Speaker System for a Gaming Machine

• US 20080211276A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/022 movably mounted on a working-table or the like for hairdressers A47C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49723 including reconditioning of part

Abstract

A system includes a chair having an electrical connection to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device and a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection. The speaker package includes a speaker mounted to a central member between a first shell defining a front cavity and a second shell defining a back cavity.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a chair having an electrical connection to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device; and

a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection, wherein the speaker package includes a speaker mounted to a central member between a first shell defining a front cavity and a second shell defining a back cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package is mounted to a back of the chair.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package includes at least three speakers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair is removably connectable to a gaming device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the base is mechanically and electrically connectable to the gaming device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shell and the second shell are mounted to opposing sides of the central member.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the central member includes a generally planar member having a hole for mounting the speaker.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central member, the first shell and, the second shell are integral to each other.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package includes a second speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell and the speaker package includes a third speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell and wherein the first shell includes an upper extending section having a port located approximately between the second speaker and the third speaker.

10. The system of claim 9, including a chair back mounted over the speaker package and a grill cap mounted over the second speaker, the third speaker and the port.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the grill cap is attached to a front part of the chair back.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the grill cap is integral to a back part of the chair back.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair includes a back mounting frame including a U-shaped cut-out and wherein the speaker package includes a corresponding U-shaped outer surface such that the speaker package fits within the U-shaped cut-out.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the speaker package is mounted to the back mounting frame such that the first shell is on one side of the frame and the second shell is on a second side of the frame.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair includes a removable or hinged back to provide access to the speaker package.

16. A system comprising:

a chair; and

a discrete speaker package mounted to a back frame of the chair and filling at least a portion of a chair back.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the speaker package includes a first shell and a second shell sandwiching a central member, with a speaker mounted to the central member.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the central member includes a generally planar member having a hole for mounting the speaker.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the central member, the first shell and, the second shell are integral to each other.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the speaker package includes a second speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell and the speaker package includes a third speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell and wherein the first shell includes an upper extending section having a port located approximately between the second speaker and the third speaker.

21. The system of claim 20, including a chair back mounted over the speaker package and a grill cap mounted over the second speaker, the third speaker and the port.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the chair includes a back mounting frame including a U-shaped cut-out and wherein the speaker package includes a corresponding U-shaped outer surface such that the speaker package fits within the U-shaped cut-out.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the speaker package is mounted to the frame such that the first shell is on one side of the mounting frame and the second shell is on a second side of the mounting frame.

24. A method comprising:

mounting a discrete speaker package to a back frame of a chair; and

electrically and mechanically coupling the chair to a gaming device.

25. The method of claim 24, including mounting a speaker of the speaker package to a central member located between a first air-space and a second air-space.

26. The method of claim 25, where the first air-space and the second air-space are similarly sized.

27. A system comprising:

a chair having a speaker incorporated into the chair; and

a base, the chair coupled to the base and an electrical connection from the speaker running through the base;

wherein the base includes a front end including a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to removably connect the base to a gaming device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the base includes a guiding device to guide the base towards the proper mating connection with the gaming device.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the base includes a latching means to latch the base to the gaming device.

30. A system comprising:

a chair having a speaker coupled to the chair;

a base, the chair being coupled to the base and an electrical connection from the speaker running through the base;

wherein the base includes an electrical connection, a guiding mechanism, and a latch mechanism to removably couple the base to a gaming device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the base includes a movable shroud located over the electrical connection.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the guiding mechanism includes a pin and socket mechanism.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the latch mechanism includes a hand-operable latch mechanism.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the latch mechanism includes an over-the-center latch.

35. A method of servicing a gaming device chair comprising:

mechanically and electrically decoupling a chair and a speaker in the chair from a gaming device;

servicing the chair; and

electrically and mechanically coupling the chair and the speaker back to the gaming device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein decoupling includes detaching an electrical connection between the speaker and the gaming device and mechanically unlatching the chair from the device.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein servicing the chair includes servicing the speakers.