Patents offer a wealth of information about the designs and history of pinball machines and the devices that make them work. Below are links to the patents of some of the more important or interesting devices used in electromechanical pinball machines.
Please feel free to suggest any other patents that should be included using Contact link at the bottom of this page.
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Patent: USD90927S |
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Patent: US1949488 Date: 3/6/1934 Title: Game apparatus Inventor: David C. Rockola Description: Rock-ola World's Fair Jig-Saw game |
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Patent: US1975374A Date: 10/2/1934 Title: Game apparatus Inventor: David C. Rockola Description: Rock-ola World's Series game |
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Patent: US2017274A |
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Patent: US2073132A Date: 3/9/1937 Title: Game device Inventor: Harry E Williams Assignee: Pacific Amusement Mfg Company Description: First use of a solenoid in a pinball machine |
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Patent: US2109678A Date: 3/1/1938 Title: Contact Switch for Ball Rolling Games Inventor: Nels A. Nelson Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: First electrical scoring bumper |
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Patent: US2138243 Date: 11/29/1938 Title: Timing mechanism Inventor: Frank G Nicolaus Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Score motor |
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Patent: US2155929 Date: 4/25/1939 Title: Score registering device Inventor: Charles J Breitenstein, Alfred F Chouinard Description: Projection unit |
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Patent: US2184868A Date: 12/26/1939 Title: Bumper switch Inventor: Harry E Williams, Lyndon A Durant Description: Spring bumper |
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Patent: US2216957A Date: 10/8/1940 Title: Game apparatus Inventor: Frank G Nicolaus Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Score motor with a Projection unit |
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Patent: US2219898A Date: 10/29/1940 Title: Ball Rolling Game Inventor: Donald E Hooker Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Kicking round bumper before the Pop Bumper |
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Patent: US 2219934A Date: 10/29/40 Title: Ball rolling game Inventor: Nels A Nelson Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Spinning bumper |
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Patent: US2226885A Date: 12/31/40 Title: Game Apparatus Inventor: Harry E Williams, Lyndon A Durant Description: Magnetically moved ball similar to Doodle Bug |
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Patent: US2242971A Date: 5/20/1941 Title: Switch stack assembly Inventor: Edward Joseph Glennon Assignee: Comar Electric Co Description: Switch stack |
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Patent: US2281262A Date: 4/28/1942 Title: Step-up mechanism Inventor: Charles T Breitenstein Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Projection unit |
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Patent: US2296548 Date: 9/22/1942 Title: Universal Impulse Unit Inventor: Harry E Williams, Lyndon A Durant Description: Score motor |
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Patent: US2296549A Date: 9/22/1942 Title: Impulse Control Inventor: Harry E Williams, Lyndon A Durant Description: Score motor controls |
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Patent: US2321834A Date: 6/15/1943 Title: Relay Inventor: Carl G Anderson, Folke A Brandstrom, Frederick J Marco Assignee: Comar Electric Co Description: Relay |
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Patent: US2317506A Date: 4/27/1943 Title: Accessory for Game Apparatus Inventor: Harry E Williams, Lyndon A Durant Description: Kick out holes |
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Patent: US2322091A Date: 6/15/1943 Title: Ball bumper Inventor: Livingston Callard, Donald E Hooker Assignee: Ace Patents Corp Description: Scoring bumper |
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Patent: US2410708A Date: 11/5/1946 Title: Variable stroke mechanism Inventor: Charles T Breitenstein, Robert H Breither, Frank G Nicolaus, Herman L Seiden Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Step up unit |
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Patent: US2429810A Date: 10/28/1947 Title: Multiple connector Inventor: David Gottlieb, Anthony Jerard Assignee: David Gottlieb, Anthony Jerard Description: Improved Jones plug |
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Patent: US2459011A Date: 1/11/1949 Title: Amusement Game Apparatus Inventor: Harry E Williams Description: Vertical Man Running Unit |
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Patent: US2479707A Date: 8/23/1949 Title: Free-play control circuit for amusement games Inventor: Lyndon A Durant Assignee: Royal Patent Corp Description: Ball release gate |
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Patent: US2487979A Date: 11/15/1949 Title: Electrical switching device Inventor: Wayne E. Neyens Assignee: David Gottlieb Description: Pop bumper |
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Patent: US2501021A Date: 3/21/1950 Title: Ball bumper Inventor: George R Benak Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Pop bumper (user operated) |
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Patent: US2520283A Date: 8/29/1950 Title: Pivotal ball return means for pin games Inventor: Jerry C Koci Assignee: Chicago Coin Machine Co Description: Flipper |
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Patent: US2574721A Date: 11/13/1951 Title: Magnetic Ball Activator Inventor: Walter Von Stoeser Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Playfield Magnet |
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Patent: USD167550S Date: 8/19/1952 Title: Amusement game apparatus Inventor: Harry E Williams Description: Horse racing game |
