Abstract:
A mounting bracket for a slot machine is disclosed herein, where the slot machine is slid onto the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket insures proper alignment of the slot machine onto the platform and secures the slot machine into position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to gaming machines, such as slot machines and, in particular, to a method and structure for mounting a slot machine onto a platform. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A typical slot machine has a height of between 1 and 1.5 meters. Typically, the casino provides a platform for a slot machine to raise the machine up to a convenient level for the average player. The platform is typically wood laminated with a plastic material. This platform typically has a hole to allow electrical cables to extend from the slot machine, into the hollow platform, and to a conduit running through the casino. These platforms typically also have within them a receptacle for coins diverted from the slot machine&#39;s coin hopper when the hopper is full. The diverted coins pass through a coin drainage hole in the bottom of the slot machine that aligns with a coin drainage hole in the platform leading to the receptacle. 
   The slot machines must be securely fastened to the platform. The typical method for mounting a slot machine on the platform is to carefully place the slot machine on the platform, then affix the base of the slot machine to the platform using screws, where the heads of the screws are accessed by the installer reaching into the slot machine. Typically, four screws are needed to prevent the slot machine from tipping and to prevent rotation of the slot machine on the platform. Accessing and tightening the screws are difficult. It is also difficult to position the extremely heavy slot machine accurately on the platform. The same installation process needs to be done when the installed slot machine is replaced with a different slot machine. 
   Accordingly such mounting is difficult, time-consuming, and a distraction to players in the area. 
   SUMMARY 
   A mounting bracket for a slot machine is disclosed herein, where the slot machine is slid onto the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket ensures proper alignment of the slot machine onto the platform and secures the slot machine into position. 
   Since the mounting bracket is light and easy to manipulate, it is very easy to accurately secure the mount to the platform. The position of the mount defines the ultimate position of the slot machine. 
   Since a single mounting bracket can be used with a variety of slot machines, one slot machine can be removed and quickly replaced with another slot machine. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a slot machine being slid into place on a mounting bracket in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top-down view of the mounting bracket. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the affixing of the mounting bracket to the platform. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the slot machine of  FIG. 1  showing the raised tracks that fit within the grooves of the mounting bracket. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of the inside of the slot machine illustrating one technique for securing the slot machine to the bracket. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates how a coin hopper and coin tray are installed in the slot machine after the slot machine is secured to the mounting bracket. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the completed installation of the slot machine on the mounting bracket and the platform. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another type of mounting bracket which uses a flange for slideably receiving the slot machine. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Although the present invention may be used with any type of slot machine, one particular slot machine will be described as an example. 
   In  FIG. 1 , slot machine  10  includes display screens  12  and  14  for displaying the game and any other information. One type of game may be the video display of rotatable reels which stop to display random combinations of symbols, where awards are based upon the combinations of symbols across pay lines. Machine  10  may also be the type that includes motor-driven reels. 
   Buttons  16  control various aspects of the game such as bet, bet max, spin reels, cash out, and any other suitable control. A coin tray  18  receives coins dispensed by a coin hopper upon a win or upon a player cashing out. In some other types of slot machines, coins are not paid out to players but, instead, payment is in the form of crediting a magnetic strip on a plastic card inserted into the machine, crediting a smart card, issuing a paper ticket with a bar code, or any other form of cashless payment. A bill slot  20  receives paper currency, and a coin slot  22  receives coins. A slot  24  may be used for receiving a paper ticket that contains a code for issuing credits to the machine and for dispensing a printed paper ticket. An additional slot  26  may be used for receiving a smart card or a plastic card having a magnetic strip for cashless play. 
   A first lock  28  opens the front door  30  of the machine, and a bottom lock  32  allows an attendant to slide coin tray  18  to the left to gain access to a bill stacker and even pull coin tray out like a drawer to gain access to the coin hopper (see  FIG. 6 ). 
   A platform  36 , typically formed of wood having a laminated plastic surface, raises slot machine  10  to a height convenient for the players. Platform  36  is typically provided with a lockable door to gain access to wiring and a coin receptacle. 
   A mounting bracket  38  is secured to platform  36  by screws and is used for easy mounting of the slot machine to platform  36 , as will be described in detail below. 
     FIG. 2  is a top-down view of mounting bracket  38 . In one embodiment, bracket  38  is approximately the same width and depth as the slot machine  10  for which it is to support. In one embodiment, the bracket dimensions are approximately 0.55×0.36 meters, with a thickness of 1–2 cm. Bracket  38  may be made of a plastic or other suitable material. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of bracket  38  and platform  36  showing how bracket  38  is secured to platform  36 . Bracket  38  includes two grooves  40  and  41  about half the thickness of bracket  38 . A hole  44 , having a diameter of approximately 55 mm, in bracket  38  allows power and data (if any) cables to be routed from within platform  36 , through platform hole  45 , and into slot machine  10 . When the slot machine&#39;s coin hopper is full, a coin drainage hole  46  in bracket  38  allows incoming coins diverted from the coin hopper to be drained through hole  46  and through a corresponding hole  48 , having a diameter of approximately 80 mm, in platform  36 . The coins then drop into a receptacle within the hollow platform  36 . 
