Panel mounting apparatus for game machine and game machine using the same

• US 6,231,446 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sato, Hachitaro, Majima, Shiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/109,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 463/7, 463/20, 273/138.1, 248/202.1, 248/220.21, 248/917, 312/24, 312/25, 312/26
• 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

In a panel mounting apparatus for mounting a light-transmittable panel to an opening of a top box of a game machine containing a fluorescent lamp, a pair of retainer frames for retaining a pair of parallel ends of the panel are formed on the periphery of the opening. One of the retainer frames is provided with a movable member for changing the shape of the retainer frames between a state of preventing the removal of the panel and a state of allowing the attachment and detachment of the panel. Disclosed also is a game machine using the panel mounting apparatus.

Claims

1. A mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel which is light transmitting to an opening of a lighting fixture accommodating section provided in a housing of the game machine, said apparatus comprising:

retainer frames disposed at opposing sides of said opening for retaining parallel ends of said game machine panel;

a movable member provided on one of said retainer frames for moving between a first state of preventing removal of said game machine panel and a second state of allowing removal of said game machine panel; and

said movable member being movably disposed in said one of said retainer frames to move from said first state, whereat said movable member opposes a front surface of said panel, to said second state, whereat said movable member is clear of said front surface of said panel, by a sliding movement outward from a plane of said panel and a rotating movement about an axis parallel to a respective one of said parallel ends of said panel.

2. The mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel according to claim 1, wherein:

said housing has a top box disposed at an upper end of said housing;

said accommodating section is provided in said top box;

said opening is provided in a front side of said top box;

said retainer frames are provided on upper and lower edges of said opening; and

said movable member is provided on the retainer frame of the lower end of said top box.

3. The mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel according to claim 1, further comprising:

a restraining member movable between a restraint position where said movable member is restrained at said first position and a restraint-removal position where said movable member is permitted to move from said first position to said second position;

a driving member for driving said restraining member towards said restraint-removal position by an operation from outside of said housing; and

locking means, responsive to operation of a predetermined key, for switching between an unlocked state of allowing said restraining member to be driven by said driving member towards said restraint-removal position and a locked state of preventing said restraining member from being driven by said driving member towards said restraint-removal position.

7. The mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel according to claim 1, wherein one of said retainer frames has a cutaway so that an end of said panel holdable by hand.

4. A mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel which is light transmitting to an opening of a lighting fixture accommodating section provided in a housing of the game machine, said apparatus comprising:

retainer frames disposed at opposing sides of said opening for retaining parallel ends of said game machine panel;

a movable member provided on one of said retainer frames for moving between a first state of preventing removal of said game machine panel and a second state of allowing removal of said game machine panel;

said movable member being movably disposed in said one of said retainer frames so as to oppose an edge surface of said game machine panel and move towards and away from said edge surface between a first position, of said first state, fixing said game machine panel in place, and a second position, of said second state, away from said edge surface permitting removal of said game machine panel by displacement of said game machine panel toward said movable member;

said movable member having an engaging surface disposed at a first end engagable with an engagement portion of said housing so as to permit movement of said movable member between said first position and said second position; and

said movable member having a mounting member disposed at a second end thereof for selectively fixing said movable member to said housing at said first position in conjunction with engagement of said engaging surface and said engagement portion of said housing.

5. The mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel according to claim 4, wherein:

said mounting member is a screw device; and

said engaging surface of said movable member and said engagement portion of said housing engage one another with play therebetween for allowing said movable member to move between said first position and said second position when said screw device is loosened.

6. The mounting apparatus for mounting a game machine panel according to claim 4, wherein:

said housing includes a main body, a door for opening and closing a front of said main body, and locking means for restricting the opening and closing of said door,

said accommodating section is provided in said door,

said movable member is mounted in said door by a mounting member portion of said screw device mounted from the inside of said door; and

said movable member is selectively fixed in said first position in response to operation of said mounting member.

8. A game machine, comprising:

a housing having provided therein a lighting fixture accommodating section defining an opening;

a game machine panel for transmitting light which is mountable in said opening of said accommodating section; and

a panel mounting apparatus for mounting said light-transmittable game machine panel said panel mounting apparatus including;

retainer frames disposed at opposing sides of said opening for retaining parallel ends of said game machine panel and

a movable member provided on one of said retainer frames for moving between a first state of preventing removal of said game machine panel and a second state of allowing removal of said game machine panel; and

said movable member being movably disposed in said one of said retainer frames to move from said first state, whereat said movable member opposes a front surface of said game machine panel, to said second state, whereat said movable member is clear of said front surface of said game machine panel, by a sliding movement outward from a plane of said game machine panel and a rotating movement about an axis parallel to a respective one of said parallel ends of said game machine panel.

9. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein:

said housing has a top box disposed at an upper end of said housing;

said accommodating section is provided in said top box;

said opening is provided in a front side of said top box;

said retainer frames are provided on upper and lower edges of said opening; and

said movable member is provided on the retainer frame of the lower end of said top box.

10. The game machine according to claim 8, further comprising:

a restraining member movable between a restraint position where said movable member is restrained at said first position and a restraint-removal position where said movable member is permitted to move from said first position to said second position;

a driving member for driving said restraining member towards said restraint-removal position by an operation from outside of said housing; and

locking means, responsive to operation of a predetermined key, for switching between an unlocked state of allowing said restraining member to be driven by said driving member towards said restraint-removal position and a locked state of preventing said restraining member from being driven by said driving member towards said restraint-removal position.

14. The game machine according to claim 8, wherein one of said retainer frames has a cutaway so that an end of said game machine panel is holdable by hand.

11. A game machine comprising:

a housing having provided therein a lighting fixture accommodating section defining an opening;

a game machine panel for transmitting light which is mountable in said opening of said accommodating section; and

a panel mounting apparatus for mounting said light-transmittable game machine panel;

said panel mounting apparatus including;

retainer frames disposed at opposing sides of said opening for retaining parallel ends of said game machine panel; and

a movable member provided on one of said retainer frames for moving between a first state of preventing removal of said game machine panel and a second state of allowing removal of said game machine panel; and

said movable member being movably disposed in said one of said retainer frames so as to oppose an edge surface of said panel and move towards and away from said edge surface between a first position, of said first state, fixing said game machine panel in place and a second position, of said second state, away from said edge surface permitting removal of said game machine panel by displacement of said game machine panel toward said movable member;

said movable member having an engaging surface disposed at a first end engageable with an engagement portion of said housing so as to permit movement of said movable member between said first position and said second position; and

said movable member having a mounting member disposed at a second end thereof for selectively fixing said movable member to said housing at said first position in conjunction with engagement of said engaging surface and said engagement portion of said housing.

12. The game machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said mounting member is a screw device; and

said engaging surface of said movable member and said engagement portion of said housing engage one another with play therebetween for allowing said movable member to move between said first position and said second position when said screw device is loosened.

13. A game machine according to claim 11, wherein:

said housing includes a main body, a door for opening and closing a front of said main body, and locking means for restricting the opening and closing of said door;

said accommodating section is provided in said door,

said movable member is mounted in said door by a mounting member portion of said screw device mounted from the inside of said door; and

said movable member is selectively fixed in said first position in response to operation of said mounting member.