Abstract:
A tilt contact switch for kinetic activity amusement games, for example pin ball games. A spherical tilt element is confined within a spherical socket and mounted below an opening in a game board surface panel. A contact bumper is mounted by the spherical tilt element and extends above the game board surface for engagement by a moving ball or the like. A wobble plate is fixed to the spherical tilt element and positioned closely adjacent to a switch element molded of soft, elastic silicone rubber material formed with spaced contact bumps. Tilting of the wobble plate, as a result of contact with the bumper, will deform and depress one or more of the contact bumps, serving to complete an electrical circuit through circuit contacts underlying a depressed contact bump. The resiliency of the contact bumps serves to bias the wobble plate to a normal or rest position when tilt forces are removed from the contact bumper. Desirably, the contact bumper is removably mounted on the spherical tilt element and can be replaced by a cover element, to permit reconfiguration of the game board for use without the presence of a particular contact bumper.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to my applications Ser. No. 10/059,748 and 10/059,805, filed Jan. 29, 2002, relating respectively to a construction toy for making electronic arcade games and the like, and to a contact switch device useful in connection therewith, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/059,805. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to the field of contact switches, and in particular, to contact switches for kinetic activity amusement games and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Kinetic activity amusement games, such as pin ball and the like, typically include a game board having a playing surface with a plurality of deflectors and obstacles attached thereto, one or more game balls, and means to urge the game balls onto and within the game board. 
     Amusement games of the type referred to typically include electronic contact switches having bumper portions responsive to impact by a game ball rolling on the game board such that, when a game ball impacts the contact switch with sufficient energy, the contact switch is temporarily actuated to complete (or interrupt) an electrical circuit through the switch. The changed state of the contact switch can serve to increment a game score, or can serve some other game-related purpose such as initiating a sound or a secondary kinetic activity in the game board. The contact switches typically include means to bias the switch into a rest position (usually an electrically “open” condition), such that after an impact of the switch by a game ball and the subsequent rebound of the game ball, the contact switch returns to the rest (i.e., open) position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a contact switch for a kinetic activity amusement game, such as described above, having novel and improved features. A typical kinetic activity amusement game, in which the contact switch of the invention may be employed, has a game board with a playing surface upon which a game ball may roll. The contact switch of the invention has a contact bumper located above the playing surface of the game board. The contact bumper is preferably removably connected to a universal joint having a ball mounted within a complementary socket located within an interior space of the game board. The contact bumper is responsive to impact by a game ball rolling on the game board, approaching from any angle, such that when a game ball impacts the contact bumper with sufficient kinetic energy, the contact bumper deflects (i.e., tilts about the center of rotation of the ball and socket joint) and the contact switch is temporarily closed, completing an electrical circuit through the switch. The closed state of the contact switch can serve to increment a game score, or can serve some other game-related purpose such as initiating a sound or a secondary kinetic activity in the game board. 
     Pursuant to one aspect of the invention, a novel and improved contact switch is provided, specially adapted for the purposes indicated, which incorporates a universally pivotable ball and socket joint. The ball member is provided on its upper side with a recess for the removable reception of a contact bumper element, to serve as a contact element for engagement with a rolling ball. A cover element can be inserted into the ball element recess when the bumper is removed, to provide an uninterrupted game board surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a projection extends downward from the ball swivel element and mounts a circular wobble plate. The wobble plate and projection are fixed to the ball swivel, such that the wobble plate is tilted by pivoting movement of the ball in any direction, for example as a result of contact with a moving ball during operation of the kinetic activity amusement game. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the wobble plate is positioned directly above and substantially in contact with a resilient switch element, formed of a soft, rubber-like material provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting, elastically displaceable contact bumps positioned at regularly spaced intervals around edge areas of the wobble plate and directly underlying the bottom surface of the wobble plate. When the spherical tilt element is tilted in any direction, the wobble plate is angularly displaced so that portions thereof bear downward on one or more of the contact bumps, causing elastic displacement thereof and resulting in electrical contact being made with underlying printed circuit elements, to effect the desired circuit action. The inherent resiliency of the rubber contact element is such that, when the displacing force on the ball element is released (i.e., the ball that contacted the bumper has moved away) the resilient contact element restores the wobble plate to a neutral or horizontal position, returning the bumper element to a normal, vertically oriented position above the game board. 
    
    
     For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, and to the accompanying drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kinetic activity amusement game having a contact switch constructed according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a segment of the game board of FIG. 1, illustrating the alternative placement of contact bumper elements and cover elements in the contact switch devices of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross sectional view of a contact switch incorporating features of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the contact switch device in a tilted or actuated position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral  10  designates generally a kinetic activity game of a type described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 10/059,748, intended to be a build-it-yourself game structure, utilizing components of the well known K′NEX construction toy system and adapted to be configured in various ways to play a variety of kinetic activity games. A game board structure is provided which consists of a plurality of interconnected game board sections  11 - 13  collectively forming a generally flat surface suitably supported on a structural assembly formed of K′NEX components indicated in an oversimplified, schematic way by connector elements  14  and rod elements  15 . 
