U.S. patent application number 10/664087 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for modular security enclosure for gaming machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Prometrix Corporation. Invention is credited to Mallory, Chester Lawrence, Mathews, Thomas, Spicer, Andrick Dennis.
Application Number | 20050057126 10/664087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274511 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050057126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mallory, Chester Lawrence ;
et al. |
March 17, 2005 |
Modular security enclosure for gaming machine
Abstract
A security enclosure for a gaming machine having a main housing
defining a chamber and having a major opening. A door assembly is
connected to the housing and moves between an open position
providing external access to the chamber and a closed position
securing the major opening. The door has a number of components, at
least some of which are elongated elements having fasteners at
opposed end portions. At least one of the elements may be unplated
or have a different surface finish, because the members may be
finished prior to assembly. Each element is narrow enough to be
received in a relatively shallow and narrow plating tank that would
be inadequate to receive the assembled door.
Inventors: |
Mallory, Chester Lawrence;
(Reno, NV) ; Mathews, Thomas; (Reno, NV) ;
Spicer, Andrick Dennis; (Loyalton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LANGLOTZ PATENT WORKS, INC.
PO BOX 759
GENOA
NV
89411
US
|
Assignee: |
Prometrix Corporation
|
Family ID: |
34274511 |
Appl. No.: |
10/664087 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 081/00; A47B
097/00 |
Claims
1. A security enclosure for a gaming machine comprising: a main
housing defining a chamber and having a major opening; a door
assembly operably connected to the housing and movable between an
open position providing external access to the chamber and a closed
position securing the major opening; and the door comprising a
plurality of components, at least some of the components being
elongated members having fasteners at opposed end portions.
2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the door comprises a pair of
opposed vertical stiles each having an upper end, an opposed lower
end, and an intermediate portion, and including at least one cross
member extending between the stiles, the cross member having
opposed ends each having a fastener engaging a corresponding
fastener on each of the stiles.
3. The enclosure of claim 2 including a top rail extending between
the upper ends of the stiles, an intermediate rail extending
between intermediate portions of the stiles, and a bottom rail
extending between the lower ends of the rails.
4. The enclosure of claim 3 including a belly door connected to the
door and operable between an open position in which a selected one
of the rails is visible, and a closed position in which the
selected one of the rails is concealed.
5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein the selected on of the rails is
provided with a first surface finish, and at least some of the
others of the rails are provided with a different second surface
finish.
6. The enclosure of claim 5 wherein the second surface finish has a
higher quality of cosmetic finish than the first surface
finish.
7. The enclosure of claim 5 wherein the first surface finish is a
coating applied directly to the material forming the selected
component, and wherein the second surface finish is a metal
plating.
8. The enclosure of claim 2 wherein the fasteners include threaded
studs protruding from the end portions of the at least one cross
member.
9. The enclosure of claim 1 where the fasteners are threaded
elements.
10. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the door
components has a different surface finish than the other door
components.
11. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the components are secured
closely to each other, such that the door is free of gaps to
prevent unwarranted entry to the chamber when the door is
closed.
12. A method of manufacturing a door for security enclosure for a
gaming machine comprising: providing a plurality of elongated door
components; providing at least some of the door components with
fasteners at end portions of the components; finishing at least
some of the components with a selected surface finish; and after
finishing, securing the components to each other to form the
door.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein providing the components
includes fabricating at least some of the components from sheet
metal, including welding and smoothing selected seams of the sheet
metal to form a cosmetically smooth surface.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein finishing the components
includes finishing a selected component with a different surface
finish than at least one of the other components.
15. The method of claim 14 including attaching a belly door to the
door after securing the components to each other, and wherein
attaching the belly door includes concealing the selected component
having the different surface finish.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein finishing the selected component
includes applying a coating directly to the material forming the
selected component, and wherein finishing the at least one of the
other components includes plating the at least one of the other
components.
17. The method of claim 12 including plating some but not all of
the components.
18. The method of claim 12 including providing a cosmetically
superior finish on at least some of the components relative to at
least one of the components.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein finishing includes plating an
elongated component by immersion in an elongated plating tank
having a length substantially greater than its width and depth, and
where in the width and depth are each substantially less than the
width of the finished door.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to gaming machines, and more
particularly to enclosures for gaming machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gaming machines require secure enclosures to protect money
stored inside, and to prevent tampering to generate improper
pay-outs. A typical gaming machine is a "slot machine" with a
housing having apertures for video monitor or reel viewing, money
or card insertion, coin or token pay-out, and printed certificate
or receipt production.
[0003] To provide robust security, gaming machines typically employ
housings that have few components, or unitary components, so that
possible avenues of unauthorized entry such as seams, gaps, and the
like are minimized or mitigated. A typical slot machine has a
box-like housing that is open in the front, and which contains all
the operational components of the machine. The front opening is
secured by a "door" that is hinged to the housing, and which has a
locking system to limit access to various levels of authorized
personnel. Typical doors are in the shape of a rectangular frame,
with welded horizontal cross members spanning between the sides of
the frame, creating upper and lower rectangular apertures. Such
doors are formed in several pieces, typically of sheet metal parts
welded, ground, and polished to form a seamless surface without
visible junctions or spaces through which cheating devices may be
inserted. Such doors are finished after they are fully built,
typically with bright polished chrome plating. Because the plating
occurs after conventional doors are fully formed, the polishing of
these large parts is very difficult and large plating tanks are
required. This reduces the number of alternative plating service
companies capable of providing the service, increasing plating
costs and greatly reducing the availability of the service.
[0004] In addition, some portions of the door may be concealed
during normal service, such as the lower rail concealed behind a
"belly door" that encloses the lower aperture. With unitary doors,
even the concealed portions are plated in the manner of the exposed
portions, increasing the portion plating costs associated with
plating materials such as chromium.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior
art by providing a security enclosure for a gaming machine having a
main housing defining a chamber and having a major opening. A door
assembly is connected to the housing and moves between an open
position providing external access to the chamber and a closed
position securing the major opening. The door has a number of
components, at least some of which are elongated elements having
fasteners at opposed end portions. At least one of the elements may
be unplated or have a different surface finish, because the members
may be finished prior to assembly. Each element is narrow enough to
be plated in a relatively shallow or narrow plating tank that would
be inadequate to receive conventionally assembled door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine enclosure
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a exploded view of a gaming machine enclosure door
according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIGS. 3-6 are perspective views of modular door components
according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a gaming machine security enclosure 10 for
housing a slot machine. The enclosure has a main housing 12 in the
form of a box defining a chamber with an open front enclosed by a
door 14. The housing has a top panel 16, a right side panel 20, a
left side panel 22, back panel 24, and bottom panel 26. The housing
is formed of sheet metal panels that are interconnected to each
other, either by a permanent means such as welding or riveting, or
by removable means such as screw fasteners.
[0010] The door 14 is a generally rectangular frame, and includes a
left stile 30, right stile 32, top rail 34, bottom rail 36, and
button rail 38. The stiles are substantially vertical members
parallel to each other and positioned at the front edges of the
side panels 20, 22 of the housing. The top rail 34 spans
horizontally between the top ends of the stiles, the bottom rail 36
spans horizontally between the bottom ends of the stiles, and the
button rail 38 spans horizontally between intermediate portions of
the stiles spaced apart from both the top and bottom rails. The
stiles and rails are assembled as will be discussed below to form a
rigid door unit with no gaps at the junctions or seams between the
door components, so that nothing may be inserted into the housing
chamber enclosed by the door, to ensure security of the
machine.
[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, each of the stiles and rails is a formed
sheet metal member having the shape of a channel closed at the
sides and ends, and open at the rear. Each presents a convex shape
to the front to provide a finished door appearance. Each part is
folded to the illustrated shape from a stamped sheet, and joints
where sheet edges meet are welded, ground, and polished to provide
a seamless appearance secure against unauthorized entry.
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the left stile 30 has a set of
upper fastener holes 40 defined on an inwardly-facing panel 42 near
an upper end 44 of the stile. A set of lower fastener holes 46
penetrates the inner face near a lower end 50. A set of
intermediate fastener holes 52 penetrates the inner face at an
intermediate portion between the upper and lower ends. Threaded
nuts (not shown) are attached at the holes 46 and 52 for receiving
screws. The stile includes a stiffener plate 54 attached to an
inner face of an outer side panel 56. The side panels define a
channel having a tapered cross section that tapers to widen or
flare toward the open rear of the stile. The right stile 32 is
essentially the same as the left stile 30, in mirror image, except
that left stile includes a facility for pivotally attaching to the
housing via a hinge, and the right stile includes facility for a
lock adapted to engage the housing for securing the door in a
closed position.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the top rail 34 has a channel
shape formed of sheet metal and finished as the stiles. The top
rail has an upper panel 60, a lower panel 62, a left end panel 64
(shown on the right in the rear view of FIG. 4), a right end panel
66, and a front panel 70. The front panel defines a optional pair
of apertures 72 for mounting audio speakers. The end panels 64, 66
each include several protruding threaded studs 74. The studs are
preferably of the self-clinching style made by various
manufacturers well known in the sheet metal industry. Alternately,
clearance holes could be used and conventional screws could be
inserted in place of the self-clinching studs. The studs are
arranged in a pattern to be received in the respective upper holes
40 of the stiles, and protrude perpendicularly from the end panels
64, 66. The end panels are not necessarily parallel, but can be at
acute angles from the front panel so that they occupy the same
plane as the stile inner panels 42 when assembled. The top rail is
secured to the stiles by engaging threaded nuts to the studs,
accessing the studs through the open rear of the stiles.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the button rail 38 has a front
panel 76, an angled top panel 80, a bottom panel 82, and side
panels 84, 86. The panels are in the shape of a tray having an
opening facing the rear. The top panel defines apertures 90 for
gaming machine buttons to protrude, accessible to a user. The front
panel includes apertures 92 for a currency validator and for
receipt printers. The side panels each define holes that receive
threaded screws 94 on each side that register with holes 52 on the
stiles to attach in the manner noted above with respect to the top
bar, for securing the button bar to the stiles without gaps at the
junctions.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the bottom rail 36 is a
forwardly-open channel having an essentially square cross section.
It includes pivot bosses 96 adjacent to each end, forward of the
channel portion. Screws 98 at each end are inserted from the
interior and positioned to be received in lower holes 46 of the
stiles, with threaded nuts attached to the stile at holes 46 for
securing the bar in place as noted above.
[0016] Returning to FIG. 1, the door 14 defines a rectangular upper
aperture 100 above the button bar and a rectangular lower aperture
102 below the button bar. A video display bezel 104 is received in
the upper aperture, and frames a video display terminal that is
contained in the housing. A belly door 106 occupies the lower
aperture 102, and is pivotally connected to the pivot bosses 96 of
the lower rail to pivot between an open position and the
illustrated closed position, in which the entire lower aperture is
securely enclosed by the belly door. In the closed position, the
lower rail 36 is entirely concealed by the belly door.
[0017] The door is manufactured by forming each of the rails and
stiles by stamping or other sheet metal cutting process, then
folding each blanked sheet into the desired shape. All seams are
welded, ground, and smoothed or polished, so that all visible front
surfaces will have a uniform surface finish. Because the finishing
steps are performed on the elongated smaller modular components,
these steps are made easier, safer, and faster. This compares to
the difficulty of finishing a large, cumbersome unitary door, with
the challenges of polishing interior angles. The lower rail need
not be finely finished after welding, because it will not be
visible to the user. Then, the rails and stiles receive surface
finishing. For the unexposed lower rail, it receives only a
corrosion resistant paint, while the visible rails and stiles are
plated with chrome or other desired metal or fine surface finish.
The finish is generally applied directly to the formed and polished
metal, with some finishes requiring several layers, such as
lacquers or clear coats to protect pigmented paints or plating.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the longest components such as the stile
30 fits within an elongated plating tank 110 having a relatively
shallow depth and relatively narrow width, each significantly less
than the length of the shortest length rail. This allows plating
with relative small quantities of fluid, small surface areas, and
in a wider range of plating facilities than if the door were plated
after conventional assembly. By plating separately before assembly,
each rail may have any of a wide range of different surface
finishes, coatings, and colors. This can provide design and
aesthetic flexibility, as well as cost reduction by limiting the
quantity of more expensive coating materials and processes
employed. For instance, while the bottom rail may have a rough
surface finish and be inexpensively painted, the stiles and top
rails may receive a high-gloss paint or plating, while the button
bar may receive a different finish such as gold plating that
attracts the attention of the user to the controls of the machine,
and which would be cost-prohibitive if applied to the entire door.
An additional benefit is realized when damage to one of the parts
occurs during post finish handling only the damaged part needs to
be replaced and not the entire door assembly.
[0019] After finishing, the rails and stiles are interconnected by
the fasteners, with the fasteners being accessed from the rear of
the door so that no fasteners are accessible from the outside of
the enclosure after assembly. While removable and reusable
fasteners such as the threaded studs, screws, and nuts are
preferred because they permit rework and partial disassembly and
reassembly for service and repair, alternative doors may use
permanent fasteners such as rivets, screws and nuts, adhesives, and
other methods that do not impair the pre-finished surfaces that
will be visible to a user upon completion. After the door is
assembled, the belly door is attached to conceal the bottom
rail.
[0020] By forming and finishing the components before assembly, a
modular system may be employed in which certain components may be
used for different enclosures, such as standardized horizontal
rails used for machines of different heights with different length
stiles. Further, identical components may be stocked in different
surface finishes, manufactured efficiently with large production
volumes. By inventorying the components disassembled, significant
space is saved. In addition, packages shipped to and from a plating
company are significantly more compact, reducing shipping
costs.
[0021] While the above is discussed in terms of preferred and
alternative embodiments, the invention is not intended to be so
limited. For instance, not all door components need to be
fabricated of the same material. The modularity advantages of the
invention may be achieved with elements of different materials,
including plastic, composite, wood, glass, and unlimited other
alternative in addition to or instead of sheet steel.
* * * * *