Gaming machine cabinet with edge lighting

1. A gaming machine, comprising: a cabinet having generally upright opposite side panels, a rearwardly facing rear side, and a forwardly facing front side; and wherein at least one of the opposite side panels includes a forward position having horizontally spaced-apart inner and outer sheets, the inner and outer sheets including curved edge portions that extend toward one another, the curved edge portion having edges that are spaced-apart from one another to form an elongated gap therebetween and inner and outer surfaces adjacent the edges; at least one game display disposed on the front side of the cabinet for viewing by a user; at least one player interaction device that allows a player to provide game input; an elongated light-transmitting member extending along a length of the elongated gap and spanning the gap, the elongated light-transmitting member defining front and rear surfaces and first and second pairs of spaced-apart retaining surfaces disposed adjacent the inner and outer surfaces of the inner and outer sheets to thereby retain the elongated light-transmitting member, wherein at least a portion of the light-transmitting member is configured to transmit light from a portion of the rear surface to a portion of the front surface; and a plurality of light sources disposed along the rear surface of the elongated light-transmitting member, whereby light from the light sources illuminates at least a portion of the front surface of the elongated light-transmitting member.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein: the elongated light-transmitting member has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and defines a center line extending along a length of the elongated light-transmitting member, and wherein at least a portion of the center line is curved.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein: the elongated light-transmitting member forms a forward edge of the one side panel, and wherein the one side panel has a concave curved portion in a side elevational view of the cabinet.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein: at least a portion of the front surface of the elongated light-transmitting member has a convex curved shape in a cross section taken transverse to the center line.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein: the outer sheet comprises an outer surface of the one side panel, and wherein the inner and outer sheets include enlarged planar portions.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5 , including: a plurality of spacers extending between and interconnecting the planar portions of the inner and outer sheets and fixing the spacing between the planar portions.

7. The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein: the spacers comprise threaded bosses; and including: a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging the threaded bosses and interconnecting the inner and outer skins.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein: substantially the entire front surface of the light-transmitting member illuminated by the light sources.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1 , where the elongated light-transmitting member includes a pair of elongated grooves that open in opposite directions, and wherein at least portions of the edges of the inner and outer sheets are disposed in the grooves.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein: the elongated grooves include spaced-apart inner side walls forming the first and second pairs of retaining surfaces.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10 , wherein: the elongated grooves comprise a first pair of elongated grooves disposed adjacent the front surface of the elongated light-transmitting member; the elongated light-transmitting member includes a second pair of elongated grooves that are spaced inwardly from the first pair of elongated grooves; and including: at least one retaining member engaging a selected one of the second pair of grooves and interconnecting the elongated light-transmitting member to at least a selected one of the inner and outer sheets.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein: the one retaining member comprises a pair of extensions received in the second pair of grooves.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein: a threaded fastener operably engaging the extensions and clamping the extensions into the second pair of grooves.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13 , wherein: the threaded fastener engages the inner sheet and connects the elongated flexible member to the inner sheet.