Ball bumper

Claim 1

In a bumper mechanism for a ball rolling game utilizing a conductive metal ball or the like for rolling over a playing surface, the combination comprising: a plurality of post members secured to the playing surface; a resilient conductive member suspended by said post members in spaced generally parallel relation with said playing surface at a height for impacting by the ball, a suspended portion of said conductive member yielding upon impact of a ball traveling in a first direction; a conductive area on said playing surface in spaced relation with and in proximity to said conductive member; ball propelling means including a ball kicker arm in spaced relation with said conductive member on the side opposite the ball impacting side and a solenoid having an armature for actuating said ball kicker arm to redirect the ball upon impact of the kicker arm with said conductive member in a direction generally opposite to said first direction; and circuit means for energizing said solenoid, said circuit means including capacitor means charging in response to simultaneous contact of the ball with said conductive member and said conductive area and power amplifier means responsive to discharging of said capacitor means for energizing the coil of said solenoid to drive said armature through a full stroke regardless of the duration of contact of the ball with said conductive member and said conductive area.