Bar top gaming unit

• US 8,870,663 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Original Assignee: COLE Kepro International LLC
• Inventors: Cole, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US12/986,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

A bar top gaming unit is configured to be mounted in a bar top or similar environment. The unit includes an air cooling system including at least one moveable air port. The air port has a first end located remote from the unit and a second end in communication with the interior, and where a position of the first end is changeable relative to the unit. The unit also includes an operator interface including at least one display. The operator interface is located at the rear of the unit and faces in an opposing direction from a main player display so as to be viewable by an operator located at a rear of the unit.

Claims

1. A bar top gaming unit comprising:

a housing having a top and at least one side wall;

a top deck mounted to said housing and extending over said top of said housing and cooperating with said housing to define a generally enclosed interior area;

at least one game display located at said top deck, said at least one game display configured to display game play information;

at least one player input device; and

an air cooling system including at least one moveable air port, said air port having a first end located remote from said interior area and at least one second end in communication with said interior area;

said second end of said air port movably mounted to said housing for allowing a location of said at least one second end to be changed relative to said housing.

2. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air port comprises a generally rigid plenum.

3. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one second end is connected to a slide and said slide is movably mounted along a slot in said housing.

4. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said slot is elongate and extend generally horizontally along a portion of a front of said housing.

5. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein said air port comprises a plenum having a diameter at said second end, a length of said slot being at least twice the diameter of said plenum at said second end.

6. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said housing has a front, said at least one game display configured to display game information in an orientation facing said front of said housing, and wherein said slot is located at said front of said housing.

7. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one air moving device configured to move air through said air port and said interior area of said housing.

8. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a vent cover located over said first end of said air port.

9. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said housing is located beneath a top surface of a bar, said top deck is located above said top surface, and said first end of said air port extends through a front wall of said bar.

10. A bar top gaming unit comprising:

a housing having a front and a rear and a bottom and top;

at least one game display located at said top, said at least one game display configured to display game play information in an orientation to be viewed by a player located at said front of said housing; and

an operator interface located at said rear of said housing, said operator interface comprising at least one display configured to display game play information in an orientation generally opposite that of the at least one game display for viewing by an operator located at said rear of said housing.

11. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said top of said housing slopes upwardly from said front towards said rear.

12. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said top of said housing is defined at least in part by a moveable top panel.

13. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one game display slopes upwardly moving from said front to said rear of said housing, whereby said at least one game display is tilted towards a player located at said front of said housing.

14. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said rear of said housing is generally vertically extending.

15. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 12 wherein said top panel has a front corresponding to said front of said housing and a rear corresponding to said rear of said housing and said operator interface is associated with said rear of said top panel.

16. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one display of said operator interface comprises at least one meter.

17. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 16 wherein said at least one meter displays numerical values.

18. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one display comprises an electronic video display.

19. The bar top gaming unit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said at least one electronic video display is configured at one or more times to display the same information as said at least one game display.