Gaming machine

• US 20040209678A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

During a slot machine game, game effects are also displayed on a liquid crystal panel 39d provided in a reel display window unit 39, and thus the liquid crystal panel 39d serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Therefore, new effects for the game can be performed on the liquid crystal panel 39d, which facilitates maintaining the novelty of game effects. Furthermore, a reel glass base 39b and a bezel metal frame 39c are interposed between a transparent acryl plate 39a and the liquid crystal panel 39d. As a result, the display unit of the liquid crystal panel 39d is disposed in a position recessed from the transparent acryl plate 39a. Therefore, the display unit of the liquid crystal panel 39d is provided with depth feeling, and can be clearly viewed up to the edge of the display unit.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

variable display means for variably displaying designs;

a transparent liquid crystal display panel disposed in front of the variable display means through which said variable display means is able to be seen;

a liquid crystal holder for holding the periphery of a display unit of the liquid crystal display panel on a rear side thereof;

a panel frame for holding the periphery of the display unit of said liquid crystal display panel on a front side thereof;

a light guiding plate for guiding light emitted from a light source to the rear side of said liquid crystal display panel;

diffusion means for diffusing the light guided by the light guiding plate to equalize the light which illuminates said liquid crystal display panel;

a base frame attached in front of the machine for supporting said liquid crystal holder, said panel frame, said light guiding plate and said diffusion means such that the front of the display unit of said liquid crystal display panel has an opening;

a transparent plate disposed in front of the base frame for closing said opening; and

a rear holder for holding, said liquid crystal holder, said panel frame, said light guiding plate and said diffusion means supported by said base frame on said base frame from behind, and for reflecting the light emitted on said light guiding plate to the side of said liquid crystal display panel, the rear holder having one or more windows allowing the designs variably displayed in said variable display means to be observed.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said variable display means is one or more rotatable reels each having a reel band thereon, on which said designs are drawn.

3. The reel-based gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine.