Patent Grant
7553237
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and methods for assembling such gaming machines and, more particularly, to a gaming machine having a modular actuator mechanism for remotely releasing a door latch on the gaming machine.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a secondary or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “base” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the base game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the base game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the base game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. The bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games and is attractive to both players and operators. Still, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new functions and features to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
One attempt to develop gaming machines with new functions and features involves adding a secondary display to the gaming machine. Gaming machines historically have only one display unit for displaying the base and any bonus games. A secondary display expands the range of possible new functions and features that may be implemented on the gaming machine. The secondary display may be mounted in the gaming machine by installing it in an upper section of the gaming machine, called a “top box.” Such a top box may have different shapes, sizes, themes, and so forth, and may house different types of displays (e.g., CRT, LCD, transmissive display, etc.) depending on the particular design of the gaming machine.
The top box must allow access to the secondary display for maintenance and repair purposes without having to remove the entire top box. To this end, a door or hatch is typically mounted adjacent to the top box, usually on the front wall thereof. Repair and maintenance may then be performed on the secondary display via the door or hatch. The door or hatch typically has a locking mechanism that prevents unauthorized access to the gaming machine. A person may unlock the locking mechanism by operating a release mechanism located in the main body of the gaming machine (e.g., underneath the button panel of the gaming machine).
However, connecting a release mechanism in the main body of the gaming machine to a locking mechanism in the top box presents certain manufacturing challenges. For one thing, assembly of the gaming machine is made more difficult because the release mechanism must be manually connected to the locking mechanism at some point during the assembly (it is not practical to connect the two components ahead of time). This is exacerbated by the fact that the top box, cabinet, and any hatch door release mechanisms are often located in the same area and attached to the same release handle. Also, decisions regarding which type of top box to use must be made well in advance to ensure compatibility between any locking mechanism and release mechanism required. Thus, a need exists for a gaming machine with a locking mechanism that does not require manual connection to a release mechanism and can also be mounted or installed independently of the release mechanism (i.e., preinstalled). The present invention is directed to satisfying one or more of these needs and solving other problems as well.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device operable to accept a wager input from a player at the gaming machine and a game display operable to display an outcome of a wagering game in response to the wager input, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes. The gaming machine further comprises a main body configured to house the game display and a top box mounted on the main body. The top box has a door adjacent thereto for allowing user access to an inner area of the top box. The top box further has a lock assembly installed therein comprising at least one lock operable to lock and unlock the door, a lock actuator operable to actuate the at least one lock, and a top box actuator line connecting the at least one lock to the lock actuator.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling a cabinet for a gaming machine comprises selecting a first top box for the gaming machine from a plurality of top boxes, the first top box having a first door adjacent thereto and a first lock assembly operable to lock and unlock the first door. The method further comprises mounting the first top box on a main body of the gaming machine, the main body having a release assembly installed therein and configured to engage the first lock assembly and operable to actuate the first lock assembly when the first top box is mounted on the main body. The method finally comprises replacing the first top box on the main body with a second top box, the second top box having a second door adjacent thereto and a second lock assembly operable to lock and unlock the second door. The release assembly is configured to engage the second lock assembly and operable to actuate the second lock assembly when the second top box is mounted on the main body.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a gaming machine comprises a wager input device operable to accept a wager input from a player at the gaming machine and a game display operable to display an outcome of a wagering game in response to the wager input, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes. The gaming machine further comprises a main body configured to house the game display and a top box mounted on the main body. The top box has a door adjacent thereto for allowing user access to an inner area of the top box. A release assembly is installed within the main body for facilitating locking and unlocking of the door in the top box, the release assembly including a release actuator, a release operable to actuate the release actuator, and a main body actuator line connecting the release actuator to the release.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for displaying information about the base wagering game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.
The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits which are inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see
The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an option on how to make their game selections. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.
The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in
The operation of the base wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display the bonus game associated with the base wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire display (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual association with at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.
A player begins play of the base wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The base game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the base game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.
In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in
Turning now to
The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.
As seen in
Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.
Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In
Turning now to
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the lock assembly 64 and the release assembly 66 are configured to engage one another when the top box 56 is mounted on the main body 54. As a result, there is no need to manually connect a locking mechanism to a release mechanism, as in existing gaming machines. Because no manual connection is necessary, the lock assembly 64 may be installed in the top box 56 at any time (e.g., preinstalled) independently of the release assembly 66. The lock assembly 64 also does not require a particular top box design, but may be used with any suitable top box 56. Likewise, the release assembly 66 does not require a particular main body design, but may be used with any suitable main body 54. Such a modular arrangement allows the selection of which top box 56 to use with which main body 54 to be made much later in the process than previously possible. Moreover, one top box 56 may be removed and switched with another top box 56 without having to alter or otherwise accommodate the release assembly 66 in the main body 54. This allows casinos and gaming machine manufacturers to more easily swap out older top boxes for newer, upgraded versions.
In the implementation of
Whichever wall the lock actuator 72 is located on, it is preferably mounted near or flush (i.e., substantially flush) with a border or interface 80 between the top box 56 and the main body 54. The release actuator 74 may then be mounted adjacent to the lock actuator 72 on an inner surface of a corresponding wall (e.g., a back wall 62) in the main body 54. More specifically, the lock actuator 72 and the release actuator 74 may be positioned in their respective top box 58 and main body 54 so that the two actuators come in mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic contact with one another when the top box 58 is placed on the main body 54. Such an arrangement eliminates the manual connection required in existing gaming machines to connect the locking mechanism in the top box to the release mechanism in the main body.
