Stand for gaming device or other object
A stand for supporting a gaming device or other object includes a top, at least one sidewall and a removable access panel. The sidewall extends downward relative to the top and defines an opening (e.g., to facilitate access to the interior of the stand and/or service access to the object). The access panel is positionable within the opening to securely cover the opening during periods of normal use of the object and to permit quick and easy access to the interior of the stand during periods of servicing. The access panel is preferably configured to be as wide as an entire side of the stand to maximize access to the interior of the stand.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a stand for a gaming device or other object to which access may be necessary from under the object, and more particularly to a stand having one or more easily-removable components to permit access to the interior of the stand.
2. Description of Related Art
Many gaming devices, such as mechanical and video slot machines and other gaming machines, are designed to be mounted upon a stand. Typically, the stand rests upon the floor and brings the gaming device to a height suitable for comfortable play.
Often times, the gaming device is bolted to the stand for stability. Depending on the configuration and location of the stand, the stand may be attached to an abutting stand and/or wall for additional stability. The stand may be further attached to the floor or, in the case of a cruise ship, to the deck. Most gaming devices require electricity to operate and the wiring that supplies such electricity is usually routed through apertures in the stand to the gaming device. Some gaming devices are connected with cables to remote devices (e.g., computers). In such cases, the connecting cables may be routed through apertures in the stand adjacent to the gaming device.
In order to secure the stand for additional stability, to secure the gaming device to the stand, to route the gaming device's wiring and/or cabling, and/or to service the gaming device and/or its wiring/cabling, access to the interior of the stand is often necessary.
Some gaming device stands currently include a front door for access purposes. Typically, the door is permanently attached to the body of the stand with hinges. Thus, often times, while well-intended, the door interferes with a technician's access within the stand. Moreover, more recently, casinos have been required to decrease the height of the gaming device stands so that casino patrons can see fire exits around the room. Such height decreases have resulted in decreased sizes of the access door openings. The typical stand in use today has such a small opening that it is difficult to perform necessary tasks inside the stand. Depending upon the task, the technician may have to kneel or lie down, work blindly (i.e., by feel alone), or operate hand or power tools from awkward positions, thereby creating a certain degree of risk of physical injury and substandard workmanship.
During extended time periods of play of a gaming device, a player often sits on a stool or otherwise desires to rest his/her legs and feet. Many gaming device stands incorporate a footrest on which a player can rest his/her legs and feet. However, the footrests utilized in the prior art are usually fixed and stationary. They therefore reduce the space available to access the inside of the stand.
Therefore, a need exists for a stand that is configured and arranged to provide improved access to its interior. Such a stand would facilitate performing work within the stand and reduce the risk of physical injury and substandard workmanship. Such a stand that takes into account the comfort needs of gaming device players would be a further improvement over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention encompasses a stand that includes one or more components that can be removed quickly and easily without tools to create an opening that maximizes access to the interior of the stand. The improved access over stands of conventional construction enables faster and higher quality workmanship to be performed within the stand and decreases the risk of physical injury while performing such work.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Generally, the present invention encompasses a stand for supporting a gaming device or other object, which includes a top, at least one sidewall, and a removable access panel that may be inclined to accommodate an integral footrest. The sidewall extends downward relative to the top and defines at least a portion of an opening (e.g., to facilitate service access to the object). The access panel is positionable within the opening to cover the opening during periods of normal use of the object and to permit quick and easy access inside the stand during periods of servicing. The sidewall opening is preferably oriented to the front of the object to provide maximum access to the interior of the stand when the access panel is removed. The access panel is preferably configured to be as wide as an entire side of the stand to further maximize interior access to the stand.
Access to the interior of the stand may be required for several reasons including, but not limited to, performing such tasks as securing the stand to a floor, securing the stand to a neighboring stand, securing the stand to a wall, securing the gaming device or other object to the stand, repairing the gaming device, installing an electrical receptacle inside the stand, and routing wires or cables through the stand to the gaming device.
This description contains specific details describing preferred embodiments of the invention so it may be practiced by one skilled in the art. Well-known details that are apparent to one skilled in the art have not been included. The present invention may be more readily understood with reference to
As used throughout the specification and claims, all variations of the term “remove” mean to take off or to take away including the term “removable,” which means capable of being taken off or taken away.
One preferred embodiment of a stand 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
As illustrated in
The top 101 of the stand 100 is supported by three sidewalls: a left sidewall 105, a right sidewall 106, and a rear sidewall 107. The rear sidewall 107 is positioned between the right sidewall 106 and the left sidewall 105. The stand 100 may include a bottom panel (not shown) parallel to the top 101 and acting as a base or underside to the stand 100. In an alternate embodiment, the stand 100 may include a bottom support 108 (visible in
While the stand 100 is depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
As depicted in
Access panel 120 is removable and is not permanently attached to stand 100. Directional arrow 120′ in
Access panel 120 is further preferably constructed in a manner that, when removable drawer 110 is closed as shown in
In this embodiment, except for panel stops 115 and drawer slides 112, the interior space is generally void of subdivisions and supports. However that is not to exclude embodiments with additional or alternate interior subdivisions and supports. Such subdivisions may be added to create compartments for such reasons as storing things, paper tickets and coin for example, for housing electrical apparatus, and for holding a coin bucket or tray. Supports may also be added to strengthen the stand 100.