   Bracket  38  may be used as a template for placing on platform  36  to show the installer where to drill holes  45  and  48  as well as to indicate where to drill the bracket mounting holes  50 ,  51 ,  52 , and  53  (10 mm) to align with preformed holes  54 ,  55 ,  56  and  57  in bracket  38 . The installer also drills a center hole  60 , aligned with hole  62  in bracket  38 , for a bolt that secures the slot machine to mounting bracket  38  and platform  36 , to be described later. Instead of using bracket  38  as a template, a paper template may be provided. 
   Screws  64 ,  65 ,  66 , and  67  then secure bracket  38  to platform  36 . Since there is easy access to the screws, it is easy for the installer to secure bracket  38  onto platform  36 . 
     FIG. 4  is a bottom view of slot machine  10  showing raised tracks  70  and  72  on the bottom of machine  10  that correspond to grooves  40  and  41 , respectively, in bracket  38 . Tracks  70  and  72  may be metal or plastic strips secured to a flat bottom of machine  10 . A hole  74  for power and data cables aligns with hole  44  in bracket  38 , and a coin drainage hole  76  in the bottom of machine  10  aligns with hole  46  in bracket  38 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , slot machine  10  is slid in the direction of arrow  80  so that its tracks enter the grooves in bracket  38 . Machine  10  is prevented from being slid too far due to groove  41  ending before the back edge of bracket  38 . 
   When machine is in place on bracket  38 , machine  10  is then firmly secured to bracket  38  and platform  36  as shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom portion of slot machine  10  with the coin tray  18  and coin hopper not yet installed. This provides easy access to the bottom plate of machine  10 . A hole  82  is formed in the bottom plate of machine  10  that aligns with hole  62  in bracket  38 . A bolt or screw  84  is then inserted through hole  82  and firmly tightened to secure machine  10  to platform  36 . A power and data cable hole  74  aligns with hole  44  in bracket  38 . The coin drainage hole is obscured in  FIG. 5 . 
   A power cord is then run up through the cable holes  45 ,  44 , and  74  into machine  10  for connection to a suitable AC power connector. If machine  10  is to be connected to a network, data cables are also run from platform  36  into machine  10  through the cable holes. The data cables are connected to a suitable connector in machine  10 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates machine  10  secured to platform  36  with coin hopper  86  and coin tray  18  being installed in machine  10 . Coin hopper  86  is mounted on a drawer, which is then slid into machine  10 . Coin tray  18  is mounted on a hinge so as to allow an attendant to gain full access to coin hopper  86  to either fill or empty coin hopper  86  after machine  10  has been in use. To close the bottom portion, coin tray  18  is pivoted upward so as to latch into position. The drawer is then closed, and coin tray  18  is slid to the right to block access to a bill stacker  88 . 
   A sensor senses when the hopper exceeds a certain weight, indicating that the coins will soon overflow. In response, a coin diverter, forming part of the coin-in mechanism, diverts the incoming coins to the coin drainage hole in the bottom of the slot machine. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates slot machine  10  after coin tray  18  is secured in its final position. 
   Accordingly, the position of machine  10  is predetermined by the positioning of bracket  38  on platform  36 , and the affixing of machine  10  to mounting bracket  38  is simple and fast, allowing easy installation and de-installation of the machine. A variety of types of slot machines are adapted to fit onto bracket  38 , enabling slot machines to be quickly removed and replaced on the same bracket  38 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates another type of bracket assembly. In  FIG. 8 , a bracket  90  is affixed to platform  36  in a manner similar to the mounting of bracket  38  to platform  36 . Hole  92  receives electrical cables and hole  94  receives coins diverted from the hopper to be dropped into a receptacle in platform  36 . Platform  36  has an access means, such as a locked door, which allows an attendant access to the receptacle. 
   Bracket  90  has side flanges  96  and  97  for receiving corresponding L-shaped extensions  100  and  102  on the bottom of slot machine  10 . Slot machine  10  is then slid into place such that the L-shaped extensions  100  and  102  slide within flanges  96  and  97 . A downwardly spring-loaded pin  104  in the bottom plate of slot machine  10  automatically latches in place within bracket hole  106  when the slot machine is slid a sufficient distance over bracket  90 . Thus, slot machine  10  is firmly secured in place without any tools. This allows machine  10  to be quickly removed and replaced. 
   Although the mounting brackets have been shown with grooves and flanges, the couplings on the bracket and slot machine may be reversed such that, for example, slot machine  10  may include grooves in its bottom surface and bracket  38  may have raised tracks. 
   The present invention may be used with any gaming machine. 
   Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given the present disclosure, modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the inventive concepts described herein. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.