U.S. patent application number 11/499939 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for gaming cabinet construction and method.
Invention is credited to Brian M. Anderson, Ryan D. McComb.
Application Number | 20070054742 11/499939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37830686 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070054742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McComb; Ryan D. ; et
al. |
March 8, 2007 |
Gaming cabinet construction and method
Abstract
A cabinet for gaming machines and the like includes a rigid
tubular metal frame, and a plurality of sheet metal members that
are welded to the frame. The cabinet has a strong and lightweight
construction that is also very durable. The cabinet may be
constructed in a wide range of configurations as required for a
particular application.
Inventors: |
McComb; Ryan D.; (Grand
Rapids, MI) ; Anderson; Brian M.; (Grand Rapids,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRICE HENEVELD COOPER DEWITT & LITTON, LLP
695 KENMOOR, S.E.
P O BOX 2567
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49501
US
|
Family ID: |
37830686 |
Appl. No.: |
11/499939 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60705882 |
Aug 5, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3216 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/046 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming cabinet, comprising: a structural frame including a
plurality of metal tubes including opposed side frame portions
forming perimeters of the opposite sides of the gaming cabinet, the
plurality of metal tubes including at least a pair of horizontally
spaced-apart generally upright rear tubes, a pair of generally
horizontal upper tubes extending forwardly from upper end portions
of the upper tubes, and upper front tubes extending downwardly and
forwardly from end portions of the upper tubes, intermediate
generally horizontal tubes extending forwardly from lower end
portions of the upper front tubes, and generally upright lower
front tubes extending downwardly from adjacent forward end portions
of the intermediate tubes, the structural frame having a plurality
of structural cross members extending between and interconnecting
the side frame portions; a plurality of sheet metal outer skins
secured to the structural frame to define a primary cabinet
structure having an interior space configured to house gaming
components and at least one enlarged front opening; a door movably
mounted to the primary cabinet structure and moving between a
closed position wherein the door closes off the enlarged front
opening in the primary cabinet structure, and an open position
permitting access to the interior space.
2. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: at least some of the
metal tubes are welded together.
3. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the
sheet metal outer skins is welded to the structural frame.
4. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the
metal skins is removably secured to the structural frame with
mechanical fasteners.
5. The gaming cabinet of claim 4, wherein: the mechanical fasteners
comprise threaded fasteners.
6. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: the door includes an
enlarged opening through an upper portion of the door, and a sheet
of light-transmitting material extending across at least a
substantial portion of the enlarged opening.
7. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: the metal tubes have a
generally quadrilateral cross-sectional shape.
8. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, wherein: the metal tubes are
welded together, and the sheet metal outer skins are welded to the
structural frame.
9. The gaming cabinet of claim 1, including: upright intermediate
front tubes extending downwardly from forward ends of the
intermediate horizontal tubes; angled front tubes extending between
and interconnecting upper ends of the lower front tubes and lower
ends of the intermediate front tubes to thereby form a
forwardly-projecting keypad area below the enlarged front opening.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/705,882, filed Aug. 5, 2005, the entire contents
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various gaming machines for wager type games have been
developed. Such games commonly include a cabinet that houses the
various components of the game. One type of game includes a
plurality of reels that spin, and the player wins a jackpot if the
reels stop at particular positions. Other games include a display
screen such as a CRT or LCD flat display. The display screen is
operably connected to a controller that is programmed to provide
the desired game play. In addition to these electrical, mechanical,
and electromechanical components, such cabinets may also house
bill/coin/token collectors and dispensers, power supply units,
cooling fans, and electrical components for connecting the game to
an electronic network that may include other gaming machines. The
housing may also provide for support and housing of various lights
and other displays that contribute to the visual appeal of the
gaming machine.
[0003] Known game cabinets are commonly made of wood sheeting to
provide the required structural support for the various components.
Because the components such as the coin collector, electronic
control, display screen and reel units can be quite heavy, the
cabinet may be made from relatively thick sheets of wood to provide
the necessary strength. Also, security is a factor in construction
of gaming cabinets. The cabinet must securely close off the gaming
machine and be strong enough to prevent break-in/theft. The cabinet
must also prevent unauthorized entry and tampering of the internal
game components by those attempting to alter the game play.
