Patent Publication Number: US-6910734-B2

Title: Ergonomic gaming machine

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/678,853, filed Oct. 4, 2000 now abandoned, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference and is related to Method and System For Operating a Gaming Device Offering Non-Gaming Services, filed on Sep. 28, 2001 the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of gaming machines and more specifically to ergonomic gaming machines. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The gaming industry is always looking for new ways to entice users to play its games. Slot machines are a very popular form of gaming. Current slot machines typically only include one game and except only a single monetary unit, such as nickels or quarters. Because many slot machines only include one game, the machines and chairs take up floor space on a game by game basis and are costly for casinos as multiple machines must be purchased for multiple games. Also, current slot machines are uncomfortable to sit at for extended periods of time due to the use of stools that often do not have backs. 
   When gaming, a patron often desires food or drinks. Currently, the patron must get the attention of a cocktail waitress to order food or drinks. This can be bothersome to the patron and it can often take a long period of time to find the waitress. One prior art attempt to solve this need involves a switch with a light on top of the machine to attract the waitress. However, this still takes time for the waitress to spot the light. 
   Also, people like to talk and socialize while gaming, but current arrays of slots do not readily allow for this. 
   Accordingly, a long felt need exists for a gaming machine that overcomes the disadvantages described above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming device that includes a module for holding a gaming device, a human support surface connected to the module, and a transport and positioning device for positioning the user interactive surface in operational contact with the user. The module has a user interactive surface. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming machine that includes a human support surface, a main body portion that includes the human support surface, an arm pivotally connected to said main body portion, and a user interface attached to the arm and pivotal with respect to the human support surface. The user interface is used for gaming. In a preferred embodiment, the arm is in mechanical communication with a counterweight assembly and the user interface is pivotal between a first position and a second position. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming machine that includes a chair having a seat and a back, and a movable user interface associated with the chair. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of gambling. The method includes the steps of sitting on a seat, pivoting a user interface from a first position to a second position, and gambling using the user interface. Preferably, the user interface is attached to an arm and the arm is pivotally connected at an opposite end to the seat and the arm can be pivoted in a generally vertical arc. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming machine layout that includes a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine angled toward one another so that users of each machine can socialize. Each gaming machine includes a chair having a seat and a back, and a movable gaming device associated with the chair. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming machine comprising, a bottom portion, an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, two desks extending from the intermediate portion in opposite directions, two display housings extending upwardly from the intermediate portion, and a tower affixed to one of the sides of the intermediate portion. The tower includes at least two bill acceptors. The intermediate portion houses at least two central processing units, and has opposite sides. The desk includes at least one ticket printer in electrical communication with the one or more processors. The display housings each house a touch screen display in electrical communication with one of the central processing units. 
   A need exists for a gaming machine that has the following advantages, among others, multiple games and multiple monetary units; a comfortable seat; a reduced need for floor space, allowing for more units in the same space; reduced cost; and the ability to order food or drinks using the gaming machine. The above referenced aspects of the present invention address these needs. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seated gaming machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the seated gaming machine of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the seated gaming machine of  FIG. 1  with the swing arm removed and the cushions shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the seated gaming machine of  FIG. 1  with a track mechanism for a user interface, configured with one embodiment of the present invention, shown in phantom. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the seated gaming machine of  FIG. 1  with a portion of the side cut away to show the counterweight assembly. 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the seated gaming machine of  FIG. 1  with the cushions removed. 
       FIG. 7  front elevational view of the seated gaming machine of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the gaming machine of FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational schematic view of the gaming machine of  FIG. 10  showing the interior components of the main body portion. 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational schematic view of the gaming machine of  FIG. 10  showing the interior components of the tower. 
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the present invention provides for a seated gaming machine  10 . The machine includes a seat  12 , a main body portion  14 , swing arm  16  and a display panel/user interface  18 . It will be appreciated that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “front,” “inner,” “up,” and “down” and other positionally descriptive terms used hereinbelow are used merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the Figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the elements described herein is within the scope of the present invention. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the seat  12  and main body portion  14  preferably comprise a lounge-type chair. The type of lounge chair is not a limitation on the present invention. For example, the lounge chair may include cushions (such as seat cushion  20  and back cushion  21 ), as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , or the entire chair may be upholstered with cushioning material under the upholstery  23  (such as leather), or a combination of both as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  7 . However, it will be understood that the seat  12  can be any seat or surface that supports a person (human support surface) known in the art, e.g., a cushioned chair, a non-cushioned chair, a stool, a bed, a dentist&#39;s-type chair, a futon, an exercise bicycle, a treadmill etc. The type of seat is not intended to be a limitation on the broadest aspects of the present invention. 
   The main body portion  14  includes two side portions  22  (each having an arm  22   a ) and a back  24 . In a preferred embodiment, the main body portion  14  includes supports, such as a set of legs or pads intended to contact the floor. A seat support  26  and a back support  27  extend between the two side portions  22  as shown in FIG.  6 . Preferably, the bottom cushion  20  rests on the seat support  26  and the back cushion  21  rests against the back support  27  and on the bottom cushion  20 . The cushions are intended to provide comfort to a user of the machine  10 . It will be understood that different portions of the chair can have cushions thereon. For example, the arms  22   a  or side portions  22  can include cushions or cushioning material. In a preferred embodiment, the entire chair is upholstered. 
   The swing arm  16  is pivotally connected to the main body portion  14  by a joint assembly  28  and can extend through an opening in one of the sides  22 , as shown in FIG.  5 . However, swing arm  16  can also extend out of one of the arms  22   a , as shown in FIG.  1 . The swing arm  16  is preferably pivotal in a vertical arc A (as shown in FIG.  5 ), such that it can be raised out of the way to allow a user to sit on the seat  12 . The out of the way position will be referred to herein as the first position. Once the user is seated, the swing arm  16  is lowered and positioned just above the lap of the user. The gaming position will be referred to herein as the second position. The swing arm  16  is mechanically controlled by pivots and stabilizers to move the swing arm  16  in a predetermined path of travel, having the first and second positions at the ends of this path. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the swing arm  16  includes a counterweight assembly  29  that reduces the effort necessary by a user for pivoting the swing arm  16  from the first position to the second position, and vice versa. Preferably, the counterweight assembly  29  includes cam operated gas shocks as found in automotive applications such as hood struts or hatchback struts. The struts push against a predetermined weight (determined by the gas pressure within the struts) thereby countering the weight of the arm  16  and causing the weight to be almost neutral. The apparent weight of the arm is minimized, thereby requiring very little effort by the user in raising or lowering the swing arm  16 . 
   An example of the counterweight assembly  29  is shown in FIG.  5 . Preferably, the back  24  has a support frame  30  connected thereto, to which the counterweight assembly  29  is anchored. As shown, the arm  16  is pivotally connected to a cam  32  by a bearing or bearings  34  and ultimately to the support frame  30 . The support frame  30  can be a steel angle or the like. The cam  32  is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a strut  36  (preferably a gas strut), which is anchored to a cross brace  38  in the back of the main body portion  14  of the chair. It will be understood that the strut  36  can also be anchored to other components of the main body portion  14 . In  FIG. 5 , the cam  32  and strut  36  are shown in solid lines in the first position (the raised position of the arm  16 ). In this position, the strut  36  is in its fully extended position. In  FIG. 5 , the cam  32  and strut  36  are shown in phantom lines in the second position (the lowered or gaming position of the arm  16 ). In this position, the strut  36  is in its fully compressed position. 
   In another embodiment the swing arm  16  can be pivotal in a horizontal arc. It will be understood that the purpose of the swing arm  16  being pivotal is to move the display panel/user interface  18  out of the way so that a user can sit down. Accordingly, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide any type of user interface (monitor, touch screen display or the like) movable between a first position and a second position. 
   In another embodiment, the display panel/user interface  18  may be mounted on an electronically activated track  52  or may swing out of the arm of the chair similar to an eating tray on an airplane seat. Any transport and positioning device for bringing the display panel/user interface  18  into operational contact with the user is within the scope of the present invention. 
   The display panel/user interface  18  houses at least one touch screen display  18   a  for the user to reach and select from a menu of services. The services include, but are not limited to playing games, ordering food or drinks, and checking out of the casino, as well as other functions as described in titled Method and System For Operating a Gaming Device Offering Non-Gaming Services. The display  18   a  is preferably connected to a computer network. In an alternative embodiment the computer can be housed within the main body portion  14 , thereby forming a stand alone unit. For example, the computer can be housed in space  40 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The display panel/user interface  18  is preferably disposed at the end of swing arm  16 . 
   In an alternative embodiment of the invention the arm  16  and display panel/user interface  18  may be fixed and mounted in a position such that a user can slide by the display panel/user interface  18  to sit in the seat  12 . Also, the arm  16  or display panel/user interface  18  can include inputs  40  for peripherals (such as a printer or the like), a keyboard  42 , a mouse or other pointing device  44  and a ticket printer  111 , as described below. 
   In a preferred embodiment the chair is used for gaming purposes. However, the description herein is only intended to be exemplary and not a limitation on the broadest aspects of the present invention. In other embodiments, the chair can be used for educational purposes (such as in schools), home computing, race/sports books, Internet cafes or other places where Internet access is desirable. 
   As described above, the broad invention is a physical user interface for gaming in which a person is supported on a seat or other surface for supporting a person while gaming via a user interface. The seat  12  does not necessarily have to be attached to the display housing/user interface  18 . For example, the display panel/user interface  18  can be mounted on a wall (either fixedly or pivotally), and the seat  12  can be a separate chair or the like that is adjacent the display panel/user interface  18 . 
