Ergonomic gaming machine having electromechanical reels

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. A version of the cabinet including electromechanical reels is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a top, bottom, back, two opposite sides, and a front, the front comprising a first display mounted substantially vertically;   a second display comprising a reel glass and one or more electromechanical reels;   a first surface area stably receivable for small personal items between the second display and at least one player input device;   a second surface area configured to allow resting of an arm, elbow, or wrist, the second surface area on an opposite side of the player input device as the first surface area;   wherein the cabinet houses gaming electronics and logic to enable the 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  further comprising a reel shroud positioned between the reel glass and the electromechanical reels. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the number of the reels is greater than 5 reels. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the reel glass comprises a transmissive liquid crystal display. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first display is mounted from 0 degrees to 20 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first display is mounted 4 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first surface area comprises at least 6 inches from the second display to the at least one player input device. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the second surface area further comprises a resilient bolster configured to allow resting of an arm, elbow, or wrist thereon. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the second surface extends at least 3 inches beyond any player input devices. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising side panels extending outwardly from and on each side of at least one of said displays. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a top box. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11  wherein the top box further comprises a game display. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  wherein the game display comprises a wheel. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein the wheel is a stationary wheel. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein the wheel is a moving wheel. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein the game display comprises a light box. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 11  wherein the top box further comprises a progressive meter. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine with ergonomic design features comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a top, bottom, two opposite sides, a back and a front, the front comprising a first display mounted substantially vertically and a second display comprising a reel glass and one or more electromechanical reels;   the front further comprising a player deck area comprising at least one input device area extending away from said second display;   a first area between said input device area and said second display and a second area on the opposite side of said input device area as said first area, the first and second areas comprising substantially flat horizontal areas therein;   wherein said cabinet comprises operably disposed gaming components, the gaming components comprising the first and second displays, at least one input device in the input device area and gaming machine logic operably disposed in electronic components, the gaming components configured to enable play of a game whose outcome is based at least partially on a random event.   
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  further comprising a reel shroud positioned between the reel glass and the electromechanical reels. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein the reel glass comprises a transmissive liquid crystal display. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein said first display is mounted from 0 degrees to 20 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein said first display is mounted 4 degrees from vertical. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein said first surface area comprises at least 6 inches from said second display to said at least one player input device. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein said second surface area further comprises a resilient bolster. 
   
   
       25 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  where said second surface extends at least 3 inches beyond any player input devices. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  where said cabinet further comprising side panels extending outwardly from and on each side of at least one of said displays. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  further comprising a top box. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming machine of  claim 27  wherein the top box further comprises a game display. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming machine of  claim 28  wherein the game display comprises a wheel. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming machine of  claim 29  wherein the wheel is a stationary wheel. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming machine of  claim 29  wherein the wheel is a moving wheel. 
   
   
       32 . The gaming machine of  claim 28  wherein the game display comprises a light box. 
   
   
       33 . The gaming machine of  claim 27  wherein the top box further comprises a progressive meter.