IP Library › Granted Patent US 12667774
Granted Patent B1
US 12667774 · App. 18/330,931 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Collapsible ramp for an amusement game device

Inventors: Keith Elwin (Elk Grove Village, IL); J. Harrison Drake, Jr. (Elk Grove Village, IL); Richard J. Naegele (Elk Grove Village, IL)
Assignee: Stern Pinball, Inc.
A63F7/30A63F7/027A63F2007/303
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667774
App. No.
18/330,931
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A collapsible ramp assembly for use with a pinball machine having a playfield and a ball which moves across a surface of the playfield. The collapsible ramp assembly includes a base mountable to the surface of the playfield, a first ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base and including a first ramp surface, a second ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base and comprising a second ramp surface, a slidable shaft pivotally couplable to the first ramp portion and having a longitudinal axis extending through the playfield and being movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, a rigid link pivotally coupled to both the first ramp portion and the second ramp portion, and an actuator coupled to the slidable shaft to move the slidable shaft between the first position and the second position.

Claims (38)

1 . A collapsible ramp assembly for use with a pinball machine having a playfield and a ball which moves across a surface of the playfield, the collapsible ramp assembly comprising:

a base mountable to the surface of the playfield;

a first ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base and comprising a first ramp surface supported in an elevated arrangement above the playfield;

a second ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base adjacent the first ramp portion and comprising a second ramp surface supported in an elevated arrangement above the playfield;

a slidable shaft pivotally couplable to the first ramp portion and being extendable through an opening formed in the playfield, the slidable shaft having a longitudinal axis extending through the playfield and the slidable shaft being movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis;

a rigid link pivotally coupled to both the first ramp portion and the second ramp portion; and

an actuator coupled to the slidable shaft to move the slidable shaft between the first position and the second position,

the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface together defining a continuous path for the ball when the slidable shaft is in the first position, and when the slidable shaft is in the second position, the first ramp surface and second ramp surface are discontinuous.

2 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid mountable below the playfield.

3 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the slidable shaft is in the second position, the first ramp portion is at a first angle relative to the base and the second ramp portion is at a second angle relative to the base and the first angle and the second angle are different such that the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface are misaligned.

4 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the slidable shaft comprises a first shaft portion pivotably connected to a second shaft portion, the first shaft portion being pivotally coupled to the first ramp portion.

5 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the slidable shaft extends perpendicular through the playfield.

6 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the base extends in a perpendicular direction relative to the slidable shaft.

7 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first ramp portion is coupled to the slidable shaft at a first pivot point having a first pivot axis and the base is coupled to the first ramp portion at a second pivot point having a second pivot axis.

8 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are offset and parallel.

9 . The collapsible ramp assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising vertically upstanding sidewalls coupled to at least one side of each of the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface.

10 . An amusement game, comprising:

a game cabinet supporting a playfield, the playfield mounted within the game cabinet;

a processing device;

a ball which moves across a surface of the playfield; and

a collapsible ramp assembly coupled to the processing device and associated with the playfield; the collapsible ramp assembly comprising:

a base mountable to the surface of the playfield;

a first ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base and comprising a first ramp surface supported in an elevated arrangement above the playfield;

a second ramp portion pivotally coupled to the base adjacent the first ramp portion and comprising a second ramp surface supported in an elevated arrangement above the playfield;

a slidable shaft pivotally couplable to the first ramp portion and being extendable through an opening formed in the playfield, the slidable shaft having a longitudinal axis extending through the playfield and the slidable shaft being movable between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis;

a rigid link pivotally coupled to both the first ramp portion and the second ramp portion; and

an actuator coupled to the slidable shaft to move the slidable shaft between the first position and the second position,

the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface together defining a continuous path for the ball when the slidable shaft is in the first position, and when the slidable shaft is in the second position, the first ramp surface and second ramp surface are discontinuous.

11 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid mountable below the playfield.

12 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein when the slidable shaft is in the second position, the first ramp portion is at a first angle relative to the base and the second ramp portion is at a second angle relative to the base and the first angle and the second angle are different such that the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface are misaligned.

13 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the slidable shaft comprises a first shaft portion pivotably connected to a second shaft portion, the first shaft portion being pivotally coupled to the first ramp portion.

14 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the slidable shaft extends perpendicular through the playfield.

15 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the base extends in a perpendicular direction relative to the slidable shaft.

16 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the first ramp portion is coupled to the slidable shaft at a first pivot point having a first pivot axis and the base is coupled to the first ramp portion at a second pivot point having a second pivot axis.

17 . The amusement game according to claim 16 , wherein the first pivot axis and second pivot axis are offset and parallel.

18 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , further comprising vertically upstanding sidewalls coupled to at least one side of each of the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface.

19 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the second ramp portion is coupled to the rigid link at a third pivot point and the base is coupled to the second ramp portion at a fourth pivot point having a fourth pivot axis.

20 . The amusement game according to claim 10 , wherein the slidable shaft is mechanically coupled to a motor.