In some embodiments, the release 78 of the release assembly 66 may include a release activator 130 (see
To operate, a user manipulates the release mechanism 78 on the cabinet 12 to send a mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic signal along the main body actuator line 76 to the release actuator 74. The signal from the release 78 causes the release actuator 74 to mechanically, electrically, magnetically, hydraulically, and/or pneumatically actuate the lock actuator 72. This causes a mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic signal from the lock actuator 72 to be sent along the top box actuator line 72 to the lock 68. The signal from the lock actuator 72 actuates the lock 68, causing it to mechanically, electrically, magnetically, hydraulically, and/or pneumatically lock or unlock the door 58. The user may thereafter open the door 58 (if unlocked) or secure the door (if locked) as needed.
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the lock assembly 64 may be mounted in the top box 56 independently of the main body 54, and the release assembly 66 may be mounted in the main body 54 independently of the top box 56. This allows the top box 56 and the main body 54 to be put into the assembly process with the lock assembly 64 and the release assembly 66 already preinstalled. The top box 56 may then be placed on the main body 54 at any time to assemble the lock assembly 64 and the release assembly 66 (preferably using slits, notches, or some other type of alignment mechanism). The predetermined placement of the lock actuator 72 and the release actuator 74 causes these two components to come into mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic contact with one another. Such an arrangement allows any top box 56 to be used with any main body 54 provided the lock actuator 72 of the lock assembly 64 and a release actuator 74 of the release assembly 66 are placed as described above.
The components of the lock assembly 64 and the release assembly 66, including the lock 68, top box actuator line 70, lock actuator 72, release actuator 74, main body actuator line 76, and release 78, may be any suitable mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic components known to those having ordinary skill in the art. These components may be available from a number of manufacturers, including Southco of Concordville, Pa., USA and Eberhard Hardware Manufacturing of Strongsville, Ohio. Following is an exemplary implementation of the lock assembly 64 and the release assembly 66 using mechanical components known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
As can be seen in
Referring still to
Turning now to
Connected to the other end of the main body actuator line 76 is the release 78. In one implementation, the release 78 may be composed of a carriage 124 having a line stop 126 protruding from an end thereof. As with the release actuator 74, the line stop 126 is designed to receive and hold the cable and sleeve arrangement of the main body actuator line 76. A slidable plate 128 is disposed flush against the carriage 124, but in a manner that allows the slidable plate to freely slide back and forth along the carriage 124. The slidable plate 128 has a release activator 130, such as a handle, protruding therefrom that extends through an opening in the carriage 124 for allowing a user to manually slide the slidable plate 128. As mentioned above, the release activator 130 may be located at any convenient location and accessed from an inner or an outer surface of the main body 54. The other components of the release 78 are contemplated as being mounted internally only unless they are fully enclosed (in which case they may also be mounted externally). A transverse backplate 134 extending perpendicularly from one end of the slidable plate 128 anchors a cable termination 134 terminating the cable of the main body actuator line 76.
In operation, a user moves the release activator (e.g., handle) 130 (
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1336183 | Bahr | Apr 1920 | A |
| 1967151 | Lustick | Jul 1934 | A |
| 2104639 | Dall | Jan 1938 | A |
| 3145741 | Smith | Aug 1964 | A |
| 3193635 | Hood, Jr. | Jul 1965 | A |
| 3282357 | Bunn | Nov 1966 | A |
| RE29341 | Peters et al. | Aug 1977 | E |
| 4102164 | Barbush | Jul 1978 | A |
| 4469382 | Slaats et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4516007 | Ringdahl et al. | May 1985 | A |
| 4596411 | Geringer et al. | Jun 1986 | A |
| 4703147 | Happ et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
| 4714075 | Krauter et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
| 4795155 | Grande | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4802353 | Corder et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
| 5092148 | Rong-Long | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5224707 | Martin | Jul 1993 | A |
| 5540069 | Muller et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5616270 | Park et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5771722 | DiVito et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5841361 | Hoffman | Nov 1998 | A |
| 5890439 | McGunn | Apr 1999 | A |
| 6011999 | Holmes | Jan 2000 | A |
| 6066038 | Sciortino et al. | May 2000 | A |
| 6231446 | Majima et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6251014 | Stockdale et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6420972 | Loose | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6575833 | Stockdale | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6688984 | Cole | Feb 2004 | B2 |
| 6705140 | Dimig et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
| 20020032051 | Stockdale | Mar 2002 | A1 |
| 20030190962 | Canterbury et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20040092317 | Beirne | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040192433 | Johnson | Sep 2004 | A1 |
| 20050054449 | Kopera et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
| 20050077995 | Paulsen et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
| 20050215325 | Nguyen et al. | Sep 2005 | A1 |
| 20060281558 | Rifkin et al. | Dec 2006 | A1 |
| 20070046423 | Baucom | Mar 2007 | A1 |
| 20070132551 | Mozer et al. | Jun 2007 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20070225078 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |
