Bar top gaming unit

• US 6,688,984 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: Joseph Cole
• Inventors: Cole, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marks, Christina M.
• Application Number:
  US09/875,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12-13, 463/16-20, 463/46-47, 108/25-26, 312/242, 312/223.1, 312/325, 312/327, 312/328, 273/138.1, 273/118.R, 273/138.2, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/309
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

A bar-top gaming unit includes a housing having a top panel which is movable between open and closed positions. Components of the gaming unit are configured to minimize the size of the unit and maximize component access. A display is mounted to the movable top. A gaming controller is located inside the housing beneath the display, the controller providing or generating game play information for display by the display. Peripheral devices are located at either end of the housing on either side of the gaming controller and peripheral. The peripheral devices may comprise a receipt printer and a currency validator. In one embodiment, the gaming unit includes access points besides the top panel, as well as a number of security features including a locking or latching mechanism for individual elements such as the top panel and a cash box associated with a current validator.

Claims

1. A gaming unit configured to be mounted in a support surface comprising:

a housing have a base, a first side and opposing second side extending upwardly from said base, a rear wall extending between said first and second sides and a front wall extending between said first and second sides, said first and second sides and front and rear walls defining a rectangular periphery of said housing, said housing defining an interior area;

a top panel, said top panel rotatably connected to said housing, said top panel including at least one section sloping with respect to horizontal when said housing is mounted to a support surface and said base is horizontal;

a flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of said housing adapted to engage said support surface for mounting said gaming unit;

at least one display mounted to said at least one sloping section of said top panel at an inner surface thereof, whereby a viewing surface of said display is tilted upwardly with respect to the horizontal;

a gaming controller located in said interior area of said housing and adapted to generate game information for display by said at least one display;

a printing device located in said interior area of said housing, said top panel including at least one opening through which printed material may be dispensed from said print device;

a validation and storage device located in said interior area of said housing, said top panel including at least one opening through which currency may be inserted into said validation device;

said printing device located near said first side of said housing, said validation and storage device located near said second side of said housing, said gaming controller located between said printing device and validation and storage device and beneath said display.

2. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 including a strut having a first end connected to said top panel and a second end connected to said housing.

3. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 including at least one member limiting the extent of rotation of said top panel with respect to said housing.

4. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 including an opening in said front wall, and a front panel for selectively closing said opening in said front wall.

5. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 including an exhaust opening in said rear wall and at least one fan adapted to draw air from within said housing and expel it through said exhaust opening.

6. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 5 including at least one port in a front panel associated with said front wall through which air is drawn into said interior area.

7. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 4 including at least one speaker mounted to said front panel.

8. A gaming unit for location in an opening formed in a planar mounting surface comprising:

a housing including a base and at least one wall extending upwardly from said base, said base and at least one wall cooperating to define an interior area, said housing sized to fit through said opening, said housing including a top panel movably connected to said at least one wall, said top panel having a section which slopes upwardly with respect to a horizontal plane when said gaming unit is mounted to said planar mounting surface;

a display mounted to an underside of said sloping section of said top panel, said display aligned with at least one aperture in said sloping section of said top panel;

a gaming controller located in said interior area beneath said display; and

a flange extending outwardly perpendicular to said at least one wall beyond said housing, said flange adapted to engage said planar mounting surface when said housing is extended there through for supporting said gaming unit, said flange in one or more locations positioned below said upwardly sloping section of said top panel.

9. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said wall defines a rectangular perimeter and said flange extends around the entirety of said perimeter.

10. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said top panel includes at least one planar section and one or more input devices are located at said at least one planar section.

11. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein said top panel comprises a rigid body hingedly connected to said at least one wall and movable between a lowered play position and a raised, open non-use position in which the interior area is accessible.

12. The gaming unit in accordance with claim 8 including a latch adapted to secure said top panel in its lowered position, said latch disengageable to permit said top panel to be moved to its open position.