Patent ID: 6113097
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
A method of replacing a playfield of a pinball machine, said pinball machine including a cabinet, a first playfield, and a driver electronics board, said first playfield being removably mounted to said cabinet and having first input/output elements mounted thereto, said first input/output elements being electrically connected to a plurality of first connectors by first electrical wires, said first electrical wires being sufficiently short in length and secured to an underside of said first playfield such that said first connectors, said first electrical wires, and said first input/output elements are limited in movement to a region generally beneath and in close proximity to said first playfield, said driver electronics board being housed within said cabinet beneath said first playfield and providing all input/output functions of said driver electronics board to a plurality of universal driver connectors, said driver connectors initially being electrically connected to said first connectors by second electrical wires, said second electrical wires being sufficiently long to permit said first playfield to be fully removed from said cabinet without exerting stress on said second electrical wires, said method comprising:removing said first playfield from said cabinet;disconnecting said driver connectors from said respective first connectors;providing a second playfield having second input/output elements mounted thereto, said second input/output elements being electrically connected to a plurality of second connectors by third electrical wires, said third electrical wires being sufficiently short in length and secured to an underside of said second playfield such that said second connectors, said second electrical wires, and said second input/output elements are limited in movement to a region generally beneath and in close proximity to said second playfield;electrically connecting said driver connectors to said respective second connectors; andmounting said second playfield in said cabinet.