Translucent monitor masks, substrate and apparatus for removable attachment to gaming device cabinet

• US 6,575,541 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Tedsen, Kirk A., LeSourd, Kehl T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/686,243
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 312/7.2, 312/223.2, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 312/215, 312/216, 312/217, 312/218, 312/222, 312/220, 348/836, 348/839, 348/841, 292/106
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0956 Sliding catch

Abstract

A removable translucent mask for use with a gaming device having a cabinet. The mask includes a first mask member adapted to removably connect to the cabinet having spaced-apart top and bottom members and spaced apart side members joined to and integral with the top and bottom members. The mask further includes a second mask member adapted to connect to the first member having spaced apart top and bottom members and spaced apart side members joined to and integral with the top and bottom members. A locking mechanism joined to the cabinet is adapted to removably connect the first and second mask members to the cabinet.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet containing a display;

a substrate removably connected to the cabinet;

a first mask connected to an exterior side of said substrate and surrounding said display; and

a second mask connected to an exterior side of the first mask and surrounding the display.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first mask is removably connected to the substrate and the second mask is removably connected to the first mask.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second mask is removably connected to the first mask.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a locking mechanism which removably connects the substrate to the cabinet.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first mask is removably connected to the substrate.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second mask includes a rounded edge adapted to removably engage the cabinet.

7. The gaming device claim 1, which includes at least one illumination device connected to the cabinet and adapted to illuminate at least one of the first and second masks.

8. A mask apparatus for use with a gaming device having a cabinet, said mask apparatus comprising:

a substrate adapted to removably connect to said cabinet;

a first mask member connected to an exterior side of said substrate; and

a second mask member connected to an exterior side of the first mask member and said substrate.

9. The mask apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first mask member includes spaced apart top and bottom members and spaced apart side members joined to and integral with the top and bottom members.

10. The mask apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second mask member includes spaced apart top and bottom members and spaced apart side members joined to and integral with the top and bottom members.

11. The mask apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and second mask members are removably connected to the substrate.

12. The mask apparatus of claim 8, which includes a hook connected to the substrate.

13. The mask apparatus of claim 12, wherein the hook is adapted to engage a locking mechanism.

14. A locking mechanism adapted to removably connect a mask apparatus to a gaming device cabinet, said locking mechanism comprising:

an elongated portion; and

a biased locking member, whereby the biased locking member is adapted to lock the elongated portion in a closed position.

15. The locking mechanism of claim 14, which includes means for biasing the elongated portion towards the closed position.

16. The locking mechanism of claim 15, wherein the biasing means includes a spring.

17. The locking mechanism of claim 14, which includes an engaging member connected to the mask apparatus and adapted to be engaged by the elongated portion.

18. The locking mechanism of claim 17, wherein the engaging member is adapted to engage a seat defined by said gaming device cabinet.

19. The locking mechanism of claim 17, wherein said engaging member includes a hook that is engaged by the elongated portion.

20. The locking mechanism of claim 19, wherein the elongated portion defines a slot in spaced relationship and adapted to receive the hook.

21. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a first mask member removably connected to said cabinet by a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism including a biasing device which biases a portion of the locking mechanism in a closed position; and

a second mask member connected to the first mask member.

22. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a first mask member removably connected to said cabinet by a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism including a spring loaded plunger which locks a portion of the locking mechanism in a closed position; and

a second mask member connected to the first mask member.

23. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet;

a first mask member removably connected to the cabinet, said first mask member including a first plurality of co-acting engaging members extending laterally from the first mask member; and

a second mask member including a second plurality of co-acting engaging members extending substantially perpendicular from the second mask member, wherein each of the second plurality of co-acting engaging members co-acts with at least one of the first plurality of co-acting engaging members to removably connect the second mask member to the first mask member.

24. A gaming device comprising:

a mask including an engaging member;

a cabinet which defines a seat for the engaging member;

a moveable elongated portion connected to said cabinet and including one engaging slot adapted to receive the engaging member;

a biasing device connected to the elongated portion to bias said moveable elongated portion towards a closed position; and

a biased locking member which locks said moveable elongated portion in the closed position in engagement with said engaging member which extends through the engaging slot and which is received by said seat.

25. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein the mask includes a plurality of engaging members, the moveable elongated portion includes a plurality of engaging slots, and the cabinet defines a plurality of seats.

26. The gaming device of claim 24, wherein said biased locking member includes a spring loaded plunger.

27. The gaming device of claim 24, which includes a second mask connected to the mask.

28. A locking mechanism for removably connecting a mask to a gaming device cabinet which defines a seat, the locking gaming device mechanism comprising:

a moveable elongated portion connected to said cabinet and including one engaging slot;

a biasing device connected to the elongated portion which biases said moveable elongated portion towards a closed position;

an engaging member connected to the mask; and

a biased locking member which locks said moveable elongated portion in the closed position in engagement with said engaging member which extends through the engaging slot and which is received by said seat.

29. The locking mechanism of claim 28, which includes a plurality of engaging slots defined by the moveable elongated portion, a plurality of engaging members connected to the mask and a plurality of seats defined by the gaming device cabinet.

30. The locking mechanism of claim 28, wherein said biased locking member includes a spring loaded plunger.

31. The locking mechanism of claim 28, which includes a second mask connected to the mask.

32. A gaming device comprising:

a cabinet containing a display;

a substrate removably connected to the cabinet;

a first mask connected to the substrate and surrounding the display; and

a second mask connected to the first mask and surrounding the display, wherein the second mask includes a rounded edge adapted to removably engage the cabinet.

33. A mask apparatus for use with a gaming device having a cabinet, said mask apparatus comprising:

a first mask member;

a second mask member adapted to connect to the first mask member; and

a substrate removably connected to said cabinet, which includes a hook connected to the substrate, wherein said hook is adapted to engage a locking mechanism, and said substrate is connected to the first and second mask members.

34. A locking mechanism adapted to removably connect a mask apparatus to a gaming device cabinet, said locking mechanism comprising:

an elongated portion; and

a biased locking member, whereby the biased locking member is adapted to lock the elongated portion in a closed position, wherein said biased locking member includes a spring loaded plunger.