However, such wood cabinets are quite heavy, and the wood may
become damaged or otherwise worn over a period of time, thereby
degrading the appearance of the gaming machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine cabinet
according to one aspect of the present invention;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 from a
different angle;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame for a gaming cabinet
according to one aspect of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 3 from a
different angle;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the gaming cabinet of
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the gaming cabinet of
FIG. 5;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the gaming cabinet of FIG. 5;
[0011] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a frame for a gaming cabinet
according to another aspect of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the cabinet frame of
FIG. 8;
[0013] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a gaming cabinet
utilizing the frame shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; and
[0014] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a gaming machine that
includes the cabinet and frame of FIGS. 8-10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper,"
"lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention
as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the
invention may assume various alternative orientations and step
sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary.
[0016] It is also to be understood that the specific devices and
processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the
following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the
inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific
dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the
embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,
unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
[0017] The present application is related to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/073,957, filed on Mar. 7, 2005, entitled
DUAL HINGE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT, the entire contents of which is
incorporated by reference.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a gaming cabinet 1
according to one aspect of the present invention includes
vertically extending sides 2, and a horizontally extending upper
side 3. The sides 2 include a Vertical rear edge 4, and angled
upper front edges 5. An upper door member 6 closes off an enlarged
upper opening 7 in cabinet 1. The upper door member 6 may be of a
construction as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/073,957, the entire contents of which are incorporated by
reference and may include a bezel or other mounting arrangement for
supporting a variety of game components, such as a
light-transmitting screen or the like. A lower door member 8
extends across horizontal, forwardly-projecting portions 9. The
lower door member 8 is configured to support a variety of game
control features such as push buttons and the like as described in
the above-identified U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/073,957.
Vertically extending lower front edges 10 define a lower opening 11
therebetween. The lower opening 11 may be closed off with a door
(not shown) having a coin collector and/or other gaming components
attached thereto.
[0019] With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the gaming cabinet
1 according to one aspect of the present invention includes a rigid
internal frame structure 15 that comprises a plurality of tubular
steel frame members 16 that are welded together. The ends 17 of
frame members 16 may be cut to form a mitered joint 18. Also, a
horizontal tubular member 16a has an end 17a that abuts an end 17b
of a rear vertical frame member 16b to form a joint 19. The joints
18 and 19 are preferably welded to provide a very strong and
durable frame structure. During construction, the frame members 16
may be cut to the proper size, and placed in a fixture (not shown)
to hold the tubular steel frame components in the proper position.
The joints 18 and 19 are then welded, and the fixture securely
holds the frame structure 15 to minimize warping that would
otherwise result from the welding operation. In the illustrated
example, the tubular members 16 are steel, and have a square
cross-sectional shape with an outer dimension of 0.75
inches.times.0.75 inches with a wall thickness of 0.060 inches.
However, tubular members of other materials, cross-sectional shapes
and sizes may also be utilized. For example, angle irons or other
elongated structural members having non-tubular cross-sectional
shapes may also be utilized to form a frame structure 15 according
to other aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, alternate
construction techniques such as threaded fasteners or other
mechanical fasteners may be utilized to interconnect frame members
16 instead of welding.
[0020] The frame 15 may include one or more cross members 16c
forming a support for a shelf that supports game components and the
like inside cabinet 1. As described in detail in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/073,957, an upper horizontal frame member
16d provides for mounting of hinges to support the doors 6 and 8.
The cross member 16d has a U-shaped cross section. A plurality of
brackets 20 may be secured to the frame members 16 by welding, or
by conventional threaded fasteners or the like.
[0021] With reference back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sides 2 of the
cabinet comprise thin sheets of steel or other metal 22 that are
welded to the frame members 16. Similarly, the upper side 3
comprises a thin sheet of steel 23 that is also welded to the frame
members 16. In the illustrated example, sheets 22 are 16 gauge
steel (0.060 thick), and sheet 23 is slightly thicker for more
strength. The sheets of metal 22 and 23 are preferably spot welded
to the frame 15 at a plurality of locations. The sheet metal is
relatively thin, and therefore does not substantially contribute to
the total weight of the cabinet. Also, the sheet metal 22 and 23
substantially stiffens the frame 15 by providing sheer stiffness.
When assembled, one or more sheets of material 24 may be detachably
secured to the frame 15 via threaded fasteners 25 or the like to
close off the back side of cabinet 1.
