U.S. patent application number 10/254856 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-01 for gaming machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONAMI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Satoh, Masatoshi.
Application Number | 20040061284 10/254856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32029056 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040061284 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Satoh, Masatoshi |
April 1, 2004 |
Gaming machine
Abstract
A gaming machine includes a door housing, a belly door, which
constitutes a part of the door housing, having a front panel, a
first hinge, connecting the door housing with the belly door so as
to pivot the belly door, a back-lighting member, which illuminates
a member provided on the front panel and a second hinge, connecting
the belly door with the back-lighting member so as to pivot the
back-lighting member.
Inventors: |
Satoh, Masatoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
KONAMI CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
32029056 |
Appl. No.: |
10/254856 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/138.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3216 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/138.1 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00; A63B
071/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gaming machine comprising: a door housing; a belly door, which
constitutes a part of the door housing, having a front panel; a
first hinge, connecting the door housing with the belly door so as
to pivot the belly door; a back-lighting member, which illuminates
a member provided on the front panel; and a second hinge,
connecting the belly door with the back-lighting member so as to
pivot the back-lighting member.
2. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pivot
movement of the first hinge is a first direction.
3. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein a pivot
movement of the second hinge is parallel with the first
direction.
4. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein a pivot
movement of the second hinge is perpendicular to the first
direction.
5. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first
direction is a vertical direction.
6. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first
direction is a horizontal direction.
7. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a
wire, connecting the door housing with the belly door so as to
regulate a pivotable angle of the belly door.
8. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the belly
door has a boss member which regulates a pivotable angle of the
belly door.
9. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the door
housing has a boss member which regulates a pivotable angle of the
belly door.
10. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
an engage member which engages the back-lighting member and the
door housing when the belly door is open.
11. The gaming machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
back-lighting member pivots so as to expose the member provided on
the front panel via the second hinge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a slot
machine, having belly door on which a back-lighting member is
pivotably supported by a hinge.
[0002] A related gaming machine having belly door is described by
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 7, a belly door 114 is
reclosably provided on a door housing 120 disposed at a lower
position on a front face of a housing 112 of a gaming machine 100,
by a hinge 116 provided at a lower position on the belly door 114.
A display panel 118 is provided on the front face of the belly door
114. The display panel 118 is a rectangular plate material formed
from transparent material, such as glass or acryl.
[0003] As shown in FIG. 8, a back-lighting box 126 is provided on
the belly door 114. The back-lighting box 126 includes a
fluorescent lamp container having a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent
lamp holder, and a reflector. Wiring 128 extending from a power
supply unit (not shown) disposed in the door housing 120 is
connected to the back-lighting box 126 for supplying power to the
fluorescent lamp. Various information items, such as the title of
or explanations about a game to be played on the gaming machine 100
are drawn on a plate. The plate and the display panel 118 are held
in the back-lighting box 126, and the back-lighting box 126 is
fastened to the belly door 114 by screws 134. The plate is a
translucence plate such as glass or plastic. The back-lighting box
126 radiates illumination light onto the display panel 118 so as to
decorate the plate having various information items written
thereon.
[0004] When a game to be played on the gaming machine 100 is
changed to a new game, ROM stored a game program therein is
replaced to a ROM stored a new game program therein on the related
gaming machine 100. At this time, there arises a necessity for
replacing, with another plate, a plate on which information about
the game displayed on the display panel 118 is drawn.
[0005] Procedures for replacing the plate having game information
drawn thereon with another plate will be described below. First,
the belly door 114 is opened. A worker holds the belly door 114 in
an opened state. Next, the wiring 128 extending from an electrical
equipment box provided in an unillustrated housing is detached from
the back-lighting box 126. The screws 134 fastening the
back-lighting box 126 to the belly door 114 are removed, whereby
the back-lighting box 126 is removed from the belly door 114. After
the thus-removed back-lighting box 126 is placed in another
workplace, the plate having game information drawn thereon on the
display panel 18 is replaced.
[0006] Even when the display panel 118 or the fluorescent lamp
contained in the back-lighting box 126 is checked or replaced, the
back-lighting box 126 is removed from the belly door 114 in the
same manner. Then, the back-lighting box 126 is placed in another
workplace, and the display panel 118 is replaced with another
panel, or the fluorescent lamp contained in the back-lighting box
126 is replaced.
[0007] During the above-described operations relating to the belly
door 114 of the related gaming machine 100, all the screws 134 used
for fastening the back-lighting box 126 to the belly door 114 must
be removed. In order to remove the back-lighting box 126 from the
belly door 114, the wiring 128 extending from the electrical
equipment box must be detached from the back-lighting box 126.
Further, the work place is a necessity for placing the thus-removed
back-lighting box 126. Since the back-lighting box 126 is removed
from the belly door 114, there is a chance of a fluorescent lamp
being broken, as a result of the back-lighting box 126 dropping to
the ground. In this way, replacement of the plate or display panel
118 having game information drawn thereon is complicated and
involves low working efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a gaming machine capable of improving the efficiency of an
operation for replacement or inspection of a plate on which game
information to be displayed through a display panel is drawn.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, according to the
present invention, there is provided a gaming machine
comprising:
[0010] a door housing;
[0011] a belly door, which constitutes a part of the door housing,
having a front panel;
[0012] a first hinge, connecting the door housing and the belly
door so as to pivot the belly door;
[0013] a back-lighting member, which illuminates a member provided
on the front panel; and
[0014] a second hinge, connecting the belly door and the
back-lighting member so as to pivot the back-lighting member.
[0015] In this configuration, in the case of replacement of the
member provided on the front panel or replacement or inspection of
the front panel or an illumination member of the back-lighting
member, the back-lighting member is pivoted with respect to the
belly door by the second hinge. As a result, replacement or
inspection of the member provided on the front panel, the front
panel, or the illumination member can be performed without removal
of the back-lighting member from the belly door. Consequently, the
ease of such an operation can be improved.
[0016] Preferably, the pivotal direction of the first hinge is a
first direction.
[0017] Here it is preferable that the first direction is a vertical
direction.
[0018] Here it is preferable that the first direction is a
horizontal direction.
[0019] Here it is preferable that a pivotal direction of the second
hinge is a direction parallel to the first direction.
[0020] Here it is preferable that the pivotal direction of the
second hinge is a direction perpendicular to the first
direction.
[0021] In the configurations, the first hinge connects the belly
door with the door housing so that the belly door can pivot in the
first direction. Further, the second hinge connects the belly door
with the back-lighting member so that the back-lighting member can
pivot in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the first
direction.
[0022] By pivoting the back-lighting member in a direction parallel
or perpendicular to the first direction, a member provided on the
front panel, the front panel, or the illumination member can be
replaced or inspected without removal of the back-lighting member
by the belly door. Consequently, the ease of operation can be
improved.
[0023] Preferably, the door housing has a wire for connecting the
door housing with the belly door so as to regulate a pivotal angle
of the belly door.
[0024] In the configuration, the belly door can be fixed in an
opened condition by the wire, thereby improving workability.
[0025] Preferably, the belly door has a boss member for regulating
a pivotal angle of the belly door.
[0026] Preferably, the door housing has a boss member for
regulating a pivotal angle of the belly door.
[0027] In the configurations, the boss member provided on the belly
door or the door housing enables fixing of the belly door in an
open state, thus improving workability.
[0028] Here it is preferable that an engage member is provided for
engaging the back-lighting member and the door housing together
when the belly door is open.
[0029] In the configuration, the back-lighting member and the door
housing can be engaged together by the engage member so that the
front panel can be replaced while the belly door is open with
respect to the door housing, thereby improving workability.
[0030] Preferably, the back-lighting member pivots so as to expose
the member provided on the front panel via the second hinge.
[0031] In the configuration, in the case of replacement of the
member provided on the front panel or replacement or inspection of
the front panel or an illumination member of the back-lighting
member, the back-lighting member is pivoted so as to expose the
member provided on the front panel via the second hinge. As a
result, replacement or inspection of the member provided on the
front panel, the front panel, or the illumination member can be
performed without removal of the back-lighting member from the
belly door. Consequently, the ease of such an operation can be
improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The problem and advantages of the invention will become more
definite by illustration of preferred embodiments of the invention
by reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a gaming machine having a
belly door according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an open state of the belly
door;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an open state of a
back-lighting box of the belly door;
[0036] FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a boss member for
regulating a pivotal angle of the belly door, which boss member is
provided on the belly door;
[0037] FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing a boss member for
regulating a pivotal angle of the belly door, which boss member is
provided on a housing;
[0038] FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
first embodiment, in which a second hinge is provided on the left
side of the belly door,
[0039] FIG. 5B is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
first embodiment, in which a second hinge is provided on the right
side of the belly door;
[0040] FIG. 5C is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
first embodiment, in which a second hinge is provided on a side
opposing the side on which the first hinge is provided;
[0041] FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing the belly door of a
second embodiment, in which a first hinge is provided on the left
side of the belly door;
[0042] FIG. 6B is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
second embodiment, in which a second hinge is provided on the left
side of the belly door;
[0043] FIG. 6C is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
second embodiment, in which the second hinge is provided on the
right side of the belly door,
[0044] FIG. 6D is a block diagram showing the belly door of the
second embodiment, in which the second hinge is provided on the
upper side of the belly door;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a related gaming machine
having a belly door; and
[0046] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing that a belly door of the
related gaming machine is opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0047] An embodiment of a gaming machine having a belly door
according to the invention will be described in detail by reference
to the drawings.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is constituted by
attaching various components, such as a monitor, a control member,
an electrical equipment box, and a power supply to the outside and
inside of a portrait-oriented housing 12. A door housing 20 is
attached to a lower portion of a front face of the housing 12. A
belly door 14 is provided so as to constitute a portion of the door
housing 20. The belly door 14 is reclosably attached to the door
housing 20 by a first hinge 16 provided at a lower side of the
belly door 14.
