Gaming unit including currency container locking mechanism

• US 6,976,919 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: COLE Industries LLC
• Inventors: Cole, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/686,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 194/206, 194/215, 194/350, 232/15, 232/16, 232/1.D, 273/138.2, 273/138.1, 273/143.R, 463/1, 463 16- 20, 235/7.R, 235/8, 235/12, 292/216, 312215-221, 312/223.1
• 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 gaming unit includes a currency container. The currency container includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the container to a housing of the gaming unit. In one embodiment, a secondary locking mechanism is associated with the housing, the secondary locking mechanism preventing, at one or more times, de-activation of the currency container locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A bar top gaming unit comprising:

a housing having a base, a first side extending upwardly from said base, an opposing second side extending upwardly from said base, a rear wall extending upwardly from said base, and a front wall extending upwardly from said base, said first and second sides and front and rear walls defining a generally open top of said housing, and a top panel for selective positioning over said generally open top;

a gaming controller for configuring game data;

a display adapted to display game information generated by said gaming controller;

a currency container;

a first locking mechanism configured to selectively lock said currency container to said gaming unit, said first locking mechanism including a latch connected to said currency container, said latch moveable between a first position and a second position, said latch in said first position placing said first locking mechanism in an unlocked position permitting said currency container to be removed from and placed into engagement with said gaming unit and said latch in said second position placing said first locking mechanism in a locked position locking said currency container to said gaming unit and preventing its removal therefrom; and

a second locking mechanism mounted to said housing, said second locking mechanism including a cam rotatable between a first unlocking position and a second locking position by engagement of a key with a lock body of the locking mechanism from an exterior of said housing, said cam adapted in its locking position to engage said latch of said first locking mechanism to prevent movement of said latch from its second to its first position.

2. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top panel includes a door positioned in said top panel in an area corresponding to the location of said currency container in said housing;

said door rotatable between an open position whereby access is provided through said top panel to said currency container and a closed position whereby access is generally prevented, and including a third locking mechanism for selectively preventing said door from being moved from its closed to its open position.

3. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top panel may be rotated between a raised position in which at least a portion of said interior area of said housing is accessible and a lowered position closing said housing, wherein a condition of said second locking mechanism is unchanged by movement of said top panel, whereby if said second locking mechanism is in said locking position and said top panel is in said raised position said currency container remains locked to said support structure.

4. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary locking mechanism includes a lock body which extends through said side of said housing, said cam connected to a portion of said lock body positioned in said interior space of said housing.

5. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein a key-accepting portion of said lock body is positioned at an exterior of said housing.

11. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said currency container includes a cash box and a cash box supporting structure, said cash box supporting structure mounted to said housing and said cash box selectively removable from said cash box supporting structure.

12. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 11 wherein said latch is connected to said cash box supporting structure and is configured for engagement with a pin extending from said cash box, said latch in said first position locking said cash box to said cash box supporting structure and said latch in said second position locking said cash box to said cash box supporting structure.

6. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing defining an interior area configured to house one or more components of said gaming machine;

a display supported by said housing configured to display game information to a player of said gaming machine;

a currency container;

a first locking mechanism connected to said currency container, said first locking mechanism configured to selectively lock said currency container to said gaming machine, said first locking mechanism in a first position permitting said currency container to be removed from and placed into engagement with said gaming machine and said first locking mechanism in a second position locking said currency container to said gaming machine and preventing its removal therefrom; and

a second locking mechanism mounted to said housing, said second locking mechanism having at least one element moveable between a first position in which said second locking mechanism prevents said first locking mechanism from being moved from its second to its first position, and a second position in which said first locking mechanism may be moved between its first and second positions.

7. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 including at least one panel movable between a first open position and a second closed position to provide access to said interior of said housing, said panel including a door positioned in said panel in an area corresponding to the location of said currency container in said housing;

said door rotatable between an open position whereby access is provided through said panel to said currency container and a closed position whereby access is generally prevented, and including a third locking mechanism for selectively preventing said door from being moved from its closed to its open position.

8. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein a condition of said second locking mechanism is unchanged by movement of said panel between its first and second positions, whereby if said second locking mechanism is in said locking position and said panel is moved to its open position said currency container remains locked to said support structure.

9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said secondary locking mechanism includes a lock body which extends through a wall of said housing, said at least one element of said second locking mechanism connected to a portion of said lock body positioned in said interior space of said housing.

10. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein a key-accepting portion of said lock body is positioned at an exterior of said housing.

13. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said currency container includes a cash box and a cash box supporting structure, said cash box supporting structure mounted to said housing and said cash box selectively removable from said cash box supporting structure.

14. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein said latch is connected to said cash box supporting structure and is configured for engagement with a pin extending from said cash box, said latch in said first position locking said cash box to said cash box supporting structure and said latch in said second position locking said cash box to said cash box supporting structure.