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US 12,172,091 B1Granted
Amusement device with permanent magnet gameplay feature
AssigneeStern Pinball, Inc.
InventorsBrian Eddy, Jim Novy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnet assembly for an amusement device, such as a pinball machine includes a permanent magnet coupled to a play surface of the device. The permanent magnet is movable between a first position, where the permanent magnet is proximate the play surface and a second position, where the permanent magnet is distally located from the play surface. The permanent magnet is movable by an actuator coupled to a linkage assembly to move the permanent magnet between the first position and the second position.
Claims16
An amusement device comprising:
- a play surface;
- and
- a magnet assembly comprising:
- a permanent magnet operably coupled to the play surface of the amusement device, the permanent magnet movable between a first position, where the permanent magnet is proximate the play surface and a second position, where the permanent magnet is distally located from the play surface;
- a linkage assembly coupled to the permanent magnet;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the linkage assembly to move the permanent magnet between the first position and the second position.
4 more elements
A pinball machine comprising:
- a generally horizontal playfield;
- a generally vertical backpanel;
- a ball movable relative to the playfield and the backpanel;
- and
- a magnetic playfield feature for selectively capturing the ball, the magnetic playfield feature comprising;
- a permanent magnet mounted to a plate and disposed proximate a backside of the backpanel;
- a link operably coupled to the plate;
- a plunger coupled to the link;
- and
- a coil operably coupled to the plunger, wherein selective energization and de-energization of the coil causes the permanent magnet to move away from the backpanel and towards the backpanel, respectively.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.