Abstract:
A pinball adapted for play by either one or two players. The pinball game includes the playing surface having first and second ends. The playing surface is adapted for supporting a pinball between the ends. The pinball game also includes a tilting assembly associated with the playing surface for orientating the playing surface between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position directed towards one of the first and second ends. When the pinball game is adapted to be played by one player, the playing surface is in the inclined position. But when the pinball game is adapted to be played by two players, the playing surface is in the horizontal position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a rolling ball game such as a pinball game, and more particularly to a pinball game having two different scoring mechanisms. 
         [0002]    For years, pinball machines or games have provided a source of leisure time enjoyment for a variety of people. Despite the recent proliferation of computerized video arcades, pinball continues to be recognized as a popular pastime. Pinball games offer the player the ability to manipulate an actual physical object as opposed to a character on the screen. 
         [0003]    When playing pinball, the player usually sets the ball into play with a spring biased arm or plunger. As the ball strikes various scoring elements, such as post bumpers and sling-shot bumpers, the player earns points according to the number of times the ball strikes the bumper and the point value of each bumper. The player has no control over the movement or placement of these scoring elements as once as he sets the ball in motion, the ball randomly strikes various bumpers and other scoring elements. 
         [0004]    Because the ball rolling or playing surface of the pinball tables is gently sloped, the force of gravity constantly urges the ball toward the base of the table. Usually mounted in the base of the table are two flippers that may be electro-mechanically actuated by a player by depressing buttons located on a side of a machine&#39;s cabinet. By correctly timing the actuation of the flippers, the player can use the flippers to strike the ball and propel it into the playing area to again contact the various scoring elements in order to score further points. 
         [0005]    In contrast to the bumpers or other scoring elements, movement of the flippers is within the control of the player. These flippers do not detect the ball contact like the bumpers and other scoring elements, and no points are scored as a result of contact between the flipper and the ball. The flippers are merely ball-propelling devices. The primary purpose of the flipper is to keep the ball in play and prevent it from escaping the playing field by passing through the space located between or around the flippers thereby adding to the play of that particular ball. 
         [0006]    As developed over the years, pinball is primarily an individual activity. One player controls both flippers and the score is tabulated on a per ball basis. Although it is possible in tables that employ independently actuated flippers for a first player to control the actuation of one flipper and a second player to control the actuation of a second flipper, a single score is tabulated preventing the players from distinguishing themselves on the basis of score. 
         [0007]    Most pinball machines allow two players to compete with one another by allowing the first player to play one ball and retain that player&#39;s score on a visible scoring board. The second player then plays a ball, which is scored separately. Thus, at the conclusion of the second player&#39;s game, the two players can compare scores to see who scored the greater number of points and thereby determine the winner. 
         [0008]    The primary problem with competitive pinball played on a machine as described above is that only one player can play at a time. There is always one player who is not involved in the activity of the game. If one player has a particularly long round, the resting player may become bored and lose interest in the game. 
         [0009]    In contrast, the game of air hockey has allowed for two players to play simultaneously while trying to score on one another. The game of air hockey has been known and widely played for many years. Typically, this game requires an air hockey table including a large, elongated substantially planar playing surface. Indeed, the conventional, full-size table is quite large and requires a great degree of space. 
         [0010]    The existing air hockey assemblies as the type described above, have generally incorporated a free-standing table or platform on which the playing surface is built. The air hockey table or platform comprise a large, flat, perforated surface that forms the above-mentioned playing surface as well as what may be considered a top of a pressurized air chamber or plenum. 
         [0011]    Air hockey scoring is limited to being awarded a single point when a player is able to get the air hockey puck in the opposing player&#39;s goal. Therefore, although air hockey provides the ability for two players to play simultaneously and against one another, it is limited in its scoring and point awarding system. 
         [0012]    Therefore, what is needed is a pinball game that not only provides the benefits of a one-player conventional pinball game but also a pinball game that also provides the benefits of a simultaneously two-player competition game with multiple scoring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention is directed to a pinball game, more particularly a pinball game that includes features that allow the game to be played by one player or two opposing players. The pinball game may be played in an inclined position, for instance, by one player or in a substantially horizontal position, for instance, by two opposing players. 
         [0014]    When the game is being played by two opposing players, points may be awarded to only one player during a single game turn. In such a configuration, points are constantly tallied as a ball, disposed on the playing surface, contacts various point awarding mechanisms such as bumpers and the like. As the points are being tallied, the two opposing players try to score the ball into an opposing player&#39;s goal. If one player should score a goal on the other player, that player is awarded all the points that have been tallied. Of course, other scoring configurations may be used as well. 
