SLANT TOP GAMING CABINET WITH ADJUSTABLE ANGLE DISPLAY

Abstract

A slant type gaming cabinet includes a housing having an operating member, a display tiltably supported in the housing and a linking device which links tilting movement of the display with an operation of the operating member. On the display, games such as roulette, keno, poker, bingo and lotto can be displayed. When the operating member is operated by a player, the display is tilted by the linking device in conjunction with the operation of the operating member. The operating member may be a rotating handle. Moreover, a button may be used as the operating member and the display may be tilted by an operation of a motor according to an operation of the button.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/036,334 filed on Mar. 13, 2008, and which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slant top gaming cabinet with an adjustable angle display.

2. Description of the Related Art

As a cabinet of a gaming machine using a display such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying a game, a slant type gaming cabinet having a tilted display is disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,914.

Such a slant type gaming cabinet is also disclosed in the specifications of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,332,219, 6,159,097 and 6,254,481 as one that can be used in a gaming machine in which games such as roulette, keno, poker, bingo, lotto and slot game are displayed on a display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slant top gaming cabinet which makes contents displayed on a display more visible to a player.

The first aspect of the present invention is a gaming cabinet comprising: a housing having an operating member; a display tiltably supported in the housing; and a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the display relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

The second aspect of the present invention is a gaming cabinet comprising: a housing having an operating member; a frame tiltably supported in the housing; a display supported by the frame; and a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the frame relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

The third aspect of the present invention is a gaming cabinet comprising: a housing having an operating member; a frame tiltably supported in the housing; a display supported by the frame; rotating reels being rotatably supported by the frame, being arranged behind the display, and being visible through the display; and a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the frame relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine of a first embodiment using a gaming cabinet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an inside of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing divided areas in a matrix pattern provided on a liquid crystal panel in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display example in the divided areas on the liquid crystal panel in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a slant type slot machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing divided areas in a matrix pattern provided on a liquid crystal panel in the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an inside of a housing of the slant type slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a rotating reel device in the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a side view showing the rotating reel device in the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an inside of a housing of a slant type slot machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a slant type slot machine according to fourth and sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a slant type slot machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an inside of a housing of the slot machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an inside of a housing of the slot machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an inside of a housing of the slot machine according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, general description will be given below of a slant type slot machine that is an example of a gaming machine using a gaming cabinet according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine of a first embodiment using the gaming cabinet according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an inside of the slant type slot machine shown in FIG. 1.

The slot machine shown in FIG. 1 includes a slant type gaming cabinet 10. This gaming cabinet 10 includes: a housing 11 having a handle 12 as a rotatable operating member; a liquid crystal panel 16 (corresponding to a display in the claims) which is tiltably supported in the housing 11; and a linking device 20 which links tilting of the liquid crystal panel 16 with a rotating operation of the handle 12.

The housing 11 has a base 11a, a control panel portion 11b above the base 11a and a top box 11c above the control panel portion 11b.

In an upper front of the housing 11, an opening 11d is formed over the control panel 11b and the top box 11c. The liquid crystal panel 16 is housed in this opening 11d. A display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is exposed to outside of the housing 11 in the opening 11d.

On the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16, symbols are rearranged every time a unit game is played. When the symbols are rearranged in the unit game, the amount of credits to be paid out is determined according to rules of a predetermined payout table. Thereafter, an award equivalent to the determined amount of credits is provided. Subsequently, the symbols are rearranged as the next unit game is started.

The handle 12 is provided on a side surface of the top box 11c in the housing 11. This handle 12 can be rotated by a player. Moreover, in an inside of the opening 11d in the housing 11, the linking device 20 (see FIG. 2) is provided, which links the rotating operation of the handle 12 with tilting of the liquid crystal panel 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the linking device 20 includes: two guide bosses 17a and 17b on a side surface of the liquid crystal panel 16; guide grooves 11e and 11f on internal sides of the control panel 11b and the top box 11c, the guide bosses 17a and 17b being inserted into the guide grooves 11e and 11f, respectively; a rack 14 having its upper end pivotally attached to the guide boss 17b; and a pinion gear 12b which is attached to a rotating shaft 12a of the handle 12 shown in FIG. 1 and is engaged with the rack 14.

