a playfield board on which a pinball rolls for engagement with targets carried by the board. A shooter mechanism projects the pinball into rolling engagement along the board in a predetermined path against a rebound device which is manually rotatable to change the direction in which the ball rebounds therefrom for directing the ball at the targets.

Abstract: A kicker apparatus for a pin ball game including a playfield board on which a ball rolls for engagement with an actuator member in a kicking region, comprises a frame which mounts a kicker member in a track for sliding reciprocating movement in response to actuation of a drive means by engagement of the ball with the actuator member, for driving a kicking surface on the kicker member into engagement with the ball to propel it from the kicking region. The kicking surface is a substantially flat, planar surface elongated in a direction transverse to the kicker member path.

Abstract: An adapter includes a program-controlled microprocessor provided with input means adapted to be coupled to the output of a trackball-type position control device, output terminals and selection means for selectively conditioning the processor for operation in either of two modes. In one mode the adapter converts the trackball output signals to a form which can be inputed to a port adapted for use with a switch-type joystick and yet includes both speed and direction information. In the other mode the adapter converts the trackball output signals to a form which can be inputed to a port adapted for use with a trackball device. A ladder network is connected to the adapter output terminals in its second mode for converting the output signals to a form which can be inputed to a port adapted for use with a proportional type joystick.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided for mounting in the two-part housing of a joystick apparatus. The assembly includes a printed circuit board held between retainers on the two parts of the housing. A plurality of switches are mounted on the board, each including a fixed printed contact and a movable leaf spring contact, the leaf spring contacts being engageable with actuators on a tilt plate which is tiltably carried by the joystick handle for selective actuation of the switches. The board also carries a fire control switch including a printed contact and a leaf spring contact which is engageable with a push-button actuator on the joystick handle. The handle includes a support module therefor which is held in place by retaining pins on one of the two housing parts, the tilt plate having recesses therein for accommodating the retaining pins.

Abstract: A kicker apparatus for a slingshot bumper assembly in a pin ball game including a playfield board on which a ball rolls for engagement with a resilient impact band to actuate a drive solenoid, includes a frame which mounts the solenoid with its plunger axis perpendicular to the playfield board and which pivotally supports a drive crank having one end connected to the solenoid plunger and the other end projecting above the playfield board. A kicker member is loosely fitted over the upper end of the crank and has guide feet respectively slidably received in a pair of track channels in the frame for reciprocating movement along a path parallel to the playfield board in response to the pivotal movement of the crank for engagement with the impact band to impart a propelling force to the ball in a direction substantially parallel to the playfield board.

Abstract: A rotatable kicker apparatus includes a frame adapted to be mounted in an aperture in the playfield board of a pinball game for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the playfield board. The frame carries a drive solenoid which connects through crank arm linkage to a kicker member which is disposed for sliding reciprocating movement in a track in the frame parallel to the playfield board. Spaced-apart metal contact plates in the solenoid circuit are disposed on the frame to be bridged by a rolling pinball for actuating the kicker solenoid. The frame is mounted on a rotating shaft which is rotatably driven by an associated electric motor to vary the kicking direction. A control circuit includes control switches for respectively rotating the frame in opposite directions from a neutral rest position, the frame automatically returning to the rest position upon release of the switch.

Abstract: A joystick controller includes an enclosure including unitary one-piece cover and bottom parts. The cover part has structure defining a plurality of receptacles respectively receiving direction-control switches and a handle support module therein, while the bottom part has a plurality of projections which cooperate with the receptacles to hold the direction-control switches and the support module immovably in place. The support module is a multi-part assembly which is assembled without the use of fasteners and tiltably supports the handle for actuation of the direction control switches. Two fire control switches are also mounted in the housing on support pins integral with the cover part.

Abstract: A joystick assembly includes a relatively soft plastic frame and a relatively hard shaft extending through an opening in the frame which is dimensioned to accommodate limited pivotal movement of the shaft. A metal wear member is insert molded in the frame and has an aperture therethrough congruent with the opening in the frame to limit movement of the shaft and prevent wear of the frame around the opening therein. Three different shapes of opening are disclosed for different ranges of pivotal movement.

