Integrated footrests

• US 6,422,670 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Legras, Jean Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/679,754
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/7.2, 312/235.1, 312/235.9
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• 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, which provides improved player comfort, is provided with a housing including footrests. The footrests are disposed on opposite ends of the front portion of the housing near the bottom and may be integrally formed with the front portion of the housing. Normally standard gaming stools are provided with footrests which force a player to maintain a single position while playing a game. The integrated footrests in the housing of the gaming machine are disposed at a height relatively higher than the footrests in a standard gaming stool thus allowing a player to change positions and lean back to reduce fatigue.

Claims

1. A gaming machine which includes a housing having front, side, rear and top housing portions, the front housing portion comprising a pair of angled surfaces disposed at a first predetermined angle relative to a horizontal datum, said surfaces disposed on a lower portion of said front housing portion and spaced apart, said angled surfaces disposed at a preselected height relative to the bottom of the gaming machine forming footrests.

2. The gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said angled surfaces are integrally formed with said front housing portion.

3. The gaming machine as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is in the range 20°

-70°

.

4. The gaming machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising a game chair having a footrest disposed at a first height thereon, wherein said preselected height is relatively higher than said first height.

5. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing comprising;

a front housing portion;

a side housing portion;

a rear housing portion;

a top housing portion; and

a bottom housing portion;

a pair of angled surfaces disposed on said front housing portion at angles relative to a horizontal datum, said pair of angled surfaces disposed on a lower portion of said front housing portion and spaced apart and disposed at a first height relative to said bottom housing portion to form footrests;

a video display associated with said housing and adapted to display video gambling game images;

a value accepting device associated with said housing and adapted to receive value to be wagered on an outcome of a video gambling game; and

a control panel associated with said housing and comprising a plurality of selection devices associated with said video gambling game.

6. The gaming machine as recited in claim 5, wherein said angled surfaces are integrally formed with said front housing portion.

7. The gaming machine as recited in claim 5, wherein said angles are in the range of 20°

-70°

.

8. The gaming machine as recited in claim 5, further comprising a game chair having a footrest disposed at a second height thereon, wherein said first height is relatively higher than said second height.

9. A gaming machine housing comprising:

a front housing portion;

a pair of side housing portions;

a top housing portion coupled to said pair of side housing portions;

a bottom housing portion coupled to said pair of side housing portions; and

a pair of angled surfaces disposed on said front housing portion at angles relative to a horizontal datum, said pair of angled surfaces spaced apart and disposed at a first height relative to said bottom housing portion to form footrests.

10. The gaming machine housing as recited in claim 9, wherein said angled surfaces are integrally formed with said front housing portion.

11. The gaming machine housing as recited in claim 9, wherein said angles are in the range of 20°

-70°

.

12. The gaming machine housing as recited in claim 9, further comprising a game chair having a footrest disposed at a second height thereon, wherein said first height is relatively higher than said second height.

13. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing comprising;

a front housing portion;

a pair of side housing portions;

a top housing portion; and

a bottom housing portion;

a pair of angled surfaces disposed on said front housing portion at angles relative to a horizontal datum, said pair of angled surfaces spaced apart and disposed at a first height relative to said bottom housing portion to form footrests;

a video display associated with said housing and adapted to display video gambling game images;

a value accepting device associated with said housing and adapted to receive value to be wagered on an outcome of a video gambling game; and

a control panel associated with said housing and comprising a plurality of selection devices associated with said video gambling game.

14. The gaming machine as recited in claim 13, wherein said angled surfaces are integrally formed with said front housing portion.

15. The gaming machine as recited in claim 13, wherein said angles are in the range of 20°

-70°

.

16. The gaming machine as recited in claim 13, further comprising a game chair having a footrest disposed at a second height thereon, wherein said first height is relatively higher than said second height.

17. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing comprising a front housing portion;

first and second angled surfaces disposed on said front housing portion to form footrests;

a video display associated with said housing and adapted to display video gambling game images;

a value accepting device associated with said housing and adapted to receive value to be wagered on an outcome of a video gambling game; and

a control panel associated with said housing and comprising a plurality of selection devices associated with said video gambling game.

18. The gaming machine as recited in claim 17, wherein said first and second angled surfaces are integrally formed with said front housing portion.