     Among various configurations possible with the game board  10  is a pin ball configuration, for example, in which the game board is supported at a shallow incline, and ball elements  16  are injected onto an upper portion of the board by suitable shooter means (not shown). 
     At various locations about the surface of the board sections  11 - 13  openings  17  are provided, and located at each such opening is a contact switch  18  (FIG. 3) which is mounted to the underside of the game board panel directly below the opening. Each of the contact switches  18  is adapted, in a manner to be described more fully, alternatively to receive a bumper element  19  or a cover element  20  (see FIG.  2 ). When bumpers  19  are installed, they form obstacles subject to engagement by the rolling ball  16 . When a bumper is contacted and displaced by a moving ball, a switch contact is closed and a game activity, such as incrementing of the game score, is effected. When a bumper  19  is removed, for example to re-configure the game board, a cover element  20  is inserted in its place, to form a relatively smooth continuation of the surface of the game board panel. 
     With particular reference now to FIGS. 4-6, a segment of the game board panel  11  is indicated, with an opening  17  formed therein, under which is mounted a contact switch  18  of a type incorporating features of the invention. In the illustrated form of the invention, the opening  17  is somewhat dish-shaped in its contours, generally as illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the contact switch includes a base member  21 , of molded plastic material, which comprises spaced-apart legs  22  joined by a horizontal web section  23  positioned a predetermined distance below upper end surfaces  24  of the legs  22 . The horizontal web section  23  is formed with a circular central opening  25  in which is received a second molded part  26 . The part  26  has spherical internal contours  27  in its lower portion, and forms part of a socket assembly. Upper portions of the socket element  26  include outwardly extending mounting flanges  28  received in recesses  29  formed in upper portions of the legs  22 . 
     A spherically contoured tilt element  30  is seated in the spherical socket element  26  and is arranged to have at least limited tilting motion in any direction. The tilt element  30  is held in place by means of a capping plate  31  which extends over the top of the base member  21  and is seated upon the upper surfaces  24  of the legs  22 . The capping plate  31  which may be secured by screws  32 , has a spherically contoured circular collar  33 , which projects downwardly into cylindrical upper portions  34  of the socket element  26 . The circular flange  33  engages upper surface portions of the tilt element  30  to retain the element  30  in its socket, while accommodating the desired universal tilting action thereof. 
     In the preferred form of the invention, the spherical tilt element  30  is provided with a recess  35  facing upwardly and adapted to receive a stem  36  extending downward from a contact bumper  19 . The contact bumper, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, extends above the playing surface formed by the panels  11 - 13 , in a position to be randomly bumped by a rolling ball  16 . When thus engaged, the contact bumper  19  is tilted by the impact of the ball, causing the spherical tilt element  30  to pivot within its socket  26 , generally as reflected in FIG.  6 . 
     A spacer post  37  extends downwardly from a lower portion of the tilt element  30 , passing through an opening  38  in the lower portion of the socket element  26 . The opening  38  is somewhat larger in diameter than the post  37  to accommodate limited tilting movement of the spherical element  30  in any direction. A rigid circular wobble plate  39  is fixed to the lower end of the post  37 . Whenever the contact bumper  19  is engaged, and tilt element  30  is tilted within the socket  26 , the wobble plate  39  is tilted correspondingly, as reflected in FIG.  6 . The outer edge region of the wobble plate  39 , which is at the side of the assembly toward which the contact bumper  19  is tilted, will be depressed as a result of the tilting action. Inasmuch as the wobble plate  39  is circular, the tilting action of the wobble plate will be the same regardless of the direction in which the contact bumper  19  is displaced by action of the rolling ball  16 . 
     In the illustrated form of the invention, a printed circuit board  40  is fixed to the base member  21 , by means such as screws  41 . The circuit board is provided with a printed circuit layer  42  which includes circuit elements (not shown) forming portions of an interrupted circuit. These circuit elements, when bridged, will complete a circuit to initiate a game activity, such as incrementation of a score, and/or creating a sound and/or activating a light, etc. 
     To particular advantage, the device of the invention incorporates a switching element advantageously in the form of a molded element of soft, resilient silicone rubber, for example with a hardness factor of 50-60 degrees. The switching element, in itself known for other types of usage, is comprised of a generally flat base portion  44  formed with a plurality of integral contact bumps  45  spaced uniformly about the base in positions to directly underlie outer portions of the lower surface  46  of the wobble plate  39 . The contact bumps are of generally thin-walled construction and have frusto-conical side walls forming downwardly opening recesses  47 . Electrically conductive contact surface elements  48  are formed in (or by) upper portions of the recesses  47 . 
