Patent Grant
8905842
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materials 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 disclosure relates generally to gaming terminals and gaming systems for playing wagering games, and more particularly to supporting structures for mounting displays associated with gaming terminals and gaming systems.
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, as well as 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 therefore strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines, features, and enhancements attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator.
Many gaming machines include a variety of visual attractions and displays, such as models, signs, and other forms of information. These items typically include fixed permanently-printed glass, video displays, artwork, models, and/or marquees. In many gaming regions, industry regulations require each gaming terminal to include top-box mounted lighting and signage that indicate, for example, the class of machine, when the machine is of out of funds, when the machine is malfunctioning, etc. Historically, each gaming machine was limited to a single game with a dedicated top box display and top-box mounted flat-screen display or marquee assembly. To alter game offerings, casino operators or contracted technicians were therefore required to replace the entire gaming machine or the entire top-box mounted display and/or marquee assembly. The replacement process is costly, time consuming, and counter-productive to maintaining pace with the continuously changing gambling industry.
In response, many gaming machine manufacturers, especially those that produce video-based gaming machines, have developed a basic gaming terminal (e.g., one that is universal to a variety of game offerings) that allows multiple games to be presented on the same machine, allowing easy conversion to a new game. For instance, if a casino operator decides that a certain video reel slot game, using a particular molded marquee, has reached the end of its useful playing life on the casino floor, the operator contacts the manufacturer and requests a conversion of the gaming machine to a newer, perhaps more popular game. The conversion of the video-based wagering game is a simple task, merely requiring a change of software and perhaps surface artwork.
Any such change to the gaming machine and components physically connected to the gaming machine may also require additional regulatory approval. However, in contrast to top-box mounted displays, signage that is not attached to the gaming machine is typically considered a decorative aspect of the gaming environment and does not generally require approval by regulatory authorities.
In converting the gaming machine to a new game, previously employed marquees and display devices typically require removal and modification or replacement. There are also instances where a cabinet mounted display device simply needs to be removed for replacement or repair. This process can be time-consuming, cumbersome, expensive, and can result in damage to the display device or the gaming terminal. In many cases, replacing a cabinet-mounted display or marquee typically necessitates at least two service technicians. Time and labor costs are compounded by the complexity in electrically disconnecting and physically dismounting and managing the bulk and weight of the assembly, and subsequently mounting and connecting the new assembly. Often times, the technician is required to run electrical cabling from the assembly, down through an opening in the crown and through the top box to the base cabinet. This often requires opening and dismantling a significant portion of the gaming terminal to complete the electrical connections. Furthermore, some top-box mounted displays draw a large amount of current, perhaps as much as 15 amperes, and electrical cables carrying the required current must be passed through the cabinet of the gaming machine, which creates an increased need for RFI shielding within the gaming machine and introduces a potentially hazardous increased risk of electrostatic discharge.
Therefore, casino operators generally lack modular components for re-arranging configurations of gaming machines and associated top-box mounted displays and other displays to respond to changing interests and demands of their customers. In addition, casino operators and manufacturers of gaming machines may be limited in introducing new or modified displays associated with gaming machines by the need to seek regulatory approval for any such displays that are attached to the gaming machines.
Aspects of the present disclosure provide a gaming system including a gaming terminal, a supporting structure, and a signage display. The gaming terminal is for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal including a base cabinet, an input device for receiving inputs from a player to play the wagering game, and a terminal display for displaying information related to the wagering game. The supporting structure is adjacent to the gaming terminal. The signage display includes a display device for displaying information related to the wagering game. The signage display is mounted on the supporting structure such that the display device is immediately above the base cabinet of the gaming terminal. The signage display and the supporting structure are free of physical attachment to the gaming terminal.
Aspects of the present disclosure further provide a gaming system including a first gaming terminal, a second gaming terminal, a signage display, and a supporting structure. The first gaming terminal is for playing a first wagering game. The first gaming terminal includes a first base cabinet, a first input device for receiving inputs to play the first wagering game, and a first terminal display for displaying information related to the first wagering game. The second gaming terminal is for playing a second wagering game. The second gaming terminal includes a second base cabinet, a second input device for receiving inputs to play the second wagering game, and a second terminal display for displaying information related to the second wagering game. The signage display is free of physical attachment to the first or the second gaming terminals. The signage display includes a first display device for displaying, on a first side of the signage display, first information related to the first wagering game played on the first gaming terminal. The signage display also includes a second display device for displaying, on a second side of the signage display opposite the first side, second information related to the second wagering game played on the second gaming terminal. The supporting structure is adapted for being positioned between the first and the second gaming terminals for supporting the signage display such that the first display device is immediately above the first base cabinet of the first gaming terminal and the second display device is immediately above the second base cabinet of the second gaming terminal. The supporting structure is free of physical attachment to the first or the second gaming terminals.
Aspects of the present disclosure further provide a gaming system including a first gaming terminal, a second gaming terminal, a signage display, and a supporting structure. The first gaming terminal is for playing a first wagering game. The first gaming terminal includes a first base cabinet, a first input device for receiving inputs to play the first wagering game, and a first terminal display for displaying information related to the first wagering game. The second gaming terminal is for playing a second wagering game. The second gaming terminal includes a second base cabinet, a second input device for receiving inputs to play the second wagering game, and a second terminal display for displaying information related to the second wagering game. The first gaming terminal and the second gaming terminal are positioned such that a back side of the first base cabinet of the first gaming terminal is facing a back side of the second base cabinet of the second gaming terminal. The signage display includes a first display device for displaying, on a first side of the signage display, first information related to the first wagering game played on the first gaming terminal. The signage display also includes a second display device for displaying, on a second side of the signage display opposite the first side, second information related to the second wagering game played on the second gaming terminal. The supporting structure is for supporting the signage display such that the first display device is immediately above the first base cabinet of the first gaming terminal and the second display device is immediately above the second base cabinet of the second gaming terminal. The supporting structure is free of physical attachment to the first or the second gaming terminals. The supporting structure is adapted for being positioned between the back side of the first base cabinet and the back side of the second base cabinet.
Aspects of the present disclosure further provide a signage display system associated with a gaming terminal for playing a wagering game. The signage display system includes a signage display having a housing and a display device housed within the housing. The display device is adapted for displaying information related to the wagering game. The signage display system also includes a supporting structure for supporting the signage display above the gaming terminal. The supporting structure has an enclosure that substantially encloses the supporting structure. The signage display system also includes a mounting assembly for mounting the signage display to the supporting structure such that the signage display is immediately above the base cabinet of the gaming terminal. The mounting assembly pivotably supports the signage display such that the signage display can selectively swing from a first position for operation to a second position for maintenance. The signage display, the supporting structure, and the mounting assembly are free of physical attachment to the gaming terminal.
The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the summary merely provides an exemplification of some of the novel features presented herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and best modes for carrying out the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
While the aspects of this disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail representative embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the various aspects and principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. To that extent, elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in the Abstract, Summary, and Detailed Description of the Embodiments sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference or otherwise.
Referring to
The gaming terminal 10 illustrated in
The primary display area 14 include, in various aspects of the present concepts, a mechanical-reel display, a video display, or a combination thereof in which a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video image in superposition over the mechanical-reel display. Further information concerning the latter construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,433 to Loose et al. entitled “Reel Spinning Slot Machine With Superimposed Video Image,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The video display is, in various embodiments, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a light emitting diode (LED), a DLP projection display, an electroluminescent (EL) panel, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming terminal 10, or other form factor, such as is shown by way of example in
Video images in the primary display area 14 and/or the secondary display area 16 are rendered in two-dimensional (e.g., using Flash Macromedia™) or three-dimensional graphics (e.g., using Renderware™). In various aspects, the video images are played back (e.g., from a recording stored on the gaming terminal 10), streamed (e.g., from a gaming network), or received as a TV signal (e.g., either broadcast or via cable) and such images can take different forms, such as animated images, computer-generated images, or “real-life” images, either prerecorded (e.g., in the case of marketing/promotional material) or as live footage. The format of the video images can include any format including, but not limited to, an analog format, a standard digital format, or a high-definition (HD) digital format.
The player-input or user-input device(s) 26 include, by way of example, a plurality of buttons 36 on a button panel, as shown in
The information reader 24 (or information reader/writer) is preferably located on the front of the housing 12 and comprises, in at least some forms, a ticket reader, card reader, bar code scanner, wireless transceiver (e.g., RFID, Bluetooth, etc.), biometric reader, or computer-readable-storage-medium interface. As noted, the information reader may comprise a physical and/or electronic writing element to permit writing to a ticket, a card, or computer-readable-storage-medium. The information reader 24 permits information to be transmitted from a portable medium (e.g., ticket, voucher, coupon, casino card, smart card, debit card, credit card, etc.) to the information reader 24 to enable the gaming terminal 10 or associated external system to access an account associated with cashless gaming, to facilitate player tracking or game customization, to retrieve a saved-game state, to store a current-game state, to cause data transfer, and/or to facilitate access to casino services, such as is more fully disclosed, by way of example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0045354, published on Mar. 6, 2003, entitled “Portable Data Unit for Communicating With Gaming Machine Over Wireless Link,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The noted account associated with cashless gaming is, in some aspects of the present concepts, stored at an external system 46 (see
Turning now to
To provide gaming functions, the controller 42 executes one or more game programs comprising machine-executable instructions stored in local and/or remote computer-readable data storage media (e.g., memory 44 or other suitable storage device). The term computer-readable data storage media, or “computer-readable medium,” as used herein refers to any media/medium that participates in providing instructions to controller 42 for execution. The computer-readable medium comprises, in at least some exemplary forms, non-volatile media (e.g., optical disks, magnetic disks, etc.), volatile media (e.g., dynamic memory, RAM), and transmission media (e.g., coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optics, radio frequency (RF) data communication, infrared (IR) data communication, etc). Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a hard disk, magnetic tape (or other magnetic medium), a 2-D or 3-D optical disc (e.g., a CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or solid state digital data storage device, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. By way of example, a plurality of storage media or devices are provided, a first storage device being disposed proximate the user interface device and a second storage device being disposed remotely from the first storage device, wherein a network is connected intermediate the first one and second one of the storage devices.
Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to controller 42 for execution. By way of example, the instructions may initially be borne on a data storage device of a remote device (e.g., a remote computer, server, or system). The remote device can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line or other communication path using a modem or other communication device appropriate to the communication path. A modem or other communication device local to the gaming machine 10 or to an external system 46 associated with the gaming machine can receive the data on the telephone line or conveyed through the communication path (e.g., via external systems interface 58) and output the data to a bus, which transmits the data to the system memory 44 associated with the processor 42, from which system memory the processor retrieves and executes the instructions.
Thus, the controller 42 is able to send and receive data, via carrier signals, through the network(s), network link, and communication interface. The data includes, in various examples, instructions, commands, program code, player data, and game data. As to the game data, in at least some aspects of the present concepts, the controller 42 uses a local random number generator (RNG) to randomly generate a wagering game outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes. Alternatively, the outcome is centrally determined using either an RNG or pooling scheme at a remote controller included, for example, within the external system 46.
As shown in the example of
As shown in the example of
As seen in
Communications between the controller 42 and both the peripheral components of the gaming terminal 10 and the external system 46 occur through input/output (I/O) circuit 56, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+front-side bus and a PCI backside bus. Although the I/O circuit 56 is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit 56 alternatively includes a number of different types of I/O circuits. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the components of the gaming terminal 10 can be interconnected according to any suitable interconnection architecture (e.g., directly connected, hypercube, etc.).
The I/O circuit 56 is connected to an external system interface or communication device 58, which is connected to the external system 46. The controller 42 communicates with the external system 46 via the external system interface 58 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, near field, etc.). The external system 46 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 46 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external system interface 58 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the controller 42, such as by a near field communication path operating via magnetic field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming terminal 10 optionally communicates with external system 46 (in a wired or wireless manner) such that each terminal operates as a “thin client” having relatively less functionality, a “thick client” having relatively more functionality, or with any range of functionality therebetween (e.g., an “intermediate client”). In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating a random number, game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) for presenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner. The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gaming terminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external systems 46 (“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in any suitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).
Referring now to
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager, such as through the money/credit detector 48, touch screen 38 soft key, button panel, or the like, and a wagering game outcome is associated with the wager. The wagering game outcome is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming terminal 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the controller 42 is configured to processes the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with computer instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the controller 42 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage devices (e.g., system memory 44 or a memory associated with an external system 46), the controller, in accord with associated computer instructions, causing the changing of a state of the data storage device from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage device or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage device, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc.). The noted second state of the data storage device comprises storage in the storage device of data representing the electronic data signal from the controller (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the controller 42 further, in accord with the execution of the instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 14 or other display device and/or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.), to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of computer instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the controller 42 to determine the outcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least some aspects, the controller 42 is configured to determine an outcome of the game sequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.