Abstract: A pushbutton assembly for a switch includes a cylindrical housing having an axial bore therethrough, one end of the housing being enlarged to define a cup-shaped cavity communicating with the bore. An elongated tubular actuator body is reciprocally movable in the bore. At one end of the body and received in the cavity is an inverted cup-shaped head having an end wall and a cylindrical side wall. The other end of the body is bifurcated to define flexible legs. An annular recess in the body adjacent to the upper ends of the legs receives an annular projection on the body for limiting axial movement of the actuator. Unitary with the head are three elongated flexible resilient bias members engageable with the housing for resiliently biasing the actuator to a normal rest position. Two embodiments are disclosed, one in which the bias members are intergral with the head side wall and another in which the bias members are integral with the head end wall.

Abstract: A post construction comprises a post body having an externally threaded stud embedded therein and projecting axially from one end thereof for threaded engagement with the playfield board of a pinball game. A hex surface on the post body facilitates driving the stud into the playfield board. In one embodiment an annular guard flange protects the playfield board during the mounting operation and in another the hex surface is offset a slight distance from the post body end to prevent engagement with the playfield board. In one embodiment an annular recess is provided in the post body around the stud to accommodate whiskers of playfield board material ejected during the threaded mounting to accommodate flush seating on the playfield board. Two circumferential grooves in the outer surface of the post body respectively receive rubber bands for interconnecting a plurality of the post constructions, the grooves being so positioned that the two bands are spaced apart a distance less than the diameters thereof.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided for mounting in the two-part body of a joystick apparatus. The assembly includes a circuit board held between retainers on the two parts of the body. Four leaf spring switch modules are mounted on the board, each module comprising a switch body having two spaced-apart pockets therein for respectively receiving leaf spring switch blades, the contact portions of which project from the body and are respectively backed by fingers on the body, one of which is relatively flexible. The switch bodies are secured in place by pins which extend through openings in the board and are peened over on the opposite end thereof. Terminal legs on the switch blades extend through complementary slots in the circuit board. The pivotally mounted joystick actuator extends through an opening in the center of the circuit board for engagement with the flexible fingers of the switch bodies.

Abstract: A push button switch assembly includes a base having an internally threaded aperture therethrough and a cylindrical housing closed at one end by a circular end wall having a cylindrical bushing portion which is threadedly engaged in the base aperture. A mounting member surrounds the bushing portion and is clamped between the base and the housing, the mounting member having resilient arms respectively received in corresponding recesses in the housing and projecting therefrom adjacent to the other end of the housing for resilient gripping engagement with an associated support wall in which the assembly is mounted. An actuator reciprocates in the bushing portion and is coupled to a push button disposed at the open end of the housing, the actuator engaging the contact means of a switch which is secured between attachment members on the base. Two different bases are provided for respectively mounting a microswitch or a leaf switch.

Abstract: A covered leaf switch assembly includes a switch body having resilient switch blades. A molded plastic cover includes an elongated sheath for receiving the blades therein and a coupling portion for interfitting with the switch body. In one embodiment the coupling portion has a pair of arms with fingers and ribs receivable in complementary grooves and notches on the switch body. In another embodiment the coupling portion includes a jacket frictionally receiving the switch body therein.

Abstract: The rollover switch apparatus includes a one-piece plastic base, a switch attached thereto and a one-piece plastic actuator having an arm pivotally attached to the base and means engaged by the rolling pinball to move the actuator from its rest position to an actuating position.

Abstract: A target member in a drop target assembly of a pinball game has a cam surface formed on the rear surface thereof and adapted for camming engagement with the assembly frame when the target member is deflected by a pinball and unlatched from its raised condition for positively driving the target member downwardly to prevent its rebound to its latched condition.

Abstract: A pinball game includes plural parallel columns of kickers, each kicker being responsive to ball impact thereon for propelling the ball therefrom in a predetermined direction. Each kicker is rotatable for varying the predetermined direction and the kickers in each column are ganged together for manual simultaneous rotation thereof. Different types of kickers may be provided in different columns.

Abstract: A pin ball game includes a ball receptacle which has associated therewith a rotary oscillating shooter for propelling the ball from the receptacle and along the playfield board in the direction of a predetermined axis which oscillates with the shooter. When the ball drops into the receptacle it actuates a drive motor for oscillating the shooter and enables a manually-operated trigger switch. When the shooter axis is pointing in the desired direction, the user manually operates the trigger switch to actuate the shooter, which in turn operates to stop the shooter oscillation and disable the trigger switch.