Therefore, in the slant type cabinet 10 according to the one embodiment of the present invention, when the handle 12 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated by the player, the pinion gear 12b is rotated and the rack 14 engaged therewith is moved up and down relative to the top box 11c.

Meanwhile, the guide boss 17b pivotally attached to the rack 14 is moved up and down within the guide groove 11f, and the other guide boss 17a is moved back and forth within the guide groove 11e. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted and a tilt angle of the display surface 16a is changed.

In the case of the gaming cabinet 10 shown in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, a player can adjust the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal plane 16 to a direction facing the player as front as possible, by rotating the handle 12. This is convenient because a positional relationship between a player's eye level and the liquid crystal panel 16 varies depending on the height of each player.

Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

The slot machine using the gaming cabinet according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine of this embodiment includes the slant type gaming cabinet 10. This gaming cabinet 10 includes: the housing 11 having the handle 12 that can be rotated by the player who operates the slot machine; a frame 17 tiltably supported in the housing 11; and the linking device 20 which links tilting of the frame 17 with the rotating operation of the handle 12.

The housing 11 has a base 11a, a control panel portion 11b above the base 11a and a top box 11c above the control panel portion 11b.

Moreover, the opening 11d is formed over the control panel 11b and the top box 11c of the housing 11. This opening 11d is provided in the upper front of the housing 11. In the opening 11d, the liquid crystal panel 16 is housed, which is attached to the frame 17 (see FIG. 2) to be described later.

The display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 from the opening 11d. As shown in FIG. 3, the display surface 16a has fifteen divided areas q11 to q53. These divided areas q11 to q53 are arranged in a matrix pattern including first to fifth columns and first to third rows.

In the slot machine of this embodiment, symbols arranged in the respective divided areas q11 to q53 described above are rearranged as shown in FIG. 4 every time one slot game (unit game) is executed. The arrangement and rearrangement of the symbols in the respective divided areas q11 to q53 are performed by the display on the liquid crystal panel 16 in the slot machine of this embodiment.

Moreover, in the slot machine of this embodiment, when the symbols are rearranged in the divided areas q11 to q53, in the slot game, the amount of credits to be paid out is determined according to rules of a predetermined payout table. Thereafter, an award equivalent to the determined amount of credits can be provided. Subsequently, the symbols in the respective divided areas q11 to q53 are rearranged as the next slot game is started. The slot game is set to be executable by making a bet with game media.

Note that, in this embodiment, medals are taken as an example of the game media to be used for executing the slot game. However, the game media for the slot game are not limited to the medals but may include, for example, tokens, electronic money and valuable electronic information (credits) equivalent thereto.

Below the liquid crystal panel 16, provided are: a medal insertion slot 21 for accepting medals; and a bill validator 22 for validating whether or not bills are legitimate and accepting the legitimate bills. Note that the bill validator 22 may be configured to be able to read a bar-coded ticket 39.

Moreover, in the vicinity of the medal insertion slot 21 and the bill validator 22, various operation switches are provided, including a payout switch 23, a MAXBET switch 24, a BET switch 25, a spin repeat bet switch 26 and a start switch 27.

The BET switch 25 is a switch for determining the amount of credits to be bet on the slot game to be executed on the liquid crystal panel 16. Every time the BET switch 25 is pressed, a credit equivalent to 1 medal is bet.

The spin repeat bet switch 26 is a switch for executing the slot game by betting the same amount of credits as that bet in the previous game with BET switch 25 described above.

The start switch 27 is a switch for starting the slot game after a desired amount of credits is bet. When the start switch 27 is pressed after medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 21 or credits are bet by use of the BET switch 25, the slot game is started on the liquid crystal panel 16.

