Spinning target assembly

The spinning target assembly comprises a post rotatably mounted to the playfield board of a pinball game. A bridge extends over and is substantially parallel to the playfield board. Three spinning target units hang downwardly from the bridge. The bridge and the units carried thereby are rotatable about the axis of the post to any selected position. Each unit includes a pair of supports and a target therebetween and rotatably carried thereby. A switch is associated with each unit and is located in the bridge to sense the number of revolutions of the target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In a pinball game, a ball is propelled onto a playfield board which carries 
various targets. Points are awarded when these targets are struck by a 
ball. A spinning target assembly includes two posts and a platelike member 
rotatably mounted therebetween. When a ball strikes the member, it is 
caused to spin as the ball passes between the posts. Such a spinning 
target assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,082 which is assigned 
to the assignee of the present application. 
The posts of prior art spinning target assemblies are fixed in place on the 
playfield board. It would add excitement in playing the pinball game to 
move the entire spinning target from time to time or continuously. But, 
that is not possible with prior art assemblies which are attached to the 
playfield board. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a 
spinning target assembly in which the spinning target is not at a fixed 
location on the playfield board, but rather moves from time to time or 
continuously. 
Another object is to suspend the spinning target above the playfield board. 
In summary, there is provided a spinning target assembly for a pinball game 
having a playfield board on which a pinball rolls, comprising at least one 
upstanding post on the playfield board, a bridge carried by the post and 
positioned above the playfield board, and at least one spinning target 
unit hanging downwardly from the bridge. 
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts 
hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and 
particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that 
various changes in the details may be made without departing from the 
spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there 
is illustrated a spinning target assembly, generally designated by the 
numeral 20, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of 
the present invention and adapted to be mounted on a playfield board 21 of 
a pinball game. In use, a pinball (not shown) rolls along the top surface 
of the playfield board 21 in a well-known manner. 
The spinning target assembly 20 comprises a post 25 which is attached to a 
trunion 26 rotatably located in an opening in the playfield board 21. The 
trunion 26 is kept in place by means of a clip 27. A member 28 is attached 
to the trunion 26 and is coupled to driving means (not shown) which can 
rotate the trunion 26 about its vertical axis. The post 25 protrudes 
upwardly above the playfield board 21 and carries a bridge 30 that extends 
above and is substantially parallel to the playfield board 21. 
In the embodiment shown, and referring specifically to FIG. 5, the bridge 
30 includes an elongated outer member 31 defined by a top wall 32 
extending generally parallel to the playfield board 21, a pair of 
depending side walls 33 and a pair of inwardly directed lips 34. Within 
the outer member 31 is an inner member 35 which also has a top wall 36 
disposed generally parallel to the playfield board 21, a pair of depending 
side walls 37, and a pair of inwardly directed lips 38. The inner member 
35 is nestled in the outer member 31 so that the side walls 33 and 37 are 
in juxtaposition as are the lips 34 and 38. The bridge 30 also comprises a 
support strip 39 extending the length thereof and being located on the lip 
38. A channel 40 is defined by the space between the top walls 32 and 36. 
A second channel 41 is defined by the space between the top wall 36 and 
the support strip 39. 
The spinning target assembly 20 comprises a plurality of substantially 
identical units 50, as is best seen in FIG. 2. Each unit 50 includes a 
pair of spaced-apart supports 55 and 60 affixed to and depending from the 
support strip 39. Each of the supports 55 and 60 is generally in the shape 
of a rectangular block. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the support 60 
includes a longitudinally extending bore 61 terminating at its free end in 
a cavity 62. The support 60 also has an elongated recess 64 within which 
is located a bulb 65. A cap 66 is attached to the outer end of the support 
60 to close the cavity 62. Preferably the supports 60 are transparent or 
translucent plastic so that the bulbs 65 can illuminate them. 
Each unit 50 includes a target 70 which is generally platelike. The target 
70 has crankshaft pins 71 and 72 extending laterally from the sides 
thereof. The pin 71 is journaled into an opening in the support 55 and the 
pin 72 is journaled into an opening in the support 60. 
The spinning target assembly 20 further comprises a switch 75 associated 
with each of the units 50, the switches 75 being located within the 
channel 41 and being suitably secured to the inner member 35. Each switch 
includes a pair of leaves 76 and 77, the leaf 76 being generally fixed and 
the leaf 77 being generally movable. To move the leaf 77, there is 
provided a pin 78 in the bore 61 and slidable therein. A cam 79 is located 
in the cavity 62 and is attached to the pin 72. Thus, when the target 70 
is rotated, the cam 79 is caused to rotate and move the pin 78 up and 
down. Such movement moves the leaf 77 up and down and into and out of 
contact with the fixed leaf 76. Within the channel 40 is a cable 80 having 
wires that are connected to the leaves 76 and 77 and other wires connected 
to the bulb 65. Such cable 80 is connected to an electronic circuit which 
responds to the opening and closing of the switches 75 to award scores and 
to turn on and off the bulbs 65. Such electronic circuitry can count the 
number of times the associated switch 75 is closed and, if desired, the 
score can reflect the number of revolutions. The electronic circuitry to 
which the cable 80 is connected illuminates the bulbs 65 as a result of 
various factors such as score. For example, the support 60 of any one of 
the units 50 may be illuminated, signifying that striking the 
corresponding target 70 at that instant would yield a greater score. 
As previously stated, the bridge 30 can be rotated or pivoted to any 
selected position such as those represented by solid lines and phantom 
lines in FIG. 1. One way in which the spinning target assembly 20 may be 
utilized is to place it in the solid line position of FIG. 1 when the 
player has a certain score whereupon the individual units 50 may be struck 
by a ball. Other times during the game, the bridge 30 can be moved to an 
out-of-the-way position so that scores cannot be registered by striking 
the targets 70. 
Accordingly, there has been described a spinning target assembly which has 
units that hang from a bridge. The units are not fixed in place on the 
playfield board, but rather move. Although a specific embodiment has been 
shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes can be 
made and still come within the scope of the following claims.