Electronic gaming machine including monitor articulation mechanism
View Patent ↗An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet defining an internal compartment and an access opening that provides access to the internal compartment, a monitor positioned within the access opening, and an articulating support frame positioned within the internal compartment and operatively coupled to the monitor. The monitor is moveable by the articulating support frame along a first, linear path of motion from a first, closed position to a second, intermediate position, and along a second, arcuate path of motion from the second position to a third, open position.
1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet defining an internal compartment and an access opening that provides access to the internal compartment;
a monitor positioned within the access opening; and
an articulating support frame positioned within the internal compartment and operatively coupled to the monitor, wherein the monitor is moveable by the articulating support frame along a first, linear path of motion from a first, closed position to a second, intermediate position, and along a second, arcuate path of motion from the second position to a third, open position.
2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the articulating support frame inhibits rotation of the monitor as the monitor is moved from the first, closed position to the second, intermediate position.
3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the monitor is moved completely out of the access opening when moved from the first position to the second position.
4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the articulating support frame comprises:
a linear guide having a proximal end fixedly coupled to the cabinet, and a distal end configured for linear movement towards and away from the proximal end; and
a monitor mounting frame pivotably coupled to the linear guide at the distal end thereof, the monitor coupled to the monitor mounting frame.
5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the linear guide comprises:
a scissor support frame comprising a plurality of cross-link assemblies, each cross-link assembly comprising first and second frame members pivotably coupled to one another at a pivot point;
a sub-frame coupled to each of the plurality of cross-link assemblies at the distal end of the linear guide, wherein rotation of the first and second frame members of each cross-link assembly about the pivot point permits linear motion of the sub-frame; and
at least one biasing element coupled to the sub-frame and configured to bias the sub-frame towards second position.
6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the articulating support frame further comprises a latch coupled to the sub-frame and configured to inhibit linear motion of the sub-frame in a latched state, wherein when the latch is released, the at least one biasing element moves the sub-frame along the first path of motion.
7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the articulating support frame further comprises at least one biasing element operatively coupled to the monitor mounting frame and configured to bias the monitor mounting frame towards the third position.
8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 7 , wherein the articulating support frame further comprises a latch coupled to the linear guide and configured to inhibit rotation of the monitor mounting frame in a latched state, wherein when the latch is released, the at least one biasing element moves the monitor mounting frame along the second path of motion.
9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein the monitor is removably coupled to the monitor mounting frame by slotted fasteners such that the monitor can be de-coupled from the monitor mounting frame by sliding the monitor relative to the monitor mounting frame.
10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting frame assembly, wherein the articulating support frame is fixedly coupled to the cabinet by the mounting frame assembly.
11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the monitor is a first monitor, the electronic gaming machine further comprising a second monitor positioned adjacent the first monitor.
12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein the first and second monitors cooperatively form a curved display screen, wherein the first and second monitors adjoin one another along an edge that intersects the curved display screen.
13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the articulating support frame is free of counter-weights.
14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the articulating support frame is free of torsion springs.
15. A method comprising:
providing an electronic gaming machine including a cabinet defining an internal compartment and an access opening, a monitor positioned within the access opening, and an articulating support frame positioned within the internal compartment and operatively coupled to the monitor;
moving the monitor, by the articulating support frame, along a first, linear path of motion from a first, closed position to a second, intermediate position; and
moving the monitor, by the articulating support frame, along a second, arcuate path of motion from the second position to a third, open position in which the monitor permits access to the internal compartment through the access opening.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising inhibiting rotation of the monitor as the monitor is moved along the first, linear path of motion.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing the monitor from the articulating support frame subsequent to the monitor being moved to the third position.
18. An articulating support frame for a monitor of an electronic gaming machine, the articulating support frame comprising:
a linear guide having a proximal end configured for fixedly coupling to a cabinet of the electronic gaming machine, and a distal end configured for linear movement towards and away from the proximal end; and
a monitor mounting frame pivotably coupled to the linear guide at the distal end thereof;
wherein the articulating support frame is configured to move the monitor along a first, linear path of motion from a first, closed position to a second, intermediate position, and along a second, arcuate path of motion from the second position to a third, open position.
19. The articulating support frame of claim 18 , wherein the linear guide comprises:
a scissor support frame comprising a plurality of cross-link assemblies, each cross-link assembly comprising first and second frame members pivotably coupled to one another at a pivot point;
a sub-frame coupled to each of the plurality of cross-link assemblies at the distal end of the linear guide, wherein rotation of the first and second frame members of each cross-link assembly about the pivot point permits linear motion of the sub-frame; and
at least one first biasing element coupled to the sub-frame and configured to bias the sub-frame towards second position.
20. The articulating support frame of claim 19 , further comprising at least one second biasing element operatively coupled to the monitor mounting frame and configured to bias the monitor mounting frame towards the third position.