The payout switch 23 is a switch for paying out the inserted medals. The medals to be paid out are discharged from a medal payout opening 19 provided in a front of the base 11a of the housing 11. The medals paid out are accumulated in a medal tray 18.

The MAXBET switch 24 is a switch for betting, in one operation, the maximum amount of credits (for example, 30 medals) that can be bet on one slot game.

On a front surface of the top box 11c, an upper display 33 is provided. The upper display 33 includes a liquid crystal panel to display a payout table and the like.

Moreover, a speaker 29 is provided in the top box 11c. Below the upper display 33, a ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data display 37 and a keypad 38 are provided. The ticket printer 35 prints out a bar-code on a ticket, the bar-code having coded data such as the amount of credits, time and date and an identification number of the slot machine 10, and outputs the ticket as the bar-coded ticket 39.

The player can use the bar-coded ticket 39 to make a bet on a slot game with another slot machine by allowing the slot machine to read the bar-coded ticket or can change the bar-coded ticket 39 for bills and the like at a predetermined location in a gaming facility (for example, a cashier in a casino).

The card reader 36 allows a smart card to be inserted thereinto, reads data from the inserted smart card and writes data into the smart card. The smart card is a card carried by the player and stores data for identifying the player and data on a history of games played by the player.

The smart card may store data corresponding to coins, bills or credits. Moreover, instead of the smart card, a magnetic stripe card may be adopted. The data display 37 is formed of a fluorescent display or the like and displays, for example, the data read by the card reader 36 and data inputted by the player using the keypad 38.

Moreover, instead of the smart card, an RFID card capable of reading and writing data contactlessly may be used. The keypad 38 is for inputting instructions or data for ticketing and the like.

The handle 12 that can be rotated by the player is provided on the side surface of the top box 11c of the housing 11. Moreover, the linking device 20 (see FIG. 2) which tilts the liquid crystal panel 16 in conjunction with the rotating operation of the handle 12 is provided, as described later, on the inside of the opening 11d in the housing 11. When the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the rotation is converted into a linear motion by the linking device 20 and the linear motion is transmitted to the liquid crystal panel 16. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted. By tilting the liquid crystal panel 16, the tilt angle of the display surface 16a can be adjusted.

With reference to FIG. 2, the linking device 20 will be described in detail below. First, the two guide bosses 17a and 17b are provided so as to protrude on a side surface of the frame 17 attached on a back side of the liquid crystal panel 16. Of the two guide bosses, the one guide boss 17a is inserted into the guide groove 11e formed on the inside of the control panel 11b of the housing 11. This guide groove 11e is extended so as to form a curved shape in a front-to-rear direction of the control panel 11b. Moreover, the other guide boss 17b is inserted into the guide groove 11f formed on the inside of the top box 11c of the housing 11. This guide groove 11f is extended linearly in a top-to-bottom direction of the top box 11c.

Furthermore, the upper end of the rack 14 is pivotally attached to the guide boss 17b. This rack 14 is supported on the inside of the top box 11c so as to be movable up and down along the guide groove 11f. Moreover, the rack 14 is engaged with the pinion gear 12b. As shown in FIG. 1, this pinion gear 12b is attached to the rotating shaft 12a of the handle 12 attached to the side surface of the top box 11c of the housing 11.

In the gaming cabinet 10 of this embodiment, the linking device 20 includes the two guide bosses 17a and 17b described above, the guide grooves 11e and 11f of the control panel 11b and the top box 11c, the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b. Moreover, the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b in the linking device 20 are equivalent to power conversion elements for converting the rotation of the handle 12 into a tilt of the frame 17.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinet 10 of this embodiment, when the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the pinion gear 12b shown in FIG. 2 is rotated and the rack 14 is moved up and down. Accordingly, the guide boss 17b of the frame 17 is moved up and down along the guide groove 11f in the top box 11c. At the same time, the other guide boss 17a of the frame 17 is moved back and forth along the guide groove 11e in the control panel 11b.

