Patent ID: 6129355
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A reel assembly for a gaming machine, comprising:a reel structure adapted for rotation about a motor output shaft, said reel structure including a central hub and an annular frame member with a radial spoke extending therebetween; anda drive lever attached to the radial spoke of the reel structure and connected to the output shaft to provide a resilient, radially extending coupling between the output shaft and the reel structure, said drive lever being of sufficient length to allow flexing thereof and storing energy at the start of rotation to cause said reel structure to be suddenly rotated by the restored energy, said lever having a terminal end mounted to said reel structure in a manner that prevents tangential movement of said terminal end relative to said reel structure;whereby the drive lever flexes when the output shaft starts to rotate until the inertia of the reel structure is overcome, whereupon the drive lever returns to its initial shape and causes rotation of the reel structure, thereby reducing the start-up torque and power required to overcome the inertia of the reel structure.