Patent Abstract:
A removable player station and locking mechanism. In one implementation, a removable player station allows quick and secure replacement, swapping, and upgrade of a modular player station component for electronic games. In one context, an electronic game table may employ multiple of the removable player stations, each secured with a locking mechanism and a common or a unique lock. In one implementation of a latching mechanism, a pivotable cradle attaches to the electronic game or game table and seats the removable player station through a pivoting motion that also brings the cradle into a locking position. When the pivotable cradle is opened from the locking position, the cradle lifts the removable player station from the game or tabletop for easy manual removal. The accessible part of the locking mechanism may be located under an electronic game tabletop away from view of the players.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many game consoles and electronic game tables incorporate a player station at which the player sits or stands. The player station typically includes a video display, which may be an interactive touch screen display. Game controls, audio speakers, selection buttons, card readers, and other control devices, and user interface devices may also form part of the player station. 
         [0002]    Whether a game console or game table has one or many player stations, the player stations are usually assembled as an integral part of the game device. From the manufacturer, the game or table may be shipped with the player stations in place, sometimes requiring a large and heavy shipping crate in which the more sensitive components of the player stations are not especially guarded from handling and shock forces. 
         [0003]    Removal, replacement, and upgrade of a player station usually requires the same skill and labor intensity that dismantling any other integral part of a game machine or game table would require. What is needed is a way to quickly remove and reconnect a player station as a unit, for rapid testing, replacement, cleaning, swapping, and upgrading. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A removable player station and locking mechanism. In one implementation, a removable player station allows quick and secure replacement, swapping, and upgrade of a modular player station component for electronic games. In one context, an electronic game table may employ multiple of the removable player stations, each secured with a locking mechanism and a common or a unique lock. In one implementation of a latching mechanism, a pivotable cradle attaches to the electronic game or game table and seats the removable player station through a pivoting motion that also brings the cradle into a locking position. When the pivotable cradle is opened from the locking position, the cradle lifts the removable player station from the game or tabletop for easy manual removal. The accessible part of the locking mechanism may be located under an electronic game tabletop away from view of the players. 
         [0005]    This summary section is not intended to give a full description of removable player stations and locking mechanisms for electronic games, or to provide a list of features and elements. A detailed description of example embodiments follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example electronic game table that includes removable player stations. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example removable player station. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an example pivoting latch. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an example pivoting cradle with multiple latches and locking capability. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an example removable player station and an example pivoting latch in a position for receiving or releasing the removable player station. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an example removable player station and an example pivoting cradle in a position for receiving or releasing the removable player station. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example removable player station and latching mechanism, showing transition from a first position of the latching mechanism for receiving the removable player station to a second position for seating and locking the removable player station. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the bottom of the example electronic game table of  FIG. 1 , showing accessible locking parts of multiple latching mechanisms for securing multiple removable player stations. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective diagram of an example removable player station that includes computing device components, showing communication ports and a power connection. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Overview 
         [0016]    This disclosure describes removable player stations and associated locking mechanisms for electronic games. As shown in  FIG. 1 , various electronic games, such as an electronic game table  100 , e.g., for gambling, may have one or more removable player stations  102  consisting of at least a video display. The video display may be a pure display, or may include touch screen interactive capability. Each removable player station  102  may also include an audio interface, additional game controllers and user interfaces, and other accessories, such as card readers, money processors, and so forth. 
         [0017]    In one implementation, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an example removable player station  102  consists of a module that can be quickly secured to or unsecured from electronic game hardware, such as the example electronic game table  100 . For example, the electronic game table  100  may have openings in its tabletop fitted to accept the removable players stations  102  and as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , a latch  300  or latching mechanism  400  that secures each removable player station  102  to the game or electronic game table  100  with very little effort and cable hook-up. In one implementation, the latching mechanism  400  is also referred to herein as a cradle  400 . 