Particularly, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 2, when the guide boss 17b is positioned at an upper end of the guide groove 11f by moving the rack 14 upward, the guide boss 17a is positioned at a rear end (right end in FIG. 2) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set upright to the maximum extent. Thus, the frame 17 is set at a position where the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at the most upright angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1 (the frame 17 is not shown in FIG. 1).

Meanwhile, as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 2, when the guide boss 17b is positioned at a lower end of the guide groove 11f by moving the rack 14 downward, the guide boss 17a is positioned at a front end (left end in FIG. 2) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is laid horizontally to the maximum extent. Thus, the frame 17 is set at a position where the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at the largest tilt angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 1 (the frame 17 is not shown in FIG. 1). Note that, in this state, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is positioned in the same plane as an upper surface of the control panel 11b.

Therefore, when the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the frame 17 attached on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted between the position indicated by the solid lines and the position indicated by the imaginary lines in FIG. 2.

In the gaming cabinet 10 of this embodiment having the configuration described above, the player can adjust the tilt angle of the frame 17, by rotating the handle 12, so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

Note that, in the first embodiment described above, the description was given of the case where the arrangement and rearrangement of the symbols in the respective divided areas q11 to q53 of the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 are performed by the display on the liquid crystal panel 16. However, the arrangement and rearrangement of the symbols in the respective divided areas q11 to q53 of the display surface 16a can also be performed by a combination of the liquid crystal panel and rotating reels.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8A and 8B, description will be given of a slot machine using a gaming cabinet according to a second embodiment of the present invention having the configuration as described above.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slot machine of the second embodiment using the gaming cabinet according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the slot machine of this embodiment, windows 161 to 165 corresponding to first to fifth columns of divided areas q11 to q53 are provided in a display surface 16a of a liquid crystal panel 16.

As shown in FIG. 6, the respective windows 161 to 165 are divided into top, middle and bottom window areas corresponding to first to third rows of the divided areas q11 to q53. Thus, the divided areas q11 to q13 are allocated to the top, middle and bottom window areas in the window 161. Similarly, the divided areas q21 to q23, q31 to q33, q41 to q43 and q51 to q53 are allocated to the top, middle and bottom window areas in the windows 162 to 165, respectively. Note that, by the liquid crystal panel 16, the divided areas q11 to q53 can be individually set in a transparent display state and can also be set in a state of displaying arrangement or rearrangement of symbols.

Moreover, in a gaming cabinet 10a of the slot machine of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a rotating reel device 53 is disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 16 in the frame 17.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the rotating reel device 53 has five rotating reels 53a to 53e corresponding to the windows 161 to 165 in the liquid crystal panel 16. The respective rotating reels 53a to 53e are rotatably supported by the frame 17. On a circumferential surface of each of the rotating reels 53a to 53e, a plurality of symbols are laid out so as to be equally spaced apart. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8B, the rotating reel device 53 has drive motors 56a to 56e formed of stepping motors for driving the rotating reels 53a to 53e to be rotated, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slot machine of this embodiment allows the player to view three consecutive symbols among the symbols laid out on the circumferential surface of each of the rotating reels 53a to 53e through each of the windows 161 to 165 in the liquid crystal panel 16, the rotating reels 53a to 53e corresponding to the windows 161 to 165, respectively. Specifically, each of the windows 161 to 165 in the liquid crystal panel 16 includes each of groups of the three, top, middle and bottom, divided areas: q11 to q13; q21 to q23; q31 to q33; q41 to q43; and q51 to q53, in the row direction, the groups corresponding to the first to fifth columns.