     FIGS. 8-9  show a second embodiment of an ergonomic gaming machine  100 . The machine  100  includes a display housing  102 , a desk  104 , an intermediate portion  106 , a bottom portion  108  and a tower  110 . The display housing  102  preferably includes a touch screen display  18   a  similar to the one described above with respect to the first embodiment  10 , a monitor or monitors  18   b ,  18   c  and associated speakers  103 . The intermediate portion  106  extends upwardly from the bottom portion  108  and has the display housing  102  extending upwardly therefrom and the desk  104  extending outwardly from near the top thereof, as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIGS. 10-12  show a third embodiment of the present invention  200 . In this embodiment, the gaming machine  200  includes two units  100   a  and  100   b  similar to machine  100  back to back that share a common tower  110 . The two units  100   a  and  100   b  may be a single component (i.e., share a common housing), or the two may be separate components that are back to back, but are in electrical communication with the same tower  110 . The components of the machines  100 ,  200  will be described below with reference to the figures showing the third embodiment  200 . 
   The desk  104  preferably includes a ticket printer  111  for printing tickets when a user wins. Ticket printers  111  are known in the art. For example, the ticket printer  111  can be a ticket printer manufactured by Seiko Instruments. The ticket printer  111  is in electrical communication with a central processing unit (CPU)  114  (described below), which controls the number of tickets that are to be printed out as a result of a certain action. The bottom portion  108  preferably includes a footrest  112  extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as the desk  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the tower  110  is attached to one side  106   a  of the intermediate portion  106 , the bottom portion  108  and the display housing  102 . 
   In a preferred embodiment the components of the housing of the machine  100  (e.g., the display housing  102 , desk  104 , intermediate portion  106 , bottom portion  108  and tower  110 ) are made of a rigid metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the intermediate portion  106  preferably houses the CPU  114 . Access to the CPU  114  is granted by and an access door  115 . The CPU  114  is in electrical communication with the touch screen display  18   a  and monitors  18   b ,  18   c . The machine  100  (and the CPU  114 ) can be a stand alone unit, or it may be networked with other machines  100 . The CPU  114  can also be operated as multiple processors that perform different functions. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the intermediate portion  106  contains two CPU&#39;s  114   a,    114   b,  one for performing functions related to gaming, and one for performing functions relating to the non-gaming functions, such as ordering food and drinks. Accordingly, as described above, the display housing  102  can also house two separate monitors  18   b ,  18   c  for displaying information related to the individual CPU&#39;s  114   a,    114   b . The display housing  102  can also include a light bulb  117  or bulbs, such as flashing bulbs for indicating when a user has won. The bulb is electrically communicated with the CPU  114 . 
   Preferably the tower  110  is thin and tall. For example, the tower height preferably ranges between about 30 inches and about 66 inches; more preferably between about 36 inches and about 60 inches; and most preferably ranges between about 42 inches and about 54 inches. The tower width preferably ranges between about 4 inches and about 12 inches; more preferably between about 6 inches and about 10 inches; and most preferably is about 8 inches. This, as described below, saves space. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the tower includes most of the electronic components of the machine  100 , such as a bill acceptor  116  (and the associated drop box  118 ), a club card acceptor  120  (many casinos have club cards), a message delivery keypad  122 , a display screen  124  for keypad entries and club card information. All of these components are in electrical communication with the CPU  114 . 
   The tower  110  also preferably includes a shelf  126  on the front thereof and a main door  127  for access to the internal components. The door  127  preferably includes a lock and is hinged to the tower  110 . It will be understood that the doors  115 ,  127  can be any component that blocks access to the interior components when shut. The bill acceptor  116  and club card acceptor  120  can be any type of acceptor known in the art. For example, the bill acceptor  116  can be a bill acceptor manufactured by JCM-American, and the club card acceptor/reader  120  can be a club card reader manufactured by American Magnetics. The display screen  124  is preferably a digital display screen. In alternative embodiments all of these components can be housed in the display housing  102 , an intermediate portion  106  or a bottom portion  108 . In another embodiment the ticket printer can be located on the tower  110 . 
   Gaming machines  100  and  200  require less floor space than prior gaming machines presently in use. Because the machines are coinless and do not require large drop boxes, and because the machines operate electronically and do not require moving mechanical parts, the depth D, D 2  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) of the machines  100  and  200  is less than gaming machines presently in use. Preferably D ranges between about 8 inches and about 18 inches; more preferably D ranges between about 10 inches and about 16 inches; and most preferably D ranges between about 12 inches and about 14 inches. These ranges are doubled for the depth D 2  of machine  200 . 
   The embodiments of the present invention recited herein are intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous modifications to them without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.