Rotating target and ramp assembly for a pinball machine

A rotating assembly for a pinball machine, the rotating assembly comprising:

• a carriage rotatably mountable to a playfield of the pinball machine;
• an actuator operatively coupled to the carriage for rotating the carriage between a first position and a second position;
• a first interactive gaming element coupled to the carriage;
• and
• a second interactive gaming element coupled to the carriage, the second interactive gaming element comprising a ramp surface extending from the carriage such that a first end of the ramp surface is flush with the carriage and a second end of the ramp surface is elevated off the carriage,
• such that in the first position, the first interactive gaming element is in a first location and when in the second position, the second interactive gaming element is in the first location.

A pinball machine comprising:

• a game cabinet supporting a playfield;
• a carriage rotatably mountable to the playfield;
• an actuator operatively coupled to the carriage for rotating the carriage about a rotating axis extending generally perpendicular to the playfield, the carriage rotating between a first position and a second position;
• a motor distally located from the carriage and operably coupled to the carriage via a link offset from the rotating axis such that a rotation of the motor drives the link to rotate the carriage between the first position and the second position;
• a target assembly mounted to a portion of a periphery of the carriage;
• and
• a ball path defined by at least one upstanding wall extending perpendicular from the carriage,
• such that in the first position, the target assembly is in a first location relative to the playfield and when in the second position, the ball path is in the first location and the target assembly is in a second location relative to the playfield.

A pinball machine comprising:

• a cabinet supporting a playfield;
• and
• a rotating target and ramp assembly coupled to the playfield, the rotating target and ramp assembly comprising:
• a mounting bracket mountable to an underside of the playfield;
• a rotatable shaft supported by the mounting bracket and extending through an opening defined in the playfield;
• a carriage coupled to the rotatable shaft and rotatable about a rotating axis extending generally perpendicular to the playfield;
• an actuator operatively coupled to the carriage to rotate the carriage about the rotating axis between a first position and a second position;
• a target assembly mounted to a portion of a periphery of the carriage;
• and
• a frame mounted to the carriage and comprising a base surface and two upstanding walls extending from the base surface and defining a ball path, the ball path comprising a ramp surface extending from the carriage such that a first end of the ramp surface is flush with the carriage and a second end of the ramp surface is elevated off the carriage, the carriage, the target assembly, and the frame being rotatable together as a single unit, the first position including the target assembly disposed at a first location relative to the playfield, and the second position including the ball path disposed at the first location relative to the playfield.