Moreover, in the slot machine of this embodiment, the symbols which are arranged in the divided areas q11 to q53 and are viewed by the player through the windows 161 to 165 can be rearranged by rotating and stopping each of the rotating reels 53a to 53e or by the display on the liquid crystal panel 16 in each of the divided areas q11 to q53. In the case where the symbols are rearranged by rotating and stopping each of the rotating reels 53a to 53e, the corresponding divided areas q11 to q53 of the liquid crystal panel 16 are set in the transparent display state. Meanwhile, in the case where the symbols are rearranged by the display on the liquid crystal panel 16, the circumferential surfaces of the rotating reels 53a to 53e behind the liquid crystal panel are hidden behind the display on the liquid crystal panel 16 and thus are not visible to the player.

Note that, as in the case of the gaming cabinet 10 of the first embodiment, the gaming cabinet 10a of this embodiment also has a handle 12 (see FIG. 5) and a tilting device 20 (see FIG. 7).

Therefore, when the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the frame 17 attached on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted between a position indicated by solid lines and a position indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 7.

In the gaming cabinet 10a of this embodiment having the configuration described above, as in the case of the gaming cabinet 10 of the first embodiment, the player can adjust the tilt angle of the frame 17, by rotating the handle 12 (see FIG. 5), so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinet 10a of this embodiment, since the rotating reel device 53 is disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 16, a backlight cannot be disposed right behind the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16.

Thus, more significant effects can be expected regarding the following point. Specifically, since the tilt angle of the frame 17 can be adjusted so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible, it becomes easier for the player to view the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a by the liquid crystal panel 16 or the rotating reels 53a to 53e behind the panel.

In the first embodiment described above, the description was given of the case where the frame 17 is tilted by rotating the handle 12 by the player. Meanwhile, it is also possible to directly tilt the liquid crystal panel 16.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, description will be given of a slot machine using a gaming cabinet according to a third embodiment of the present invention having the configuration as described above.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an internal configuration of a housing in the slot machine of the third embodiment using the gaming cabinet according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, in the slot machine of this embodiment, two guide bosses 16b and 16c are provided so as to protrude on a side surface of the liquid crystal panel 16. The guide boss 16b is inserted into a guide groove 11e on an inside of a control panel 11b. Moreover, the guide boss 16c is inserted into a guide groove 11f on an inside of a top box 11c. Furthermore, an upper end of a rack 14 is pivotally attached to the guide boss 16c.

Therefore, in the gaming cabinet of the slot machine of this embodiment, a linking device 20 includes: the two guide bosses 16b and 16c described above; the guide grooves 11e and 11f on the insides of the control panel 11b and the top box 11c, into which the guide bosses 16b and 16c are inserted, respectively; the rack 14 having the upper end pivotally attached to the guide boss 16c; and a pinion gear 12b which is attached to the rotating shaft 12a of the handle 12 shown in FIG. 1 and is engaged with the rack 14. Moreover, the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b in the linking device 20 are equivalent to power conversion elements for converting the rotation of the handle 12 into a tilt of the liquid crystal panel 16.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinet of this embodiment, when the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the pinion gear 12b shown in FIG. 9 is rotated and the rack 14 is moved up and down. Accordingly, the guide boss 16c of the liquid crystal panel 16 is moved up and down along the guide groove 11f in the top box 11c. At the same time, the other guide boss 16b of the liquid crystal panel 16 is moved back and forth along the guide groove 11e in the control panel 11b.

Particularly, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 9, when the guide boss 16c is positioned at an upper end of the guide groove 11f by moving the rack 14 upward, the guide boss 16b is positioned at a rear end (right end in FIG. 9) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set upright to the maximum extent. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at a position where the display surface 16a is set at the most upright angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1.

Meanwhile, as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 9, when the guide boss 16c is positioned at a lower end of the guide groove 11f by moving the rack 14 downward, the guide boss 16b is positioned at a front end (left end in FIG. 9) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is laid horizontally to the maximum extent. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at a position where the display surface 16a is set at the largest tilt angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the imaginary lines in FIG. 1. Note that, in this state, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is positioned in the same plane as an upper surface of the control panel 11b.

