Ergonomic gaming cabinet

Abstract

A new ergonomic game cabinet with a unique layout is disclosed. The gaming machine cabinet includes a display mounted nearly vertically, combined with a player deck extending towards a player having more space at a more useful angle than previously available. The player deck will have open space usable by a player for small items (wallets, purses, chips, etc.), a player device area (typically buttons), and then a further area where a player can rest their arms, wrists, or elbows and comfortably reach the player device area. This further area may also be used for small player items, such as chips, tickets, etc. In addition, the new cabinet provides side panels on each side of the gaming machine cabinet that creates a feeling of being “surrounded” by the game experience due to reduced noise and visual distractions from nearby gaming machines, other patrons, waitrons, and the like.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a cabinet comprising a top, bottom, two opposite sides, and a front;    said front comprising a display, said display mounted substantially vertically;    a first surface area stably receivable for small person items between said display and at least one player input device;    a second surface area configured to allow resting of an arm, elbow, or wrist, said second surface area on an opposite side of said player input device as said first surface area;    where said cabinet houses gaming electronics and logic to enable said player input device to be usable to play a game whose outcome is at least partially based on a random event.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  where said display is mounted from 0 degrees to 10 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  where said display is mounted 4 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  where said first surface area comprises at least 6 inches from said display to said at least player input device.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  where said second surface area further comprises a resilient bolster configured to allow resting of an arm, elbow, or wrist thereon.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  where said second surface extends at least 3 inches beyond any player input devices.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising side panels extending outwardly from and on each side of said display.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming machine with ergonomic design features comprising: 
 a cabinet comprising a top, bottom, two opposite sides, and a front;    said front comprising a display, said display mounted substantially vertically;    said front further comprising a player deck area extending away from said display, said deck area comprising at least one input device area, a first area between said input device area and said display and a second area on the opposite side of said input device area as said first area, said first and second areas comprising substantially flat horizontal areas therein;    where said cabinet comprises operably disposed gaming components therein, comprising said display and at least one input device in said input device area, further comprising gaming machine logic operably disposed in electronic components therein, configured to enable play of a game whose outcome is based at least partially on a random event.    
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said display is mounted from 0 degrees to 10 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said display is mounted 4 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said first surface area comprises at least 6 inches from said display to said at least player input device.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said second surface area further comprises a resilient bolster.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said second surface extends at least 3 inches beyond any player input devices.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 8  where said cabinet further comprising side panels extending outwardly from and on each side of said display.  
   
   
       15 . A method providing an ergonomic gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a cabinet comprising a top, bottom, two opposite sides, and a front;    providing said front with a display mounted substantially vertically;    providing said front with a player deck extending outwardly relative to said display in a substantially horizontal manner;    using space provided by said player deck to further provide a first area, a second area, and an input device area between said first and second areas;    providing said cabinet with gaming components operably disposed therein, including said display and said at least one input device, further comprising gaming machine logic operably disposed therein, configured to enable play of a game whose outcome is based at least partially on a random event.    
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 15  where said display is mounted from 0 degrees to 10 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 15  where said display is mounted 4 degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 15  where said first surface area comprises a depth receivable for at least one of: drink containers; wallets; chips; hand purses; or, ash trays.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 15  where said cabinet further comprising side panels extending outwardly from and on each side of said display.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 15  where said input area has no input devices and forms a contiguous surface with said first and second areas.