Roller switch protector
OwnerAbdelkarim Hamdaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rollover slot protector can be applied to a pinball machine rollover slot so as to prevent or cover wear to the playfield adjacent the pinball rollover slot while still enabling expected operability of the rollover switch. The rollover slot protector comprises an elongated plate and an insert portion depending from the plate. Walls of the insert portion deflect so as to create a friction fit when inserted into the pinball machine rollover slot.
Claims17
A pinball rollover slot protector, comprising:
- an elongated plate extending from a plate first end to a plate second end;
- an insert portion depending from the plate, the insert portion defined by a pair of spaced apart elongated insert side walls defining a protector slot therebetween, the insert portion extending from an insert first end to an insert second end, the protector slot extending from a slot first end to a slot second end;
- an insert portion width defined between outer surfaces of the spaced apart insert side walls, the insert portion width being less than a plate width;
- and
- a curving transition wall extending between the insert side walls and defining the insert second end, a thickness of the curving transition wall at the insert second end being less than a thickness of the insert side walls.
A method of installing a pinball rollover slot protector into a pinball rollover slot, the rollover slot protector having a plate from which an insert portion depends, the method comprising:
- inserting a second end of the insert portion at least partially into the pinball rollover slot so that opposing insert side walls are at least partially urged toward one another, a width of the insert portion measured between outer surfaces of the insert side walls being greater than a width of the rollover slot, a protector slot defined between the insert side walls being aligned with the pinball rollover slot;
- urging a first end of the insert portion into the pinball rollover slot so that the plate rests on a playfield adjacent the pinball rollover slot;
- and
- deforming a bridge while urging the first end of the insert portion into the pinball rollover slot, the bridge extending between the opposing insert side walls at a first end of the protector slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.