Modular cabinets and replaceable laminate panels for a gaming device

Abstract

A modular cabinet for use with a gaming device. The gaming device modular cabinet includes a display cabinet removably connected to a component cabinet by a locking mechanism. The cabinets are preferably made of rolled steel, where the display cabinet is adapted to receive at least the display, while the component cabinet is adapted to receive the components for the gaming device other than the display. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes laminated side panels connected to the display and component cabinets. The gaming device further includes a monitor cover removably connected to the display cabinet.

1 . A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;    a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;    a display device operable to display the game, said display device supported by the cabinet;    an input device operable to enable the player to make the wager on the game;    a first side panel connected to said first side wall of said cabinet;    a second side panel connected to said second side wall of said cabinet, wherein at least one of said first side panel and said second side panel includes a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate;    at least one first securing member which secures the first side panel to said first side wall from inside of said cabinet;    at least one second securing member which secures said second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet, wherein each of the first securing members and the second securing members can only be unsecured from said side first and second panels and said first and second side walls from inside of said cabinet; and    a lockable door movably connected to said cabinet, said lockable door movable to access the inside of said cabinet.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of first securing members which secure the first side panel to said first side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , which includes a plurality of second securing members which secure the second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of second securing members which secure the second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second side panels each include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a relatively thin strong material.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is metal.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein the substrate is aluminum.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative layer includes laminate applied to an outside surface of the substrate.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein the laminate is applied in a spray form.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein the laminate is in a sheet form.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein the laminate is applied as a continuous sheet.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein the laminate is applied as a plurality of sheets.  
   
   
       14 . A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising: 
 a cabinet including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;    a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;    a display device operable to display the game, said display device supported by the cabinet;    an input device operable to enable the player to make the wager on the game;    a first side panel connected to said first side wall of said cabinet;    a second side panel connected to said second side wall of said cabinet, wherein at least one of said first side panel and said second side panel includes a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate;    at least one first securing member which secures the first side panel to said first side wall from inside of said cabinet;    at least one second securing member which secures said second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet, wherein each of the first securing members and the second securing members cannot be unsecured from outside of the cabinet; and    a lockable door movably connected to said cabinet, said lockable door movable to access the inside of said cabinet.    
   
   
       15 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , which includes a plurality of first securing members which secure the first side panel to said first side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , which includes a plurality of second securing members which secure the second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , which includes a plurality of second securing members which secure the second side panel to said second side wall from inside of said cabinet.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein each of said first and second side panels each include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate is a relatively thin strong material.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is metal.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is aluminum.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein the decorative layer includes laminate applied to an outside surface of the substrate.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the laminate is applied in a spray form.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the laminate is in a sheet form.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the laminate is applied as a continuous sheet.  
   
   
       26 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the laminate is applied as a plurality of sheets.  
   
   
       27 . A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising: 
 a component cabinet including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;    a display cabinet connected to said component cabinet, said display cabinet including a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall;    a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player;    a display device operable to display the game, said display device supported by the display cabinet;    an input device operable to enable the player to make the wager on the game;    a first side panel connected to said first side wall and said third side wall;    a second side panel connected to said second side wall and said fourth side wall, wherein at least one of the first and second side panels include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate;    a plurality of first securing members which secure the first side panel to said first side wall and said third side wall from inside of said component cabinet and said display cabinet;    a plurality of second securing members which secure said second side panel to said second side wall and said fourth side wall from inside of said component cabinet and said display cabinet, wherein the first securing members and the second securing members can only be unsecured from said side panels and said side walls from inside of said component cabinet and said display cabinet; and    a lockable door movably connected to one of said component cabinet and said display cabinet, said lockable door movable to allow access to the inside of said component cabinet and said display cabinet.    
   
   
       28 . The gaming device of  claim 27 , wherein each of said first and second side panels include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming device of  claim 27 , wherein the substrate is a relatively thin strong material.  
   
   
       30 . The gaming device of  claim 29 , wherein the substrate is metal.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming device of  claim 29 , wherein the substrate is aluminum.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming device of  claim 27 , wherein the decorative layer includes laminate applied to an outside surface of the substrate.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming device of  claim 32 , wherein the laminate is applied in a spray form.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming device of  claim 32 , wherein the laminate is in a sheet form.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming device of  claim 32 , wherein the laminate is applied as a continuous sheet.  
   
   
       35 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the laminate is applied as a plurality of sheets.  
   
   
       36 . A gaming device controlled by a processor, said gaming device comprising: 
 a component cabinet including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall;    a display cabinet selected from a plurality of differently sized display cabinets, said selected display cabinet including a third side wall and an opposing fourth side wall, each of said display cabinets adapted to be connected to said component cabinet and sized to receive at least one of a plurality of differently sized display devices, wherein each display device is operable with the processor and at least one player input device to enable a player to play at least one game upon a wager by the player;    at least one first side panel connected to said first side wall of said component cabinet and the third side wall of said selected display cabinet;    at least one second side panel connected to said second side wall of said component cabinet and said fourth side wall of said selected display cabinet, wherein one of said first and second side panels include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate;    a plurality of first securing members which secure the first side panel to said first side wall and said third side wall from inside of said component cabinet and said selected display cabinet;    a plurality of second securing members which secure said second side panel to said second side wall and said fourth side wall from inside of said component cabinet and said selected display cabinet, wherein the first securing members and the second securing members can only be unsecured from said side panels and said side walls from inside of said component cabinet and said selected display cabinet; and    a lockable door movably connected to one of said component cabinet and said display cabinet, said lockable door movable to access the inside of said component cabinet and said selected display cabinet.    
   
   
       37 . The gaming device of  claim 36 , wherein said first and second side panels each include a substrate and a decorative layer connected to the substrate.