The basic-game screen 60 is displayed on the primary display area 14 or a portion thereof. In
In the illustrated embodiment of
As shown in the example of
Symbol combinations are evaluated in accord with various schemes such as, but not limited to, “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays are evaluated left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, or any combination thereof by evaluating the number, type, or order of symbols 90 appearing along an activated payline 30. Scatter pays are evaluated without regard to position or paylines and only require that such combination appears anywhere on the reels 62a-e. While an embodiment with nine paylines is shown, a wagering game with no paylines, a single payline, or any plurality of paylines will also work with the present disclosure. Additionally, though an embodiment with five reels is shown in
Turning now to
In the illustrated bonus game of
Referring now to
In the gaming system 500, a supporting structure (or “stage”) 501 is positioned between the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. The supporting structure 501 supports the dual-sided signage display 520 above the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. The dual-sided signage display 520 has opposing sides described for convenience as a front side 521 and a rear side 522. Although the descriptors “front side” and “rear side” are chosen for convenience according to the perspective view of
The first display device 516 can display information related to a wagering game played on the first gaming terminal 510a. The second display device (not shown) can display information related to a wagering game played on the second gaming terminal 510b. The first display device 516 (and second display device) is mounted on or in the housing 525 such that display screens of the display devices are visible from the exterior of the housing 525, but cables and wires delivering power and video signals to the display devices are enclosed within the housing 525. The housing 525 also provides a surface for mounting static visual features 528 to the signage display 520. The static visual features 528 can be three-dimensional graphics related to the wagering game provided on the gaming terminals 510a, 510b, such as the static visual features 528 shown in
The supporting structure 501, which is described in more detail in connection with
In one implementation, the supporting structure 501 has a height dimension very close to a height dimension of the cabinets 512 of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b such that the top surface 505 of the enclosure 502 aligns with, and is substantially co-planar with, the top surface 550 of the cabinets 512 of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. In addition, the enclosure 502 can have a width dimension such that the first side wall 503 and the second side wall 504 are substantially aligned with, and co-planar with, sides of the cabinet 512 of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. In a configuration where the dimensions of the enclosure 502 are such that the side walls 503, 504 are co-planar with the cabinet 512, the enclosure 502 of the supporting structure 501 can blend naturally with the cabinets 512 of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b and may appear to be a portion thereof. For example in the assembled view of
The dual-sided signage display 520 may have a depth dimension (measured in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the display device 516) greater than the depth dimension of the supporting structure 501 such that the dual-sided signage display 520 partially over-hangs the first gaming terminal 510a and/or the second gaming terminal 510b. In addition, the dual-sided signage display 520 may partially rest upon (i.e. contact) the top surface(s) 550 of the cabinets 512 of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. However, the supporting structure 510 is free of any physical attachment to the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. That is, the supporting structure 501 is not attached to either the first gaming terminal 510a or the second gaming terminal 510b.
When the signage display 520 is supported by the supporting structure 501, the signage display 520 advantageously appears to be a top box for the base cabinet 512 of the gaming terminal (e.g. 510a). For example, the signage display 520 can optionally abut or nearly abut the top surface 550 of the base cabinet 512 such that the signage display 520 is perceived to be a top box for the base cabinet 512. In an implementation of the present disclosure, the vertical distance between the signage display 520 and the top surface 550 of the base cabinet 512 is sufficiently small to allow the signage display 520 to appear as a top box for the base cabinet 512. Furthermore, the vertical distance can be sufficiently small to create an illusion of physical connection between the signage display 520 and the base cabinet 512. In an example implementation, the signage display 520 is disposed within 4 inches of the top surface 550 of the base cabinet 512, and is preferably disposed within a range of 0.25 to 0.5 inches of the top surface 550.
The supporting structure 501 can optionally be anchored in the floor to enhance its ability to resist tipping against transverse or off-center forces exerted on any combination of the supporting structure 501 and the dual-sided signage display 520. Generally, while the dual-sided signage display 520 and the supporting structure 501 each lack any physical connection to the gaming terminals 510a, 510b, either the supporting structure 501 or the dual-sided signage display 520 can optionally abut, overhang, and/or rest upon either or both of the gaming terminals 510a, 510b.
The signage display 520 may be mounted on a separate deck 530 to provide an attachment to the supporting structure 501. The deck 530 can be a rectangular rigid portion formed from metal, plastic, or another suitable material. The deck 530 can be attachable to the supporting structure 501, and to the dual-sided signage display 520. The deck 530 can optionally have width and length dimensions slightly smaller than a bottom portion of the dual-sided signage display 520 such that the deck 530 can be coupled to the bottom of the dual-sided signage display 520 without being visible once the gaming system 500 is assembled as in
In an exemplary operation of the configuration shown in
In alternative configurations, the signage display 520 can also include additional display devices, which can be either dynamic or static, and can be visible from side walls of the housing 525. The additional display devices can optionally be related to the wagering games offered on the gaming terminals 510a, 510b, or can be related to advertisements, entertainment, and the like.
