Abstract:
A rollover switch has a housing carrying a depressible cover coupled to a switch whereby a depression of the cover in response to contact being made between the cover and an object movable across a first surface of a playfield of an amusement game functions to activate the switch. A mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening formed in the playfield wherein the opening extends between a second surface of the playfield and the first surface of the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the switch assembly have cooperating features that allow the switch assembly to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/528,501, filed on Oct. 30, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Amusement game devices, such as pinball machines, redemption games, etc. of the commercial, e.g., revenue generating, and non-commercial, e.g., home entertainment, type are well known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,031, U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,737, and U.S. Published Application No. 2007/0026918 illustrate and describe amusement game devices of the type having a cabinet which houses a playfield. 
         [0003]    Rollover switches for use on the playfield of such amusement game devices are also known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,203 (“the &#39;203 patent”) illustrates and describes a rollover switch having a switch actuator, comprised of a deformable star shaped cover element coupled to a plunger, a support structure for supporting the switch actuator upon the playfield, and a leaf switch which, when activated by the plunger in response to a ball rolling over the star shaped cover element, functions to send a signal to a processing device of the amusement game. The described rollover switch also includes a lamp which can be illuminated to, for example, indicate that the rollover switch is available for scoring, to indicate that the player has completed or achieved actuating or registering of the switch, and/or the like in accordance with the programmed play instructions of the amusement game device. 
         [0004]    While rollover switches such as described in the &#39;203 patent generally work for their intended purpose, they do suffer various disadvantages. For example, after the support structure is inserted into the playfield board and glued therein, the entire playfield board must be sanded in order to assure that the support structure is perfectly flush with the playfield board otherwise the ball could skip over the support structure and thereby create an undesirable condition, e.g., the ball can become airborne and miss the cover element preventing activation of the leaf switch, can cause the ball to become hung up on an edge of the support structure (particularly when the rollover switch is placed in a lane with rails or walls on either side), or the like. Because the finishing operations for the playfield, e.g., the application of silkscreened or digitally printed art and the final sprayed protective clear hard coat, usually a self-leveling urethane finish coat, is applied after the support structure is installed and the playfield sanded, it has been seen that the finishing materials, particularly, the clear hard coat, tend to fill, clog, or otherwise impede the movability of one or more components of the actuator switch which thus requires additional finishing operations to be performed to thereby restore the rollover switch to operability. As will be appreciated, the need to perform all of these operations, which are generally too difficult to implement consistently, undesirably adds to the overall cost of manufacture of the amusement game device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following describes an improved rollover switch for an amusement game. Generally, the rollover switch has a housing in which is carried a depressible cover. The depressible cover is coupled to a switch. When the cover is depressed in response to contact being made between the cover and an object that moves across a first surface of a playfield of the amusement game the switch is caused to be activated. For mounting the rollover switch to the playfield of the amusement game a mounting collar is provided. The mounting collar is sized to be positioned within an opening that is formed in the playfield. The mounting collar and the housing of the rollover switch are provided with cooperating features that allow the rollover switch to be adjustably mounted within the mounting collar to thereby allow the cover to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first surface of the playfield. 
         [0006]    A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the subject rollover switch 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 rollover switch may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a better understanding of the rollover switch described hereinafter reference may be had to the following drawings in which: 
           [0008]      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 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a rollerover switch assembly and playfield mounting elements; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the rollover switch assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    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 rollover switch 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 sense an object moving over a sensing switch. 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 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 or input devices  16  may include elements such as bumpers, ramps, and/or targets as well as one or more rollover switches  22  which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 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 up an alley  34  onto the playfield  14 . The playfield  14  may also include lighting elements—which may also be included as a part of the rollover switches  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 . 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, 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 . 
         [0012]    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  (including rollover switches  22 ), etc., and game output devices  46 , such as lights (including lights associated with rollover switches  22 ), flippers  18 , display  28 , 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. 
         [0013]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary rollover switch assembly and structure for mounting the rollover switch assembly to the playfield  14  is described. Generally, the rollover switch assembly  50  is mounted within an opening  52  that is formed in the playfield  14 . To this end, a mounting collar  54 , which is adapted to adjustably receive the switch assembly  50 , is sized to be fit within the opening  52  of the playfield  14 . Extending from the mounting collar  54  are one or more flanges  56  each having a fastener  60  accepting opening  58 . As will be appreciated, fasteners  60  are to be passed through the fastener accepting openings  58  to thereby attach the flanges  56  to the underside of the playfield  14  and to thereby mount the mounting collar  54  to the playfield within the opening  52 . 
         [0014]    For adjustably receiving the switch assembly  50 , an interior surface of the mounting collar  54  is provided with a screw thread  62  which is cooperable with a screw thread  64  that is provided to the exterior surface of the housing  65  of the rollover switch assembly  50 . In this manner, the rollover switch assembly  50  can be screwed into the mounting collar  54  such that the top of the switch assembly housing  65  is positioned flush to the top surface of the playfield  14  with the rollover switch cover element  66  extending above the top surface of the playfield  14  to thereby allow the rollover switch cover element  66  to be exposed for contact with and depression by a ball rolling thereover as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. While the use of the cooperating screw threads  62  and  64  are preferred as it allows the positioning of the switch assembly  50  relative to the top of the playfield  14  to be finely adjusted as desired, it is to be understood that other cooperating adjustment mechanisms can be provided to the switch assembly  50  and mounting collar  54  to meet the above noted objectives. 
