Lighted gaming diplay device

Abstract

A lighted gaming display device for use with a gaming machine. The display device includes a wall defining a cavity. The wall has a partially transparent portion. A player can view light emitted from within the cavity. One or more light sources are mounted in the cavity. The light sources are adapted to emit light. A distorting reflective material is mounted in the cavity. The light reflected by the distorting reflective material to the player appears different than the light incident upon the distorting reflective material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display device configured to be used with a gaming device, the display device comprising: 
 (a) a container, the container having a wall defining a cavity, at least a portion of the wall being partially transparent, wherein a player may view a portion of the cavity of the container;    (b) a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted in the cavity, the light emitting diodes being adapted to emit light;    (c) a distorting reflective material mounted in the cavity, the distorting reflective material adapted to distort light reflected from the distorting reflective material; and    (d) a controller in communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller being configured to cause the light emitting diodes to emit light, wherein at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes is incident upon the reflective material and is distorted and reflected toward the player.    
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting diodes are configured to emit light in a plurality of wavelengths.  
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises at least a first and second light emitting diode, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes to emit light at a different time than the second light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes.  
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 3  wherein the first light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is configured to emit light in a different wavelength than the second light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes.  
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 1  further comprising a mirror mounted adjacent to the cavity, wherein at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes is incident upon the mirror.  
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the distorting reflective material is positioned on at least a portion of an inner circumference of the cavity.  
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the distorting reflective material is attached to the wall.  
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 5  wherein the mirror is mounted to the wall.  
     
     
         9 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the container is substantially cylindrical having a curved surface and at least one substantially planar end, wherein the reflective material is positioned on at least a portion of the curved surface.  
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 9  further comprising a mirror on at least a portion of the end.  
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the distorting reflective material distorts light similar to a prism.  
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 9  wherein the distorting reflective material comprises a surface holographic embossed polyester film.  
     
     
         13 . The display device of  claim 1  wherein the display device is mounted to a slot machine.  
     
     
         14 . A display device configured to be used with gaming devices, the display device comprising: 
 (a) a wall, the wall defining a cavity and having at least a partially transparent portion, wherein a player can view light emitted from within the cavity;    (b) a light source mounted in the cavity, the light source being adapted to emit light; and    (c) a distorting reflective material mounted in the cavity, wherein light reflected by the distorting reflective material is different than light incident on the reflective material.    
     
     
         15 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         16 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is an incandescent light.  
     
     
         17 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is a fluorescent light.  
     
     
         18 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is a neon light.  
     
     
         19 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is a laser.  
     
     
         20 . The display device of  claim 14  further comprising a controller in communication with the light source, the controller being configured to cause the light source to emit light.  
     
     
         21 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is adapted to emit light in predetermined intervals.  
     
     
         22 . The display device of  claim 14  further comprising a mirror mounted adjacent to the cavity, wherein at least a portion of the emitted light is incident upon the mirror.  
     
     
         23 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the distorting reflective material is positioned on at least a portion of an inner circumference of the cavity.  
     
     
         24 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the distorting reflective material is mounted to the wall.  
     
     
         25 . The display device of  claim 22  wherein the mirror is mounted to the wall.  
     
     
         26 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the container is substantially cylindrical having a curved surface and at least one substantially planar end, wherein the reflective material is positioned on at least a portion of the curved surface.  
     
     
         27 . The display device of  claim 26  further comprising a mirror on at least a portion of the end.  
     
     
         28 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the distorting reflective material distorts light similar to a prism.  
     
     
         29 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the distorting reflective material comprises a surface holographic embossed polyester film.  
     
     
         30 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the display device is mounted to a slot machine.  
     
     
         31 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein the light source is a plurality of light emitting diodes that are mounted in the cavity.  
     
     
         32 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are mounted to a base.  
     
     
         33 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a first and second light emitting diode, wherein a controller is configured to cause the first light emitting diode to emit light at a different time than the second light emitting diode.  
     
     
         34 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein the first light emitting diode is configured to emit light in a different wavelength than the second light emitting diode.  
     
     
         35 . The display device of  claim 14  wherein at least one game symbol is positioned within the cavity.  
     
     
         36 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein light from the light emitting diode is incident upon the game symbol and is reflected by the game symbol.  
     
     
         37 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein light reflected from the distorting reflective material is incident upon the game symbol and is reflected by the game symbol.  
     
     
         38 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein light reflected from a mirror is incident upon the game symbol and is reflected by the game symbol.  
     
     
         39 . The display device of  claim 31  wherein the game symbol is rotated.  
     
     
         40 . A method of illuminating a gaming device comprising: 
 (a) providing a container having a cavity, the container being partially transparent, wherein a player may view a portion of the cavity of the container;    (b) providing a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted in the cavity;    (c) providing a distorting reflective material mounted in the cavity;    (d) emitting light from the light emitting diodes, a portion of the emitted light being incident upon the distorting reflective material; and    (e) refracting the light that is incident upon the reflective material toward the player such that the player views light that has been distorted.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the light emitting diodes emit light in a plurality of wavelengths.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising turning the light emitting diodes on and off.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising transmitting the light from the light emitting diodes onto a mirror.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the distorting reflective material comprises a surface holographic embossed polyester film.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40  wherein at least one game symbol is positioned within the cavity.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising transmitting the light from the light emitting diodes onto the game symbol and reflecting from the game symbol.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising the reflected light from the reflective material being incident upon the game symbol and reflecting from the game symbol.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising the reflected light from the mirror being incident upon the game symbol and reflecting from the game symbol.