Kicker-type bumper assembly for games
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to games and, more specifically, to pinball games. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the prior art, many games have been proposed in which a ball is made to traverse a playing surface for a variety of objects, depending on the design of the particular game. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,975,019; 4,039,191; 2,219,898; and 2,212,097 are considered to be generally illustrative of such games. Probably, the most widely accepted of games of this nature are known as pin-ball games, sometimes also referred to as bumper pool games. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,501,021; and 2,727,743 are considered to be illustrative. 
     These pinball games have generally included a bumper of some kind which diverts the direction of a ball that encounters the bumper. Many times, the bumpers are kicker-type bumpers in which the ball triggers a sensing mechanism that activates the bumper such that it impacts the ball with sufficient force to accelerate it away from the bumper. These kicker-type bumpers are generally complex devices which have posed persistant problems with respect to reliability and expense. Kicker-type bumpers have now been perfected to the point where they have achieved acceptable reliability. However, due to their complexity, the cost of these kicker-type bumpers has remained relatively high so that their use is almost exclusively restricted to pinball games intended for commercial use. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,322,091; 2,487,979; 3,857,567; 3,826,883; 3,785,653; 3,180,646; and 2,328,667 are considered to be generally illustrative of kicker-type bumpers intended for commercial use. 
     There has, however, also existed a market for entertainment games such as pinball games which are suitable for private use. Accordingly, there existed need in prior art games, and particularly pinball games, for a kicker-type bumper which was reliable but yet inexpensive enough to permit its use in non-commercial applications, such as games designed for home enjoyment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed invention is a kicker-type bumper assembly for use in games in which an electrically conductive ball traverses the playing surface of a game board having a base layer, a contact plate, and an insulation layer that electrically isolates the base layer from the contact plate layer. The bumper assembly includes a solenoid, a bumper support member that is responsive to the longitudinal movement of the solenoid core, a bumper fastened to one end of the bumper support member, and a spring concentrically disposed about a portion of the bumper support member. The spring, which extends through aperatures in the insulation layer and one of the base layers or the contact plate layer of the game board, is electrically connected to the other of the base layer or contact plate such that when the ball makes electrical contact between this other layer and the spring, an electrical circuit is completed between the base layer and the contact plate that energizes the solenoid to actuate the kickertype bumper assembly. 
     Preferably, the bumper assembly includes a single solenoid which simultaneously actuates a plurality of bumpers. Also preferably, the spring member passes through an aperature in the base layer and is electrically connected to the contact plate such that the ball makes electrical contact between the spring and the base layer to complete the electrical circuit between the contact plate and the base layer that energizes the solenoid. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a kicker-type bumper assembly is provided which is reliable but economical so that it is suitable for use in pin-ball games and similar games which are intended for private use. Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiment of the same proceeds. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational cross-section of a pinball game that, includes the presently preferred embodiment of the kickertype bumper assembly; and 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bumper assembly of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an elevation of a pin-ball game incorporating the presently disclosed kicker-type bumper assembly. The pin-ball game includes a game board 6 comprised of a base layer 7, a contact plate layer 8, and an insulation layer 9 that electrically isolates base layer 7 from contact plate layer 8. In the operation of the pin-ball game, an electrically conductive ball 10 is caused to traverse the exposed surface of base layer 7 so as to score points or achieve other results in accordance with the object of the game through the execution of various maneuvers of ball 10. 
