The answer to last weeks was the former Prime Minister of Japan.

This week, the subject of the Patent Puzzler is “It is all about skill”.

In general, you can patent most devices and methods. You can even patent objects or apparatus that society deems to be “illegal”. One interesting case is that of pinball. Pinball, from its inception, had a checkered history. For decades, pinball was seen as gambling that was after the milk money of young children. Producers of pinball machines wanted desperately to get their machines produced for mass consumption, but localities like New York City and Los Angeles prohibited them. Pinball was not seen as a “game of skill” rather pure mechanical “luck”. In a famous showdown between producers of pinball machines and New York local authorities, manufacturers of pinball machines had to seek agency review of their machines to try to allow the machines to be installed within the jurisdiction. In order to get the authorities to allow pinball machines, similar to Babe Ruth, Mr. Roger Sharpe, a noted pinball expert, “called his shot” prior to actually launching a ball onto the playfield to show that it was skill, rather than luck, that allowed players to score more points. He explained exactly where the ball would go and what would be scored prior to launching the ball. Just like Babe Ruth, his “call was perfect”, and because of this called shot, NYC allowed pinball to be played in New York City. One of the ways to control the ball is through the use of flippers in order to allow the player, rather than luck, to control the ball. While pinball was invented in the early 1900’s, the “flipper” was actually patented in 1950. Even through the flipper was “patented”, New York City did not allow pinball to be played. The question for today is: When was pinball allowed to be played in New York City, despite the 1950’s patent. 1955 1960 1964 or 1976.

Remember……the puzzles are meant to be fun and informative….not easy. We will give the answer in the next blog post on Monday. The answer will surprise you….even if consider yourself an expert on puzzles, patents or general knowledge.