Adjustable gaming stool with releasable locking assembly

Abstract

A gaming stool to enable an associated gaming machine to be serviced has a seating section, a support assembly connected to the seating section, and self-adjusting resilient means connected to the seating section for normally maintaining the seating section at a predetermined height. The support assembly is operatively associated with the self-adjusting resilient means and includes an upper member and a lower member, disposed for operative inter-engagement with each other. A releasable locking assembly between the inter-engaging upper member and lower member has a wide cut-away section, a cut-in portion and an entrance opening therebetween in the wall of the lower member. A latching member on the inner wall of the upper member will engage the cut-in and hold the seating section in a depressed position and, when disengaged, will return the seating section to the self adjusting operation.

1 . A gaming stool for enabling an associated gaming machine to be serviced comprising: 
 a. a seating section,    b. a support assembly disposed on a supporting surface,    c. said support assembly having an upper member and a lower member disposed for operative inter-engagement with each other in assembled position,    d. said upper member connected at the upper end to the seating section and having its lower end freely movable relative said lower cylindrical member,    e. self-adjusting means connected at one end to said seating section normally operative to maintain said seating section at a predetermined height and yieldable to enable said seating section to be moved and held at a lower position, and    f. a locking assembly on said support assembly to enable said seating section to be releasably locked in a desired lower position and when released to permit said seating section to return to the normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming stool as in  claim 1  wherein the upper member and the lower member are cylindrically shaped and are telescopically disposed relative to each other, and the locking assembly is so disposed between the upper member and the lower member that they are free to move and slide relative to each other during normal self-adjusting operation and use of the gaming stool.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming stool as in claims  1  or  2  wherein the locking assembly includes: 
 a. a cut-out section in and medially along the wall of the lower member, having at least one opening in communication with the cut-out section and a generally inverted cut-in at the upper end of the cut-out section, and    b. a shaped latching member on the inner wall of the upper member disposed for entrance into the opening for the cut-in section and movable to fit and to engage the inverted cut in section when the seating section is lowered and turned for releasably locking the seating section in the lowered position and releasable to the unlocked position to return the seating section to normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       4 . The gaming stool as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the shaped latching member is an enlarged gear-shaped member.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming stool as in  claim 3  wherein the shaped latching member is a rotatable gear-shaped wheel.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming stool as in claims  1  or  2  wherein the locking assembly includes: 
 a. a relatively large cut-away section in the wall of the lower member,    b. a shaped cut-in portion medially along the wall of the lower cylindrical member, having at least one opening in communication with the cut-away section, and a generally inverted and downwardly extending locking tab formed by the upper end of the shaped cut-in portion, and    c. a shaped latching member on the inner wall of the upper cylindrical member movable for entrance into and out of engagement with the shaped cut-in portion and the inverted locking tab when the seating section is lowered and turned to releasably lock the seating section in the lowered position and releasable to the unlocked position to return the seating section to normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       7 . The gaming stool as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the shaped latching member is an enlarged gear-shaped member.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming stool as in  claim 4  wherein the shaped latching member is a rotatable gear-shaped wheel.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming stool as in claims  1  or  2  wherein the locking assembly includes: 
 a. a substantial vertical cut-away in the wall of the lower member forming a first side edge and a second side edge on the remaining portion of the wall on the lower member,    b. a cut-out section in and medially along said first side edge in the remaining potion of the wall of the lower member having, at least one inlet opening in the side edge of the said arcuate opening,    c. a generally inverted locking groove at the upper end of the cut-out section, and    d. a rotatably mounted generally gear-shaped wheel-like latching member on the inner wall of the upper member slidable into the said inlet opening for the cut-in section and to fit in locking engagement with the inverted locking groove when the seating section is lowered and turned for releasably locking the seating section in the lowered position and releasable by turning the seating section to the unlocked position to return the seating section to normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       10 . A first member for enabling an associated second member to be serviced, the first member having a seating section and comprising: 
 a. a support assembly for the first member having an upper member and a lower member disposed for operative inter-engagement with each other,    b. said upper member affixed at its upper end to the seating section and having its lower end normally disposed in freely movable relation to the lower member,    c. yieldable means on said support assembly operative to normally maintain said seating section of the first member at a predetermined height and self-adjusting to enable said seating section to be moved to a lower position and, when released, to return the seating section to the initial predetermined height, and    d. an inter-engaging locking assembly formed on said upper member and lower member to enable said seating section to be releasably locked at a desired lower height and when released to return to normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       11 . The combination in  claim 10  wherein the upper member and the lower member are cylindrically shaped and are telescopically disposed relative to each other, and the inter-engaging locking assembly is so disposed between the upper member and the lower member that they are free to move and slide relative to each other during normal self-adjusting operation and use of the gaming stool.  
   
   
       12 . The combination as in claims  10  or  11  wherein the yieldable means includes a gas cylinder disposed in the lower member, and a plunger member is movable into and out of said gas cylinder, and said plunger member connected at the end remote from the gas cylinder to the seat section of the gaming stool.  
   
   
       13 . The combination as in claims  10  or  11  wherein the locking assembly includes: 
 a. a relatively large cut-away section in the wall of the lower member,    b. a shaped cut-in portion medially along the wall of the lower cylindrical member, having at least one opening in communication with the cut-away section, and a generally inverted and downwardly extending locking tab formed by the upper end of the shaped cut-in portion, and    c. a shaped latching member on the inner wall of the upper cylindrical member movable for entrance into and out of engagement with the shaped cut-in portion and the inverted locking tab when the seating section is lowered and turned to releasably lock the seating section in the lowered position and releasable to the unlocked position to return the seating section to normal self-adjusting operation.    
   
   
       14 . The combination as in  claim 13  wherein the shaped latching member is an enlarged gear-shaped member.  
   
   
       15 . The combination as in  claim 13  wherein the shaped latching member is a rotatable gear-shaped wheel.