         [0015]    To maintain the switch assembly  50  within the mounting collar  54  in the desire position, a locking collar  68  is further provided. The locking collar  65  is likewise provided with a screw thread  70  which is cooperable with a screw thread  72  that is provides to the exterior surface of the housing  65  of the rollover switch assembly  50 . In this regard, the locking collar  65  is to be screwed onto the rollover switch assembly  50  until the locking collar  65  becomes frictionally engaged with the mounting collar  54  to thereby prevent the rollover switch assembly  50  from moving relative to the mounting collar  54 . For ease of installing the locking collar  65  upon the rollover switch assembly, the locking collar  65  may be provided with one or more flanges  76 . The one or more flanges  76  are provided to be grasped by a user or a tool to thereby allow the user or the tool to quickly rotate the locking collar  65  relative to the rollover switch assembly  50 . It will also be appreciated that the flanges  76  can be omitted with the outer surface of the locking collar  65  instead being provided with a hexagonal or the like shape having one or more relatively flat or non-outwardly rounded surfaces for this same purpose. 
         [0016]    For sensing when an object rolls over the rollover switch assembly  50  when properly installed on a playfield  14  as described above, the rollover switch assembly  50  includes a cover element  66  which is preferably in the shape of a star. It will be understood, however, that this shape is not intended to be limiting. The cover element  66  is positioned within a complementary opening  80  provided to an upper housing section  65 A of the housing  65  such that at least a portion of the cover element  66  extends above a top surface of the upper housing section  65 A to thereby allow the cover element  66  to be exposed for contact with and depression by a ball rolling thereover. The cover element  66  is coupled to a post  82  and the post  82  floats upon a spring  84  which rests upon a bottom surface of a lower housing section  86 B. In this regard, the spring  84 , which is biased to maintain the cover element  66  in its exposed position relative to the upper housing section  65 A, preferably encircles an opening in the lower housing section  68 B though which extends a bottom end of the post  82 . For coupling the cover element  66  to the post  82 , the cover element  66  may be provided with a cutout for receiving a top end of the post  82 , e.g., via use of friction fit or more permanent fit as desired. Fasteners  86  or the like can be used to releasable couple the lower housing section  68 B to the upper housing section  68 A to thereby form the housing  68  for the cover element  66 , post  82 , and spring  84 . 
         [0017]    Positioned adjacent to the opening through which the bottom end of the post  82  is extendable is a printed circuit board (PCB)  88 . While not required, the PCB  88  can be attached to the underside of the lower housing section  65 B by use of fasteners  90  or the like. The PCB  88  carries a switch  96  which is positioned adjacent to the opening in the lower housing section  65 B. Preferably, the switch  96  is in the form of an optical switch. In this manner, when an object rolls over the cover element  66  of the switch assembly  50  as installed on the playfield  14 , the object will force the cover element  66  to move the post  82 , against the biasing force of the spring  84 , and thereby drive the post  82 , via the opening in the lower housing section  65 B, to a position where the end of the post  82  will activate the switch  66 , e.g., to a position that will break the optical connection of the optical switch. Activation of the switch in this manner will cause the PCB  88  to generate a signal for use by the processing device  42  as described above. For allowing the PCB  88  to be releasably coupled to the processing device  42 , the PCB  88  preferably includes a modular, wire/bus receiving connector  92 . 
         [0018]    While not required, the PCB  88  may additionally support one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs)  100 . The LEDs  100  may be multicolored LEDs and may be used to illuminate the entire switch assembly  84  or the cover element  66  alone. To this end, the entire switch assembly  50  may be molded from clear plastic materials or the cover element  66  (and other elements excepting the upper housing section  65 A) may be molded from clear plastic materials in keeping with the desired illumination needs. 
         [0019]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the subject rollover switch provides various advantages over the prior art. For example, the described rollover switch assembly  50  allows the mounting collar  54  to be installed with the position of the switch assembly  50  then being finely adjusted to thereby ensure that the upper housing  65 A of the switch assembly  50  is positioned flush with the critical top surface of the playfield board after the playfield board has gone thru all of its finishing operations. In addition, the adjustability of the described rollover switch assembly  50  allows the subject rollover switch assembly  50  to be used with playfield boards of varying thickness. Still further, the described rollover switch assembly  50  provides a self-contained sensor package that reduces the required footprint of the device relative to previous implementations, the described use of an optical sensor eliminates the need to adjust the switch, the described use of a modular connector housing increases reliability and ease of manufacturing and service, the described use of surface mount componentry minimizes the package and provides superior reliability, the described compact nature of the overall device gives the game designer greater freedom and allows a designer to place the game device in crowded areas of the playfield to enhance game play, and the described method for making the device provides an assembly that can be quickly and easily disassembled for service or replacement. 
         [0020]    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.