Celebrity Inventors
Actor Marlon Brando has four patents, all named "Drumhead tensioning device and method."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7281432 | Displacement sensor with an excitation coil and a detection coil To be able to detect a displacement amount of a moving object by a resolution of from micrometer to nanometer by a simple structure. An excitation coil 23 and a detection coil 25 are arranged to align and a magnetic body probe 27 in a con... | 10/16/2007 |
| 6861962 | Electronic pinball A unit for converting a keypad operated electronic pinball game to a mechanically operated pinball machine includes a housing configured and dimensioned to enclose a keypad. The keypad has keys specific to functions of starting and stopping an electronic pinball gam... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6634954 | Miniature bowling game A miniature bowling game is provided, comprising a base structure having an elongated bowling alley with diverging sidewalls, a gutter along each sidewall, a ball, a ball shooting apparatus pivotally associated with a semi-circular region at the front of ... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6585269 | Table type baseball playing table structure A table type baseball playing table structure includes a ball batting assembly, and a ball ejection assembly. Thus, the pitcher may pull and release the ball ejection handle, so that the ball striking rod may be pushed by the spring to strike the ball by ... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6439570 | Ball plunger device for a soccer game A soccer game table comprising; a game surface having an opening therein and a plunger provided in the game surface opening, the plunger being adapted to release a game ball onto the game surface as a result of a vertical displacement of the plunger, and ... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6402140 | Automatic ball-starting device of football game table Automatic ball-starting device of football game table, including multiple ball-guiding tubes and a controlling box. Two ball-guiding tubes respectively extend from two goals on two sides of the football game table to the controlling box disposed at the ce... | 06/11/2002 |
| 5915693 | Jump rope play feature for a pinball game A game ball cradle is positioned upon the playfield of a pinball game. A player-controlled solenoid plunger mechanism "pops" a ball positioned within the cradle into the air. A wire form jump rope is rotatably connected to an electric motor. The jump rope... | 06/29/1999 |
| 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 |
| 5800288 | Ball toss sport training apparatus A sport training apparatus for projecting a ball into the air for training an athlete in the proper technique of hitting or catching the ball. The apparatus includes ball projecting means and a spring connected thereto for movement between a cocked state ... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5772206 | Amusement game having a solenoid operated play feature An amusement game having a solenoid operated rotating play feature. The solenoid comprises a bobbin having a bore around which is disposed electrical windings for use in creating an electromagnetic force and a plunger disposed within the bore. The plunger... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5741010 | Trap door providing for interlevel ball travel for pinball game An apparatus provides interlevel play for a pinball game having an inclined playfield. The apparatus includes an elevated surface mounted above the playfield for supporting a rolling ball thereon. The elevated surface has an aperture therein for receiving... | 04/21/1998 |
| 5711522 | Game launching mechanism A projectile launching mechanism for use in a table top game such as soccer in which an impeller is mounted on a central core for coaxial movement relative thereto against a spring bias. The central core has a striker thereon operable, in use, to move dow... | 01/27/1998 |
| 5697612 | Jet bumper for a pinball game The jet bumper of the invention consists of a body mounted to the playfield. A solenoid actuator and rebound ring are mounted on the body. An eddy current sensor is disposed about the body to detect the approach of a ball. Upon detection of the ball, the ... | 12/16/1997 |
| 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 |
| 5655768 | Bowling toy A bowling toy having a unique ball launching and pin setting means. The miniature bowling ball is placed in a tubular launcher where both gravity and a motorized spinning rubber wheel act to propel the ball down a miniature bowling alley. The rubber wheel... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5655770 | Pinball solenoid power control system A pinball machine is provided and includes one or more solenoids for activating one or more play feature mechanisms and a microprocessor for controlling game play activities. The microprocessor has associated therewith a clock for providing timed signals ... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5597165 | Game device for a radio controlled vehicle A radio controlled vehicle having a device attached to the front of the vehicle for scooping and retaining a playing ball in a retaining area. The ball is scooped and captured by driving the vehicle towards the ball with sufficient velocity to guide it be... | 01/28/1997 |
| 5564697 | Table top game apparatus A table top game apparatus includes a circular play area peripherally demarcated by an annular trough, a plurality of disk shaped game-pieces, a game-piece propelling mechanism which is located at, and movable along, the trough, and an annular confinement... | 10/15/1996 |
| 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 |
| 5496030 | Pinball kick back play feature A pinball machine is provided and includes an inclined playfield for supporting a rolling ball. The inclined playfield has associated therewith at least one flipper, an exit lane, and a drain hole. A door mechanism having a retractable door is positioned ... | 03/05/1996 |
