Abstract: A pinball machine construction having a horizontally hinged security door which includes a top control panel which also clamps the glass cover over the playing field. A variable ball delivery system is remotely actuated and variable to deliver the balls to the playing field. Side wall flippers and half bumpers can be included which are mounted adjacent any wall on the playing field. The controls for the pinball machine can be mounted on top of the top control panel for easy access.

Abstract: A modular display assembly for mounting as a unit in the display cabinet of a pinball machine, includes digital display units mounted on three printed circuit display boards which are secured to a frame by a pair of interconnect printed circuit boards each of which electrically interconnects printed wiring conductors on a pair of adjacent display boards and each of which carries indicator lamps. An opaque display panel mounted on the front of the frame encloses the display boards, the display panel having clear areas in registration with the display units and bearing game status indicia which is backlighted by the indicator lamps for indicating game status.

Abstract: A pinball machine has an upper display cabinet pivotally movable with respect to a lower playfield cabinet between an upright use position spaced well above the lower cabinet with the rear walls of the upper and lower cabinets substantially coplanar and a forwardly folded-down position closely overlying the lower cabinet. The upper cabinet is supported on a support assembly which includes upper and lower pairs of support posts, respectively mounted inside the upper and lower cabinets on the rear walls thereof, with each post having a forwardly projecting pivot portion, the upper and lower pivot portions being pivotally interconnected at their forward ends. The lower posts project well above the lower cabinet, and the pivot portions and the pivot pin are all disposed entirely within the upper cabinet. The upper cabinet is supported by the support assembly in both its upright and folded positions and, in its upright position permits a clear view of the entire playfield by a user.

Abstract: The spinning target assembly comprises a post rotatably mounted to the playfield board of a pinball game. A bridge extends over and is substantially parallel to the playfield board. Three spinning target units hang downwardly from the bridge. The bridge and the units carried thereby are rotatable about the axis of the post to any selected position. Each unit includes a pair of supports and a target therebetween and rotatably carried thereby. A switch is associated with each unit and is located in the bridge to sense the number of revolutions of the target.

Abstract: The trackball device comprises cylindrical first and second supports. First and second code wheels are respectively coupled to the supports and are rotatable therewith. First and second reader means are respectively associated with the first and second code wheels for generating control signals. A ball is seated on the supports. The second support, both of the reader means, the second code wheel and the ball all lie on the same side of the first support.

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 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 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.

Abstract: The flipper assembly has a transparent flipper carried by a rotatable flipper shaft. A light shaft extends through the flipper shaft and is fixed to the pinball game. A bulb is located in the flipper and is carried by the bulb shaft.

Abstract: An automatic rebound device for a pinball game has a cylindrical pedestal portion which projects above the playfield board and carries an electric lamp therein, the pedestal having an annular attachment flange at its upper end with vertical openings therein at diametrically opposed points thereon. A hollow circular cap has a cylindrical side wall and two connecting pins projecting beyond the distal edge of the cylindrical side wall for press-fitting engagement in the pedestal openings. The side wall is dimensioned for cooperation with the pedestal to provide a chamber for the electric lamp of sufficient volume to prevent overheating of the cap.

Abstract: The band is an endless band of one-piece construction which is adapted to be stretched around a set of posts extending upwardly from the playfield board of a pinball game. The band has an annular elastic body having inner and outer annular portions which respectively extend radially inwardly and outwardly of the body, the inner annular portion being adapted to be seated in complementary grooves of the associated posts. First and second annular flange portions extend from the body respectively in opposite directions generally parallel to the axis thereof coaxially therewith for inhibiting passage of the pinball above or beneath the band and to prevent twisting of the band on the associated posts.

Abstract: The post is of one-piece construction and has a body portion with a plurality of legs protruding in one direction and a lug protruding in the other. The legs are adapted to be forced toward one another so that they can be inserted into the opening of a playfield board of a pinball game. When released, the legs frictionally engage the board to hold the post in place. The lug passes through a hole in a cover plate and has fastening structure to accommodate a push-type fastener.

Abstract: An angle member is attached to the intersecting side walls of a pinball game by means of screws or the like. A channel member is fixedly attached, as by welding, adjacent to the interior corner of the angle member, the corners of the channel defining stops in contact with the intersecting side walls. A leg having substantially perpendicular flanges is in juxtaposition with the flanges of the angle. Screws attach the legs to the channel.