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Patent: US2610277A Date: 9/9/1952 Title: Ball game switch Inventor: Robert H Breither, Donald E Hooker Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Rollover button switch |
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Patent: US2618719A Date: 11/18/1952 Title: Step-Up Switch Mechanism Inventor: Lyndon A Durant, Gordon Horlick Description: Step up unit |
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Patent: US2663568A Date: 12/22/1953 Title: Projecting device for pin ball amusement apparatus Inventor: Lyndon A Durant Assignee: Gen Patent Corp Description: Shooter gauge |
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Patent: US2680618A Date: 6/8/1954 Title: Simulated baseball amusement game apparatus Inventor: Harry E Williams Assignee: Williams Patent Corp Description: Man running unit |
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Patent: US2724024A Date: 11/15/1955 Title: Step-up mechanisms Inventor: Lyndon A Durant, Marcine P Wolverton Assignee: Gen Patent Corp Description: Score reel |
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Patent: US2727433A Date: 12/20/1955 Title: Score projector with shiftable optical system Inventor: Frank G Nicolaus Assignee: Raymond T Moloney Description: Projection unit |
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Patent: US2779200A Date: 1/29/1957 Title: Step-Up Mechanisms Inventor: Lyndon A Durant Description: Score reel |
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Patent: US2830819A Date: 4/15/1958 Title: Movable ball bumper Inventor: Pearl Irving Assignee: Harry Williams Mfg Company Description: Disappearing pop bumper |
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Patent: US2858390A Date: 10/28/1958 Title: Ball bumper switch for amusement apparatus Inventor: Steven F Kordek Assignee: Genco Inc Description: Pop bumper |
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Patent: US2932705A Date: 4/12/1960 Title: Convertible locking relay Inventor: Frank G. Nicolaus Assignee: Lion Mfg Corp Description: Interlock relay |
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Patent: US2945624A Date: 7/19/1960 Title: Counting number register Inventor: Frank G. Nicolaus Assignee: American National Bank and Trust Co Description: Score reel |
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Patent: US3064891A Date: 11/20/1962 Title: Stepping Switch Mechanism Inventor: Frank G. Nicolaus Assignee: Lion Mfg Corp Description: Score reel |
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Patent: US3298691A Date: 01/17/1967 Title: Reprojecting Ball Bumper Inventor: Harold O. Berninger, Herman L. Seiden Assignee: Lion Mfg Corp Description: Flipper |
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Patent: US3390255A Date: 6/25/1968 Title: Stepping mechanism for use in a pinball machine or the like Inventor: Roman F Garbark Assignee: D Gottlieb & Co Description: Score reel |
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Patent: US3404888A Date: 10/8/1968 Title: Ball gating and reprojecting means Inventor: Joseph E Lally, Jr, Terrence A Reedy, Thad F Zale Assignee: Lion Mfg Corp Description: Zipper Flippers |
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Patent: USD213981S Date: 4/29/1969 Title: Bumper for a pinball machine Inventor: Roman F. Garbark Description: New pop bumper body |
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Patent: US3441279A Date: 4/29/1969 Title: Ball Delivery and Control Means Inventor: Joseph E. Lally, Earl F. Heppner, Harold O. Berninger Assignee: Bally Mfg Corp Description: Ball Return |
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Patent: US3452988A Date: 7/1/1969 Title: Ball gate Inventor: Thad F Zale Assignee: Bally Mfg Corp Description: Roll under gate |
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Patent: US3578802A Date: 5/18/1971 Title: Vertically adjustable bumper for ball rolling games Inventor: William E Casey, Norman R Clark, Frank T Murphy Assignee: Williams Electronic Mfg Corp Description: Disappearing or Up Post |
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Patent: US3627318A Date: 12/14/1971 Title: Force detecting target for pinball machines and the like Inventor: Roman F Garbark, Edward P Krynski Assignee: D Gottlieb & Co Description: Vari target |
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Patent: US3675927A Date: 7/11/1972 Title: Two-player pinball machine Inventor: Alvin J Gottlieb, Wayne E Neyens, Robert T Smith, Roman F Garbark Assignee: D Gottlieb & Co Description: Challenger pinball machine |
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Patent: US3793510A Date: 2/19/1974 Title: Add and subtract relay Inventor: R Garbark Assignee: D Gottlieb & Co Description: Small credit unit |
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Patent: US3901511A Date: 8/26/1975 Title: Lighted hole assembly and ball projector for playboard Inventor: Roman F Garbark Assignee: D Gottlieb & Co Description: Kickout hole |
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Patent: US4221384A Date: 9/9/1980 Title: Drop target assembly for pinball game Inventor: Edward P. Krynski Assignee: D. Gottlieb & Co Description: Drop target |
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Patent: US4235438A Date: 11/25/1980 Title: Pinball game spinning target Inventor: Michael L. Hally Assignee: Atari, Inc. Description: Spinning target |
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Patent: US4353553A Date: 10/12/1982 Title: Drop target assembly for pinball game Inventor: Edward P. Krynski Assignee: D. Gottlieb & Co Description: Drop target |
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Patent: US4354681A Date: 10/19/1982 Title: Drop target assembly for pinball game Inventor: Roman F. Garbark Assignee: D. Gottlieb & Co Description: Drop target |
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Patent: US4360203A Date: 11/23/1982 Title: Rollover switch for pinball game Inventor: Roman F. Garbark Assignee: D. Gottlieb & Co Description: Star rollover switch |