Types of Diverters, especially on Ramps / Rails

centaur

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I hesitated a lot before deciding to post this as I realized about an hour into the research that I am over-complicating the whole issue... as it can be solved in VP/FP by having a wall pop up/go down (as mentioned here, which is among the top google results for "ramp diverter": https://pinballnirvana.com/forums/threads/ramp-diverter-routine.12106/ ) or by a piece of plastic or metal sliding into place.

I am only posting it hoping that it will spare somebody the time needed for research. And, of course, if somebody wants to share anecdotes, examples, or insights about diverters (or any patents earlier than 1989 I might have missed), they are more than welcome!

1989 Williams/Lawlor: solenoid opens a trough that diverts the ball
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4981298A/en

1991 Williams/Trudeau: two-in-one ramp with optional diverter(s)
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5120058A/en

1993 Williams/Lawlor: cage diverter, steals ball from track (the Addams Family "hand" one)
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5358240A/en

1993 Williams/Ritchie: below-surface ball delivery with 1 finger and 1 gate
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5350174A/en

1995 Williams/Eddy: wedge shaped diverter with direction chosen by two solenoids
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5507488A/en

1995 Capcom/Anghelo: two diverters mounted on top of each other... pretty ingenious
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5474292A/en

1995 Capcom/Morrison: magnetic diverter
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5518236A/en

1997 Williams/Eddy: ramp return diverter (the Medieval Madness "split ramp" kind)
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5899454A/en
 
I am sitting here with the two diverters from Twilight zone sitting on my bench
if you want real diverter action, why not just use a flipper made into a long strip?
 

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