Therefore, when the handle 12 is rotated by the player, the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted between the position indicated by the solid lines and the position indicated by the imaginary lines in FIG. 9.

In the gaming cabinet of this embodiment having the configuration described above, the player can adjust the tilt angle of the liquid crystal panel 16, by rotating the handle 12 (see FIG. 1), so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the description was given of the case where the frame 17 or the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted by rotating the handle 12 by the player. Meanwhile, the frame 17 or the liquid crystal panel 16 can also be tilted by use of a drive source such as a motor.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14, description will be given of slot machines using gaming cabinets according to fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention having the configuration as described above.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slot machine using the gaming cabinet according to the fourth and sixth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the slot machine using the gaming cabinet according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In each of gaming cabinets 10b to 10d of the slot machines according to the fourth to sixth embodiments, the handle 12 provided on the side surface of the top box 11c of the housing 11 in the gaming cabinet 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is omitted. Instead of the handle 12, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a “TILT UP” button 13a and a “TILT DOWN” button 13b are provided on a side surface of a top box 11c of a housing 11.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinets 10b to 10d according to the fourth to sixth embodiments, a tilt angle of a display surface 16a of a liquid crystal panel 16 is adjusted by a linking device 20 (see FIGS. 12 to 14), which is provided on an inside of an opening 11d in the housing 11, according to an operation of the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b. Specifically, in the slot machines 10b to 10d according to the fourth to sixth embodiments, the “TILT UP” button 13a and the “TILT DOWN” button 13b correspond to the operating member in the claims.

As shown in each of FIGS. 12 to 14, in each of the gaming cabinets 10b to 10d according to the fourth to sixth embodiments, a motor M to be rotated in a direction corresponding to the operation of the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b is provided on the inside of the opening 11d in the housing 11. Moreover, a pinion gear 12b is attached to an output shaft M1 of the motor M. Specifically, the motor M is equivalent to a drive source connected so as to be able to transmit power to the pinion gear 12b in the linking device 20 through the output shaft M1.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinets 10b and 10c according to the fourth and fifth embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the linking device 20 includes: two guide bosses 17a and 17b provided so as to protrude on a side surface of a frame 17; guide grooves 11e and 11f on insides of the control panel 11b and the top box 11c, into which the guide bosses 17a and 17b are inserted, respectively; a rack 14 having its upper end pivotally attached to the guide boss 17b; and the pinion gear 12b which is attached to the output shaft M1 of the motor M and is engaged with the rack 14.

Meanwhile, in the gaming cabinet 10d according to the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the linking device 20 includes: two guide bosses 16b and 16c on a side surface of the liquid crystal panel 16; guide grooves 11e and 11f on insides of the control panel 11b and the top box 11c, into which the guide bosses 16b and 16c are inserted, respectively; a rack 14 having its upper end pivotally attached to the guide boss 16c; and the pinion gear 12b which is attached to the output shaft M1 of the motor M and is engaged with the rack 14.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinets 10b and 10c according to the fourth and fifth embodiments, when the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b on the housing 11 is operated by the player, the pinion gear 12b shown in each of FIGS. 12 and 13 is rotated and the rack 14 is moved up and down. Accordingly, the guide boss 17b of the frame 17 is moved up and down along the guide groove 11f in the top box 11c. At the same time, the other guide boss 17a of the frame 17 is moved back and forth along the guide groove 11e in the control panel 11b.

Particularly, as indicated by solid lines in each of FIGS. 12 and 13, when the guide boss 17b is positioned at an upper end of the guide groove 11f by operating the “TILT UP” button 13a by the player to move the rack 14 upward, the guide boss 17a is positioned at a rear end (right end in each of FIGS. 12 and 13) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set upright to the maximum extent. Thus, the frame 17 is set at a position where the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at the most upright angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. 10 and 11 (each of the frames 17 is not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11).

Meanwhile, as indicated by imaginary lines in each of FIGS. 12 and 13, when the guide boss 17b is positioned at a lower end of the guide groove 11f by operating the “TILT DOWN” button 13b by the player to move the rack 14 downward, the guide boss 17a is positioned at a front end (left end in each of FIGS. 12 and 13) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is laid horizontally to the maximum extent. Thus, the frame 17 is set at a position where the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at the largest tilt angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the imaginary lines in FIGS. 10 and 11 (each of the frames 17 is not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11). Note that, in this state, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is positioned in the same plane as an upper surface of the control panel 11b.

Therefore, in the gaming cabinets 10b and 10c according to the fourth and fifth embodiments, when the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b is operated by the player, the frame 17 attached on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted between the position indicated by the solid lines and the position indicated by the imaginary lines in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Moreover, in the gaming cabinet 10d of the sixth embodiment, when the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b is operated by the player, the pinion gear 12b shown in FIG. 14 is rotated and the rack 14 is moved up and down. Accordingly, the guide boss 16c of the liquid crystal panel 16 is moved up and down along the guide groove 11f in the top box 11c. At the same time, the other guide boss 16b of the liquid crystal panel 16 is moved back and forth along the guide groove 11e in the control panel 11b.

Particularly, as indicated by solid lines in FIG. 14, when the guide boss 16c is positioned at an upper end of the guide groove 11f by operating the “TILT UP” button 13a by the player to move the rack 14 upward, the guide boss 16b is positioned at a rear end (right end in FIG. 14) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set upright to the maximum extent. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at a position where the display surface 16a is set at the most upright angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 10.

Meanwhile, as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 14, when the guide boss 16c is positioned at a lower end of the guide groove 11f by operating the “TILT DOWN” button 13b by the player to move the rack 14 downward, the guide boss 16b is positioned at a front end (left end in FIG. 14) of the guide groove 11e. Accordingly, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is laid horizontally to the maximum extent. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 16 is set at a position where the display surface 16a is set at the largest tilt angle in the opening 11d of the housing 11 as indicated by the imaginary lines in FIG. 10. Note that, in this state, the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 is positioned in the same plane as an upper surface of the control panel 11b.

Therefore, when the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b is operated by the player, the liquid crystal panel 16 is tilted between the position indicated by the solid lines and the position indicated by the imaginary lines in FIG. 14.

In the gaming cabinets 10b and 10c according to the fourth and fifth embodiments having the configuration described above, the player can adjust the tilt angle of the frame 17, by operating the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b (see FIG. 10), so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

Similarly, also in the gaming cabinet 10d of the sixth embodiment having the configuration described above, the player can adjust the tilt angle of the liquid crystal panel 16, by operating the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b (see FIG. 11), so as to cause the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 to face the player as front as possible. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the player has to look at the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 from a direction significantly tilted with respect to a normal to the display surface, thereby making it difficult for the player to look at the symbols displayed on the display surface 16a.

Although the gaming cabinet of the present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. The configurations of the components can be replaced by any configuration having similar functions.

For example, in the above embodiments, the description was given of the case where the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 has the fifteen divided areas q11 to q53 arranged in the five columns and the three rows. However, any number of divided areas in the matrix pattern on the display surface 16a of the liquid crystal panel 16 can be arranged in both of the column and row directions.

Moreover, in the first to sixth embodiments described above, the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b are used for tilting the frame 17 attached to the back side of the liquid crystal panel 16 or the liquid crystal panel 16 itself by rotating the handle 12 on the housing 11 or by operating the “TILT UP” button 13a or the “TILT DOWN” button 13b by the player. Meanwhile, a belt and a pulley or a chain and a sprocket can also be used.

Similarly, in the fourth to sixth embodiments described above, the motor M, the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b are used for tilting the frame 17 or the liquid crystal panel 16. Instead of those described above, a drive source other than the motor, such as an air cylinder and an oil cylinder, can be used and piston rods thereof can also be used instead of the rack 14 and the pinion gear 12b.

