Pinball machine having a play field which is changed during play

In a pinball game, the combination comprising:

• a play field having a planar base on which components are mounted;
• and
• means operable by a player for projecting a ball over said play field to contact said components;
• wherein said play field base has an opening into which a planar section is mounted to said base for rotation by at least approximately 180 degrees about an axis approximately parallel to said planar base, said planar section having components mounted thereon, and wherein said combination further comprises an electric motor coupled between said planar base and said planar section for rotating said planar section by at least approximately 180 degrees about said axis and an actuator coupled to said motor to cause incremental rotation of said planar section from a first angular position to a second angular position to thereby change the components in said play field.

In a pinball game, the combination comprising:

• a play field having a planar base on which components are mounted;
• and
• means operable by a player for projecting a ball over said play field to contact said components;
• wherein said play field base has an opening into which a planar section is mounted to said base for rotation by at least approximately 180 degrees about an axis approximately parallel to said planar base, said planar section having components mounted thereon, and wherein said combination further comprises an electric motor coupled between said planar base and said planar section for rotating said planar section by at least approximately 180 degrees about said axis to thereby change the components in said play field, a slip clutch connected between said motor and said planar section, and a catch operable by a solenoid for selectively blocking rotation of said planar section when said planar section is approximately parallel to said planar base.

In a pinball game, the combination comprising:

• a play field having a planar base on which components are mounted;
• and
• means operable by a player for projecting a ball over said play field to contact said components;
• wherein said play field base has an opening into which a play field section is mounted to said base for rotation about an axis approximately parallel to said planar base, said play field section has a first planar surface upon which are mounted a first plurality of discrete ball-deflecting components, and said play field section has a second planar surface upon which are mounted a second plurality of discrete ball-deflecting components, and wherein said combination further comprises a rotary actuator responsive to electrical signals to incrementally rotate said play field section between a first angular position wherein said first planar surface is approximately parallel to said planar base and a second angular position wherein said second planar surface is approximately parallel to said planar base, and an electrical circuit responsive to movement of said ball and providing said electrical signals to activate said rotary actuator.