Mounting bracket for a gaming machine

• US 7,108,237 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTECH Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: Atronic International GmbH (Gauselmann AG)
• Inventors: Gauselmann, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US10/346,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.22, 248/220.21, 248/225.11, 248/224.51, 248/224.61, 248/551, 70/50, 70/51, 70/52, 312/111, 312/198, 312/223.1, 463/29.46
• US Class Current: 248/220.22
• 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: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide

Abstract

A mounting bracket for a slot machine is disclosed herein, where the slot machine is slid onto the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket insures proper alignment of the slot machine onto the platform and secures the slot machine into position.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a unitary mounting bracket securing a gaming machine, the bracket being affixed to a platform for supporting the gaming machine, the bracket having first features that mate with corresponding second features on a bottom surface of the gaming machine to, at least partially, secure the gaming machine into position on the bracket, the unitary mounting bracket having dimensions approximately equal to a bottom surface of the gaming machine, the unitary mounting bracket supporting the gaming machine in a level position on the platform;

the gaming machine having secured to its bottom surface the second features, the second features being mated with the first features to align the gaming machine with respect to the unitary mounting bracket; and

a securing device, only actuable by gaining access to an internal portion of the gaming machine, that secures the gaming machine to the unitary mounting bracket and prevents unauthorized removal of the gaming machine from the unitary mounting bracket.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising the bracket having a cable hole for aligning with cable holes in the platform and the gaming machine for extending one or more electrical cables therethrough.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first features and second features comprise one or more grooves and one or more raised tracks for fitting into the one or more grooves.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first features comprise one or more grooves and the second features comprise one or more raised tracks.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first features and second features comprise one or more flanges and one or more extensions for fitting into the one or more flanges.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the first features comprise one or more flanges and the second features comprise one or more extensions.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising the bracket having a coin drainage hole for receiving coins diverted from a coin hopper in the gaming machine, the coin drainage hole for aligning with a hole in the platform.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising the platform.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the securing device comprises a spring-loaded latch internal to the gaming machine for automatically latching the gaming machine in place on the bracket.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising aligning a coin drainage hole in the gaming machine, for receiving coins diverted from a coin hopper in the gaming machine, with a coin drainage hole in the bracket.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the securing device comprises at least one screw means having a head internal to the gaming machine for securing the gaming machine in place on the bracket.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the screw means is a bolt.