Lock-down bar release system for a pinball machine

A pinball machine comprising:

• a game cabinet including a game playfield enclosed therein;
• a collection area under the game playfield for receiving the items of value accepted into the game cabinet;
• a lock-down bar for releasably securing a cover plate to the game cabinet;
• a coin door movable between respective locked and unlocked modes, the coin door in said locked mode restricting access to the collection area, the coin door in said unlocked mode providing access to the collection area;
• first key-responsive means operable in cooperation with a first key to release the lock-down bar when the coin door is in the locked mode;
• and
• second key-responsive means operable in cooperation with a second key to unlock the coin door and providing access for a human operator to release the lock-down bar without operation of said first key.

In a pinball machine having a playfield enclosed within a game cabinet by a lock-down bar, an apparatus for releasing the lock-down bar comprising:

• a handle movable between a first position and a second position;
• latching means operably connected to the handle, the latching means moving between a latched position and an unlatched position in response to movement of the handle between the first position and second position, the latching means securing the lock-down bar over the game cabinet when in the latched position, the latching means releasing the lock-down bar when in the unlatched position;
• and
• location-service means for moving the handle from the first position to the second position.