[0049] A display panel 18 is attached to the front face of the
belly door 14. The display panel 18 is a rectangular plate member
formed from a transparent material, such as glass or acryl.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of bars 22 are disposed such that
one bar 22 is attached to a side face of the belly door 14 and the
other 22 is attached to an interior wall face of the door housing
20. A steel wire 24 is fixed at one end to one bar 22 and at the
other end to the other bar 22, thus regulating an open angle of the
belly door 14 to a range of 80.degree. to 180.degree..
[0051] Next, a back-lighting box 26 will be described by reference
to FIGS. 2 and 3. The back-lighting box 26 acting as a
back-lighting member radiates illumination light onto the display
panel 18, thereby decorating a plate 36 having various information
items drawn thereon. The plate 36 is a translucent flat plate, such
as glass or plastic. As shown in FIG. 3, the back-lighting box 26
has a fluorescent lamp housing section comprising a fluorescent
lamp serving as illumination equipment, a fluorescent lamp holder,
and a reflector. A wire 28 extending from an unillustrated power
supply disposed in the door housing 20 is connected to a
fluorescent lamp of the back-lighting box 26. Each of the
back-lighting box 26 and the door housing 20 is equipped with an
engage member 30 for engaging the back-lighting box 26 and the door
housing 20 together. As shown in FIG. 3, the engage member 30
engages the back-lighting box 26 onto the door housing 20 while the
back-lighting box 26 is open.
[0052] The back-lighting box 26 is pivotably attached to the belly
door 14 by a second hinge 32 provided on a side of the
back-lighting box 26. A side of the back-lighting box 26 opposing
the side thereof provided with the second hinge 32 is fastened to
the belly door 14 with screws 34. The plate 36, on which are
described various information items such as the title of a gaming
machine or descriptions of a game, and the display panel 18 are
sandwiched between the back-lighting box 26 and the belly door
14.
[0053] Next, there will be described an operation for replacing the
plate 36 which is sandwiched between the display panel 18 and the
back-lighting box 26 and on which various information items about
the gaming machine are written, by the belly door 14 of the gaming
machine 10 according to the embodiment.
[0054] First, the belly door 14 is opened. At this time, an open
angle of the belly door 14 is regulated to a range of 80.degree. to
180.degree. by the wire 24 and the bars 22 stretched between the
bars 22. Next, the screws 34 that fasten the reflector 26 to the
belly door 14 are removed. The back-lighting box 26 is raised
toward the door housing 20 while the second hinge 32 is taken as a
pivotal center. The back-lighting box 26 is engaged to the door
housing 20 while being raised by the engage member 30. Then, the
plate 36--which is placed on the display panel 18 and on which are
written various information items pertaining to a gaming
machine--is then replaced.
[0055] As mentioned above, the back-lighting box 26 is pivoted
toward the belly door 14 by the second hinge 32. As a result, the
plate 36 which is provided on the display panel 18 and has various
information items about the gaming machine, without removal of the
back-lighting box 26 from the belly door 14. Therefore, workability
of replacement and inspection operations can be improved.
[0056] Further, there is obviated a necessity for removing the
belly door 14 from the back-lighting box 26. Hence, the wire 28
extending from the power supply does not need to be detached from
the back-lighting box 26. The belly door 14 and the door housing 20
are fixed by the wire 24 and the bars 22. Hence, there is
eliminated a complicated operation of a worker replacing the plate
while manually retaining the belly door 14.
[0057] In the embodiment, there has been described an operation for
replacing the plate 36 having various information items pertaining
to a gaming machine drawn thereon. Even in the case of replacement
or inspection of the display panel 18 or a fluorescent lamp
contained in the back-lighting box 26, there is required a
substantially same operation. Hence, their explanations are
omitted.
[0058] In the embodiment, the open angle of the belly door 14 is
regulated by the wire 24 and the pair of bars 22 connected to the
wire 24. A pair of hooks may be employed in place of the pair of
bars 22 for extending the wire 24. As shown in FIG. 4A, boss
members 38 for regulating the open angle of the belly door 14 may
be provided on the door housing 20 at a position of in the vicinity
of the belly door 14 in place of the wire 24 and the bars 22.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, boss members 38' for regulating
the open angle of the belly door 14 may be disposed on an exterior
face of the belly door 14 in place of the wire 24 and the bars
22.
[0059] An effect yielded by the wire 24, the pair of hooks, and the
boss members 38, 38' is the same as that yielded by the wire 24 and
the pair of bars 22.
[0060] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4B, the first embodiment has
described the belly door 14 in which the first hinge 16 is disposed
along a lower side of the door housing 20 and in which the second
hinge 32 which is provided along one side of the belly door 14 and
in close proximity to the first hinge 16 pivotally supporting the
belly door 14 and the back-lighting box 26. As shown in FIGS. 5A
through 5C, when the second hinge 32 is attached to the left side
of the belly door 14 or when the second hinge 32 is attached to the
right side of the belly door 14, the back-lighting box 26 pivots
with respect to the belly door 14 in a direction perpendicular to a
direction in which the belly door 14 is pivoted with reference to
the door housing 20. When the second hinge 32 is provided along a
side opposing the side of the belly door 14 along which is disposed
the first hinge 16, the back-lighting box 26 is pivoted toward the
belly door 14 in a direction parallel to the direction in which the
belly door 14 is pivoted with respect to the door housing 20. Those
constituent elements and effects which are the same as those
described in connection with the first embodiment are adopted and
yielded by a belly door shown in FIGS. 5A through 5C, except that
the engage member 30 is not provided.
[0061] The first embodiment has described the belly door 14, in
which the first hinge 16 is provided along a lower side of the door
housing 20. Next, a belly door according to a second embodiment of
the invention will be described by reference to FIGS. 6A through
6D. In relation to a belly door 44 of the second embodiment, the
first hinge 16 is disposed along the left side of the door housing
20. Accordingly, the belly door 44 is pivoted in a horizontal
direction of the gaming machine 10. From among constituent elements
shown in FIGS. 6A through 6D, those which are substantially the
same as the constituent elements employed in the first embodiment
are assigned the same reference numerals, and their explanations
are omitted.
[0062] In the belly door 44 of the second embodiment, the first
hinge 16 is provided along the left side of the door housing 20.
The belly door 44 is opened and closed in the horizontal direction
of the gaming machine 10. Hence, the belly door 44 of the second
embodiment is substantially identical with that of the first
embodiment, except that the wire 24 and the pair of bars 22, which
regulate an open angle of the belly door 44, are unnecessary. FIGS.
6A through 6D illustrate the belly door 44 in which the first hinge
16 is provided along the left side of the door housing 20.
Specifically, the drawings show a case where the second hinge 32 is
attached to a lower side of the belly door 44; a case where the
second hinge 32 is attached to a right side of the same; a case
where the second hinge 32 is attached to a left side of the same;
and a case where the second hinge 32 is attached to an upper side
of the same.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 6D, when the first hinge 16 and the second
hinge 32 are provided in parallel with and close to each other. In
this case, the back-lighting box 26 and the door housing 20 are
provided with the engage member 30 for engaging the back-lighting
box 26 to the door housing 20.
[0064] The second embodiment has referred to the belly door 44 in
which the first hinge 16 is attached to the left side of the door
housing 20. The constituent elements and effect employed in and
yielded by the first embodiment can also be applied to the belly
door in which the first hinge 16 is attached to the right side of
the door housing 20. The same also applies to a belly door in which
the first hinge 16 is attached to an upper side of the door housing
20.
[0065] Although the invention has been illustrated and described by
reference to specific preferred embodiments, it is evident for a
person skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to
amendments or modifications, in view of the teaching of the
invention. Further, as defined by the scope of the appended claims,
such modifications and alterations evidently fall within the scope,
range, or intention of the invention.
* * * * *