Wide screen gaming apparatus

• US 9,865,123 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William, Griswold, Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US15/623,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20170287264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a display unit and has a display support structure that extends substantially vertically from a horizontal support base. The display unit includes a flat-panel display screen having a width (W) and a height (H) wherein W/H is at least 16/10 The display unit is rotatable about a horizontal axis located in a plane substantially parallel to the display screen wherein, a player'"'"'s angle of viewing the display unit may be adjusted by vertical translation of the display unit on the display support structure, over a vertical range of motion, and by rotation of the display unit about the horizontal axis. A front face of the display structure presents, in a region proximate to the vertical range of motion, a concave side of a curved surface.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a display support structure comprising a front side and a back side, the front side comprising an inwardly curved section having a top end, a bottom end, and a constant radius of curvature between the top end and the bottom end;

a display screen attached to the front side of the display support structure such that a portion of the display screen is vertically positioned between the top end and the bottom end of the inwardly-curved section of the display support structure;

a control panel supported by the display support structure and positioned below a midpoint of the display screen, the control panel comprising a game-initiation button;

a value input device supported by the display support structure and configured to receive value; and

a controller configured, responsive to an actuation of the game-initiation button, initiate a play of a wagering game and cause the display screen to display an outcome of the play of the wagering game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the back side of the display support structure includes an outwardly curved section.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the outwardly curved section has a top end, a bottom end, and a constant radius of curvature between the top end and the bottom end.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the inwardly-curved section of the display support structure extends from a top of the display support structure to a bottom of the display support structure.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a width and a height of the display screen are different.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the width is greater than the height.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a midpoint of the display screen and a first point of the inwardly-curved section of the display support structure are the same vertical distance from the bottom end of the of the inwardly-curved section of the display support structure.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the display screen is attached to the display support structure so all of the display screen is vertically positioned between the top end and the bottom end of the inwardly-curved section of the display support structure.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker supported by the display support structure.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a touch screen sensor mounted to the display screen.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the control panel comprises a touch screen, and wherein the game-initiation button comprises an area of the touch screen.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a top end of the display screen is not attached to the display support structure.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, further comprising a speaker supported by the display support structure.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the control panel comprises a touch screen, and wherein the game-initiation button comprises an area of the touch screen.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein a width and a height of the display screen are different.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the width is greater than the height.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, further comprising a touch screen sensor mounted to the display screen.

18. The gaming device of claim 12, further comprising a touch screen sensor mounted to the display screen.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the control panel comprises a touch screen, and wherein the game-initiation button comprises an area of the touch screen.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the back side of the display support structure includes an outwardly curved section.