Multi-Axis Spinning Target For An Amusement Game Device

Abstract

A playfield accessory for an amusement game device, such as a pinball machine, includes a turntable rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to an inclined playfield, upright support posts on the turntable, and a spinning target rotatably supported by the posts about a second axis. Weights bias the turntable to a reset orientation and a lowered center of gravity returns the spinning target to a starting orientation. A detection system with switches and cams senses rotational directions of the turntable and spinning target, distinguishing front and back contacts via a guidepath switch. Game logic registers multiple unique shots based on combinations of rotations and contact locations. An electrical slip ring maintains sensor connections during rotation.

Claims

1. A playfield accessory for an amusement game device having an inclined playfield, the accessory comprising: a turntable configured to rotate freely about a first axis perpendicular to the playfield; at least one upright support post mounted on the turntable; a spinning target supported by the at least one upright support post and configured to rotate about a second axis different from the first axis; a turntable detection system configured to detect the rotational direction of the turntable and to register a plurality of unique interactions based on rotation of the turntable; and a spinning target detection system configured to detect the rotational direction of the spinning target and to register a plurality of unique interactions based on contact with the spinning target and rotation of the spinning target.

2. The playfield accessory of claim 1, further comprising weights disposed on the turntable to bias the turntable toward a reset orientation after rotation.

3. The playfield accessory of claim 1, wherein the at least one upright support post comprises a pair of upright support posts, and the spinning target is supported between the pair of upright support posts via bearings.

4. The playfield accessory of claim 3, wherein the spinning target has a center of gravity positioned below a centerline of the spinning target to facilitate return to a starting position.

5. The playfield accessory of claim 1, wherein the turntable detection system includes at least one switch positioned beneath the playfield and a cam on an underside of the turntable configured to activate the at least one switch to determine a rotational direction of the turntable.

6. The playfield accessory of claim 5, wherein activation of the at least one switch in a first sequence indicates clockwise rotation of the turntable, and activation in a second sequence indicates counterclockwise rotation.

7. The playfield accessory of claim 1, further comprising a turntable support housing ball bearings to facilitate smooth rotation of the turntable.

8. An amusement game device comprising: a cabinet; an inclined playfield supported within the cabinet; at least one flipper configured to propel a ball across the playfield; and a turntable rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the playfield; upright support posts on the turntable; a spinning target rotatably supported by the upright support posts about a second axis; sensors configured to detect rotations of the turntable and the spinning target; and game logic configured to register a plurality of unique shots based on detected combinations of rotational directions and contact locations.

9. The amusement game device of claim 8, wherein the sensors include at least one switch beneath the playfield for detecting rotational direction of the turntable and a microswitch for detecting contact to the spinning target.

10. The amusement game device of claim 8, wherein the playfield accessory further includes weights disposed on the turntable to bias the turntable toward a reset orientation after rotation.

11. The amusement game device of claim 8, wherein the spinning target has a center of gravity positioned below a centerline of the spinning target to facilitate return to a starting position.

12. The amusement game device of claim 8, further comprising a guidepath configured to allow a ball to contact a back side of the spinning target.

13. The amusement game device of claim 12, wherein the sensors include a switch on the guidepath configured to detect a ball path prior to contact on the spinning target, the combination of the switch and another sensor indicating a back contact on the spinning target.

14. The amusement game device of claim 8, further comprising a turntable support housing ball bearings to facilitate smooth rotation of the turntable.

