Gaming machine

• US 20050130746A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: SPEC International Incorporated
• Inventors: Terpstra, Lee M., Stephenson, Orlando W. III, Looks, Dave J., Mc Comb, Kim D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,846,026 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

A gaming machine includes a cabinet defining an internal space and a front side. The cabinet has an opening in the front side for providing access to the internal space. A door is movably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an open position providing access to the internal space, and a closed position wherein the door substantially closes off the opening in the cabinet. The door has an enlarged opening defining generally vertical spaced apart side edges. At least one screen is mounted to the door, and extends across at least a substantial portion of the opening in the door, the screen having an outside surface. A generally horizontal cross member extends across the enlarged opening, and has opposite ends positioned adjacent the vertical side edges. The cross member is adjustably secured to the door such that the vertical position of the cross member can be adjusted to vary the size of an upper portion of the enlarged opening above the cross member, and a lower portion of the enlarged opening below the cross member.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a cabinet defining an internal space and a front side, the cabinet having an opening in the front side for providing access to the internal space;

a door movably mounted to the cabinet for movement between an open position providing access to the internal space, and a closed position wherein the door substantially closes off the opening in the cabinet, the door having an enlarged opening defining generally vertical spaced apart side edges;

at least one sheet mounted to the door and extending across at least a substantial portion of the opening in the door, the sheet having an outside surface, at least a portion of the sheet being see-through; and

a generally horizontal cross member extending across the enlarged opening and having opposite ends positioned adjacent the vertical side edges, the cross member being adjustably secured to the door such that the vertical position of the cross member can be adjusted to vary the size of an upper portion of the enlarged opening above the cross member, and a lower portion of the enlarged opening below the cross member.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein:

the cross member is disposed along the outside surface of the sheet.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein:

at least a first portion of the sheet is substantially transparent.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein:

at least a second portion of the sheet has a coating reducing the transmissibility of light through the sheet.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein:

a flat screen video display is mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a reel device is mounted in the cabinet below the cross member.

6. The gaming machine of claim 4, including:

a first flat screen video display mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a second flat screen video display mounted to the door below the cross member.

7. The gaming machine of claim 4, including:

a first display configured to display progressive game information mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a second flat screen video display mounted to the door below the cross member.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein:

the door defines an inner side facing the internal space; and

including;

a bezel having at least one enlarged opening therethrough, and including mounting structure securing the bezel to the inner side of the door; and

wherein the cross member is secured to the bezel.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein:

the door includes beveled outer surfaces adjacent the vertical side edges, the beveled outer surfaces extending inwardly towards the vertical side edges; and

the cross member has beveled opposite end portions that fit closely against the beveled outer surfaces of the door.

10. A gaming machine, comprising:

a cabinet having an enlarged opening on a front side of the cabinet;

a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, the door having an enlarged opening therethrough in registry with the enlarged opening in the cabinet when the door is in a closed position;

a bezel secured to the door and having an enlarged opening therethrough; and

a cross member fastened to the bezel and extending across the enlarged opening in the door.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, including:

a screen secured to the door and extending across at least a substantial portion of the enlarged opening in the door.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein:

the screen defines an outside surface; and

the cross member is disposed adjacent the outside surface of the screen.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein:

at least a first portion of the screen is substantially transparent.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein:

at least a second portion of the screen has a coating reducing the transmissibility of light through the screen.

15. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein:

a flat screen video display is mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a reel device is mounted in the cabinet below the cross member.

16. The gaming machine of claim 10, including:

a first flat screen video display mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a second flat screen video display mounted to the door below the cross member.

17. The gaming machine of claim 10, including:

a first display configured to display progressive game information mounted to the door above the cross member; and

a second flat screen video display mounted to the door below the cross member.

18. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein:

a video display screen is mounted to the bezel.