Gaming machine with article holder

Abstract

A gaming machine includes an article holder, such as a holder for a beverage container or ashtray. The article holder is movable about or along an axis between a first position and a second position. The article holder maybe located at a front or side of the gaming machine. The article holder may be mounted in an inset area on the housing and coupled to the exterior of the housing. In one embodiment, the article holder is configured to rotate from a retracted or stowed position within the housing to an extended position out of the housing. The article holder may instead be configured to slide linearly in and out of the housing. The article holder may comprise a primary support, such as a base defining a support surface or element, such as a beverage-container engaging ring, and may include one or more secondary supports, such as additional rings.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a controller within said housing to facilitate a gaming operation; and   an article holder mounted to said housing, wherein said article holder is movable about an axis between a first position and a second position.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine as in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting element mounted to said housing, and said article holder is mounted to said mounting element. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said article holder is mounted to an exterior surface of said housing. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a front panel having interactive elements for engagement by a user and said article holder is mounted to said front panel. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a front panel having interactive elements for engagement by a user and a side panel adjacent said front panel and said article holder is mounted to said side panel. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine as in  claim 1 , wherein said article holder comprises:
 a frame for mounting to said housing; and   a base mounted to said frame for supporting an article.   
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine as in  claim 6 , wherein said article holder further comprises a ring mounted to said frame for securing an article. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine as in  claim 6 , said base is movable about a first axis between a first position and a second position. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine as in  claim 7 , wherein said ring is movable about a second axis between a first position and a second position. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine as in  claim 6 , wherein said base is mounted to a first mounting element on said frame. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine as in  claim 10 , wherein said first mounting element comprises a first hinge defining said first axis. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine as in  claim 11 , wherein said first hinge is spring-loaded. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine as in  claim 7 , wherein said ring is mounted to a second mounting element on said frame. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine as in  claim 13 , wherein said second mounting element comprises a second hinge defining said second axis. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine as in  claim 14 , wherein said second hinge is spring-loaded. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine as in  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of article holders mounted to said housing, at least one of said plurality of article holders mounted to said front panel and at least one of said plurality of article holders mounted to said side panel. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 two side panels, a first of said two side panels adjacent a first end of said front panel and a second of said two side panels adjacent a second end of said front panel; and   a plurality of article holders mounted to said housing, at least one of said plurality of article holders mounted to said first of said side panels and at least one of said plurality of article holders mounted to said second of two side panels.   
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine as in  claim 2 , wherein said mounting element comprises a hinge. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine as in  claim 3 , wherein said exterior surface of said housing comprises an inset area wherein said article holder is mounted. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine as claim in  claim 4 , wherein said front panel comprises an inset area wherein said article holder is mounted. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine as in  claim 5 , wherein said side panel comprises an inset area wherein said article holder is mounted. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine as in  claim 16 , wherein each of said front panel and said side panel comprises an inset area wherein said at least one of said plurality of article holders is mounted. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine as claim in  claim 17 , wherein each of said side panels comprises an inset area wherein said at least one of said plurality of article holders is mounted. 
   
   
       24 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a controller within said housing to facilitate a gaming operation; and   an article holder mounted within said housing, wherein said article holder is movable between a first position and a second position.   
   
   
       25 . The gaming machine as in  claim 24 , further comprising a mounting element mounted internally within said housing, said mounting element and said article holder forming an assembly configured to move said article holder between a first position within said housing and a second position external of said housing. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming machine as in  claim 25 , wherein said assembly is configured to slide along a linear path to move said article holder between said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming machine as in  claim 26 , wherein said article holder comprises a ledge for supporting an article when said article holder is in said second position. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming machine as in  claim 27 , wherein said article holder further comprises a constraint plate for securing said article when said article holder is in said second position. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming machine as in  claim 26 , wherein said article holder opens in clam-shell fashion when moving between said first position and said second position. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming machine as in  claim 29 , wherein said article holder comprises a bottom portion and a top portion when said article holder is in said second position. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming machine as in  claim 30 , wherein said bottom portion comprises a crossbar for supporting an article when said article holder is in said second position. 
   
   
       32 . The gaming machine as in  claim 30 , wherein said top portion comprises a constraint plate for securing said article when said article holder is in said second position. 
   
   
       33 . The gaming machine as in  claim 25 , wherein said assembly is configured to slide along an angular path to move said article holder between said first position and said second position.