Amusement device with permanent magnet gameplay feature

1. An amusement device comprising:

a play surface; and

a magnet assembly comprising:

a permanent magnet operably coupled to the play surface of the amusement device, the permanent magnet movable between a first position, where the permanent magnet is proximate the play surface and a second position, where the permanent magnet is distally located from the play surface;

a linkage assembly coupled to the permanent magnet; and

an actuator coupled to the linkage assembly to move the permanent magnet between the first position and the second position.

2. The amusement device of claim 1 , wherein the amusement device is a pinball machine.

3. The amusement device of claim 2 , wherein the permanent magnet is pivotally coupled to the play surface.

4. The amusement device of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a coil and the coil is operably coupled to the linkage assembly via a plunger.

5. The amusement device of claim 4 , wherein the coil is mounted to the play surface.

6. The amusement device of claim 4 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a first linkage coupled to the plunger, a plate operably coupled to the first linkage wherein the permanent magnet is mounted to the plate, and a mount operably coupled to the plate and mounted to the play surface.

7. The amusement device of claim 4 , wherein the play surface is a vertical backpanel extending from a horizontal playfield.

8. The amusement device of claim 7 , wherein the backpanel comprises a hollow configured to at least partially accept the permanent magnet therein when the permanent magnet is in the first position.

9. The amusement device of claim 7 , wherein the magnet assembly is mounted to a backside of the backpanel and further comprising a ramp mounted to the horizontal playfield on an opposite side of the magnet assembly.

10. The amusement device of claim 9 , wherein the ramp is configured to transport a ball moving within the ramp to a location proximate the permanent magnet when the permanent magnet is in the first position.

11. The amusement device of claim 10 , wherein the ramp comprises a movable deflector, the deflector having a first deflector position wherein the ball moving within the ramp is not deflected and a second deflector position wherein the ball moving within the ramp is deflected closer to the permanent magnet than when not deflected.

12. The amusement device of claim 11 , wherein the permanent magnet attracts the ball and stops movement of the ball when the ball is deflected.

13. A pinball machine comprising:

a generally horizontal playfield;

a generally vertical backpanel;

a ball movable relative to the playfield and the backpanel; and

a magnetic playfield feature for selectively capturing the ball, the magnetic playfield feature comprising;

a permanent magnet mounted to a plate and disposed proximate a backside of the backpanel;

a link operably coupled to the plate;

a plunger coupled to the link; and

a coil operably coupled to the plunger, wherein selective energization and de-energization of the coil causes the permanent magnet to move away from the backpanel and towards the backpanel, respectively.

14. The pinball machine of claim 13 , wherein the plate of the magnetic playfield feature is pivotally mounted to the backpanel.

15. The pinball machine of claim 13 , wherein the plate of the magnetic playfield feature is pivotally mounted to a mount coupled to the backpanel.

16. The pinball machine of claim 13 , wherein the permanent magnet is at least partially inserted into a hollow formed in the backpanel when the permanent magnet is moved towards the backpanel.