Furthermore, in the first to sixth embodiments described above, the description was given by taking the slot machine as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine in which games such as roulette, keno, poker, bingo and lotto are displayed on a display.

In addition, in the detailed description above, the characteristic portions are mainly described in order to make the present invention easily understandable. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the detailed description above, and can be applied to the other embodiments, and its range of application is wide. Also, the terms and the terminology used in the present specification are used only for the purpose of explaining the present invention precisely, and not used for the purpose of limiting the interpretation of the present invention. Also, for those skilled in the art, it should be easy to contemplate other configurations, methods, etc., that are contained in the concept of the present invention, from the content of the invention described in the present specification. Consequently, the description of the scope of claims should be construed as containing equivalent configurations within a range of not deviating from a range of the technical ideas of the present invention. Also, the purpose of the abstract is to make it possible for the patent office, the general public organizations, and technicians and the like who belong to the present technical field and who are not thoroughly familiar with patent and law terms or specialized terms, to quickly judge the technical content and its essence of the present application by a simple search. Consequently, the abstract is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which should be evaluated by the description of the scope of claims. Also, in order to sufficiently understand the purpose of the present invention and the effects specific to the present invention, they should preferably be interpreted by sufficiently referring to the documents and the like that are already disclosed in public.

Claims

1. A gaming cabinet comprising:

a housing having an operating member;

a display tiltably supported in the housing; and

a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the display relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

2. The gaming cabinet according to claim 1, wherein

the operating member is a rotating handle to be rotated by a player in a direction corresponding to a tilting movement direction of the display, and

the linking device has a power conversion element for converting rotation of the rotating handle into the tilting movement of the display.

3. The gaming cabinet according to claim 1,

further comprising: a drive source connected to the linking device so as to be capable of transmitting power to the linking device and configured to be driven according to operation contents of the operating member,

wherein the operating member is operated with operation contents that vary depending on a tilting movement direction of the display, and

wherein by use of the power transmitted from the drive source, the linking device tilts the display in the tilting movement direction corresponding to each of the operation contents of the operating member.

4. A gaming cabinet comprising:

a housing having an operating member;

a frame tiltably supported in the housing;

a display supported by the frame; and

a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the frame relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

5. The gaming cabinet according to claim 4, wherein

the operating member is a rotating handle to be rotated by a player in a direction corresponding to a tilting movement direction of the frame, and

the linking device has a power conversion element for converting rotation of the rotating handle into the tilting movement of the frame.

6. The gaming cabinet according to claim 4,

further comprising: a drive source connected to the linking device so as to be capable of transmitting power to the linking device and configured to be driven according to operation contents of the operating member,

wherein the operating member is operated with operation contents that vary depending on a tilting movement direction of the frame, and

wherein by use of the power transmitted from the drive source, the linking device tilts the frame in the tilting movement direction corresponding to each of the operation contents of the operating member.

7. A gaming cabinet comprising:

a housing having an operating member;

a frame tiltably supported in the housing;

a display supported by the frame;

rotating reels being rotatably supported by the frame, being arranged behind the display, and being visible through the display; and

a linking device configured to link tilting movement of the frame relative to the housing with an operation of the operating member.

8. The gaming cabinet according to claim 7, wherein

the operating member is a rotating handle to be rotated by a player in a direction corresponding to a tilting movement direction of the frame, and

the linking device has a power conversion element for converting rotation of the rotating handle into the tilting movement of the frame.

9. The gaming cabinet according to claim 7,

further comprising: a drive source connected to the linking device so as to be capable of transmitting power to the linking device and configured to be driven according to operation contents of the operating member,

wherein the operating member is operated with operation contents that vary depending on a tilting direction of the frame, and

wherein by use of the power transmitted from the drive source, the linking device tilts the frame in the tilting movement direction corresponding to each of the operation contents of the operating member.