Force detecting target for pinball machines and the like

Claim 2

A target mechanism for target-type games to variably actuate an electrically actuated scoring mechanism to register a score thereon which is representative of the effective force with which a target is struck, said target mechanism comprising the combination of a movable arm fixed to said target, bias means coupled to said movable arm for urging it toward an initial position with a force that increases as said arm is driven away therefrom, a locking mechanism coupled to said movable arm for releasably locking it against movement toward said initial position whereby when said arm is struck it is driven to and held in a final position which is spaced from said initial position a distance dependent on the force of the strike, and means associated with said moveable arm to provide an electrical actuating signal for said scoring mechanism which depends upon the distance said arm is driven from its initial position and for automatically releasing said locking mechanism after said scoring mechanism has been actuated whereby said movable arm is then permitted to return to its initial position.

Claim 3

The target mechanism of claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means is a pulse generating means whereby said target mechanism is particularly adapted for use with a pulse actuated-type scoring mechanism.

Claim 4

The target mechanism of claim 2 wherein said arm is movable along a predetermined path; said pulse generating means includes a timer means, a master switch connected for operation by said timer means a predetermined number of times each scoring cycle whereby a corresponding number of scoring pulses tend to be provided, and a plurality of auxiliary switches coupled to said master switch and connected for sequential operation by said timer means in coordination with the operation of said master switch whereby each of said auxiliary switches tends to inhibit a respective one of said pulses; and said target mechanism further includes a plurality of normally open contact pairs each having one contact connected to a respective one of said auxiliary switches and its other contact connected to the other contact of the other contact pairs, mounting means for supporting said contact pairs adjacent the path of movement of said movable arm at respective progressively more remote distances from the initial position of said target arm in ordered relationship corresponding to the sequence of operation of the auxiliary switches connected thereto, a wiper arm carried by said movable arm for bridging successive ones of said contact pairs as said movable arm is driven from its initial position, and locking mechanisms associated with said movable arm for locking it against return toward its initial position with said wiper arm bridging the most remote of the contact pairs reached by it during the movement of said movable arm away from its initial position whereby the number of scoring pulses provided depends upon the effective force with which said target is struck.

Claim 5

The target mechanisms of claim 3 wherein said master switch and said auxiliary switches are connected in series.

Claim 6

For use with a pinball machine and the like of the type having an electrically actuated scoring mechanism, and a playfield which is traversed by a game piece; a target mechanism comprising the combination of a movable target arm, a bias means fixed to said target arm for urging it toward an initial position with a force that increases as said target arm is driven away from said initial position, a locking mechanism coupled to said target arm for permitting movement thereof away from its initial position along a predetermined path while preventing return thereof toward said initial position whereby when said target arm is struck by said game piece it is moved to and held in a final position that is spaced from said initial position a distance representative of the effective force of the strike, electrical signal generating means coupled to said target arm for actuating said scoring mechanism to register a score representative of the effective force of said strike and means coupled between said signal generating means and said locking mechanism for automatically releasing said target arm to return to its initial position after the score has been registered.

Claim 7

For use with a pinball machine and the like of the type having an electrically actuated scoring mechanism, and a playfield which is traversed by a game piece; a target mechanism comprising the combination of a movable target arm, a bias means fixed to said target arm for urging it toward an initial position with a force that increases as said target arm is driven away from said initial position, a locking mechanism coupled to said target arm for permitting movement thereof away from its initial position along a predetermined path while preventing return thereof toward said initial position whereby when said target arm is struck by said game piece it is moved to and held in a final position that is spaced from said initial position a distance representative of the effective force of the strike, electrical signal generating means coupled to said target arm for actuating said scoring mechanism to register a score representative of the effective force of said strike and means coupled between said signal generating means and said locking mechanism for automatically releasing said target arm to return to its initial position after the score has been registered.

Claim 8

The target mechanism of claim 5 wherein said target arm is pivotally mounted, and wherein said locking mechanism includes a stationary pawllike member and a sector wheel fixed to said target arm and carrying a plurality of ratchetlike teeth successive ones of which are engaged by said pawllike member as said target arm is driven further away from its initial position whereby a plurality of stations each representative of a strike of different effective force are defined.