A second embodiment of a stand 200 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
As illustrated in
Access panel 220 is removable and is not permanently attached to stand 200. Directional arrow 220′ shows the direction access panel 220 is moved to remove it from the stand 200, being rotated forward about its lower edge member 222 and then lifted out. This can be accomplished by including tabs 208A on bottom support 208 and locking apertures 220A in access panel 220 (see
The embodiments of access panel 220 provided in
The top edge 229 of back member 224 is connected to upper member 225. Upper member 225 extends at an upward angle from the top edge 229 of back member 224, in an inverse manner as panel member 221. In other words back edge 230 of upper member 225 is lower, or closer to the floor, and the front edge 231 of upper member 225 is higher, or further from the floor. Front edge 231 of upper member 225 is connected to upper edge member 226, which extends vertically upward. The resulting shape of access panel 220 matches the substantially V-shaped cutout 240 of left sidewall 205 and right sidewall 206. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that this embodiment is not the only embodiment available for access panel 220. For example, one may wish to remove back member 224 and simply connect panel member 221 to upper member 225.
While two specific configurations of the stand 100 and 200 have been shown and discussed, the claim of this invention is that one or more components comprising the stand 100 and 200 can be easily removed, preferably without the use of tools, in order to permit a high degree of access to the interior of the stand 100 and 200. There are many configurations of a stand 100 and 200 that would accomplish the same object.
Throughout the descriptions of the present invention, it has been described that a component or components are quickly and easily removable. The object of the invention is to facilitate the accomplishment of tasks to be performed within the interior of the stand 100 and 200. The better the accessibility, the better the freedom of movement, and the easier it is to work within the stand 100 and 200. Improved accessibility also means work can be done faster and better. A task to be accomplished within a stand 100 and 200 may only require 5 to 10 minutes time. Therefore it is important that said components can be removed easily and in a timely manner. The advantage of improved accessibility would be offset to some degree if it required several minutes to remove the stand components. The average person skilled in the art can remove the stand components as presented in either of the two embodiments of the present invention within 15 seconds.
Claims
1. A stand for supporting an object, the stand comprising:
- a top;
- at least one sidewall coupled to the top and extending downward relative to the top, the at least one sidewall defining an opening; and
- a removable access panel positionable within the opening, the access panel including an inclined panel member.
2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the top defines at least one aperture.
3. The stand of claim 1, further comprising:
- a removable drawer positioned between the top and the inclined panel member of the access panel.
4. The stand of claim 3, wherein the drawer is configured to substantially inhibit removal of the access panel until the drawer is removed.
5. The stand of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and a rear sidewall positioned between the right sidewall and the left sidewall.
6. The stand of claim 5, wherein each of the left sidewall and the right sidewall define a substantially V-shaped cutout and wherein a widest portion of an opening in each V-shaped cutout is forward-facing.
7. The stand of claim 5, wherein a width of the access panel is substantially equal to a width of the rear sidewall.
8. The stand of claim 1, wherein the access panel includes a back member connected to a distal edge of the inclined panel member, the back member extending vertically from the inclined panel member toward the top.
9. The stand of claim 8, wherein the access panel includes an upper member connected to a top edge of the back member, the upper member extending at an oblique angle toward the top.
10. The stand of claim 9, wherein the access panel includes a top member connected to a top edge of the upper member and extending vertically toward the top.
11. The stand of claim 1, wherein the access panel further includes a lower member connected to a proximal edge of the inclined panel member, the lower member extending vertically from the inclined panel member away from the top.
12. A stand for supporting a casino gaming device, the stand comprising:
- a substantially flat top;
- an interconnected set of sidewalls coupled to the top and extending downward relative to the top, the set of sidewalls defining an opening;
- a removable access panel positionable within the opening, the access panel including an inclined panel member.
13. The stand of claim 12, wherein the access panel includes a back member connected to a distal edge of the inclined panel member, the back member extending vertically from the inclined panel member toward the top.
14. The stand of claim 13, wherein the access panel includes an upper member connected to a top edge of the back member, the upper member extending at an angle oblique angle toward the top.
15. The stand of claim 14, wherein the access panel includes a top member connected to a front edge of the upper member and extending vertically toward the top.
16. A stand for supporting a casino gaming device, the stand comprising:
- a substantially flat top;
- an interconnected set of sidewalls coupled to the top and extending downward relative to the top, the set of sidewalls defining an opening;
- a removable access panel positionable within the opening, the access panel including a panel member; and
- a removable drawer positioned below the top, the drawer being configured to substantially inhibit removal of the access panel until the drawer is removed.
17. The stand of claim 16, wherein each of the left sidewall and the right sidewall define a substantially V-shaped cutout and wherein a widest portion of an opening in each V-shaped cutout is forward-facing.
18. The stand of claim 17, wherein a width of the access panel and the drawer are substantially equal to a width of the rear sidewall.
19. The stand of claim 16, wherein the panel member is inclined.
20. The stand of claim 19, wherein the access panel further includes a back member connected to a distal edge of the inclined panel member, the back member extending vertically from the inclined panel member toward the top.
21. The stand of claim 20, wherein the access panel further includes a lower member connected to a proximal edge of the inclined panel member, the lower member extending vertically from the inclined panel member away from the top.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 14, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2007
Inventor: Leo Caissie (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Application Number: 11/226,030
International Classification: A47B 43/00 (20060101);