15. A method of detecting interactions in a playfield accessory of an amusement game device, the accessory having a rotatable turntable and a spinning target thereon, the method comprising: detecting a rotational direction of the turntable using a sequence of switch activations beneath a playfield; detecting rotation of the spinning target using a switch triggered by a cam during revolutions of the spinning target; detecting a back contact on the spinning target using a combination of a guidepath switch and the switch for the spinning target; and registering unique shot combinations based on the detected rotational directions of the turntable and contact locations on the spinning target while the turntable is rotating.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising resetting the turntable to a starting position using weights after rotation ceases.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining an electrical connection for the switch of the spinning target during rotation of the turntable via a slip ring.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein registering unique shot combinations includes distinguishing between front and back contacts on the spinning target in combination with clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the turntable.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting rotation of the spinning target includes using a cam attached to a support beam of the spinning target to trigger the switch during each revolution.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein wiring for the switch triggered by the cam extends through upright support posts and the turntable to connect to an electrical slip ring.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pinball machine; and

[0015] FIG. 2 is an aerial view of a pinball machine playfield showing a multi-axis spinning target assembly; and

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pinball machine playfield showing a multi-axis spinning target assembly; and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of a pinball machine playfield showing a complementary side of a multi-axis spinning target assembly from inside the pinball machine cabinet; and

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a turntable support for a multi-axis spinning target assembly; and

[0019] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of detecting game play interactions for scoring purposes with a multi-axis spinning target assembly according to the principles of this disclosure.

[0020] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] An embodiment of the playfield accessory for an amusement game device, such as a pinball machine, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. As shown in FIG. 1, the amusement game device generally includes a cabinet 1 that houses an inclined playfield 2 supporting various playfield accessories, with game play involving the propulsion of a ball across the playfield 2 using flippers or similar input devices to interact with these accessories for scoring purposes. The disclosed subject matter focuses on a multi-axis spinning target playfield accessory 4 that may allow multiple unique interaction possibilities for a plurality of shot registrations from a single assembly, thereby increasing player engagement through varied and strategic ball interactions.

[0023] One embodiment of the playfield accessory 4, shown generally in FIG. 2, may comprise a turntable 6 that may be coplanar with the inclined playfield 2. The turntable 6 may be configured to rotate freely about a first axis 8 that is preferably perpendicular to the inclined playfield 2 of the amusement game device. As shown in FIG. 2, the turntable 6 may be a substantially circular or disc-shaped platform. This platform may be configured to spin in response to impacts on upright support posts 10 and spinning target 12 from a game ball and allow rotational movement in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions of the turntable 6, and forward and backward rotation of the spinning target 12. Such free-spinning capability may be facilitated by a turntable support 32 that may be mounted beneath the playfield 2. The turntable support 32 may comprise a set of ball bearings 34, which are preferably roller bearings, that may be arranged circumferentially to minimize friction. As shown in FIG. 5, the ball bearings 34 may be positioned within the turntable support 32 to distribute load evenly and allow the turntable 6 to maintain momentum after the upright support posts 10 or the spinning target 12 is struck, and allow the turntable 6 to respond realistically to ball contacts on its associated components. The perpendicular axis 8 of turntable 6 rotation may ensure that the turntable 6 remains stable on the inclined playfield 2 and may permit 360-degree freedom of movement. This freedom may create unpredictable and engaging gameplay scenarios. In these scenarios, the orientation of the accessory may change dynamically during play.

[0024] In some embodiments, at least one upright support post 10 may be mounted to the turntable 6. A preferred embodiment may feature a pair of upright support posts 10 that may be positioned oppositely across the diameter of the turntable 6 or at other suitable locations on the turntable 6. This arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 2. The upright support posts 10 may extend upward from the top surface of the turntable 6 and may serve as the primary mounting points for a spinning target 12. The upright support posts 10 may be constructed from durable materials that may include metal or reinforced plastic to help the upright support posts 10 withstand repeated ball impacts. The upright support posts 10 may provide mechanical support and may house internal pathways for electrical wiring. Additionally, the upright support posts 10 may incorporate bearings 22 at their upper ends. As shown in FIG. 3, the bearings 22 may be precision components to allow for low-friction rotation. The bearings 22 may also securely retain the spinning target 12 in place. The bearings 22 may prevent lateral displacement of the spinning target 12 during high-speed spins or forceful hits.

