Abstract:
A gaming machine cabinet has a cabinet door is pivotaliy connected thereto and movable between a closed and open positions. A cabinet door button panel includes a panel support surface opposite the door&#39;s inner side, a capture structure at a first boundary of a button panel opening, and a blocking structure at a button panel second boundary opposite the first boundary. A button panel base has a first edge received in a button panel frame capture structure, and second edge received on the panel support surface. A locking flange with a locking projection extends from the button panel base lower side, the locking projection moveable between extended and retracted positions. With the button panel base in an operating position, a locking projection may he placed in the extended position to contact the blocking structure and thereby retain the button panel base in the operating position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/866,159 filed Nov. 16, 2006, and entitled “Button Panel Mount for a Gaming Machine Cabinet.” The entire content of this provisional application is incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to gaming machines used to present results in wagering games. More particularly, the invention relates to a button panel and button panel mounting arrangement for use in gaming machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous different types and styles of gaming machine cabinets have been developed for implementing various types of wagering games. There are stand-alone upright gaming machine cabinets, upright pedestal-mounted cabinets, and slant-top style cabinets for example. Each of these types of gaming machine cabinets are designed to support or enclose a number of components required to implement a given type of game. Gaming machine cabinets generally include some arrangement for supporting a display device that is used to display a result for a play in a game. The display device may include one or more mechanical reels or a video display device for generating images to simulate spinnable reels, player cards, or other elements used in a given game. Various player controls or input devices are also supported by the gaming machine cabinet for allowing the player to make various inputs required to participate in the various games that may be offered at the gaming machine. Various types of physical buttons are commonly used as input devices for a gaming machine. These physical buttons may be actuated by a player to select a wager level for a given play in a game, select active pay lines for reel-type games, select hold cards or cards to be discarded in playing card games, activate information menus, and initiate game plays, for example. 
     Physical buttons for a gaming machine may be mounted directly on the gaming machine cabinet. However, most modern gaming machines locate the various physical buttons on a button panel that is secured in some fashion to the gaming machine cabinet. Such button panels are commonly mounted so as to form a ledge that projects forwardly from a plane of the display device. Also, gaming machine button panels are commonly mounted on a front door of the gaming machine cabinet. The cabinet door may be hinged or otherwise supported on the remainder of the gaming machine cabinet so that it may be readily moved between a closed operating position and an open position in which the interior components of the gaming machine are accessible for maintenance. 
     Gaming machine button panels have been mounted from outside of the gaming machine cabinet using screws or other fasteners. These button panel mounting arrangements may include a bezel or other trim piece to cover the fasteners to improve the appearance of the gaming machine. Gaming machine button panels have also been mounted from the inside of the gaming machine cabinet using screws or other types of fasteners. Prior art button panel mounting arrangements suffer from the fact that tools such as screwdrivers are required in order to remove the fasteners holding the button panel in place. Other types of tools may be required for removing trim pieces prior to removing the button panel fasteners. The small fasteners are easily misplaced during a maintenance operation and replaced in order to reassemble the gaming machine to place it back in service. 
     There remains a need in the gaming industry for a button panel mounting arrangement that allows the button panel to be installed and removed quickly and easily, preferably without requiring tools. Any such button panel mounting arrangement must be robust to withstand the rigors of use and must securely hold the button panel in place to prevent unauthorized access to the interior components of the gaming machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a button panel mounting arrangement that overcomes the above-described problems and others associated with prior button panel mounting arrangements. The invention encompasses a button panel mounting arrangement, a gaming machine incorporating the button panel mounting arrangement, and a method for installing a gaming machine button panel. 
     One preferred gaming machine according to the present invention includes a cabinet defining an interior volume and a front opening. A cabinet door is pivotally connected to the cabinet so as to be pivotable between a closed position covering at least a portion of the front opening and an open position in which an inner side of the door is accessible from outside of the cabinet. A button panel frame defines a button panel opening on the door, and includes a panel support surface facing oppositely to the inner side of the door, a capture structure at a first boundary of the button panel opening, and a blocking structure located at a second boundary of the button panel opening opposite to the first boundary. This preferred form of gaming machine also includes a button panel base having an upper side and a lower side, and opposing first and second edges. The button panel base is sized so that when the first edge is received in the capture structure of the button panel frame the second edge may be received on the panel support surface at the second boundary of the button panel opening. A locking flange extends from the lower side of the button panel base and has at least one locking projection mounted thereon. Each locking projection is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. With this structure, when the button panel base is in an operating position in which the first edge of the button panel base is received in the capture structure of the button panel frame and the second edge of the button panel base is received on the panel support surface at the second boundary of the button panel opening, at least one of the locking projections may be placed in the extended position to contact the blocking structure and thereby retain the button panel base in the operating position. 
     One preferred method of installing a button panel in a gaming machine includes positioning the button panel base above the button panel frame on the door while the door is in the open position. This preferred method then includes positioning a first edge of the button panel base in the capture structure on the first boundary of the frame opening. With the first edge of the button panel base positioned in the capture structure, a second edge of the button panel base is rotated about the first edge of the button panel base held in the capture structure until the second edge of the button panel base contacts the support surface. The locking projection located beneath the button panel base is then placed in the extended position to engage the blocking structure associated with the button panel frame. This engagement between the locking projection and the blocking structure prevents the button panel base from being removed from the support surface of the button panel frame. 
     These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gaming machine in which a button panel embodying the principles of the present invention is mounted. 
         FIG. 2  is a view in perspective of a button panel embodying the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the button panel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation of the button panel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a section view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view in perspective of the arm rest portion of the gaming machine shown in  FIG. 1 , but with the button panel removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial section view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a gaming machine  100  includes a cabinet  101  which holds a display device  102  for displaying results in various games of chance or other games. In this particular example gaming machine  100 , display device  102  includes a set of mechanical spinnable reels  103  mounted within a volume defined by cabinet  101  behind a viewing panel  107 . Viewing panel  107  defines a plane of display device  102 . Other forms of gaming machines within the scope of the invention may include a video monitor for displaying game results. Such a video monitor would replace display device  102  and the outer surface of the video monitor would represent the plane of the display device in that case. Gaming machine  100  also includes a set of mechanical buttons or other input devices  104  mounted on a button panel  105 . Button panel  100  together with an armrest  106  form a ledge that extends forwardly from the plane of display device  102 . The structure making up armrest  106  forms a frame for button panel  105  as will be described further below. 
     Button panel  105  and armrest  106  are mounted on a main door  108  of gaming machine  100 . This main door  108  is hinged on gaming machine cabinet  101  so as to open upwardly in the direction shown by arrow  110  by pivoting about a pivot axis  111 . It should be noted here that any terms indicating relative position used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims such as “upper,” “upwardly,” “lower,” “bottom,” for example are used with reference to the position of gaming machine  100  and button panel  105  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows main door  108  in its closed position in which it covers a portion of a front opening of cabinet  101 . One lateral border of the cabinet opening is shown generally at line  113 . In the open position of main door  108 , with the door pivoted upwardly about pivot axis  111 , it will be appreciated that the front opening of cabinet  101  is exposed and that the inner side of the main door is accessible from outside of the cabinet. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other arrangements for a gaming machine, the main door such as door  108  may be hinged at the side to open to the left or right rather than open upwardly. Also, button panel  105  and armrest  106  may alternatively be mounted on a lower door of the gaming machine such as door  112  which may be hinged to cabinet  101  to open downwardly or to the left or right. It is also possible that armrest  106  and button panel  105  may not be mounted on a door of the gaming machine. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of gaming machine door or mechanism that allows the door to be moved between the open and closed position. A button panel mounting arrangement according to the invention may be mounted on any portion of the gaming machine having an inner side that is accessible from the outside of the gaming machine when the gaming machine is open for servicing. 
       FIGS. 2 through 4  show button panel  105  removed from gaming machine  100 . As shown in these figures, button panel  105  includes a base  201  which comprises a thin sheet of material such as steel, rigid plastic, or other suitable rigid material. The top surface (upper side)  202  of button panel base  201  may be chromed or include some other decorative coating. Button panel base  201  includes openings for receiving buttons  104 . As shown best in  FIG. 4 , buttons  104  are each associated with a respective electrical component  204  which resides below button panel base  201 . 
       FIGS. 2 through 4  also show that button panel  105  includes a locking flange  205  which extends downwardly from a bottom surface (lower side)  207  of button panel base  201 . In the illustrated form of the invention, locking flange  205  comprises a rigid sheet of material that extends generally perpendicularly to the plane of button panel base  201 . According to the present invention, locking flange  205  supports two laterally spaced apart locking projections  206  which extend from one side of locking flange  205 . Each locking projection  206  is movable along an axis extending perpendicularly to the plane of locking flange  205 . In particular, each locking projection  206  is preferably biased by a spring or other suitable biasing device in the direction shown by arrow  208  in  FIG. 2 . Each locking projection  206  is retractable from the extended position shown in  FIG. 2  in the direction opposite to arrow  208 . Retracting the locking projections  206  from their extended position shown in  FIG. 2  allows button panel  105  to be released from its installed operating position as will be described further below. 
     The section view of  FIG. 5  shows button panel base  201 , locking flange  205 , and one of the locking projections  206 . A button  104  and its corresponding electrical component  204  are also visible in the section view of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  also shows that locking flange  205  includes an angle portion  501  which allows the locking flange to be connected to base  201 . The section view of  FIG. 5  also shows a housing  502  and a knob  504  associated with the one locking projection  206  that is visible in this view. Housing  502  is fixed to locking flange  205  in a suitable fashion and, in this preferred form of the invention, houses a biasing device (not shown) such as a suitable spring to bias both locking projection  206  and knob  504  to the left in the figure in the direction of arrow  505 . Knob  504 , which is connected to or integrally formed with the material making up locking projection  206 , may be moved to the right in the orientation of  FIG. 5  against the force of the biasing device associated with housing  502  to retract the locking projection  206 . Releasing knob  504  allows the biasing device to again move both the knob  504  and locking projection  206  to the position shown in  FIG. 5 . It will be noted that a similar arrangement of housing  502  and  504  is associated with the other locking projection  206  which is not visible in the section view of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a lower portion of gaming machine  100  with button panel  105  removed from armrest  106 . Armrest  106  in this embodiment represents or includes a button panel frame defining a central opening (button panel opening)  601  having a peripheral recess  603  for receiving button panel  105 . Recess  603  defines a support ledge (panel support surface)  604  and a support side  605 . In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , recess  603  extends around the entire periphery of opening  601 . Other forms of the invention may be configured with simply a support ledge  604  extending slightly into the area of the button panel receiving opening  601 . Also, neither the recess nor the support ledge need be continuous around the entire periphery of opening  601 . Preferred forms of the invention include recess  603  or at least a projecting support ledge (panel support surface) at least in some locations spaced apart along a front edge (front boundary)  608  of armrest  106 . Recess  603  or at least an intermittent projecting support ledge is also included at least along portions of a back edge (back boundary)  609  of opening  601 . Also, a capture structure will extend slightly over the support ledge along back edge  609  of opening  601  as will be described in connection with  FIG. 7 . It should be noted that support ledge  604  shown in  FIG. 6  faces upwardly. Thus the surface defining support ledge  604  faces in a direction opposite to the inner surface of main door  108  in the area of armrest  106 . In this sense the “inner surface” of main door  108  comprises the surface facing the interior of cabinet  101 . This inner surface is on the side of main door  108  opposite to the outer surface visible in the exterior gaming machine views shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . 
     The section view of  FIG. 7  shows button panel  105  in an installed (operating) position in armrest  106 . In this position, button panel base  201  rests in recess  603  being supported in the illustrated horizontal plane by support ledge  604 , and being supported laterally by support sides  605 . It will be noted from  FIG. 7  that button panel base  201  is sized to fit snugly in recess  603 , that is, with minimal clearance between support sides  605  and the edges of the button panel base.  FIG. 7  also shows a capture structure  701  which extends slightly over the back edge of base  201  in the installed position, preferably along the entire back edge  609  of opening  601 . A blocking structure  702  is shown in  FIG. 7  connected to armrest  106  near the front edge of button panel base  201 . In this installed position, locking flange  205  positions the extended locking projection  206  such that the lower most edge of blocking structure  702  is adjacent to the uppermost surface of locking projection  206 . With the locking projection  206  in the extended position shown in  FIG. 7 , interference between the locking projection and blocking structure  702  prevents the front edge of button panel base  201  from being raised. Also, capture structure  701  prevents the back edge of button panel base  201  from being raised from the installed position. 
