Abstract:
A multiple drop target assembly used in an amusement game having a playfield over which balls are moved. A frame mounted below the playfield carries a plurality of targets in side-by-side relationship, with the target heads projecting upwardly through apertures in the playfield. A torsionally rigid reset bar is operated to pivot control arms which in turn are coupled with the targets which are elevated to raised positions where they are releasably latched. When the heads are struck by balls, the targets are unlatched and moved downwardly to lowered positions by spring action. The operating arms of control switches project through apertures formed in the targets so that vertical movement of individual targets actuates the associated switch. The assembly is comprised of modular components for low cost manufacture and to facilitate installation, maintenance and repair.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention in general relates to amusement games and in particular relates to pinball games of the type employing drop targets. 
     Certain types of pinball games incorporate a playfield in which drop targets are mounted. In a typical game of this character a number of targets are mounted in side-by-side relationship with the target heads projecting above the playfield. Balls are projected by a player toward the targets, and when a target is struck it is retracted downwardly below the playfield while simultaneously operating a switch or switches in a circuit to indicate a hit. The targets are then reset by a mechanism, usually operated by a solenoid. 
     There are a number of disadvantages and limitations to existing drop target mechanisms of the type described. One problem is that where a relatively large number of drop targets are simultaneously operated by a single reset mechanism then the mechanism may malfunction so that all targets are not completely reset. A further limitation is that existing drop target mechanisms employ a large number of components in a relatively complicated assembly with the result that they are relatively expensive to manufacture, install, maintain and repair. Additionally, adjustment of the target height is conventionally made by a set screw arrangement which adds to the manufacturing costs and which requires considerable time for one to make the adjustment. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved drop target assembly for an amusement game of the pinball type. 
     Another object is to provide a drop target assembly of relatively simple design incorporating a few number of parts in an assembly which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Another object is to provide a drop target assembly of the type described incorporating modular components which facilitates installation, maintenance and repair. 
     Another object is to provide a drop target assembly of the type described incorporating a target reset mechanism which is capable of uniformly elevating targets to their latched positions in a manner which ensures that all targets are reset. 
     Another object is to provide a drop target assembly of the type described which facilitates simple and rapid target height adjustment by means of structure which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
     The invention in summary includes a frame which is mounted below the playfield of a pinball game. Targets are mounted in side-by-side relationship on the frame with the target heads aligned with apertures formed in the playfield of the game. A torsionally rigid reset bar is mounted on a pivot shaft extending transversely of the targets and control arms are mounted between the shaft and the lower ends of the targets. Means is provided to pivot the reset bar for moving the control arms and thereby the targets to raised positions. Spring means is provided for holding the targets latched as well as for urging the targets downwardly when released from the latch upon being struck by a ball. Movement of an individual target operates the arm of a switch in a control circuit for indicating a hit. Bendable tabs are provided for purposes of adjusting the height of the targets. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a drop target assembly in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing a target in its raised position. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the target in its lowered position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings FIG. 1 illustrates generally at 10 a drop target assembly of the invention as employed in a pinball game having a playfield 12. The game can include other game components such as a ball shooter, rollover switches and bumper switches, indicator lights, and suitable score-keeping displays, not shown. The playfield is mounted in a frame or cabinet which also carries components of a suitable game control circuit. 
     Drop target assembly 10 includes a frame 14 mounted by bolts 16 to a pair of end brackets 18, 20 which in turn are mounted by fasteners 22 below the playfield. Frame 14 carries a plurality of upstanding targets 24-34 in side-by-side relationship in register with a series of apertures 36 formed in the playfield. The upper or head ends 38 of the targets are formed with an enlarged rectangular shape which, with the targets in the raised position shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, projects above the playfield surface. Suitable graphics, such as a bulls-eye figure, can be formed on the target faces 40. The lower or base ends 42 of the targets are elongate and project downwardly through openings 44 provided in a horizontal ledge 46 formed along the upper margin of frame 14. 
     Drop target assembly 10 is comprised of modular components which include a target reset assembly 48 and a microswitch bank 50. The reset assembly and microswitch bank are adapted to be separately assembled and then installed as units in the drop target assembly. 
     Target reset assembly 48 includes a lifting or reset bar 52 having a cross-section which is shaped to provide substantial torsional rigidity, that is a cross-sectional shape having a relatively large moment of inertia of area about the longitudinal center axis. In the illustrated embodiment of the reset bar is formed of an elongate plate of sheet metal with oposite side margins 54, 56 turned at right angles with respect to the flat midportion. The opposite ends 58, 60 of the reset bar are turned upwardly at right angles to the plane of the midportion. The reset bar is carried in the assembly by means of a pivot shaft 62 which extends along a horizontal axis parallel with the line of targets. Opposite ends of the shaft project through openings formed in end brackets 18, 20 as well as through openings formed in the ends 58, 60 of the reset bar. Lock rings 64 are mounted on the shaft ends to hold the parts in assembled relationship. 
     Means is provided for applying a force to one end of the reset bar to produce a moment which pivots the bar from the retracted position shown in solid line at 52 in FIG. 3 to the reset position shown in broken line at 52&#39;. The means for applying the force includes a solenoid 66 mounted on the outside of bracket 20. An end of solenoid plunger 68 is coupled by a link 70 to end portion 60 of the reset bar by a pivot connection 72 so that when the solenoid is energized to retract the plunger the link pivots the reset bar upwardly. Another solenoid could be connected to the opposite end of the reset bar, particularly where a large number of targets are to be simultaneously reset. 
