Patent Publication Number: US-10328335-B1

Title: Omnidirectional target for an amusement game device

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present description relates generally to amusement games and more particularly to an omnidirectional target for an amusement game device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. Nos. 5,338,031, 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. 
     Various targets and bumpers for use on the playfield of such amusement game devices are also generally known in the art. By way of example, a traditional pinball standup target includes a vertically positioned spot target coupled to a suitable switch located above the playfield. The target assembly is mounted to the playfield such that when the target is contacted by a ball in a particular, limited direction, the target actuates the leaf switch to register a ball contact. Any contact with the switch from another direction may not actuate the target sufficiently to trigger the sensing switch. 
     In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,681 (“the &#39;681 patent”) describes a drop target assembly providing multiple target surfaces at a given drop target location. First and second target surfaces respectively are provided on first and second support members disposed in alignment such that the first member is in front of the second member, and the first target surface is in front of and shields the second target surface when the members maintain both targets in the above-playfield position. The first member is vertically moveable to drop the first target surface to a below-playfield position. This exposes the second target surface for ball engagement. A pair of switch contacts is provided behind the second target surface such that ball engagement of either the first target surface or the second target surface closes the switch contacts. 
     Yet further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,635 (“the &#39;635 patent”) describes a “pop bumper” for a pinball game which carries a depressible flange for contact with a rolling ball. A vertically moveable pin engages the flange and is positioned to move in linear manner between a first vertical position when the flange is depressed and a second vertical position when the flange is not depressed. A spring is provided to urge the vertically movable pin toward one of the vertical positions, typically the second vertical position. A switch is actuated between open and closed positions as the pin moves between the first and second vertical positions. A ball thruster may be provided to thrust the ball away from the bumper when the vertically moveable pin is moved to typically the first vertical position in which the flange is depressed. 
     While the various targets and bumpers, such as those described above, generally work for their intended purpose, there is an identifiable desire for improvements to target construction and resultant gameplay. For instance, the present invention provides for a target mechanism that detects hits from a pinball regardless of what direction it is struck from, while minimizing component parts and/or component wear by locating a majority of components below the playfield. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following describes an improved omnidirectional target assembly for an amusement game. Generally, the target assembly includes a target post mounted to an underside of a playfield and sized to extend through an opening in the playfield. A centering device is mounted to the target post between a first end of the target post and a second end of the target post and a centering plate secures the target post to the underside of the playfield, wherein the centerplate and the centering device form a fulcrum for the target post to pivot as a lever. Impact of a ball with any portion of the target post, and in any direction, above the playfield causes the target post to pivot about the fulcrum, where a sensing switch senses the target post movement. A biasing element coupled to the centering device biases the target post into a rest position and returns the impacted target lever towards the rest position after impact by the ball. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the subject omnidirectional target assembly will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative examples, which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the omnidirectional target assembly may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of omnidirectional target assembly disclosed hereinafter reference may be had to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example amusement game device in the form of a pinball machine. 
         FIG. 2  is an example block diagram of example components of the amusement game device of  FIG. 1   
         FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C  are top perspective views illustrating example target assemblies as installed in the example amusement game device. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom, perspective illustration of the example target assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the example target assembly taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate an example operation of the target assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the example target assembly of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the example target assembly of  FIG. 3C . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of example methods and apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings. 
     With reference to the figures, an amusement game device, in the example form of a pinball machine  10  is now described. It is to be appreciated, however, that this example form for the amusement game device is not intended to be limiting. Rather, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciated that the omnidirectional target assembly disclosed 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 contact with a target switch from any direction. 
     The example pinball machine  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 the example pinball machine  10 , is defined upon an inclined playfield  14  that supports a number of playfield accessories or devices. 
     More particularly, in the case of the example pinball machine  10 , game play is generally defined through the use of a pair of flippers  18  to propel a ball  20  relative to an upperside (e.g., a first surface) of 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 may include elements such as bumpers  16 , ramps, rollover switches  22 , and/or at least one target assembly  24  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  typically includes a plunger element  32  which shoots or launches the ball  20  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 any of the input devices/accessories—and/or other features as desired. Other player-activated input elements, typically in the form of push-buttons (not shown) 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  14 , the display  28 , general illumination, and the sound system. Such electronic devices/circuits could also, in whole or in part, be carried within the game cabinet  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , for controlling the various devices that form the amusement game, the example pinball machine  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 the target assemblies  24 ), etc., and game output devices  46 , such as lights (including lights associated with target assemblies  24 ), bumpers  16 , flippers  18 , display  28 , etc. via one or more buss systems. 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. 3A, 3B, 3C and 4 , various examples of the target assembly  24  are illustrated in top perspective and bottom perspective as installed on the playfield  14 . Generally, the example target assemblies  24  are mounted within an opening  52  that is formed in the playfield  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the example target assembly  24  includes a “Newton Ball” configuration above the playfield  14 , with the remaining components of the target assembly extending below the playfield  14  (i.e., the underside; see  FIG. 4 ). It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that while the example target assembly  24  includes a “Newton Ball” attachment, any suitable attachment may be extending above the playfield  14 , including for instance, a “Bumper Post” ( FIG. 3B ), “bash toy” ( FIG. 3C ), or any other suitable attachment, including lights, etc. 
     To this end, referring to  FIGS. 4-9 , and more particularly to  FIG. 5 , the example target assembly  24  comprises a spring retention cup  54  or mounting collar, which is sized to be fit within the opening  52  of the playfield  14  and is adapted to receive a centering spring  56 . The retention cup  54  may additionally act as a playfield wear limiter. Extending through the centering spring  56  is a target post  58 . The example target post  58  is essentially an elongated post cylinder having a first end  58   a  extending above the playfield  14  and a second end  58   b  extending below the playfield  14 . The first end  58   a  of the target post  58  may be configured to be coupled to any suitable attachment  60  such as the example newton ball (shown) or other accessory. 
     Attached to the target post  58  below the playfield  14  is a centering device, such as for instance a centering cone  62 . The example centering cone  62  includes a first end  62   a  distally located from the playfield  14  and is generally frusto-conical in shape. An end  62   b  of the centering cone  62  proximally located near the playfield  14  includes a flange or shoulder  63  extending outward, radially from the target post  58 . The example shoulder  63  includes a channel  64  configured to mate with and retain the centering spring  56 . A spring cup retention plate  66  and a centering plate  68  are secured to an underside (e.g., a second surface) of the playfield  14  by at least one fastener  70 . As disclosed, the spring cup retention plate  66  secures the spring retention cup  54  within the opening  52 , while also retaining and maintains the centering cone  62 , and thus the target post  58  the proper distance from the playfield  14 . A spacer  72  may be provided between the plates  66  and  68  to assist in the maintenance of the proper distance therebetween. 
     The centering plate  68  defines a centering opening  74  that is coaxially aligned with the opening  52  within the playfield  14 . The centering opening  74  is sized to at least partially accept the frusto-conical portion of the centering cone  62 , thereby pivotally mounting the target post  58  to the centering plate  68  about a fulcrum. More precisely, when secured to the underside of the playfield  14  by the plates  66  and  68 , the centering spring  56  contacts the shoulder  63  to bias the centering cone  62  away from the playfield  14  and thus press the centering cone  62  into the centering opening  74  of the plate  68 . In this fashion, the centering cone  62 , and thus the target post  58  as biased into a perpendicular alignment with the playfield  14  and will return to the biased position when disturbed therefrom, such as when stuck by the ball  20  during gameplay. It will be appreciated that by varying the positioning and/or construction of the centering cone  62 , the centering plate  68 , and/or the centering opening  74 , the biased position of the target post  58  may be varied as desired. 
     The second end  58   b  of the target post  58  is operably coupled to a sensing switch  76  coupled to the underside of the playfield  14  by a mounting bracket  77 . The sensing switch  76  may be any suitable switch, such as for instance a leaf switch, microswitch, magnetic proximity sensor, opto-electronic sensor, or other suitable sensor switch as desired. In this example, the sensing switch  76  includes a contact plate  78  that is operably coupled to (e.g., contacted by) the second end  58   b  of the target post  58 . In operation, as the target assembly  10  is actuated, i.e., the target post  58  is moved from its biased center position (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the sensing plate  78  is moved to trigger the sensing switch  76 . The sensing switch  76  is, in turn, operatively coupled to the processing device  42  through any suitable electrical/data buss (not shown), including wiring, etc. as commonly understood in the art. 
     An illustration of the operation of the example target assembly  24  is provided in cross section as  FIGS. 6 and 7 . More precisely,  FIG. 6  illustrates a nominal rest position of the target assembly  24 . In this position, as disclosed above, the centering spring  56  provides a biasing force between the retention cup  54  and the shoulder  63  of the centering plate  68  to position the target post  58  in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the playfield  14 . 
     Meanwhile,  FIG. 7  illustrates a typical actuated position of the target assembly. It will be understood that in this example, the target assembly  24  may be actuated in any direction through 360°, e.g., omnidirectional, but the target assembly  24  may be modified and/or provided with different accessories on the playfield  14  to provide for limited directional actuations as desired. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , contact with the attachment  60  mounted to the target post  58  in the direction C, such as by the ball  20  during game play, will actuate and pivot the target post  58  away from the nominal position of  FIG. 6 , and into the actuated position illustrated. It will be understood that the sized of the centering cone  62  in combination with the space provided between the centering plate  68  and the cup retention plate  66  may limit the pivotal movement of the target post  58 . For instance, as illustrated when the target post  58  is pivoted, the shoulder on at least one side of the centering cone  62  may contact either or both of the plates  66 ,  68  to prevent further pivotal movement of the target post  58 . In this position, as detailed above, the target post  58  is moved so as to move and/or activate the sensing plate  78  and trigger the sensing switch  76 . Once the actuation force is removed, the entire target assembly  24  will return to the nominal position. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate other examples of the target assembly  24 , constructed in the same manner as the target assembly  24  of  FIG. 4 , but with different attachments  60  mounted to their respective target posts  58 . For example,  FIG. 8  illustrates that the attachment  60  may be a bumper sleeve  61 , while  FIG. 9  illustrates that the attachment  60  may be a bash toy  63  or other three-dimensional character/accessory. 
     While specific examples of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that 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.