[0025] In some embodiments, the spinning target 12 may be rotatably supported between the pair of upright support posts 10 and may be configured to rotate about a second axis 14. The second axis 14 may be distinct (e.g., non-parallel and non-intersecting) from the first axis 8 of the turntable 6. The second axis 14 may typically be oriented horizontally and parallel to the playfield 2 width for optimal ball interaction. This orientation is shown in FIG. 2. The second axis 14 may be defined by the alignment of the bearings 22, as shown in FIG. 3, within the upright support posts 10 and may enable the spinning target 12 to spin freely in forward and backward directions upon contact from the ball. The spinning target 12 itself may be shaped as a cylindrical or paddle-like element and may be designed to present multiple striking surfaces. These surfaces may include a front side 39 for direct hits and a back side 40 accessible via a guidepath 38. A feature of the spinning target 12 may be its center of gravity. The center of gravity of the spinning target 12 may be intentionally positioned below the centerline 24 of the spinning target 12 which may be below the rotational axis 14 defined by the bearings 22. This positioning may leverage gravitational forces for self-reset. This lowered center of gravity of the spinning target 12 may ensure that, after rotational momentum dissipates, the spinning target 12 naturally returns to a predetermined starting position 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The spinning target 12 may then be ready for subsequent interactions without requiring additional mechanical actuators or player intervention.

[0026] In some embodiments, a detection system 16 may be integrated with the playfield accessory 4. The detection system 16 may comprise two separate detection systems, for example, a turntable detection system and a spinning target detection system, or the detection system 16 may comprise turntable 6 detection and spinning target 12 detection in the same system. The detection system 16 may be configured to precisely detect the rotational directions of both the turntable 6 and the spinning target 12. The detection system 16 may also register a plurality of unique interactions based on combinations of contact to the spinning target 12 and concurrent rotations of the turntable 6. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the detection system 16 for the turntable 6 may include at least one switch 28A positioned beneath the playfield 2. Specifically, it may include a pair of switches 28A and 28B arranged in proximity to a turntable cam 30. The turntable cam 30 may be affixed to the underside of the turntable 6. The turntable cam 30 may be a protruding element and may be shaped to sequentially activate the switches 28A and 28B as the turntable 6 rotates. For instance, if switch 28A is triggered followed by switch 28B, the system may interpret this sequence as rotation in one direction. This direction may be clockwise. Conversely, activation of switch 28B followed by switch 28A may indicate the opposite direction. This opposite direction may be counterclockwise. This sequential detection mechanism is shown in FIG. 4. It may allow game logic to accurately discern the turntable's 6 rotational state in real-time and, as a result, differentiated scoring may be enabled. This scoring may be based on whether the turntable 6 is stationary or spinning in a particular direction at the moment of ball contact.

[0027] In some embodiments the detection system 16 may employ a switch 36 for detecting interactions with the spinning target. The switch 36 may preferably be a normally open microswitch and may be mounted to the side of one of the upright support posts 10. This mounting is depicted in FIG. 3. The microswitch 36 may be activated by a target cam 31 wherein the target cam 31 is securely attached to a support beam 50. The support beam 50 may span the length of the spinning target 12 and may be integrated into the structure of the spinning target 12. The support beam 50 may rotate in unison with the spinning target 12 and this rotation may cause the target cam 31 to contact and close the microswitch 36 with each full revolution. This setup may confirm that the spinning target 12 has been struck and is rotating. It may also quantify the extent of rotation through repeated triggers which may be used for advanced scoring algorithms.

[0028] Additionally, the detection system 16 may incorporate a guidepath 38 on the playfield to distinguish between front and back contacts. The guidepath 38 may be a channeled pathway to allow the ball to approach and contact the back side 40 of the spinning target 12. The ball's approach may occur without initially effecting the turntable 6. A dedicated guidepath switch 42 may be positioned along this guidepath 38, which is shown in FIG. 2. The guidepath switch 42 may be triggered by the ball just prior to impact on the spinning target 12. The temporal combination of the guidepath switch 42 activation followed by the microswitch 36 may signal a back contact. This may enable the game logic to register distinct interactions. Such interactions may include front hits while the turntable 6 is spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. Other interactions may also include back hits via the guidepath 38 under similar conditions.

[0029] In some embodiments, the playfield accessory 4 may include an electrical slip ring 46 to ensure operation of the electrical components amid the rotational movements. The electrical slip ring 46 may be mounted within the turntable support 32, as shown in FIG. 4. The wiring 48 for the microswitch 36 and other sensors (28A, 28B, and 42) may run from the sensors down through the upright support posts 10 and then run laterally toward the center of the turntable 6. The wiring 48 may exit through the bottom of the turntable 6 to connect to the slip ring 46. The slip ring 46 may consist of a stationary half that may be affixed to the turntable support 32. The slip ring 46 may also consist of a rotating half that may be linked to the accessory's internal wires. This arrangement may allow for continuous 360-degree rotation without tangling or interrupting electrical signals. This hidden wiring pathway may maintain aesthetic integrity and provide connectivity when integrating the accessory 4 into the broader game electronics.

[0030] In some embodiments, at least one weight 18 may be disposed on the turntable 6. These weights 18 are preferably at peripheral locations. This placement is shown in FIG. 4. The weights 18 may bias the turntable 6 toward a predefined reset orientation 20 once rotational energy diminishes. The weights 18 may create an imbalance. Under gravity's influence on the inclined playfield 2, this imbalance may gently urge the turntable 6 back to a preferred orientation.

[0031] In some embodiments of an amusement game device, the playfield accessory 4 may be mounted directly onto the inclined playfield 2 within the cabinet 1. The accessory 4 may interact with at least one flipper 3 by a flipper 3 hitting the game ball that then engaged the accessory 4. The flipper 3 may propel the ball to engage the accessory 4. The sensors may encompass the switches (28A, 28B, 36, and 42). These sensors may collaboratively detect rotations and contacts and feed data to game logic. The game logic may process these inputs to register a plurality of unique shots. For example, the game logic may differentiate among eight combinations that may include front or back hits on the spinning target 12. The hits may occur when the turntable 6 is stationary, spinning clockwise, or spinning counterclockwise. As a result, precise and skillful shots may be rewarded with varied point values or game modes.

[0032] A method of detecting interactions in the playfield accessory 4 as described may comprise several integrated steps, as shown in FIG. 6. A first step 601 may comprise detecting the rotational direction of the turntable 6 when the upright support posts 10 are contacted with a game ball. This detection may use a sequence of switch activations (28A and 28B) beneath the playfield 2 and may leverage the turntable cam 30 to generate directional-specific signals. A second step 602 may comprise detecting rotation of the spinning target 12 using the switch 36, wherein the switch 36 may be triggered by the target cam 31 after the spinning target 12 is contacted with a game ball. The target cam 31 may be attached to the support beam 50 and during each revolution of the spinning target 12 may provide confirmation and quantification of spins. A third step 603 may comprise detecting a back contact on the spinning target 12. Detection may use a combination of the guidepath switch 42 and the switch 36 for the spinning target 12. The sequential timing may distinguish rear approaches. A final step 604 may comprise registering unique shot combinations based on the detected rotational directions of the turntable 6. The unique shot combinations may also be based on contact locations (front or back) on the spinning target 12. This may occur while the turntable 6 is rotating, and the game logic may interpret these shot combinations for scoring.

[0033] In some embodiments, a method may further comprise resetting the turntable 6 to a starting position 26 using the weights 18 on the turntable 6 after rotation ceases. The method may also comprise maintaining an electrical connection for the switch 36 of the spinning target 12 during rotation of the turntable 6 via the slip ring 46. Additionally, the method may comprise distinguishing between front and back contacts on the spinning target 12 based on forward and backward rotations of the spinning target 12. Finally, the method may comprise routing wiring 48 for the switch 36 through the upright support posts 10 and the turntable 6. The wiring 48 may connect to the electrical slip ring 46.

[0034] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.