Slant-type gaming machine

• US 20050026702A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: Patent Rights Protection Group LLC
• Inventors: Cole, Joseph W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,613 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

Abstract

The invention comprises various gaming machine features and a slant-top type gaming machine. In one embodiment, a cabinet has a play area between an upwardly extending console and a supporting base portion. The console has an opening. A display and bezel are movable mounted to the console, blocking the opening in one position and allowing access to the opening in another. A game controller in the cabinet is accessible through the opening. The controller is mounted on a movable platform, allowing the controller to be moved into alignment with the opening. A ticket printer is located in the cabinet and expels tickets into a coin tray. Access doors provide access to a storage area defined by the supporting base portion.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior space, said cabinet having a base portion, a play area and a console portion, said play area located between said base portion and said console portion, said play area extending forwardly beyond said base portion, said console portion extending upwardly from said play area; and

at least one display associated with said console portion, said console having an opening therein, said display mounted for movement between a first position in which said display is mounted in said opening and a second position in which at least a portion of said display is positioned outwardly of said opening, and wherein access to an interior area of said cabinet is provided through said opening.

2. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display is mounted between said console and a bezel, said bezel mounted for movement between a first position in which it engages a face of said console and a second position in which at least a portion thereof is positioned outwardly of said console.

3. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein a gaming controller is mounted a space within said interior area of said cabinet at least partially behind said opening in said console.

4. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 including a controller platform located in said interior space, said gaming controller mounted to said controller platform, said controller platform mounted for movement.

5. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein said controller platform is mounted for movement between a first position in which a base portion supporting said gaming controller is generally horizontal and a second position in which said base portion is tilted towards said opening in said console.

6. The gaming machine accordance with claim 1 wherein a bumper is located at a front edge of said play area and at least one component of a player tracking device is mounted to said bumper.

7. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bumper includes a recessed area having a vertical wall and a horizontal wall, and wherein a card reader is located at said vertical wall and a keypad is located at said horizontal wall.

8. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of input buttons are associated with said play area, said buttons mounted to a button mount, said button mount mounted for movement relative to said cabinet.

9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said button mount is movable between a first position in which it exposes an opening in a surface of said play area leading to said interior area of said cabinet, and a second position in which it closes said opening in said surface.

10. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein a printing device is located in said interior area beneath said button mount and accessible through said opening in said surface when said button mount is moved to its second position.

11. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 9 including a plurality of access panels providing access to said interior area of said cabinet at said base portion.

12. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein one or more of said access panels are mounted to said cabinet and rotatable upwardly with respect thereto.

13. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet, said cabinet having a first side and a second side, a front and a rear, and a console extending upwardly from a play area, said cabinet defining an interior space;

a display mounted to said cabinet and configured to display game information;

a tray mounted in said play area adjacent said console;

a coin delivery device configured to deliver one or more coins into said tray;

a ticket printer, said ticket printed mounted within said interior space of said cabinet, said ticket printer having an output aligned with a slot in said tray, whereby printed tickets are delivered into said tray.

14. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said tray has a pair of opposing sides, a bottom and a rear wall, and wherein said slot is positioned in one of said sides of said tray.

15. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 including a coin delivery slot located in said rear wall of said tray.

16. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said console includes a coin accepting slot and a bill accepting slot.

17. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein a cash box is mounted in a portion of said console, said cash box mounted behind a cover.