     For simplified assembly, the contact element  43  is formed with a plurality of mounting lugs  49 , extending downward from the base  44  and adapted to be received snugly in openings  50  formed at corresponding locations in the printed circuit board  40 . Thus, to assemble the contact member  43  with the printed circuit board, the lugs  49  are simply pushed through the openings  50  to secure the contact member snugly on the upper surface of the printed circuit board. 
     Pursuant to the invention, the switching element is positioned such that its contact bumps  45  are equally spaced angularly with respect to the circular wobble plate  39 , so as to be engageable by the wobble plate when tilted in any direction. For the purposes of the present invention, it has been found that four uniformly spaced contact bumps is sufficient, in that tilting displacement of the wobble plate  39  in any direction will result in engagement and displacement of at least one, and in many cases two of the contact bumps  45 . However, additional contact bumps may be utilized if desired. 
     The arrangement of the printed circuit  42  is such that a pair of contacts  51 ,  52  underlies each of the contact bumps  45 , with each contact  51  or  52  being connected to one or the other side of the interrupted circuit such that, when the contacts  51 ,  52  are conductively bridged, a circuit is completed. The elements of printed circuit are suitably connected to output conductors  53 ,  54 , so that completion of a circuit by bridging of the contacts  51 ,  52  can be utilized to effect some action on the game board. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the “normal” position of the tilt element  30 , the wobble plate  39  is horizontal, with its bottom surface closely overlying or even contacting upper surfaces of the contact bumps  45 . The resilient contact bumps thus serve to bias the wobble plate to its horizontal rest position. When the contact bumper  19  is displaced by action on the game board, the resulting tilting of the bumper, together with the tilt element  30  and the wobble plate  39 , results in the elastic depression of at least one of the contact bumps  45 , in the manner indicated in FIG.  6 . The contact surface  48  thereof is pressed downward and into contact with the spaced contact elements  51 ,  52 , to complete a circuit in the manner indicated. No matter which direction the wobble plate  39  is tilted, it will engage and depress at least one of the contact bumps  45 . When the direction of tilt is aligned between an adjacent pair of contact bumps, the wobble plate will engage and depress both of them, resulting in circuit closing contact at one or both of the contact bumps. Of course, if a second contact circuit is closed, that is simply redundant, as all the contact pairs  51 ,  52  in the illustrated form of the invention communicate with the same output conductors  53 ,  54 . If desired, of course, the individual contact pairs  51 ,  52  could be connected to separate output conductors, such that the game response could take into account the direction from which contact was made. 
     In the game system of copending application Ser. No.10/059,748, it is contemplated that the game board may be reconfigured from time to time for playing different games. Such reconfiguring may involve using greater or fewer number of contact bumpers, relocating bumpers, or eliminating them altogether. To accommodate such reconfigurations, the contact bumper  19  may be pulled upward to withdraw its stem  36  from the recess  35  in the tilt element  30 . A cover element  20  (see FIG. 4) which consists of a disc-like element  60  provided with a central stem  61  is applied to the board opening  17 , with the stem  61  being inserted into the recess  35 . The lower surface contours  62  of the cover disc correspond to the contours of the panel opening  17 , such that the disc  60  fits generally flush with the surface of the game board panel, providing an uninterrupted playing surface for the reconfigured game. Preferably, the upper surface of the cover element  60  is formed with a slight (e.g., {fraction (1/16)}th inch) crown  63  to encourage movement of a ball away from the cover. 
     The device of the invention is simple and inexpensive, yet highly reliable and effective for its intended purpose. The contact switch assembly may be easily mounted on the underside of the game board panel structure, by suitable adhesive means or mechanical fasteners, in such manner as to position a universally tiltable element directly under a panel opening. The universally tiltable member is provided with a recess for the alternate reception of a contact bumper element, for actuating the tilt mechanism, or a cover element, for closing the panel board opening and providing an uninterrupted play surface, when the game configuration does not include utilization of the underlying contact switch. 
     The universal tilt member, which advantageously is a spherically contoured ball-like element contained within a spherically contoured socket, actuates a switch in response to tilting in any direction, by means of a wobble plate, fixed to the tilt element and cooperating with one or more contact bumps integrally formed on a soft, resilient switching element. The resilient switching element, preferably a molding of conductive silicone rubber material, is conveniently mounted on a printed circuit board by means of lugs projecting from the molded rubber element and received in openings in the printed circuit board. The overall arrangement is such that the manufacture and assembly of the contact switch device may be accomplished efficiently and inexpensively, while providing a rugged and reliable switch mechanism for the purposes intended. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.