Gaming unit including currency container locking mechanism

• US 20040087374A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: COLE Industries LLC
• Inventors: Cole, Joseph W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A gaming unit includes a currency container. The currency container includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the container to a housing of the gaming unit. In one embodiment, a secondary locking mechanism is associated with the housing, the secondary locking mechanism preventing, at one or more times, de-activation of the currency container locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A bar top gaming unit comprising:

a housing having a base, a first side extending upwardly from said base, an opposing second side extending upwardly from said base, a rear wall extending upwardly from said base, and a front wall extending upwardly from said base, said first and second sides and front and rear walls defining a generally open top of said housing, and a top panel for selective positioning over said generally open top;

a gaming controller for configuring game data;

a display adapted to display game information generated by said gaming controller;

a currency container located in said housing; and

a locking mechanism mounted to said housing, said locking mechanism including a cam rotatable between a first unlocking position and a second locking position by engagement of a key with a lock body of the locking mechanism from an exterior of said housing, said cam adapted in its locking position to engage a latching mechanism of said currency container to lock said currency container within said housing.

2. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top panel includes a door positioned in said top panel in an area corresponding to the location of said currency container in said housing;

said door rotatable between an open position whereby access is provided through said top panel to said currency container and a closed position whereby access is generally prevented, and including a locking mechanism for selectively preventing said door from being moved from its closed to its open position.

3. A gaming unit comprising:

a housing having an interior space;

a display device configured to display game information, said display device supported by said housing;

a currency container adapted to accept and store currency selectively mounted to said housing;

a currently container locking mechanism, said currency container locking mechanism including a latch extending from said currency container, said latch movable between a first position in which said currency container locking mechanism locks said currency container to said housing, preventing its removal from said housing, and a second position in which said currency container locking mechanism is unlocked, permitting said currency container to be removed from said housing; and

a secondary locking mechanism, said secondary locking mechanism including a cam, said cam movable between a first position in which it engages said latch when said latch is in said first position, preventing said latch from being moved to its second position, and a second position in which said cam is space from said latch, permitting said latch to be moved to its second position.

4. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 3 including a panel, said panel movable between a first position in which said panel extends over said currency container when said currency container is located in said interior of said housing and a second position in which an opening is defined through which said currency container may pass when said currency container is removed from said interior of said housing.

5. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 4 including a panel locking mechanism, said panel locking mechanism having a first condition in which said panel is secured in its first position and a second condition in which movement of said panel from its first to its second position is permitted.

6. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said housing has a first side, a second side, a front and a back, and wherein said secondary locking mechanism is connected to one of said sides of said housing.

7. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 6 wherein said secondary locking mechanism includes a lock body which extends through said side of said housing, said cam connected to a portion of said lock body positioned in said interior space of said housing.

8. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said currency acceptor includes an opening through which currency may pass and wherein a slot is located in said panel, said slot aligned with said opening in said currency acceptor when said panel is in said first position.