Abstract:
A front cabinet panel piece, a back panel cabinet piece, a first side cabinet panel piece, and second side cabinet panel piece, each having a plurality of pre-formed openings, are arranged relative to one another to form an amusement game cabinet. The plurality of pre-formed openings are used to accept a corresponding plurality of knock-down hardware pieces each including a fastener locking component and a fastener. The fastener locking components are held within respective first ones of the pre-formed openings and the fastener is inserted into second ones of the pre-formed openings that are aligned with the first ones of the plurality of pre-formed openings. Each fastener is mated to its corresponding fastener locking component to complete assembly of the amusement game cabinet. The assembled amusement game cabinet is used to support a playfield and the playfield, in turn, is used to provide additional structural support to the amusement game cabinet.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electromagnets for use in connection with a playfield of an amusement game device, such as a pinball machine, a redemption game, etc., of the commercial type, e.g., revenue generating, and the non-commercial type, e.g., home entertainment, are known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,725 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,913 (incorporated herein by reference in their entirety) illustrate and describe a pinball game in which an electromagnet is positioned on or below the playfield. A computer-controlled circuit is coupled to the electromagnet and, under control of the computer-controlled circuit, the electromagnet is operable to control a ball moving upon the playfield, e.g., to alter trajectories of the ball, to capture and hold the ball, and/or to impart random motion to the ball. 
     When an electromagnet is to be positioned on the playfield, an iron alloy magnet core that protrudes thru the surface of the wood playfield board is typically utilized. As will be appreciated, the exposed magnet core provides the most powerful application of the device because the energized magnet core can come in direct contact with the steel pinball. In such an application, it is also important that the magnet core be installed flush to the surface of the playfield board to prevent the ball from skipping when it encounters the edge of the magnet core and that the diameter of the magnet core be optimized around the dimensional parameters of the steel pinball as a magnet core that is either too small or too large adversely affects the magnetic flux density making it difficult to grab the moving pinball as it passes at speed over the magnetic core, to hold the pinball on the magnetic core, and/or to move or oscillate the pinball via use of the magnet core under software control. 
     Given the effective diameter of the core, as the pinball is caught by the energized magnet core, the ball oscillates across the surface of the magnet core. During this motion it is common for the ball to cross back and forth across the perimeter edge of the magnet core and the associated edge of the hole in the wood playfield board. This motion undesirably tends to erode and wear the edge of the wood at the edge of the playfield board thru which the magnet core protrudes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following describes an improved electromagnet for use in connection with a playfield of an amusement game. Generally, the electromagnet assembly includes a magnet core constructed from a ferromagnetic material, a protector element constructed from a non-ferromagnetic material which is attached to a first end of the magnet core, and a magnet connector assembly disposable around the magnet core for activating the magnet core under control of a processing device of the amusement game. The protector element surrounds the magnet core and is arranged relative to the magnet core such that a surface of the protector element which is to be exposed on the first surface of the playfield is flush to a surface of the magnet core which is also to be exposed on the first surface of the playfield. The desired protector element is sized to define an area on the first surface of the playfield that is larger than an area on the first surface of the playfield in which the object may move when the magnet core is activated for the purpose of capturing the object upon the first surface of the playfield. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the subject electromagnet will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the electromagnet assembly may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the electromagnet assembly described hereinafter reference may be had to the following drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary amusement game device in the form of a pinball machine; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary block diagram of exemplary components of the amusement game device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary electromagnet assembly for use with the amusement game device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the exemplary electromagnet assembly of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the exemplary electromagnet assembly of  FIG. 3  attached to a playfield of the amusement game device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the figures, an amusement game device, in the exemplary form of a pinball machine  10  is now described. It is to be appreciated, however, that this exemplary form for the amusement game device  10  is not intended to be limiting. Rather, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciated that the electromagnet assembly described hereinafter can be utilized in any type of amusement game device of the commercial and non-commercial type in which it is desired to control movement of an object, such as a steel pinball, on a playfield. 
     In keeping with the example of an amusement game device  10  of the pinball machine type, the amusement game device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a cabinet  12  which houses various apparatus used to define play of a game. Game play may be commenced in response to insertion of money—paper or coins referred to collectively as “coins”—into a coin accepting device, upon exercising of credits earned, by accepting payment from an account, e.g., via use of a swipe card reading device, a bar code reading device, a near field communications device, etc., and/or by otherwise making game play active. Upon activation of the game in this manner, game play, in the case of a pinball machine, is defined upon an inclined playfield  14  that supports a number of playfield accessories or devices. More particularly, in the case of a pinball machine, game play is generally defined through the use of a pair of flippers  18  to propel a ball  20  relative to the playfield  14  and input devices/accessories associated with the playfield  14 . The playfield  14  is usually inclined from the horizontal such that the ball tends to eventually roll back down the playfield  14  in the direction of the flippers  18 . While not intended to be limiting, the playfield accessories  16  may include elements such as bumpers, ramps, and/or targets as well as the subject electromagnet assembly  50 . The playfield  14  may be covered by a transparent or glass sheet cover  25  to permit viewing of the playfield  14 . In addition to the foregoing, the playfield  14  includes a plunger element  32  which shoots the ball  20  up an alley  34  onto the playfield  14 . The playfield  14  may also include lighting elements  22  and/or other features as desired. Other player-activated input elements, typically in the form of push-buttons on the sides of the cabinet  12 , are usually provided for controlling operation of the flippers  18 . Push-buttons may also be used to control operation of the electromagnet assembly  50  if desired. The amusement game  10  may also include a backbox  26  which is mounted to overlay a top rear portion of the cabinet  12  and which contains a game display  28 , such as a dot matrix display, CRT, LED or plasma display, or the like. The backbox  26  may also support speakers associated with the game sound system. Within the backbox  26  may be located various ones of the electronic devices/circuits for controlling the operation of the playfield devices, the display, general illumination, and the sound system. Such electronic devices/circuits could also, in whole or in part, be carried within the game cabinet  12 . It is to be understood that the electromagnet assembly  50  can be installed at any one or more desired locations on a playfield and, as such, is not to be limited to the exemplary location shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     For controlling the various devices that form the amusement game  10 , the amusement game  10  is provided with a processing device  42  which processing device  42  is, in turn, coupled to game input devices  44 , such as switches associated with the cabinet  12 , playfield  14 , etc., and game output devices  46 , such as lights, flippers  18 , display  28 , electromagnet assembly  50 , etc. via one or more bus systems as shown in  FIG. 2 . A memory device  48 , such as a RAM, ROM, or the like, stores instructions and data usable by the processing device  42  to control play of the game, the game output devices  46 , and the game input devices  44  as necessary based upon signals provided by the game input devices  44 . It is to be understood that this illustrated embodiment is not intended to be limiting and that other manners for arranging the devices illustrated in  FIG. 2  to provide for control of play of the amusement game can be utilized as needed. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3-5 , an exemplary electromagnet assembly  50  for use in connection with a playfield  14  is described. Generally, the electromagnet assembly  50  includes a magnet core  52 , formed from a ferromagnetic material such as iron, a protector element  54 , formed from a generally non-ferromagnetic material such as stainless steel, a magnet connector assembly  56 , and structure for mounting the magnet core  52 , protector element  54 , and magnet connector assembly  56  to a playfield  14 . 
     The magnet connector assembly  56  comprises a housing constructed from a non-conducting material in which windings of wire are carried. The magnet connector assembly includes an opening  57  into which the magnet core  52  is inserted such that the windings of wire will encircle the magnet core  52 . In operation, the processing device  42  is used to control the amount of electric current that is provided to the windings of wire of the magnet connector assembly  56  to thereby control the magnetic field that is caused to be generated by the magnet connector assembly  56  and the magnet core  52  that is disposed therein. 
     The protector element  54  is attached to a first end of the magnet core  52 . To this end, the protector element  54  preferably includes an opening into which the magnet core  52  is inserted such that the protector element  54  will encircle the first end of the magnet core  52 . When the magnet core  52  and the protector element  54  are attached to each other, the top surface of the protector element  54  and the top surface of the magnet core  52  are intended to be flush whereby, when the magnet core  52  and protector element  54  are mounted so as to be flush with the top surface of the playfield  14 , the combined elements will provide a smooth surface across which the playfield object may travel. The proctor element  54  may be attached to the magnet core  52  by use of an adhesive, by being friction fit thereto, by use of mechanical means (such as screw threads), and/or by using any other well-known technique without limitation. 
     For mounting the combined magnet core  52 , protector element  54 , and magnet connector assembly  56  to the bottom surface of the playfield  14 , the mounting assembly includes a magnet mounting plate  62 . The magnet mounting plate  62  has an opening  64  into which the magnet core  52  is received and a top surface  66  upon which magnet connector assembly  56  is to be positioned. A locking element  84  is additionally provided for use in coupling with a second end of the magnet core  52  that is opposite to the first end of the magnet core  52  to which the protector element  54  is attached. The locking element  84  is to be attached to the second end of the magnet core  52 , by being friction fit thereto, by use of mechanical means (such as screw threads), and/or by using any other well-known technique without limitation, to thereby ensure that the magnet connector assembly  56  is secured between the magnet mounting plate  62  and the bottom side surface of the protector element  54 . 
     For use in attaching the above-noted elements to the playfield  14 , the mounting assembly may further include a pair of mounting blocks  70 . The illustrated mounting blocks  70  each have a first set of fastener receiving openings  72  for receiving fasteners  74  which are used to attach the mounting blocks  70  to opposed ends of the top surface  66  of the magnet mounting plate  62  via openings  63  provided to the magnet mounting plate  62 . As further illustrated, the mounting blocks  70  each have a second set of fastener receiving openings  76  for receiving fasteners  78 , via openings  65  provided in the magnet mounting plate  62 , which are used to attach the entire assembly to the underside of the playfield  14  with the top surfaces of the magnet core  52  and protector element  54  being located within an opening in the playfield  14  and flush with the top surface of the playfield  14  as particularly illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the described electromagnet assembly  50  provides various advantages over the prior art. For example, the described electromagnet assembly  50  applies a larger diameter, generally non-magnetic collar, which is concentric to and flush with the electromagnetic core that is exposed on the playfield surface, to preserve the optimal magnetic flux density of the magnet core and to provide a tough hard surface for the ball to move on. In this regard, the diameter of the stainless steel collar is preferably selected to be larger than the range of motion of the ball while the ball is under the influence of the energized electromagnet to eliminate all wear to the wood playfield board around the electromagnet assembly. The described electromagnet assembly also uses precision machined components and molded components to assure that the magnet core and collar are able to be adjustably positioned parallel to, i.e., flush with, the surface of the wood playfield board for the benefits described herein. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangement disclosed is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.