US3870307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pin ball game apparatus
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
•
Filing: 1973-02-21
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
•
Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A pin ball type game in which a ball is propelled by means of a launcher over an inclined playing surface among various types of targets. The game has flipper members which are used to keep a ball in play on the playing surface. Operation of any one of the flippers actuates a sound mechanism which renders simulated motorcycle noise by striking a diaphragm with a plurality of striker elements. The game also has a return channel which allows a ball in play to be directed back for repeat launching, in the form of a reward. The entrance to the return channel has a ball receiving area for holding a number of balls at a time. When a ball in play is hit against a ball in the ball receiving area the ball in the receiving area is knocked into the channel to be directed for launching. In addition, the game has a centrally located bell mounted on the playing surface, which is moved whenever it is struck by a ball to signify an achievement of a score. Mounted on the playing surface away from and generally surrounding the bell are a plurality of guide rails. An imaginary extension of each guide rail defines a path of travel to the bell. A plurality of ball propellers, one for each guide rail, are rotatably mounted adjacent each guide rail for engaging a ball and propelling the ball around the periphery of the propeller along the guide rail. A ball so engaged will be directed to and strike the bell. The movement of the bell is response to the striking thereof by a ball mechanically registers a score.
Inventors
- 👤 Burton C Meyer
- 👤 Marvin I Glass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:34
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/02; A63F7/025; A63F7/027; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/02; A63F2250/027; A63F2250/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: an upstanding, generally circular guide rail mounted on the playing surface; and rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted at least in part within the circumference of said guide rail for engaging a striking ball and positively propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby the ball is directed by the guide rail to other areas of the playing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: an upstanding, generally circular guide rail mounted on the playing surface; and rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted at least in part within the circumference of said guide rail for engaging a striking ball and positively propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby the ball is directed by the guide rail to other areas of the playing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: an upstanding, generally circular guide rail mounted on the playing surface; and rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted at least in part within the circumference of said guide rail for engaging a striking ball and positively propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby the ball is directed by the guide rail to other areas of the playing surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: an upstanding, generally circular guide rail mounted on the playing surface; and rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted at least in part within the circumference of said guide rail for engaging a striking ball and positively propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby the ball is directed by the guide rail to other areas of the playing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The game of claim 1 wherein the ball propulsion means includes a wheel-like member mounted on the playing surface for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the playing surface and spaced thereabove, said wheel member having angularly spaced, downwardly depending ball pushing tabs for capturing and pushing a ball about the underside of the wheel member and drive means operatively connected to said wheel member for continuously rotating said wheel member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game of claim 2 wherein said guide rail is formed by an annular flange protruding upwardly from the playing surface about a portion of the periphery of said wheel member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a pin ball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means Mounted on the playing surface, the improvement in said target means comprising: a central signal means movably mounted on the playing surface for producing a sound whenever a ball strikes the signal means signifying the achievement of a score; a plurality of guide rails mounted on the playing surface away from and generally surrounding said signal means, an imaginary extension of at least one guide rail defining a path of travel to said signal means; and a plurality of ball propulsion means, one for each guide rail, rotatably mounted adjacent each guide rail for engaging a striking ball and propelling said ball around the periphery of said propulsion means along the guide rail whereby a ball is caused to strike the signal means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a pin ball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means Mounted on the playing surface, the improvement in said target means comprising: a central signal means movably mounted on the playing surface for producing a sound whenever a ball strikes the signal means signifying the achievement of a score; a plurality of guide rails mounted on the playing surface away from and generally surrounding said signal means, an imaginary extension of at least one guide rail defining a path of travel to said signal means; and a plurality of ball propulsion means, one for each guide rail, rotatably mounted adjacent each guide rail for engaging a striking ball and propelling said ball around the periphery of said propulsion means along the guide rail whereby a ball is caused to strike the signal means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The game of claim 4 including means connecting the signal means with score registering means, said connecting means including a pivotally mounted means connected to said signal means and having a pawl member operatively associated with the score registering means, said score registering means including a generally circular rotatably mounted ratchet member having teeth adapted for engagement with the pawl member whereby said ratchet member moves an increment of rotation each time the connecting means pivots, said score registering means further including an indicator secured to the ratchet member for rotation therewith overlying an indicia bearing face for indicating the score.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The game of claim 5 wherein the ball propulsion means includes a wheel-like member mounted on the playing surface for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the playing surface and spaced thereabove, said wheel member having angularly spaced, downwardly depending ball pushing tabs for capturing and pushing a ball about the underside of the wheel member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game of claim 6 wherein said guide rail is formed by an annular flange protruding upwardly from the playing surface about a portion of the periphery of said wheel member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The game of claim 4 wherein said playing surface has a slot formed therein and said signal means is a bell captured for movement within said slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The game of claim 4 wherein at least one guide rail directs a ball to another propulsion means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface, the improvement in said target means comprising: a plurality of upstanding, generally circular guide rails mounted on the playing surface; and a plurality of rotatably driven ball propulsion means, one for each guide rail, each mounted at least in part within the circumference of one of said guide rails for engaging a striking ball and propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby a ball is directed to other areas of the playing surface, at least one of said guide rails directing a ball from the ball propulsion means therewithin toward another one of said ball propulsion means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface, the improvement in said target means comprising: a plurality of upstanding, generally circular guide rails mounted on the playing surface; and a plurality of rotatably driven ball propulsion means, one for each guide rail, each mounted at least in part within the circumference of one of said guide rails for engaging a striking ball and propelling said ball from the periphery of said propulsion means along the inside of the guide rail whereby a ball is directed to other areas of the playing surface, at least one of said guide rails directing a ball from the ball propulsion means therewithin toward another one of said ball propulsion means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: a guide rail mounted on the playing surface; rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted adjacent the guide rail for momentarily engaging a moving ball and positively propelling said ball around the periphery of said propulsion means along the guide rail; and signal means mounted on the playing surface away from said ball propulsion means for producing a sound whenever a moving ball strikes the signal means signifying the achievement of a score, with an imaginarY extension of said guide rail defining a path of travel to said signal means whereby a ball engaged by said ball propulsion means is directed by the guide rail to the signal means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a pinball type game including a housing having an inclined playing surface over which a ball may be propelled, at least one ball to be propelled on said playing surface, a launcher for propelling a ball onto the playing surface, and target means mounted on the playing surface for striking by a ball, the improvement wherein said target means comprises: a guide rail mounted on the playing surface; rotatably driven ball propulsion means mounted adjacent the guide rail for momentarily engaging a moving ball and positively propelling said ball around the periphery of said propulsion means along the guide rail; and signal means mounted on the playing surface away from said ball propulsion means for producing a sound whenever a moving ball strikes the signal means signifying the achievement of a score, with an imaginarY extension of said guide rail defining a path of travel to said signal means whereby a ball engaged by said ball propulsion means is directed by the guide rail to the signal means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The game of claim 11 wherein said signal means is movably mounted on said playing surface so that said signal means will move relative to the playing surface when struck by a ball, said game including scoring means for registering a score in response to said movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |