...that on Dec. 15, 1836, the Patent Office was completely destroyed by fire? Lost were some 7,000 models, 9,000 drawings, and 230 books plus all records of patent applications and grants.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6199861 | Method and kit for retrofitting a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily updatable, or alternately, retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6164644 | Method of modifying electronics contained in a controller box of a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield mount... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6158737 | Playfield assembly for a pinball-machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. One of these features is a novel playfield assembly for t... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6155565 | Method and kit retrofitting a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield, a pa... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6149153 | Automatic propelling feature for pinball games An automatic propelling feature for a pinball game having a playfield supporting a rolling ball and a plurality of targets thereon, comprises a propelling member, mounted to the playfield, for propelling the ball toward the target; a ball guide for guidin... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6135449 | Mounting mechanism for a playfield of a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily serviceable and is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. One of these features is a nove... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6129353 | Method of displaying video images projected from a video display of a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a cabinet, a playfield, a pl... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6120021 | Lock-down bar release system for a pinball machine A lock-down bar release system for a pinball machine serviceable in a location-service mode and an operator-service mode. The pinball machine includes a playfield disposed within a game cabinet and a lock-down bar for securing a playfield glass over the p... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6113097 | Method of replacing a playfield of a pinball machine A pinball machine has been designed with several novel mechanical and electrical features such that it is easily retrofittable or convertible between a first pinball game and a second pinball game. The pinball machine includes a playfield mounted to a cab... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6059288 | Retractable ball cage for a rolling ball game A ball locking device includes a plurality of posts arranged to retract into or extendabove apertures in the game playfield. In the extended position, the posts form a cage which confines a game ball therein. The posts are arranged, for example, in a circ... | 05/09/2000 |
| 6047962 | Amusement game with pinball playfield and combined flipper/four-way switch An amusement game includes a number of elements in a cabinet defining pinball play, including a playfield and flippers for propelling a ball onto the playfield. At least one control device operates the flippers and other features of the amusement game. Th... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6036189 | Game with viewing panel having variable optical characteristics for producing virtual images A game which comprises a plurality of play devices and a panel for prohibiting access of a player to the plurality of play devices. The panel includes at least two optically distinct portions. A first optically distinct portion is substantially transparen... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6000697 | Display for a pinball game A pinball game comprises a cabinet, an inclined playfield, and a video display. The inclined playfield supports a rolling ball and a plurality of play features thereon. The cabinet includes a pair of opposing side walls and a rear wall extending between t... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5992848 | Vertically displaceable ramp A pinball machine having a vertically displaceable ramp play feature. The ramp moves between an upper position in which it does not interfere with gameplay, and a lower position in which the lower edge of the ramp rests on the playfield. When the ramp is ... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5944309 | Illuminable ramp assembly for a pinball game An illuminable ramp assembly for a pinball game having a playfield supporting a rolling ball thereon comprises an elongated molded plastic housing and a ball ramp extending alongside the housing. The housing encloses a power supply, a gas tube, protective... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5938195 | Serpentine ramp for a pinball game A serpentine ramp is rotatable about a horizontal axis between its center and its upper end to lift a pinball from a lower play surface to an upper play surface. A ball is directed from the lower surface into a ball receiving portion in the lower end of t... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5924690 | Drop target for a pinball game A drop target for a pinball game includes a movable target element operably connected to a target driver. The target driver is controllably movable in response to energizing pulses from a game controller. A releasable latching mechanism moves in cooperati... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5899454 | Ramp with integral ball deflector for pinball games A ramp with an integral ball deflector is positioned upon the playfield of a pinball game with its entrance approximately level with the playfield. A ball deflector having the shape of a triangle is mounted upon the bottom of the ramp with its widest port... | 05/04/1999 |
| 5890715 | Linkable pinball machine A pinball machine which can be electrically linked to other pinball machines to allow the machines to communicate. Features on the pinball machines are synchronized to make gameplay more attractive to players. Cooperative or competitive gameplay can be pr... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5833236 | Wrecking ball play feature for a pinball game A wrecking ball play feature for a pinball game includes a crane disposed upon the playfield of the pinball game. A wrecking ball is suspended from the crane by a cable so that it may be impacted by a game ball rolling upon the playfield. After being stru... | 11/10/1998 |