With reference to
Implementations where the media content delivered to the signage display supported above the supporting structure 501 is generated by a remote server may be more inclined to utilize the media controller 631 housed within the supporting structure 501. The media controller 631 can receive network signals from a remote server (e.g. the external system 46 of
As mentioned above, the supporting structures 501 shown in
The electrical cables 620 include media cables such as video cables (e.g., HDMI, DVI, VGA, etc.) for conveying video signals to a display device (e.g. 516 of
Furthermore, the enclosure 502 of the supporting structure 501 can provide an enclosed region for power cables 622 delivering a power supply to the display device to pass through. In one implementation, the power supply requirements of the display device and any other associated electronic components in the signage display may be as high as 15 amperes. In such an implementation, each supporting structure may receive power from a separate 20 ampere rated power supply circuit. By allowing the power cable 622 to pass through the supporting structure 501, power supply cables are kept out of the cabinet 512 of the gaming terminal 510a. By keeping the power cables out of the cabinet 512 the risk of electrical interference and electrostatic discharge is advantageously reduced, both for the players and for the electronic components within the cabinet 512, such as, for example, an RNG.
The speakers 618 are housed within the enclosure 502 of the supporting structure 501 and can provide sounds related to a wagering game being played on a gaming terminal associated with the supporting structure 501. In one implementation, supporting structures 501 having speakers 618 have a height dimension sufficiently large relative to a height of an associated gaming terminal such that the speakers 618 are not covered by the associated gaming terminal when the supporting structure 501 is positioned adjacent the back side of the gaming terminal with the speakers 618 facing the gaming terminal.
The supporting structure 501 includes a modular removable panel 610. The modular removable panel 610 can be removed in order to provide airflow for controlling the temperature within the supporting structure 501. One or more fans (e.g. case fans) can be included within the enclosure 502 of the supporting structure 501 to moderate the temperature within the enclosure 502. The modular removable panel 610 can also be removed in order to join adjacent supporting structure 501, which is what is illustrated in
By coupling together the supporting structures 501 as shown in
The gaming system 700 shown in
Thus, the riser 730 allows for modular design of the supporting structure 501 by allowing the effective height of the supporting structure 501 to be adjusted for different applications by positioning the supporting structure on top of the riser 730. The supporting structure 501 can be securely connected to the riser 730 using, for example screws, bolts, adhesives, or by modular components that clip or snap together to allow the supporting structure 501 to be securely attached to the riser 730. In addition, the secure connection can be a removable connection to allow for rapid reconfiguration according to dynamic demand for particular configurations of the gaming system 700. The supporting structure 501, the riser 730, and the signage display 720 can be utilized as modular components that can be mixed and matched as desired to arrange a gaming system as desired. Alternatively or additionally, the system 700 may incorporate multiple risers which can themselves be connected to one another to create risers of different heights. In addition, the system 700 may also be realized with supporting structures 501 of varying heights suitable for particular applications.
Generally with reference to
Adjacently situated supporting structures 501 can jointly support a single signage display as shown in the gaming system 802 of
By coupling the adjacently positioned supporting structures 501 to each other, the supporting structures 501 are able to stably support the single signage display 820 without any physical attachment to the gaming terminals 510a, 510b. In addition, the adjacently positioned supporting structures 501 shown in
While two gaming terminals 510a, 510b are shown in the systems 800 and 802, implementations may have more gaming terminals and associated supporting structures 501 and signage displays 720 arranged in a continuous row or arranged in clusters. The single signage display 820 in the gaming system 802 is shown as being associated with the two gaming terminals 510a, 510b, but the single signage display 820 is not so limited and may be implemented, for example, as a signage display spanning three, four, or five gaming terminals.
The various signage displays (520, 720, 820) described herein are each generally shown including a display device (516, 716, 816), and may also include speakers for delivering audio content related to the wagering game played on the gaming terminals 510a, 510b, and/or additional dynamic or static lights and visual displays. Additionally or alternatively, any speakers and/or additional lights and displays on the various signage displays (520, 720, and 820) may provide audio and/or video content related to advertising, entertainment options, etc.
The mounting/support assembly shown in
When the mounting assembly and, thus, the signage display 90 are in the second position, as seen in
The supporting structure 501 disclosed herein advantageously allows for modular design and re-configuration of gaming systems at a gaming venue. By incorporating re-usable aspects such as the supporting structure 501 that can be employed with various configurations of signage displays (520, 720, 820, 920), an operator of a gaming venue has increased flexibility in designing and re-designing configurations for the gaming venue according to dynamic demands of customers.
While many preferred embodiments and best modes for carrying out the present invention have been described in detail above, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
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