BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gaming machine according to one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partially fragmentary, exploded isometric view of a portion of the gaming cabinet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view showing the outer door structure, and inner window-mounting structure;
FIG. 4 is a partially fragmentary edge view of a portion of the door showing the glass support features;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the retaining bracket;
FIG. 6 is a partially schematic view of the glass being installed;
FIG. 7 is a partially schematic view of the glass being installed; and
FIG. 8 is a partially schematic view showing the glass in the installed configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
With reference, to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 1 includes a cabinet 2 having vertical side panels 3, an upper panel 4, and a door 5 that is pivotably mounted to the cabinet for movement between open and closed positions. Cabinet 2 has an enlarged opening 6 on the front side with a perimeter that is generally formed by side edges 7 and 8 of side panels 3 and 4, respectively. In the illustrated example, the opening 6 is substantially coextensive with the front side of cabinet 2. However, it will be understood that opening 6 may not extend across the entire front side of cabinet 2 if required for a particular application.
Door 5 includes a forwardly-projecting portion 12 having an upwardly-facing panel portion 13 having one or more game control features such as push buttons 14. A generally vertical lower panel 15 is offset inwardly from the outer surface 16 of forwardly-protruding portion 12. A bill acceptor 17 and coin/token dispenser 18 may be mounted to the lower panel 15.
Door 5 includes an enlarged opening 20, and a sheet of glass 21 or other light-transmitting material extends across opening 20. Various graphic material 22 on glass 21 includes images relating to the game, messages, and the like that provide visual interest, and convey information to prospective game players concerning the game play or theme. Door 5 may include an upper opening 23 and a horizontal cross member 24 extending between upper opening 23 and opening 20. An upper sheet of glass or other light-transmitting material 25 may also include graphics 22 and the like relating to the game.
With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, door 5 includes an outer structure 30 and an inner bracket structure 31. Inner bracket structure 31 includes an enlarged lower opening 32 that is approximately the same size as enlarged opening 20 in door 5 in the illustrated example. As described in more detail below, inner bracket structure 31 is secured to outer door structure 30, and a retaining bracket 50 attaches to inner bracket structure 31 to retain glass sheets 21 and 25 to the door 5. Inner bracket structure 31 also includes an upper opening 33 that is about the same size as opening 23 of outer door structure 30. Inner bracket structure 31 includes vertically extending side portions 34, a horizontally extending upper portion 35, and a horizontally extending lower portion 36 forming a perimeter of inner bracket structure 31 that is generally quadrilateral in shape. A horizontally extending intermediate portion 37 extends between vertical side portions 34. During assembly, inner bracket structure 31 is secured to the outer frame structure 30 by welding, threaded fasteners, or other suitable arrangement. When the inner bracket structure 31 is secured to outer door structure 30, upper openings 23 and 33 are generally aligned, as are lower openings 20 and 32 of outer door structure 30 and inner bracket structure 31, respectively.
A pair of lower support brackets 40 are secured to lower portion 36 of inner bracket structure 31 utilizing threaded fasteners, welding, or other suitable arrangement. Alternately, the lower support brackets may be formed integrally with the inner bracket structure 31. With further reference to FIG. 4, lower support brackets 40 include a generally vertical flange 41 that abuts lower portion 36 of inner bracket structure 30. Lower support brackets 40 also include an outwardly extending flange 42 forming an upwardly lacing support surface 43. The outwardly extending flange 42 may extend orthogonal relative to horizontal lower portion 36, such that support surface 43 is horizontal. Alternately, flange 42 may extend upwardly somewhat at an angle forming an angle θ relative to a vertical plane “A” that is less than 90°. As described in more detail below, lower edge 44 (FIG. 2) of glass 21 contacts support surface 43. If an angle θ (FIG. 4) is less than 90°, the upwardly-facing support surface 43 will tend to retain lower edge 44 of glass 21 against horizontal lower portion 36 of inner bracket structure 31. A stand-off 45 extends from horizontal lower portion 36 of inner bracket structure 31. Stand-off 45 has a base portion 46, an end portion 47 and an intermediate portion 48. The base portion 46, end portion 47 and intermediate portion 48 have circular cross-sectional shapes, and intermediate portion 48 has a reduced diameter to form a support surface 49. As described in more detail below, stand-off 45 pivotably supports a lower portion of retaining bracket 50.
Inner bracket structure 31 further includes a pair of “Z” brackets 55 that are mounted to intermediate portion 37 of inner bracket structure 31. Z brackets 55 include a base web portion 56 that is secured to intermediate portion 37 of inner bracket structure by welding, threaded fasteners, or other suitable arrangement. A support flange 57 extends outwardly away from base web 56, and forms a support surface 58. Support flange 57 may extend orthogonal relative to vertical plane A, or it may extend upwardly at an angle that, is less than 90°. As discussed in more detail below, when installed, lower edge 26 (FIG. 2) of upper glass 25 contacts support surface 58. Flange 57 may extend upwardly somewhat to create an angled support surface 58 that tends to retain lower edge 26 of glass sheet 25. Z brackets 55 also include a web 60 that extends away from base web 56, with an end portion 61 that extends downwardly. The inner surface 62 of intermediate portion 37 of inner bracket structure 31, lower surface 63 of web 60, and inner surface 64 of end portion 61 of web 60 together define a downwardly-opening channel 65. As described in more detail below, threaded studs 59 threadably connect an upper portion of retaining bracket 50 to inner bracket structure 31,
An upper bracket 70 includes a base web 71 that is secured to upper portion 35 of inner bracket structure 31 by welding or the like, an outwardly extending web 72, and a downwardly extending end portion 73. Bracket 70 and horizontal upper portion 35 of inner bracket structure 31 define a second downwardly-opening channel 75. In the illustrated example, upper bracket 70 extends along the entire upper portion 35 of inner bracket structure 31. However, it will be understood that upper bracket 70 could extend less than the entire width, or it could comprise two spaced-apart members.
With reference back to FIGS. 2 and 5, retaining bracket 50 includes a perimeter frame 51 having a generally quadrilateral shape, and an enlarged central opening 52 that is also generally quadrilateral in shape. A pair of threaded members 53 are rotatably connected to retaining bracket 50 to threadably engage threaded studs 59 (FIG. 4). Retaining bracket 50 also includes cutouts 54 to provide clearance for Z brackets 55. Housings 78 and 79 provide for mounting of lights and other associated components that provides lighting and/or other visual effects that are visible through the light-transmitting sheet 20 and/or 23.
Referring again to FIG. 5, retainer bracket 50 includes a pair of downwardly extending tabs 66 at a bottom portion 67 of retaining bracket 50. Each tab 66 includes a downwardly-opening slot 68. As discussed in more detail below, slots 68 engage stand-offs 45 (FIG. 4) to support and/or retain bracket 50 to inner bracket structure 31.
With further reference to FIG. 6, during installation of light-transmitting sheets 21 and
25, upper edge portion 27 of upper light-transmitting sheet 25 is inserted into channel 75 of bracket 70, and the sheet 25 is shifted upwardly in the direction of the arrow “B”. The lower edge portion 28 of sheet 25 is then shifted inwardly by rotating the sheet 25 about upper edge portion 27 in the direction of the arrow “C”, and the lower edge is brought downwardly into contact with upwardly facing support surface 58 of bracket 55 as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, tipper edge portion 10 of sheet 21 is inserted in channel 65 of bracket 55 by shifting sheet 21 in the direction of the arrow “D”. Lower edge portion 11 of sheet 21 is then moved inwardly in the direction of the arrow “E” by rotating sheet 21 about edge portion 10 until sheet 21 is above support surface 43 of bracket 40. Sheet 21 is then shifted downwardly such that lower edge portion 11 rests on support surface 43 of bracket 40 as shown in FIG. 7. Retaining bracket 50 is then engaged with stand-offs 45 by positioning reduced diameter intermediate portion 48 of stand-offs 45 in slots 68 of tabs 66 (see also FIG. 5) as illustrated by the arrow “F”. Upper portion 69 of retaining bracket 50 is then moved inwardly as shown by the arrow “G” by rotating bracket 50 about stand-offs 45. Threaded connectors 53 are then threadably secured to threaded studs 59 to secure retaining bracket 50 to inner bracket structure 31. With further reference to FIG. 8, when retaining bracket 50 is in the installed position, upper portion 76 of retaining bracket 50 extends over lower edge portion 28 of sheet 25 to thereby retain sheet 25 to inner bracket structure 31, and lower portion 77 of retaining bracket 50 similarly retains lower edge portion 11 of sheet 21. Although a variety of different connecting arrangements could be utilized, in the illustrated example the threaded connector 53 is a commercially available connector having a fixed base, and a knurled portion that is biased outwardly by a spring and pushed inwardly and rotated by hand to threadably engage threaded studs 59.
When the sheets of light-transmitting material 21 and 25 are in the installed configuration shown in FIG. 8, the upper edge portions of the sheets 21 and 25 are retained by channels 65 and 75, respectively, and the lower edge portion of sheets 21 and 25 are retained by retaining bracket 50. The glass sheets 21 and/or 25 can be quickly and easily removed and/or replaced by reversing the installation procedure described above in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7. The glass retaining arrangement of the present invention permits installation and/or removal of glass sheets from a gaming cabinet without use of tools or the like. This arrangement provides a substantial reduction in the amount of time required for a installation and removal of glass or other light-transmitting sheets of gaming machines.
Although the example described above shows two sheets of glass installed on a door of a gaming machine, it will be readily apparent that light-transmitting sheets may be mounted to other portions of gaming cabinets other than the door. Also, a single sheet of glass may be secured to a door or other portion of a gaming cabinet utilizing substantially the same arrangement, wherein an upper edge of the sheet is retained by opposed surfaces, a lower portion of the sheet is rotated towards the opening in the cabinet, and the lower edge of the sheet is then rested on a support surface. The lower portion of the sheet may then be secured to the cabinet by use of a retaining member, bracket, or the like.
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Patent Application
20080045347