| 5806851 | Interactive play for a pinball game An interactive play feature for a pinball game includes a shooting position on an inclined playfield and a target spaced apart from the shooting position. A shooting mechanism is responsive to input from a player for propelling a game ball from the shooti... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5720480 | Display panel for a pinball machine A display panel for a pinball machine utilizes a lightweight plastic housing member with a plurality of apertures therein for retaining light bulbs. A glass lens and film having an image thereon are resiliently retained on the housing member with channel ... | 02/24/1998 |
| 5707059 | Pinball game having novice play mode A pinball game is provided with a control system which enables a game player to choose between a novice mode of play and a normal mode of play. In novice mode, game play proceeds for a predetermined time, regardless of the number of game balls played and ... | 01/13/1998 |
| 5700008 | Amusement device integrating games of skill and chance A game of skill, such as a pinball game is integrated with a game of chance, such as a simulation of a board game. A micro-processor based control system permits play of the game of chance when a player achieves game objectives in the skill game. The game... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5664777 | Rotary ball storage and discharge device for a pinball game A play feature for a pinball game permits the storage of a number of game balls and release of the balls at high speed and in quick succession back onto the playfield for multiple ball play. A rotor element having a plurality of vertical vanes is disposed... | 09/09/1997 |
| 5651546 | Amusement device reward system A rolling ball game is provided with a token dispenser which dispenses game tokens by rolling them onto the inclined cover glass of the game cabinet. The dispenser is provided with controls to permit interaction of the dispenser with the game housed withi... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5632482 | Vertically disposed multi-level pinball game The invention comprises a multilevel, vertically oriented pinball game arranged in a cabinet that occupies a minimum of floor space. Because the smaller game cabinet limits the depth of the playfield, a single horizontal playfield would not provide the pl... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5580052 | Rotating magnetic box play feature for a pinball game The play feature of the invention comprises a planar surface which is rotatable above the playfield of a pinball game between a ball receiving and a ball discharge position. An electromagnet is attached to the planar surface. A ball detector, such as an e... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5536082 | Game playfield mounting system The disclosed device relates to an improved system for mounting a game playfield within a game cabinet. The device provides pivotal and sliding movement of the playfield with respect to the cabinet while allowing quick removal of the playfield entirely fr... | 07/16/1996 |
| 5533727 | Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games An audit system for recording the activation of coin-operated electronic equipment and the amounts of money collected employing a real-time clock to time stamp information recorded in non-volatile or battery powered memory, such as total collections, numb... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5533726 | Magnetic crane for a pinball game The improved player feature of the invention comprises an arm mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. An electromagnet is attached to the arm's outer end which is capable of suspending a ferromagnetic ball. Located below and along the path traveled by... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5529294 | Lighted stand-up target The lighted stand-up target of the invention comprises a housing attached to the playfield and a target switch pivotably mounted to the housing. An array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned on a printed circuit board mounted within the housing.... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5524887 | Multi-directional ball popper for a pinball game A multi-directional ball popper for a pinball game provides an unpredictable path for the game ball as it emerges from the popper. A pair of solenoid plungers are provided on the underside of the game playfield and aligned with respect to the ball positio... | 06/11/1996 |
| 5516103 | Dual function drop target for pinball game A ramp element is provided on the top of a drop target member so that when the target is activated and moved to its lower position, the ramp is accessible by the game ball and may travel thereover to reach elevated game features. A series of ramp elements... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5511783 | Ball momentum transfer play feature for a pinball game A pinball momentum transfer device or Newton ball device utilizes an impact bail anchored to the playfield. The impact ball, in cooperation with guide elements on the playfield, defines a ball travel area for captive balls to which momentum can be transfe... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5507488 | Ball diverter for a pinball game A ball diverter located in a ramp or other ball path is moveable between first and second positions and is used to selectively divert a pinball between two paths. The player uses buttons located on the game cabinet to control the position of the diverter ... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5494286 | Ball advancing device for a pinball game An electromagnet is mounted beneath the playfield. Sensors, such as optical switch pairs, are positioned on the playfield in operative relation with the electromagnet to detect the ball and to produce a signal in response thereto. The microprocessor, in r... | 02/27/1996 |
| 5480149 | Flipper feeder ramp The invention consists of a pair of flippers located adjacent the bottom of the playfield. A pair of ramps or other similar ball conveyors are provided where each ramp delivers the ball directly to one of the two flippers. A third ramp is provided that co... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5465963 | Height adjustable pinball game cabinet A game cabinet is supported on legs that are provided with apertures for receiving fasteners such as bolts. The bolts engage mating receptacles formed on the game cabinet. The game cabinet is provided with a greater number of mating receptacles than the l... | 11/14/1995 |
| 5417423 | Multiple kicker ramp for a pinball game The play feature for a game of the present invention comprises a multiple kicker ramp including a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal dividers which define parallel ball lanes and a plurality of perpendicular paths between the ball lanes. Balls enter t... | 05/23/1995 |