         [0018]    In one implementation, returning to  FIG. 1 , each opening or player position at the example electronic game table  100  has a respective associated latching mechanism  400  that receives the removable player station  102  and allows a human operator to quickly secure the removable player station  102  to the electronic game table  100 , e.g., by moving a lever, or pivoting a carriage or cradle. Further, the latching mechanism  400  may include a lock for securing the removable player station to the tabletop of the electronic game table  100 . The lock and the lever parts of the latching mechanism  400  may be located underneath a game tabletop, away from view of the players. 
         [0019]    The removable player station  102  and associated latch  300  and latching mechanisms  400  provide many benefits. Spare removable player station modules  102  may be stocked by a gambling establishment so that faulty player station modules  102  in an electronic game may be quickly replaced. Player stations  102  that become dirty may be swapped out for cleaning and maintenance. The ability to rapidly replace the removable player station modules  102  keeps the electronic game up and running. 
         [0020]    When shipping a large electronic game or game table  100 , the removable player station modules  102  and the quick-release latching mechanisms  400  enable the shipment to be broken down into smaller and lighter pieces that may afford better protection of sensitive components, and then assembled quickly and with minimal effort at the destination. 
         [0021]    The removable player stations  102  also enable a game owner or the manufacturer to upgrade the player stations  102 , without entailing skilled labor or a great deal of labor-hours to swap modules  102 . Likewise, the removable player stations  102  allow an electronic game purchaser to acquire the game at low cost with low-end removable player stations  102 , and effortlessly upgrade to better removable player stations  102  at a later date (e.g., higher resolution video, better audio, more sophisticated game controllers). 
         [0022]    Example Electronic Game Table System 
         [0023]    As introduced above,  FIG. 1  shows an example electronic game table  100  that includes removable player stations  102 . In the tabletop of the example electronic game table  100 , each player position has an opening fitted to accept a removable player station  102 . In the shown example, the electronic game table  100  has eight player positions with eight corresponding removable player stations  102 . Thus, the electronic game table  100  also has eight separate latching mechanisms  400 , one for each of the removable player stations  102 . 
         [0024]    The latching mechanism  400  associated with each opening in the tabletop removably secures the removable player station  102  to the electronic game table  100 . 
         [0025]    Example Removable Player Station Module 
         [0026]    As introduced above,  FIG. 2  shows an example removable player station module  102 . The removable player station module  102  may have a cosmetic frame  202  that seats flush with the tabletop. Underneath tabletop surface level, the removable player station module  102  has a housing  204  that may contain electronics for the video display or other readout. When the removable player station module  102  constitutes all or part of a computer, the housing  204  may contain computing device components, such as a computing device processor, a computing device memory, or a computing device data storage medium. The housing  204  may also include electronics for additional game controllers and user interfaces, audio speakers, touch screen interface, card readers, and so forth. 
         [0027]    In one implementation, the housing  204  is flanked by a carriage piece  206  on each side of the housing  204 . Between each carriage piece  206  and the housing  204 , a latch receiving member  208  (“receiving member”  208 ) is located for engaging the latch  300 , e.g., of the latching mechanism  400 . Depending upon implementation, the receiving member  208  may pivotably engage the latch  300 . The latch  300  or latching mechanism  400  is movable to engage the receiving member  208  and secure the removable player station  102  to the electronic game table  100 . 
         [0028]    Example Latching and Locking Mechanisms 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the example latch  300  introduced above. In one implementation, each of one or more latches  300  employed to engage and secure the removable player station  102  is a rigid member that has an opening  302  to fit around the receiving member  208  of the removable player station  102 . When the latch  300  is implemented as a pivoting member, a pivot point  304  fixes the latch  300  to the housing  204  and allows rotation around the pivot point  304 . The latch  300  may have a side or end that serves as a lever  306 , enabling a human operator to manually pivot the latch  300  to seat and secure the removable player station  102 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows the example pivoting cradle  400  introduced above. The shown cradle  400  may have locking capability and multiple latches  300 . In one implementation, the cradle  400  is long enough so that the latches  300  fit on either side of the removable player station  102 . However, in another implementation, the cradle has one or more latches  300  that engage the removable player station  102  through an opening in the housing  204  of the removable player station  102 . Though such an opening, the latch  300  engages an internal receiving member  208 . 