     Of these maneuvers, one of prominence in most pin ball games is to cause the ball to strike a bumper. Typically, the bumper is a kicker-type bumper which is activated to strike the ball and accelerate it radially away from the bumper. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the bumper assembly of the presently preferred embodiment which includes a solenoid 11 having a core member 12 and a coil 14 concentrically arranged about core member 12. When energized through terminals 16 and 18, coil 14 urges longitudinal movement of core 12 toward the center of coil 14. Terminal 16 of solenoid coil 14 is electrically connected through a power source 20 to base layer 7 and terminal 18 is connected to contact plate 8. A bumper support member 24 is fastened to core 12 and is responsive to the longitudinal movement thereof. Bumper support member 24 includes extremities or arms 26 and 28 which extend through respective aperatures 30 and 32 in game board 6 and protrude at least partially above the upper surface of game board 6. Bumpers 34 and 36 are fastened on the protruding ends of arms 26 and 28 respectively. Concentrically arranged about arms 26 and 28 are springs 38 and 40 which extend at least partially through aperatures 30 and 32 in base layer 7 and insulation layer 9 and are electrically connected to contact plate layer 8. Preferably, springs 38 and 40 are electrically connected to contact plate 8 through a flange member 42 which also serves to guide the longitudinal movement of arms 26 and 28 within aperatures 30 and 32. 
     In accordance with the operation of the preferred embodiment, the kicker-type bumper is initially in a position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which springs 38 and 40 urge bumpers 34 and 36 into their extreme position away from game board 6 such that bumper support member 24 is in a first position in which it is abutted against flange member 42 and core member 12 is partially withdrawn from coil 14. When electrically conductive ball 10 rolls across the exposed surface of base layer 7 and contacts spring 38 or 40, an electrical current path is completed from base layer 7 to contact plate layer 8 through conductive ball 10 and spring 38 or 40. 
     Completion of the current path between base layer 7 and contact plate layer 8 completes an electrical circuit between opposite terminals of power source 20 through solenoid coil 14 thus energizing coil 14 causing it urge core member 12 longitudinally downward. As core member 12 moves downward, bumper support member 24 also moves downwardly whereby arms 26 and 28 are drawn longitudinally through aperatures 30 and 32 so that bumpers 34 and 36 close toward the exposed surface of game board 6. As bumpers 34 and 36 close toward game board 6, bumper support member reaches a second position at which one of the bumpers strikes ball 10, forcing it radially away from the respective bumper. As ball 10 is forced away from bumper 34 or 36, the electrical circuit between the terminals of power source 20 through solenoid coil 14 is opened such that solenoid coil 14 becomes de-energized. 
     Upon de-energization of solenoid coil 14, springs 38 and 40 return the kicker-type bumper assembly to the initial or first position such that the foregoing operation of the preferred embodiment will be repeated upon subsequent contact of conductive ball 10 with springs 38 or 40. 
     Preferably, the embodiment includes a switch 43 that controls the energization of a scoring mechanism in accordance with the operation of the kicker-type bumper assembly. The scoring mechanism includes a power source (not shown) that controllably energizes a scoring device through switch 43. The contacts 44 of switch 43 are disposed such that they are open at times when solenoid coil 14 is de-energized and bumpers 34 and 36 are at their extreme positions from game board 6. At times when solenoid coil 14 is energized such that bumpers 34 and 36 are at their closest limit of travel to game board 6, contacts 44 are closed. Accordingly, when bumpers 34 and 36 are in their initial position, the scoring device is not energized. However, when ball 10 strikes spring 38 and 40 causing bumpers 34 and 36 to be retracted, contacts 42 are closed and the scoring device is activated. 
     Also preferably, the present embodiment includes a bell striker 44 that is responsive to the motion of bumper support member 24. When solenoid coil 14 is energized and bumper support member 24 is drawn into the second position, bell striker 44 is caused to move radially away from bell 46 and then allowed to quickly snap back toward its original position. The inertia of bell striker 44 however, causes it to swing beyond its original position and strike bell 46. Preferably, the flexible connection of bell striker 44 to flange member 42 is sufficiently damped that the overresponse of bell striker 44 does not cause it to strike bell 46 more than once during each movement cycle of bumper support member 24. 
     In accordance with the description of the preferred embodiment, a kicker-type bumper assembly has been described that is both reliable and inexpensive enough for non-commercial application. The mechanical simplicity of the mechanism for completing the circuit that activates the disclosed kicker-type bumper assembly affords both economy and reliability. The disclosed embodiment affords substantial additional economy by controlling a plurality of bumpers with a single solenoid. 
     While a present preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto but can be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.