| 5443262 | Baseball game An elongated drawer-like base is provided at one end with a batting plunger and a plurality of "strike" and "ball" simulated baseball retaining compartments and at an opposite end with a pitching plunger and a plurality of ball retaining compartments carr... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5356142 | Pinball machine with moveable ball transfer assembly A pinball machine in which a movable ball transfer assembly is provided on the playfield. When a player positions a ball in a selected location on the playfield, the ball transfer assembly is actuated to retrieve the ball, move on the playfield and deposi... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5350174 | Below the playfield ball delivery system for a pinball game The ball delivery system of the invention consists of a ramp located beneath the playfield where the ramp leads from an inlet accessible by the ball in play to at least one play feature to be loaded. At least one ball is stored in the ramp at each play fe... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5322282 | Variable response ball receiving device A rotatable member is provided for a rolling ball amusement device. The rotatable member defines a ball receiving aperture which is positioned to receive a rolling ball and to cause transfer of kinetic energy from the ball to the rotatable member, to caus... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5271619 | Shuffle bowl bowling aid Apparatus for assisting a physically impaired person when bowling comprising a dolly having roller means therebeneath for effecting a linear direction of motion to the dolly; a pedestal supported on the dolly, the pedestal having a shaft therein mounted i... | 12/21/1993 |
| 5254030 | Rapid action toy vehicle launcher A toy vehicle launcher includes a generally planar base having a pair of angularly disposed downwardly sloped toy vehicle feed ramps coupled thereto. A pivotally supported carriage defines a pair of angularly disposed launching stations for receiving toy ... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5186462 | Oscillating ball cannon The play feature of the invention consists of a ball projecting mechanism mounted for rotary motion about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the playfield. When a ball enters the projecting mechanism, a motor is activated which rotates the pr... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5048832 | Double ball launcher for rolling ball game A rolling ball game such as pinball comprises a playfield plus means for launching rolling balls onto the playfield. By this invention, the launching means comprises a station where a ball at rest is positioned for said launching, spring-operated manual p... | 09/17/1991 |
| 5044635 | Pop bumper for pinball game A "pop bumper" for a pinball game which carries a depressible flange for contact with a rolling ball. By this invention a vertically moveable pin engaging the flange is provided. The pin is positioned to move in linear manner between a first vertical posi... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5020801 | Baseball home run contest game A baseball home run contest game is provided and consists of a pitching mechanism mounted to one end of an elongated platform, while a batting mechanism is mounted to other opposite end of the platform. The pitching mechanism is electrically operated at v... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4978124 | Marble shooting toy Apparatus for propelling an object along a surface only when the apparatus is positioned closely adjacent the surface and for inhibiting the object from being propelled when the apparatus is lifted from the surface, includes a magazine for holding a plura... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4973056 | Simulated basketball game A simulated basketball game includes a play surface having baskets at its opposite ends and defining a plurality of ball shooting-position openings each of which overlies a ball propelling paddle. The ball propelling paddles are selectively interconnected... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4892309 | Two and four position target assembly The invention relates to a play feature for a pinball game able to assume a plurality of scoring positions. Various embodiments are disclosed, including two-position targets and four-position targets. The devices are actuated by a solenoid which cooperate... | 01/09/1990 |
| 4805906 | Pinball machine construction A pinball machine construction having a horizontally hinged security door which includes a top control panel which also clamps the glass cover over the playing field. A variable ball delivery system is remotely actuated and variable to deliver the balls t... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4634126 | Device for converting the amount of a mechanical displacement into electrical signal A transducer converts the amount of mechanical displacement of a member into an electrical signal by magnetic induction. Two fixed coils different in winding direction from each other are spaced apart from each other by a suitable distance and connected i... | 01/06/1987 |
| 4557483 | Ball shooting apparatus for pinball game machine Two cylindrical stator magnetic poles are disposed with a suitable space therebetween, and a plunger is movably disposed within the two stator magnetic poles. A coil is wound around the outer periphery of the two stator magnetic poles, and a current flowi... | 12/10/1985 |
| 4508343 | Pinball game with randomly operable drop targets A pinball game includes a playfield board on which is mounted a plurality of drop target assemblies, each including a target member movable through an opening in the playfield board between a playing condition projecting above the playfield board and a re... | 04/02/1985 |
| 4488724 | Horizontally movable kicker for pin ball game A kicker apparatus for a slingshot bumper assembly in a pin ball game including a playfield board on which a ball rolls for engagement with a resilient impact band to actuate a drive solenoid, includes a frame which mounts the solenoid with its plunger ax... | 12/18/1984 |
| 4487416 | Rotatable kicker for pinball game A rotatable kicker apparatus includes a frame adapted to be mounted in an aperture in the playfield board of a pinball game for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the playfield board. The frame carries a drive solenoid which connects through crank ar... | 12/11/1984 |
| 4474308 | Tablet ejector A tablet or pill ejector is disclosed consisting of at least three detachably secured sections in the general shape of a pen. The front end of the device is provided with a hole communicating with axially aligned bores formed longitudinally in the section... | 10/02/1984 |