         [0031]    Typically, the removable player station  102  has multiple receiving members  208  on more than one side of the housing  204  to secure the housing  204  to the electronic game table  100  at multiple points on the housing  204   
         [0032]    When a cradle  400  with multiple latches  300  is used, the cradle  400  is attached to the electronic game table  100  at multiple pivot points  304  providing an axis of rotation  402  about which the cradle  400  can be pivoted. Likewise, the lever  306  part of the cradle  400  can be manually gripped at multiple points along the length of the cradle  400 . 
         [0033]    The cradle  400  may also include a lock, or depending on implementation, at least a lock opening  404  for accepting a lock to secure the cradle  400  to the electronic game table  100  in a seated, closed, locked position. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows the removable player station  102  being engaged by a latch  300  of the cradle  400 . As shown, the lever  306  of the latch  300  or cradle  400  is in an open or unsecured position for either receiving or releasing the removable player station  102 . 
         [0035]    The removable player station  102  may include a top piece, such as a cosmetic frame  202  that constitutes the visible edge of the removable player station  102  that a player sees above the top surface  504  of a tabletop  506  of the electronic game table  100 . The visible and accessible part of the latch  300 , cradle  400 , or other latching mechanism may be located underneath the bottom surface  508  of the tabletop  506 , away from view of the players. 
         [0036]    When the cradle  400  pivots to a locking position, the latch(es)  300  of the cradle  400  may be leveraged to pull, via the housing  204 , the cosmetic frame  202  of the removable player station  102  into firm contact with the top surface  504  of the tabletop  506 . 
         [0037]    In an electronic game table  100  for multiple players, each player position at the table  100  has a respective opening for the removable player station  102  at that position. Each latch  300  or cradle  400  includes a pivotable attachment for attaching to the electronic game table  100  within a respective opening in the tabletop  506 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the removable player station  102  and a cradle  400  latching mechanism in open position for receiving or releasing the removable player station  102 . Both latches  300  have engaged respective receiving members  208 . In one implementation, a lock opening  404  allows a lock that is attached to the electronic game table  100  to secure the lever  306  of the cradle  400  when the lever is closed in a seated position. In another implementation, the lock mechanism resides on the cradle  400 , and engages a lock opening, latch plate, fastener, etc., on the electronic game table  100 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows an example removable player station  102  and latching mechanism, in transition from a first position  702  of a latch  300  to a second position  704  of the latch  300 . In the first position  702 , the latch  300  allows the removable player station  102  to be received by or removed from the electronic game table  100 . In the second position,  704 , the latch  300  is seated and enables locking to secure the removable player station  102 . 
         [0040]    The shown latch  300  or cradle  400  pivots to secure the removable player station  102  to the electronic game table  100 . In alternative implementations, alternative latching mechanisms slide, twist, screw, or magnetically capture the housing  204  of the removable player station  204 . A preferred embodiment is the locking quick-release cradle  400  with multiple latches  300  shown in  FIGS. 2-9 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  shows an example underside arrangement of the example electronic game table  100  of  FIG. 1 . Each player position at the table  100  has a corresponding removable player station  102 . In one implementation, on the underside of the table  100 , only the lever  306  and lock/lock opening  404  of each cradle  400  are visible and accessible. The visible and accessible parts of each cradle  400  are hidden from normal view of players at the table. In alternative implementations, the latching mechanism for securing a removable player station  102  to an electronic game table  100  can be accessible from the top of the table  100  or from a side rail of the table. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of an example removable player station  102  that includes computing device components, including communication ports and a power connection. In one implementation, a cable and quick-release plug consolidate two or more connections into a single connector for quick connection or release of the removable player station  102 . For example, a quick release cable with combined plugs may consolidate a power connection and an Ethernet connection; or may consolidate a power connection and a USB connection. 
         [0043]    Conclusion 
         [0044]    Although exemplary systems have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed systems, methods, and structures.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0