     In order to remove button panel  105  from the installed position shown in  FIG. 7 , the knob  504  associated with each locking projection  206  must be pulled to the right in the orientation of the figure to retract the respective locking projection until its distal end clears blocking structure  702 . With the locking projections  206  no longer caught on blocking structure  702 , the front edge of button panel base  201  may be raised upwardly leaving the opposing back edge of the button panel in place at the back edge  609  of opening  601  in armrest  106 . Once the front edge of button panel base  201  is raised sufficiently so that locking flange  205  clears the front material making up armrest  106 , the button panel base may be slid to the left in the orientation of the figure to remove the back edge of button panel base  201  from the slot formed by support ledge  604 , support side  605 , and capture structure  701 . In order to accommodate raising the front edge of button panel base  201  as described above to remove the button panel from the installed position, there may be a slight clearance between capture structure  701  and the captured edge of button panel base  201  at the front of the capture structure, that is, the end of the capture structure to the left in the orientation of  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, capture structure  701  may be formed from a somewhat flexible and resilient material that may be deflected upwardly as the front edge of base  201  is raised, and then return to its unstressed position once base  201  is fully removed from opening  601 . 
     In order to place button panel  105  in the installed position shown in  FIG. 7 , the procedure for removing the button panel described in the previous paragraph is reversed. That is, button panel base  201  is first positioned above button panel opening  601  and angled so that the back edge of the button panel base is somewhat lower than the front edge of the button panel base. From this position the back edge of button panel base  201  is slid into the slot formed by support ledge  604 , support side  605 , and capture structure  701  at the back edge  609  of armrest  106 . The front edge of button panel base  201  may then be pivoted downwardly about an axis of rotation defined by the back edge of the button panel base to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . It may be necessary to pull each knob  504  and respective locking projection  206  to the right in the orientation of  FIG. 5  in order to clear blocking structure  702  as the front edge of button panel base  201  is lowered into place. Once the front edge of base  201  is lowered onto the support ledge  604  at the front edge  608  of armrest  106 , each knob  504  may be released to allow locking projections  206  to move to the position shown in  FIG. 7  and lock button panel  105  in place. Alternatively to manually moving each locking projection to the retracted position in order to lower the front edge of base  201  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the top surface of blocking member  702  or the bottom distal surface of each locking projection  206  may be configured with a suitable sloping surface to cause the respective locking projection  206  to retract as the front edge of button panel base  201  is being lowered into position. 
     It should be noted that the arrangement for mounting a button panel in a gaming machine cabinet according to the present invention encompasses a number of variations on the exemplary preferred arrangement shown in the above-described drawings. For example, although button panel  105  is shown received in a button panel frame which is part of an armrest structure, a button panel according to the present invention may be received in any button panel frame that provides a button panel opening, a panel support surface such as support ledge  604 , a capture structure for capturing one edge of the button panel base  201 , and a blocking structure for cooperating with the locking projection(s)  206  to selectively retain the opposite edge of the button panel base. In some forms of the invention, the front edge of the area for receiving the button panel may be associated with material forming an armrest and the back edge of the area for receiving the button panel may be part of the gaming cabinet door and not part of the material making up the armrest. Also, in other variations of the present invention, the locking flange may be oriented at the back edge of the button panel base or at a lateral side of the base. In these configurations, a blocking structure will be positioned accordingly to provide the function described above in relation to blocking structure  702 , and the slot such as that formed by support ledge  604 , support side  605 , and capture structure  701  will be located at the edge of the button panel receiving opening opposite to the blocking structure. Also, some forms of the present invention may not include a separate blocking structure  702 , but may include a structure providing the function of the blocking structure  702  as part of the structure forming the button panel receiving recess. Similarly, a locking flange such as flange  205  may be integrally formed with the material making up button panel base  201 . 
     Another variation on the form of the invention shown in the present figures relates to the function of locking projections  206 . Although the illustrated locking projections  206  are described above as being biased to the extended position, a biasing force is not necessary to the present invention. Rather, locking projections  206  may be screwed or otherwise moved in any fashion from the extended position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the extended position. Another variation within the scope of the invention relates to the number of locking projections and the coordination of multiple locking projections. Although preferred forms of the invention include two laterally spaced apart locking projections in order to securely retain the front edge of button panel  105  in place, a single locking projection may be used. Where multiple locking projections are used, one variation on the structure shown in the present figures additionally includes a connector that connects the knobs  504 . Connecting the knobs with a suitable bar or other member allows both locking projections to be retracted simultaneously using one hand. 
     As used herein the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be considered exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised September 2007), Section 2111.03. 
     Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term). 
     The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.