Claim 9

The target mechanism of claim 6 wherein said signal generating means includes circuit means for initiating a scoring cycle in response to the movement of said target arm from its initial position, a timer means energized by said circuit means for said scoring cycle, a master switch connected for operation by said timer means a predetermined number of times each scoring cycle thereby tending to provide a corresponding number of scoring pulses, a plurality of auxiliary switches coupled in series with said master switch and connected for sequential operation by said timing means to inhibit successive ones of said pulses, a plurality of contact pairs each having one contact connected to an input side of a respective one of said auxiliary switches and another contact connected to the other contact of each of the other contact pairs whereby said contact pairs are each effective when closed to provide a bypass circuit around its respective auxiliary switch as well as all previously operated ones of said auxiliary switches, mounting means for supporting said contact pairs adjacent the path of movement of said target arm at respective progressively more remote distances from the initial position of said target arm and in ordered relationship corresponding to the sequence of operation of the respective auxiliary switches connected thereto, and a wiper arm carried by said target arm for closing the contact pair adjacent the station to which said target arm is moved upon being struck by said game piece whereby the number of scoring pulses provided during said scoring cycle is representative of the effective force with which said target was struck.

Claim 10

The target mechanism of claim 7 wherein said master switch and each of said auxiliary switches are respective cam-operated switches, and said timing means includes a drive motor and a plurality of cam means which are driven by said motor.

Claim 11

The target mechanism of claim 7 wherein said circuit means includes a normally open cam-operated switch, a camming surface carried by said target arm for closing said normally open switch upon movement of said target arm from its initial position to thereby energize said timing means, and a normally closed switch coupled to be opened by said timing means at the end of each scoring cycle for deenergizing said timing means.

Claim 12

The target mechanism of claim 7 wherein said pawllike member is an armature of a reset relay, and further including circuit means coupled for energizing said reset relay at the end of each scoring cycle to disengage said armature from said ratchetlike teeth whereby said target arm is then permitted to return to its initial position.

Claim 13

For a pinball machine and the like of the type that has a game piece which traverses a playfield and a pulse-actuated scoring mechanism, a target mechanism for variably actuating said scoring mecHanism to register a score thereon representative of the effective force with which the target is struck by said game piece, said target mechanism comprising the combination of a target, bias means coupled to said target for urging it toward an initial position with a force that increases as said target is driven away therefrom, means coupled to said target for locking it for a predetermined fixed time period against movement toward said initial position whereby when said target is struck it is driven to and held for said period in a final position which is spaced from said initial position a distance dependent on the force of the strike, said means coupled to said target automatically releasing said target for movement toward said initial position upon expiration of said time period, and pulse generating means responsive to the distance said target is driven from its initial position for applying to said scoring mechanism a number of pulses representative of the effective force with which said target is struck by said game piece.

Claim 14

For a pinball machine and the like of the type that has a game piece which traverses a playfield and a pulse-actuated scoring mechanism, a target mechanism for variably actuating said scoring mecHanism to register a score thereon representative of the effective force with which the target is struck by said game piece, said target mechanism comprising the combination of a target, bias means coupled to said target for urging it toward an initial position with a force that increases as said target is driven away therefrom, means coupled to said target for locking it for a predetermined fixed time period against movement toward said initial position whereby when said target is struck it is driven to and held for said period in a final position which is spaced from said initial position a distance dependent on the force of the strike, said means coupled to said target automatically releasing said target for movement toward said initial position upon expiration of said time period, and pulse generating means responsive to the distance said target is driven from its initial position for applying to said scoring mechanism a number of pulses representative of the effective force with which said target is struck by said game piece.

Claim 15

The target mechanism of claim 11 wherein said pulse generating means includes a timer means which is energized for a scoring cycle in response to the movement of said target from its initial position, a master switch operated by said timer means a predetermined number of times each scoring cycle thereby tending to provide a corresponding number of pulses, a plurality of auxiliary switches sequentially operated by said timer means whereby each auxiliary switch tends to inhibit a successive one of said pulses, a plurality of normally open bypass circuits each connected to provide an alternative path around a respective one of said auxiliary switches as well as all previously operated ones of said auxiliary switches, and means responsive to the distance said target is moved from its initial position for closing the one of said bypass circuits that permits the uninhibited passage of the number of pulses representative of the effective force with which said target is struck by said game piece.