Tower light display for gaming machine

• US 20090172980A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novomatic AG
• Original Assignee: Novomatic AG
• Inventors: Wills, Stuart, Heather, Mark, Visocnik, Damiano
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/541
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

An innovative approach to displaying gaming machine events and advertising for a gaming console is provided by replacing the commonly-used tower light with an integrated set of game and machine event indicators. The tower light may be used to display the actual game being played or, for example, the price of the game, and can be made of transparent material with separate indicator sections conveying game machine events and related information. The tower light is preferably controlled by a controller unit, with LED lights to light up the indicators.

Claims

1. A tower light for a gaming console including

at least two indicators made from one or more pieces of at least partially transparent material with said indicators being at least partially segregated by one or more cavities penetrating at least partially through said non-opaque material to at least partially separate each said indicator from adjacent indicators, wherein

at least one indicator is a game indicator with an illumination means at least partially controlled by controller means, and

at least one indicator is a machine event indicator with illumination means at least partially controlled by said gaming console.

2. The tower light of claim 1 wherein said at least partially transparent material is acrylic, poly carbonate, or plastic.

3. The tower light of claim 1 wherein at least one indicator includes etchings or engravings.

4. The tower light of claim 1 wherein said one or more cavities separating said indicators is at least partially filled with an at least partially opaque material.

5. The tower light of claim 1 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

6. The tower light of claim 2 wherein at least one indicator includes etchings or engravings.

7. The tower light of claim 2 wherein said one or more cavities separating said indicators is at least partially filled with an at least partially opaque material.

8. The tower light of claim 3 wherein said one or more cavities separating said indicators is at least partially filled with an at least partially opaque material.

9. The tower light of claim 6 wherein said one or more cavities separating said indicators is at least partially filled with an at least partially opaque material.

10. The tower light of claim 2 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

11. The tower light of claim 3 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

12. The tower light of claim 4 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

13. The tower light of claim 5 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

14. The tower light of claim 6 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

15. The tower light of claim 7 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

17. The tower light of claim 8 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.

18. The tower light of claim 9 wherein said tower light indicators are affixed to base means housing said illumination and controller means.