         [0015]    When the game is positioned to be played by one player, various mechanisms such as extension legs and the like may be used to enable the playing surface of the pinball game to become slanted such that the ball is biased in a direction toward the player. In this configuration, the pinball game may be played as a conventional pinball game, thereby awarding points to a player as various point-awarding mechanisms are contacted. 
         [0016]    By providing a pinball game that can play by two players or one player, the present invention has the advantages of satisfying a need on the market. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of one leg used in conjunction with the pinball game of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a point system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of a pinball game of  FIG. 1  in a different arrangement; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the pinball game arrangement of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is disclosed a pinball machine  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The pinball machine includes a box-like frame  12  with a bottom panel  14  and a plurality of side walls. The side walls include a first frame member  16  and a second opposing frame member  18 . The first frame member  16  and second frame member  18  are positioned on opposite ends of the bottom panel  14 . Each of the frame members  16 ,  18  extend upwardly from the bottom panel  14  so as to define a boundary of the box-like frame  12 . The side walls also include a third frame member  20  and a fourth frame member  22 , which is positioned on the opposite side of the bottom panel  14  as compared to the third frame member. Similar to the first frame member and second frame member  16 ,  18 , the third frame member and fourth frame member  20 ,  22  extend upwardly from the bottom panel  14  and help to define a playing boundary for the pinball machine as will be discussed below. 
         [0025]    The first frame member  16  is attached at both of its ends to respective ends of the third and fourth frame members  20 ,  22  such that the first frame member is substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth frame member. Similarly, the second frame member  18  is positioned adjacent to opposing ends of the third frame member  20  and fourth frame member  22  and is also substantially perpendicular to these frame members. As shown in the figure, a curved wall  23  may be positioned between adjacent end walls of each of the frame members such that a smooth transition is achieved between the substantially perpendicular frame members. 
         [0026]    The bottom panel  14  preferably includes a playing surface  24  and oppositely-facing rear surface  26 . The playing surface  24  sets the stage of how the pinball game is played. A further discussion regarding this feature will follow. The rear surface  26  faces downwardly. Extending downwardly from the rear surface  26  of the bottom panel  14  is a plurality of coupling elements  28 . The coupling elements  28  may be formed in conjunction with the rear surface  26  such as during a molding, extruding or shaping process. In an alternate embodiment, the coupling elements  28  may be attached to the rear surface  26  of the pinball machine  10  using various attaching mechanisms such as rivets, screws and the like. In either case, each coupling element  28  of which there are preferably four, includes an exterior wall  30  and an interior wall  32 . The interior wall  32  defines a cavity  34  that is preferably cylindrical. The exterior wall  30  and interior wall  32  are attached to one another by a circumferential edge  33 . Although the coupling elements  28  are shown as protrusions extending outwardly from the rear surface  26 , in alternate embodiments, the coupling elements  28  may be recesses disposed within the rear surface  26 . 
         [0027]    The pinball machine  10  further includes a first set of legs  40 , each having a first end  42  and a second end  44 . Each of the legs in the first set of legs  40  is preferably cylindrical and has a diameter, at least at their respective first end  42  that is substantially equal to the diameter of the cavity  34  of the coupling elements  28 . In a method of assembly, the first legs  40  may be received within coupling elements  28 A and  28 B, which are proximate the first frame member  16  of the pinball machine  10  and remote from the second frame member  18 . The first ends  42  of the legs  40  may be received within the cavity  34 . Preferably a securing mechanism such as a snap fit or compression fit as well as other methods known to those in the art interlocks the legs  40  within the cavities  34 . For instance, each of the cavities  34  may have an internal thread that can threadly engage external threads disposed on the first end  42  of the legs thereby allowing the legs to be screwed into the coupling elements  28  such that they are secured therewith. 
         [0028]    The pinball machine  10  further includes a second set of legs  50 , each of which also include first ends  52  and second ends  54 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The second set of legs  50  are received within the cavities  34  of coupling elements  28 C (not shown in  FIG. 1) and 28D  respectively and similar to the first set of legs  40 , the second set of legs  50  may include various mechanisms and/or features that enable the first ends  52  of the second set of legs to be tightly secured within a cavity  34  of the coupling elements  28 C and  28 D. An example of one of the second set of legs  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the leg  51  which is one of the second set of legs  50  includes a first extension  60  and a second extension  62 . The first extension  60  is received within an opening  64  of the second extension  62  such that the two extensions may be telescopically connected. The first extension  60  includes a protrusion  66  extending outwardly from an exterior surface  68  of the first extension. The protrusion may include the ability to be recessed within the exterior surface  68  of the first extension  60  by including various springs and features that enable such a structure. In contrast, the exterior surface  70  of the second protrusion  62  includes a plurality of apertures  72  extending along the exterior surface  70  of the second extension  62 . The plurality of apertures  72  are preferably aligned along a common longitudinal axis, although this is not required. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in the figure, in one arrangement, the protrusion  66  of the first extension  60  extends outwardly through aperture  72 A of the second extension thereby locking first extension  60  to the second extension  62 . This enables leg  50 A to have a first height h that is equal to height of the first set of legs  40 . In order to extend the length of the second set of legs  50 , the protrusion may be moved inward towards the exterior surface  68  of the leg  50 A thereby allowing the first extension  60  to be moved upward in a direction illustrated by arrow A. The protrusion may then be allowed to extend through aperture  72 B. This increases the overall height of the leg  50 A to a height H, which is greater than the height h. A further discussion regarding this feature is described below. 
         [0031]    Once the pinball machine  10  is assembled with the various legs attached to the coupling elements, the playing surface  24  is substantially planar and horizontal so long as the sets of legs  40  and  50  have a common height. 
         [0032]    Various features of the game will now be described with the assumption that all the legs are at a first height, which is common throughout. In this example, the sets of legs  40 ,  50  all extend the same length. In this orientation, the game is specifically adapted to be played by two opposing players. The term “opposing” players refers to the ability of the players to score against each other as opposed to each player trying to achieve his own high score and then comparing that score to the other opposing player. 
         [0033]    The playing surface  24  includes a plurality of ball-engaging mechanisms  70  mounted to the surface. The ball-engaging mechanisms  70  may include a variety of elements such as posts, bumpers and sling-shot bumpers, as well as other similar ball-engaging mechanisms that are well known in the art. The ball-engaging mechanisms  70  may be constructed as discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,730,441; 5,707,059; 6,000,697 and 6,113,097, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. In either case, the ball-engaging mechanisms  70  have a point value assigned to them such when they are struck with a ball  72  during the play of the game, a score is accrued. Additional ball-engaging mechanisms  70  of the game may include an element that propels the ball away from the specific ball-engaging mechanisms when contacted by the ball, such as leaf or trigger switches well known in the art. 
         [0034]    The pinball machine  10  further includes a first plunger  74 , which is biased with a spring (not shown) and used to propel a ball  70  onto the playing surface  24  for play. As for instance, a first player may stand at the end of the machine adjacent the first frame member  16  where the first plunger  74  is located. The first player may draw back on the plunger  74  and then let go. The plunger  74  contacts the ball  72  and exerts a force outwardly thereby propelling the ball through runway  76  until the ball  72  is projected outwardly through gate  78  disposed at the end of the runway  76 . The gate  78  is biased such that once the ball propels outwardly from the runway  76 , the gate swings back thereby closing one end of the runway. Once the ball  72  exits the gate  78 , it may contact the ball-engaging mechanisms  70  thereby accruing a point value each time it contacts one of the mechanisms. This point value is constantly updated, tallied and reflected at display  80 . Display  80  may be an LCD scoring system or various other counters known to those in the art. 
         [0035]    A general outline of a scoring system known to those in the art is shown in  FIG. 4 . For instance, ball-engaging mechanism  70  is positioned on playing surface  24 . When ball  72  comes into contact with ball-engaging mechanism  70 , a signal is sent by the ball-engaging mechanism to a processing center  75 . The signal may be sent via a pathway  77  which may include mechanical actuation members, electrical elements and combinations of the same. As the signals are sent by the ball-engaging mechanism  70 , the processing center  75  computes the individual points awarded and also keeps track of a tallied total. Various software known to those in the art may be included within the processing center  75  so as to keep track of the points as the scores continue to tally. The processing center may then send a signal to display  80  such that the players are aware of the total number of points being accrued. 
         [0036]    Although a first player starts of the game, propelling the ball  72  through runway  76 , a second player is positioned adjacent to second frame member  18 . As the points are being tallied, neither the first player nor second player has yet accrued any of these points. 
         [0037]    During the game, the first player has the ability to control a first set of flippers  82  by compressing actuation buttons  83  disposed on the side walls of the box-like structure  14 . Actuation of buttons  83  causes flippers  82  to pivot about an axis such that the front end of the flippers propel forward. Button  83 A controls flipper  82 A while button  83 B controls flipper  82 B. The flippers  82 A and  82 B are separated by a distance thereby enabling a ball to pass between the two flippers and into a goal area  84 . 
         [0038]    Similarly, the second player has control over a second set of flippers  86  by the use of actuation buttons  87 A and  87 B. As before, button  87 A controls movement of flipper  86 A while button  87 B controls movement of flipper  86 B. The two flippers are separated by a distance at their respective front ends such that a ball may fit between the two flippers and into a second goal area  88 . 
         [0039]    Therefore, in a two-player orientation, the ball  72  may come in come in contact with ball-engaging mechanisms  70  including various bumpers  70 A and a spinning trap  70 B as well as additional ball-engaging mechanisms known to those in the art. Each time the ball engages one of the ball-engaging mechanisms  70 , a point or a plurality of points may be tallied. In order to be awarded the tallied points, a player must score a goal on the opposite player by getting the ball  72  between the players opposing flippers  72  or  82  and into the goal area  84  or  88 . For instance, if the ball should happen to go into goal  88  adjacent to the second player, all the points that were previously tallied during the sequence would go to the first player. A second ball may now be introduced into the playing surface and begin the process again. As such, a single ball being introduced onto the playing surface  24  and exited the playing surface by exiting through one of the goal areas  84  or  88  constitutes a single round. Once one player wins the points tallied, the points on the display  80  are awarded to the player and displayed at a different location on display  80  such as first player display  81  on display  80  in  FIG. 4 . The second player display  83  illustrates the score of the second player and tally display  85  illustrates the score tallied before it is awarded to one of the players. 
         [0040]    In order to create a faster game meaning that the ball travels quicker, an additional set of flippers  90 A and  90 B may also be controlled by the buttons  83 A and  83 B by the first player. This additional set of flippers is closer to the center of the playing surface  24  and thereby allows the first player to have more input on the ball projection throughout the playing surface  24 . Similarly, the second player may have an additional set of flippers  92 A and  92 B, which are also controlled by the buttons  87 A and  87 B by the second player. It is important to remember that the two-player game is played with all of the legs being equal in height such that the playing surface is substantially horizontal. 
         [0041]    In an alternate embodiment, the second set of the legs  50  may be extended such that they are at a height H thereby creating a slanted playing surface  124  such that a ball  172  is urged toward the first player by gravity, for instance, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a second set of legs  150  has a height H which is greater than the height of the first set of legs  140  thereby giving the box-like construction  112  a slanted axis angled toward a first frame member  116 . Like features are discussed using like character references as compared to the first embodiment of the present invention unless specifically articulated. In this orientation, a single player may play the pinball machine  110  similar to a conventional pinball game. In order to aid in this one-player game, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a plurality of stopping gates  190  may be positioned within the various open spaces that are adjacent the second frame member  118 , where the second player would stand in a two-player game. The stopping gates  190  prohibit the ball  170  from exiting into a goal on the second player side as well as other runways and exit avenues. The stopping gates  190  may be recessed within the bottom surface  114  of the pinball machine  112  and actuated upwards using various levers and the like. 
         [0042]    In such an orientation, a single player may switch the score system to a one-player mode such that all the points accrued by the ball  172  contacting the ball-engaging mechanisms  170  are immediately accrued to the single player and continue to tally as the ball engages various different mechanisms. 
         [0043]    The second set of legs  150  may be extended at different lengths thereby increasing the angle of the playing surface  124 . As the angle increases, the pinball game becomes faster as gravity has more influence on the ball  172 , pulling the ball towards the flippers of the first player. 
         [0044]    In an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the pinball machine  210  may have a first set of legs  240  and a second set of  250  that are substantially identical, and have a common height. Therefore, in order to slant the box-like frame  112 , a pivoting element  192  may be provided. The pivoting element is attached to a portion of the box-like frame  212  and may pivot along a joint  293 . The pinball machine  210  also includes a support surface  294  disposed proximate first ends of the various legs. The support surface  294  includes a plurality of positioning elements  295 , which may be engaged by the pivoting element  292 . The pivoting element  292  is positioned proximate one of the positioning elements  295 A, as shown in the figure, such that the box-like frame  212  may be tilted at a specific angle. Pivoting element  292  may be engaged with additional positioning elements  295 A or  295 C resulting in a different angle at which the box-like frame  212  is positioned. 
         [0045]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.