Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Housing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-02
2001-05-15
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Housing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a light-transmittable panel to an accommodating section of a lighting fixture in a game machine, such as a slot machine, and to a game machine using the same.
In a game machine, a panel, on which various information such as the title of the game machine and illustration of prizes are painted, is usually provided on a front surface of a housing and it is illuminated from an inside of the housing to decorate the game machine. Such a panel mounting apparatus has been popular in which the whole circumference of a panel formed by a light-transmittable material, such as acryl, is surrounded by a single retainer frame, and the retainer frame is secured to the housing of the game machine by a fixing member, such as a bolt (disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 6-261972 and 7-31717).
According to the above conventional mounting apparatus, it is necessary to remove the large retainer frame from the housing when checking and exchanging the panel and lighting fixture, and to reassemble the retainer frame after the checking operation and so forth, resulting in the efficiency of the operation being reduced.
Regarding a top box provided on the upper portion of the housing, there is an example whereby the panel and its retainer frame are mounted to a door of the front of the box, and the lighting fixture is accommodated in the main body of the box, thereby allowing the lighting fixture to be detachable without the attachment and detachment of the panel (disclosed in, for example, Australian Patent No. 644996). Even in this case, however, there has not been improvement in the amount of labor required to attach and detach the panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a panel mounting apparatus which allows easy detachment and attachment of a panel and a lighting fixture placed inside thereof, and a game machine using the same.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a panel mounting apparatus for a game machine for mounting a light-transmittable panel to an opening of a lighting fixture accommodating section provided in a housing of a game machine. The panel mounting apparatus includes: a pair of retainer frames for retaining a pair of parallel ends of the panel which are formed on the periphery of the opening of the accommodating section, and a movable member which is provided on one of the retainer frames for changing the shape of the retainer frames between a state of preventing the removal of the panel and a state of allowing the attachment and detachment of the panel.
By the above arrangement, the movable member provided on one of the retainer frames is operated to change the shape of the retainer frames, whereby the panel can be attached and detached, so that there is no need for removing the overall large retainer frame surrounding the whole circumference of the panel. In addition, by removing the panel, not only the panel can be exchanged, but also the accommodating section can be opened to effect the exchange, and the maintenance and checking of the lighting fixture.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the movable member may be movably provided between the position where the movable member opposes the front surface of the panel to prevent the removal of the panel and the position where the movable member is pulled out substantially toward a front of the game machine to allow the panel to be attached and detached.
By the above arrangement, a space between the movable member and the panel is expanded when the movable member is pulled out to the front of the game machine, so that the panel can be removed to the front of the housing by disengaging the panel and the retainer frame.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the accommodating section may be provided in a top box placed on the upper end of the housing, the pair of retainer frames may be provided on the upper and lower edges of an opening formed at the front of the top box, and the movable member may be provided on the retainer frame of the lower end of the top box.
By the above arrangements, the restraint of the lower end of the panel by the retainer frame is removed by pulling out the movable member toward the front of the top box, whereby the panel can be pulled out diagonally downward. Therefore, the panel of the top box, especially when placed at high position, can be easily removed.
The panel mounting apparatus may further comprise: a restraining member movable between the position where the movable member is restrained at the removal-preventing position of the panel and the restraint-removal position where the restraint is removed; a driving member for driving the restraining member towards the restraint-removal position by an operation from outside of the housing; and locking means for switching between an unlocked state of allowing the restraining member to be driven by the driving member towards the restraint-removal position and a locked state of preventing the restraining member from being driven by the driving member towards the restraint-removal position on the basis of an operation of a predetermined key.
By the above arrangement, in the unlocked state, the restraint of the movable member can be removed by operating the driving member from the outside of the housing and thereafter, the panel can be attached and detached by operating the movable member. In the locked state, the movable member cannot be operated through the driving member, and the movable member is restrained, whereby the panel cannot be attached and detached. The panel cannot be removed by operating the movable member without a key suitable for the lock means, so that the security of the game machine against an offense is increased.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the movable member may be provided so as to oppose one end surface of said panel, and the movement of the movable member in the direction to cross a plane of one end surface may allow the panel to be attached and detached.
By the above arrangements, by pressing the panel towards the movable member provided on one of the retainer frames, the other retainer frame can be disengaged from the panel and the panel can be pulled out to the front of the housing.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the movable member may be formed as an elongated member extending along one end surface of the panel, the movement of the movable member along the length thereof may allow an engaging portion provided on one end of the movable member along the length thereof to be engaged with a corresponding engaging portion of the housing, and the other end of the movable member is mounted to the housing through a mounting member with the engagement of the engaging portions maintained.
By the above arrangements, by only moving the movable member in the direction along the length thereof to bring the engaging portions into engagement with each other and thereafter, the other end of the movable member is mounted to the mounting member, the mounting of the movable member is completed. Therefore, the movable member can be mounted easily as compared with a case where both ends of the movable member are secured by mounting members such as screws.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the mounting member may be a screw, and play for allowing the movable member to be moved in the direction to cross a plane of one end surface may be produced between the engaging portions when the screw is loosened.
By the above arrangements, only loosening of the screw on the other end of the movable member allows the panel to be attached and detached. Therefore, the panel can be efficiently attached and detached.
In the panel mounting apparatus, the housing includes a main body, a door for opening and closing the front of the main body, and locking means for restricting the opening and closing of the door, the accommodating section is provided in the door, the movable member is mounted in the door by a mounting member mounted from the inside of the door, and the
Majima Shiro
Sato Hachitaro
Gerrity Stephen F.
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Konami Co. Ltd.
Paradiso John
LandOfFree
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