     Reset assembly 46 further includes a plurality of control arms 74-84 which conjointly move the targets upwardly when the bar 52 is moved to its reset position. The control arms are pivotally mounted at their proximal ends 86 on pivot shaft 62 and are also pivotally mounted at their distal ends 88 to the targets by pins 90 which are mounted through a clevis 92 formed at the base of each target. 
     A plurality of guide slots 94 are formed at spaced positions along side margin 54 of the reset bar and the proximal ends of the control arms project through respective slots so that the arms are located at the desired spaced-apart relationship along the pivot shaft. A plurality of vertically elongate guide slots 96 are formed along the lower portion of frame 14 and distal ends 88 of the control arms project through respective slots 96 so that these ends and the target bases which they carry are similarly located at the desired spaced-apart relationship. The guide slot arrangement and the mounting of the control arms and reset bar on the common pivot shaft thereby provide for assembly of the parts in proper position without the requirement for separate fasteners and the like at the points of interconnection. 
     Latching means is provided for releasably latching the individual targets in the raised positions. The latching means includes shoulders 98 formed in the targets below the target heads. The shoulders project forwardly and are adapted to move over and rest on the horizontal ledge 46 defined by the top margin of the frame behind which opening 44 is formed. The targets are yieldably held in their latched positions by tension springs 100. The lower end of each tension spring is attached to its associated control arm through opening 102 while the upper end of the spring is hooked over a web 104 which extends upwardly within a vertical slot 106 formed in the target base. The control arms and targets are oriented so that their long axes define an obtuse angle when in the target raised position of FIG. 3, and which define an acute angle when in the target lowered position of FIG. 4. In the target raised position the tension force of the spring urges the target and its control arm to pivot together about pin 90 thereby urging the latching shoulder against ledge 46. When a pinball 108 strikes target head 38, the latching shoulder is dislodged or unlatched from the ledge so that it is free to drop through opening 44. The continued spring tension causes the target and its control arm to undergo a scissors action to rapidly drop the target down with gravity assist. During the downward travel the target builds up speed until the distal end 88 of the control arm strikes the reset bar to generate a sharp sound. The sound which is generated is desirable as an audible signal that the target has been hit. 
     Means is provided for adjusting the vertical height of the targets in their lowered positions so that all target heads are level with the playfield surface. The adjusting means includes a pair of bendable tabs 109 formed by cutting slots in opposite ends of the lower, forwardly-turned margin of frame 14. When in the retracted position the reset bar rests on and is oriented about its pivot axis by the tab edges. Because the control arms rest on the reset bar when the targets are lowered, the target height is thereby controlled by the tab position. The tabs can be easily and rapidly bent up or down by a suitable tool to make the adjustment. This adjusting arrangement is relatively inexpensive and does not require set screws or other separate parts in the assembly. 
     Microswitch bank 50 includes a plurality of microswitches 110 mounted by brackets 112 to a plate 114 which in turn is mounted on inwardly turned punched out portions 116, 118 of the end brackets. Each microswitch includes terminals 120 which are connected through suitable leads, not shown, with the control circuit which in turn operates a plurality of pilot lights 122 mounted in the playfield in front of the targets. The switches also include flexible operating arms 124 which extend rearwardly through the slots 106 of respective targets. The tips of the switch arms project through openings 125 formed in frame 14 in alignment with respective switches. The tips are thereby exposed for manual operation such as for test purposes. 
     It is a feature of the invention that the switch mounting arrangement does not require fasteners or the like for connecting the switch arms with the targets. The operating arms are in contact with control buttons 126 which actuate the switches. The microswitch operating arms are positioned at a preset vertical heighth so as to contact with and be moved downwardly by the upper margin of the slots 106 when the targets approach their lowered positions 30&#39;. Downward movement of the operating arms actuates the microswitches and the control circuit responds to illuminate the pilot light associated with the target which is dropped as well as to advance the score display. 
     The use and operation of the invention is as follows. Assuming that all targets are initially in the raised positions as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the pinballs 108 are projected by the player along the playfield toward the targets. When a ball strikes a target head the latching shoulder of that target is dislodged from ledge 46. The tension force of spring 100 together with gravity drops the target downwardly to the lowered position of FIG. 4 with the target slot 106 contacting operating arm 124 to actuate microswitch 110. Remaining targets are dropped in a similar manner. For resetting the target solenoid 66 is actuated to retract plunger 68 and pivot reset bar 52 upwardly so that the bar side margin 56 makes contact with and pivots upwardly each of the control arms. The torsional rigidity of the reset bar moves all of the control arms through uniform arcs so that all of the targets which the arms carry are moved upwardly through uniform distances. When the latching shoulders of the targets move upwardly to clear the ledge, the force of the springs pivot the targets forwardly to hold the shoulders on the ledge. The target heads thereby are reset above the playfield for subsequent play. The solenoid is then deactivated so that the reset bar returns by gravity to its retracted position permitting the targets to again drop as they are hit by balls. 
     While the foregoing embodiment is at present considered to be preferred it is understood that numerous variations and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such variations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.