Roller switch protector

Abstract

A rollover slot protector can be applied to a pinball machine rollover slot so as to prevent or cover wear to the playfield adjacent the pinball rollover slot while still enabling expected operability of the rollover switch. The rollover slot protector comprises an elongated plate and an insert portion depending from the plate. Walls of the insert portion deflect so as to create a friction fit when inserted into the pinball machine rollover slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pinball rollover slot protector, comprising:
 an elongated plate extending from a plate first end to a plate second end;   an insert portion depending from the plate, the insert portion defined by a pair of spaced apart elongated insert side walls defining a protector slot therebetween, the insert portion extending from an insert first end to an insert second end, the protector slot extending from a slot first end to a slot second end;   an insert portion width defined between outer surfaces of the spaced apart insert side walls, the insert portion width being less than a plate width; and   a curving transition wall extending between the insert side walls and defining the insert second end, a thickness of the curving transition wall at the insert second end being less than a thickness of the insert side walls.   
     
     
         2 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the curving transition wall decreases moving toward the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 2 , wherein the thickness of the curving transition wall at the insert second end is 40-60% of the thickness of the insert side walls. 
     
     
         4 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the curving transition wall have a first arcuate shape and an inner surface of the curving transition wall has a second arcuate shape, and the first arcuate shape diverges from the second arcuate shape. 
     
     
         5 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 2 , wherein the curving transition wall is contiguous with each of the opposing insert walls. 
     
     
         6 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 1 , wherein a bridge extends between the opposing insert side walls at the slot first end, the insert extending in a direction transverse to the insert side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 6 , additionally comprising an aperture formed through the plate on a side of the bridge opposite the protective slot. 
     
     
         8 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 7 , wherein a thickness of the bridge is less than the thickness of the insert side walls. 
     
     
         9 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the bridge is about 40-60% the thickness of the insert side walls. 
     
     
         10 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 7 , wherein the insert first end is distal of the insert second end, wherein the plate comprises first apron extending distally of the insert second end, and wherein a portion of the aperture is formed through the first apron. 
     
     
         11 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 7 , wherein the insert first end is distal of the insert second end, and the bridge is proximal of the insert first end. 
     
     
         12 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 1 , wherein the insert portion comprises a tapered portion extending from a transition point to the insert first end, and wherein a depth of the insert side walls decreases moving from the transition point to the insert first end in the tapered portion. 
     
     
         13 . The rollover slot protector of  claim 12 , wherein a bridge extends between the opposing insert side walls at the slot first end, and an aperture is formed through the plate on a side of the bridge opposite the protective slot, and wherein the bridge is in the tapered portion. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a pinball rollover slot protector into a pinball rollover slot, the rollover slot protector having a plate from which an insert portion depends, the method comprising:
 inserting a second end of the insert portion at least partially into the pinball rollover slot so that opposing insert side walls are at least partially urged toward one another, a width of the insert portion measured between outer surfaces of the insert side walls being greater than a width of the rollover slot, a protector slot defined between the insert side walls being aligned with the pinball rollover slot;   urging a first end of the insert portion into the pinball rollover slot so that the plate rests on a playfield adjacent the pinball rollover slot; and   deforming a bridge while urging the first end of the insert portion into the pinball rollover slot, the bridge extending between the opposing insert side walls at a first end of the protector slot.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein urging a first end of the insert portion into the pinball rollover slot comprises applying a force to the plate urging a tapered portion of the insert portion against a first end of the pinball rollover slot so that the first end of the pinball rollover slot urges the insert portion toward the second end of the pinball rollover slot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein inserting the second end of the insert portion at least partially into the pinball rollover slot comprises compressing a curving transition wall of the insert portion at the insert portion second end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising engaging a plate second end with a playfield adjacent the pinball rollover slot while urging the second end of the insert portion at least partially into the pinball rollover slot.