US20070054742A1 - Gaming cabinet construction and method - Google Patents

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine cabinet according to one aspect of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet ofFIG. 1 from a different angle;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame for a gaming cabinet according to one aspect of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame ofFIG. 3 from a different angle;
• FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the gaming cabinet ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the gaming cabinet ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a plan view of the gaming cabinet ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a frame for a gaming cabinet according to another aspect of the present invention;
• FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the cabinet frame ofFIG. 8;
• FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a gaming cabinet utilizing the frame shown inFIGS. 8 and 9; and
• FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a gaming machine that includes the cabinet and frame ofFIGS. 8-10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• 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 inFIG. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, agaming cabinet1 according to one aspect of the present invention includes vertically extendingsides2, and a horizontally extendingupper side3. Thesides2 include a Verticalrear edge4, and angledupper front edges5. Anupper door member6 closes off an enlargedupper opening7 incabinet1. Theupper door member6 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. Alower door member8 extends across horizontal, forwardly-projectingportions9. Thelower door member8 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 extendinglower front edges10 define alower opening11 therebetween. Thelower opening11 may be closed off with a door (not shown) having a coin collector and/or other gaming components attached thereto.
• With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, thegaming cabinet1 according to one aspect of the present invention includes a rigidinternal frame structure15 that comprises a plurality of tubularsteel frame members16 that are welded together. Theends17 offrame members16 may be cut to form amitered joint18. Also, a horizontal tubular member16ahas an end17athat abuts an end17bof a rear vertical frame member16bto form ajoint19. Thejoints18 and19 are preferably welded to provide a very strong and durable frame structure. During construction, theframe members16 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. Thejoints18 and19 are then welded, and the fixture securely holds theframe structure15 to minimize warping that would otherwise result from the welding operation. In the illustrated example, thetubular members16 are steel, and have a square cross-sectional shape with an outer dimension of 0.75 inches×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 aframe structure15 according to other aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, alternate construction techniques such as threaded fasteners or other mechanical fasteners may be utilized to interconnectframe members16 instead of welding.
• Theframe15 may include one or more cross members16cforming a support for a shelf that supports game components and the like insidecabinet1. As described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/073,957, an upper horizontal frame member16dprovides for mounting of hinges to support thedoors6 and8. The cross member16dhas a U-shaped cross section. A plurality ofbrackets20 may be secured to theframe members16 by welding, or by conventional threaded fasteners or the like.
• With reference back toFIGS. 1 and 2, thesides2 of the cabinet comprise thin sheets of steel orother metal22 that are welded to theframe members16. Similarly, theupper side3 comprises a thin sheet ofsteel23 that is also welded to theframe members16. In the illustrated example,sheets22 are 16 gauge steel (0.060 thick), andsheet23 is slightly thicker for more strength. The sheets ofmetal22 and23 are preferably spot welded to theframe15 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, thesheet metal22 and23 substantially stiffens theframe15 by providing sheer stiffness. When assembled, one or more sheets ofmaterial24 may be detachably secured to theframe15 via threadedfasteners25 or the like to close off the back side ofcabinet1.
• In the illustrated example, the forward portions oftubes9 form a forwardly-projecting keypad area that supportsdoor8.Door8 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.
• The combination of a rigidtubular frame15 and sheet metal outer panels that are welded to the frame provides a very lightweight, yet rigid and very strong structure. Although thecabinet1 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 ofcabinet1 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 theframe structure15, such that the forces generated by the doors or other components are transmitted into theframe15. 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.
• With further reference toFIGS. 8-10, agaming cabinet frame30 according to another aspect of the present invention includes a plurality ofmetal tubes31 that are welded together to formframe30.Frame30 includes uprightlower tubes32, and angledlower tubes33 that extend upwardly and connect toupright tubes34.Frame30 further includesangled tubes35 extending betweenupright tubes34 andhorizontal tubes36. Uprightfront tubes37 extend upwardly from the forward ends oftubes36, and connect toangled tubes38 which, in turn, connect toangled tubes39, andtubes39 connect toupright tubes40.Metal reinforcing strip41 is connected to upper ends oftubes40, and extends downwardly around tubes32-40, forming a gently-curved concaveupper portion42, a convexforward edge portion43, a concavelower portion44, and aconvex bottom edge45. Themetal reinforcing strip41 may be a flat strip of metal that is bent to form the curved shape shown inFIGS. 8-10. Alternately, reinforcingstrip41 may be an angled iron-type member or other suitable reinforcing strip that can be formed into the curved shapes illustrated inFIGS. 8-10. A plurality ofmetal skins46 may be welded to theframe30 to formgaming cabinet50 as shown inFIG. 11 having curved forward surfaces51 and52.Game50 may include ajackpot display feature53 and various electrical and/or mechanicalinternal components54. It will be readily apparent thatcabinet1 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.
• It will be understood thatcabinet1, including the frame and sheet metal members, may be galvanized to resist corrosion, or otherwise coated to provide protection against corrosion. Also, although theframe15 andsheet metal members22 and23 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.
• 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 thecabinet1 of the present application.
• 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.

Claims (9)

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 ofclaim 1, wherein:

at least some of the metal tubes are welded together.

3. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein:

at least one of the sheet metal outer skins is welded to the structural frame.

4. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein:

at least one of the metal skins is removably secured to the structural frame with mechanical fasteners.

5. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 4, wherein:

the mechanical fasteners comprise threaded fasteners.

6. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 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 ofclaim 1, wherein:

the metal tubes have a generally quadrilateral cross-sectional shape.

8. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein:

the metal tubes are welded together, and the sheet metal outer skins are welded to the structural frame.

9. The gaming cabinet ofclaim 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.

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