[0022] In the illustrated example, the forward portions of tubes 9
form a forwardly-projecting keypad area that supports door 8. Door
8 may include a plurality of push buttons or the like (not shown)
providing for input/control by an individual using the gaming
machine. The illustrated version of a gaming machine is a sit-down
type machine, but the gaming machine cabinet may also be configured
for stand-up type games. In general, sit-down gaming machines
include relatively small front access doors that cover openings
above and below the keyboard area, as well as the top of the
keyboard area, rather than a single large door covering the entire
front of a cabinet as generally used for stand-up type gaming
machines.
[0023] The combination of a rigid tubular frame 15 and sheet metal
outer panels that are welded to the frame provides a very
lightweight, yet rigid and very strong structure. Although the
cabinet 1 is very secure, in contrast to wood-based cabinets, the
design can be quickly and easily modified to accommodate new and/or
different games. This lightweight rigid construction of cabinet 1
thereby provides a strong and durable cabinet for gaming machines
and the like. The strength and rigidity of the cabinet provide
support for mounting internal game components that may be quite
heavy, and also provides for mounting of doors and the like. The
doors may have a variety of components mounted thereto, and the
doors may be quite heavy as a result. The hinges and/or other
mounting components may be welded or otherwise secured to the frame
structure 15, such that the forces generated by the doors or other
components are transmitted into the frame 15. In general, gaming
cabinets made from sheets of wood according to prior known
construction techniques may require use of relatively thick sheets
of wood to provide adequate strength in areas having localized high
loads due to, for example, hinges used to mount doors. Thus, a
large thick sheet of material may have been used to form a side of
a cabinet, even though only a small portion of the sheet was
subject to loads requiring a thicker sheet.
[0024] With further reference to FIGS. 8-10, a gaming cabinet frame
30 according to another aspect of the present invention includes a
plurality of metal tubes 31 that are welded together to form frame
30. Frame 30 includes upright lower tubes 32, and angled lower
tubes 33 that extend upwardly and connect to upright tubes 34.
Frame 30 further includes angled tubes 35 extending between upright
tubes 34 and horizontal tubes 36. Upright front tubes 37 extend
upwardly from the forward ends of tubes 36, and connect to angled
tubes 38 which, in turn, connect to angled tubes 39, and tubes 39
connect to upright tubes 40. Metal reinforcing strip 41 is
connected to upper ends of tubes 40, and extends downwardly around
tubes 32-40, forming a gently-curved concave upper portion 42, a
convex forward edge portion 43, a concave lower portion 44, and a
convex bottom edge 45. The metal reinforcing strip 41 may be a flat
strip of metal that is bent to form the curved shape shown in FIGS.
8-10. Alternately, reinforcing strip 41 may be an angled iron-type
member or other suitable reinforcing strip that can be formed into
the curved shapes illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. A plurality of metal
skins 46 may be welded to the frame 30 to form gaming cabinet 50 as
shown in FIG. 11 having curved forward surfaces 51 and 52. Game 50
may include a jackpot display feature 53 and various electrical
and/or mechanical internal components 54. It will be readily
apparent that cabinet 1 may also include these features or other
gaming features and components that are well known to those skilled
in the art. It will be appreciated that the design of the gaming
cabinet may be readily modified to provide a variety of shapes.
Also, the tubular frame and steel outer skin construction of the
gaming cabinet of the present invention may take on shapes that are
difficult or impossible to form utilizing traditional wood-based
construction.
[0025] It will be understood that cabinet 1, including the frame
and sheet metal members, may be galvanized to resist corrosion, or
otherwise coated to provide protection against corrosion. Also,
although the frame 15 and sheet metal members 22 and 23 are
preferably made of steel according to one aspect of the invention,
a variety of other suitable metal materials such as aluminum may
also be utilized according to other aspects of the present
invention.
[0026] Various gaming machines, cabinets, and components are
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/810,911 and
11/073,957, and in issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,515,959 and 5,544,595.
The entire contents of each of these applications and patents are
incorporated by reference. The various doors, door components,
light-transmitting sheets, display screens, game components, coin
dispensers, bill acceptors, game control/player input devices such
as buttons or the like, may be utilized with the cabinet 1 of the
present application.
[0027] In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated
by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the
invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein.
Such modifications are to be considered as included in the
following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly
state otherwise.
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