Lighting Arrrangement for a Gaming Machine

1 . A lighting arrangement for a wagering game machine, the wagering game machine having an interior component, comprising:

a panel including an edge, the panel being removable to access the interior component; and

a lamp for transmitting light through at least a portion of the panel via the edge, the lamp being mounted to a mounting member in proximity to the edge, the lamp and the mounting member being free of physical connection to the panel such that the panel can be removed from the game machine without disconnecting the panel from the lamp or the mounting member.

2 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is slidably mounted to the mounting member.

3 . The arrangement of claim 1 , further including a cabinet having a crown, the mounting member being attached to the crown.

4 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL).

5 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is elongated, the elongated lamp being positioned along the edge.

6 . The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the panel is rectangular, the rectangular panel including first and second opposing edges and a pair of opposing faces extending between the first and second edges, the elongated lamp being positioned along the first edge.

7 . The arrangement of claim 6 , further including a second elongated lamp positioned along the second edge, the second lamp being mounted to a second mounting member in proximity to the second edge, the second lamp and the second mounting member being free of connection to the panel such that the panel may be removed from the game machine without disconnecting the panel from the second lamp or the second mounting member.

8 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is free of electrical connection to the panel.

9 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member is comprised of sheet metal or extruded plastic.

10 . The arrangement of claim 1 , further including a shield mounted between the lamp and the edge.

11 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes an opening, further including a bezel along a perimeter of the opening, the bezel blocking the light from being transmitted into the opening.

12 . A lighting arrangement for a wagering game machine, the wagering game machine having an interior component, comprising:

a panel including an edge, the panel being removable to access the interior component; and

a lamp for illuminating at least a portion of the panel by emitting light through the edge, the lamp being positioned along the edge but not being mounted to the panel such that the panel can be freely moved relative to the lamp.

13 . The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the lamp is slidably mounted to a mounting member in proximity to the edge.

14 . The arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the mounting member is comprised of sheet metal or extruded plastic.

15 . The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the lamp is a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL).

16 . The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the lamp is elongated.

17 . The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the panel is rectangular, the rectangular panel including first and second opposing edges and a pair of opposing faces extending between the first and second edges, the elongated lamp being positioned along the first edge.

18 . The arrangement of claim 17 , further including a second elongated lamp positioned along the second edge but not being mounted to the panel such that the panel can be freely moved relative to the second lamp.

19 . The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the lamp is free of electrical connection to the panel.

20 . The arrangement of claim 12 , further including a shield mounted between the lamp and the edge.

21 . The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the panel includes an opening, further including a bezel along a perimeter of the opening, the bezel blocking the light from being transmitted into the opening.

22 . A method of servicing a wagering game machine, the machine including a panel and a lamp for illuminating at least a portion of the panel by emitting light through an edge thereof, the lamp being positioned along the edge but not being mounted to the panel, the method comprising:

removing the panel from the machine, without having to disconnect the panel from the lamp, to gain access to an interior component located behind the panel; and

inserting the same or a different panel into the machine without having to connect the same or the different panel to the lamp.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the lamp is slidably mounted to a mounting member in proximity to the edge, further including removing the lamp from the mounting member and slidably mounting a new lamp to the mounting member.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the lamp is elongated.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further including servicing the machine between the removing and inserting steps.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the servicing step includes servicing the interior component.

27 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the inserting step inserts the different panel such that the machine is operable to play a new game.

28 . A wagering game machine, comprising:

a cabinet including a crown in proximity to an upper end thereof;

an interior component;

a panel including an edge, the panel being removable to access the interior component;

a mounting member mounted to the crown in proximity to the edge; and

an elongated lamp for illuminating at least a portion of the panel by emitting light through the edge, the lamp being mounted to the mounting member, the lamp being positioned along the edge but not being mounted to the panel such that the panel can be freely moved relative to the lamp.