Patents by Inventor Bill Pfutzenreuter

Bill Pfutzenreuter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5226653
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Williams Electronics Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Zofia Bil, Bill Pfutzenreuter, Barry Oursler