Assembly for A Gaming Machine and Player Interface

Abstract

Certain embodiments relate to gaming machines and in particular to electronic gaming machines having a monitor and one or more than touch sensitive screen. The touch sensitive screen is releasably or detectably mounted in front of the monitor so that in the event of either one of the touch screen or the monitor failing, the failed item and be removed, and replaced or service as desired.

1 . An assembly for the front portion of a gaming machine, the assembly comprising:
 i) a touch sensitive screen; and   ii) a panel having one or more than one opening over which the touch sensitive screen is mounted, wherein the panel is adapted to form at least part of the front portion of a gaming machine and locate the touch sensitive screen in relationship to a monitor of a gaming machine.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel is in the form of a door or hatch that can be mounted to form at least part of the front face of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a liquid-tight seal is formed between the touch screen and the panel. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the liquid-tight seal is provided by a rubberised sealing ring contacting the panel and touch screen. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is able to be removed and substituted with a fresh replacement touch screen. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is bonded directly or indirectly to the panel by hot or cold glue adhesives or tape adhesive including double sided-tape adhesives. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is mounted directly or indirectly to the panel by any one for a combination of: brackets, angular sections that receive the touch screen, or fasteners including screws, bolts, nails and rivets. 
   
   
       8 . A player interface that is, at least in part, used to operate a gaming machine, the player interface comprising:
 i) a monitor for displaying images that relate to the operation of the gaming machine; and   ii) a mounting assembly including a touch sensitive screen, the mounting assembly locating the touching screen in front of the monitor so that the touch screen can be operated in association with the images on the monitor, and wherein the mounting assembly is operable so as to be able to move the touch screen between an operative position in which the touch screen is located in front of the monitor and an inoperative position in which the touch screen is displaced from the monitor and in which a player is unable to use the touch screen in associate with the monitor.   
   
   
       9 . The player interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the mounting assembly includes an open and closeable panel having an aperture or opening through which the monitor can be seen when closed, and the touch sensitive screen is located over the aperture and located in the operative position when the panel is closed. 
   
   
       10 . The player interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the panel is pivotally mounted to a gaming machine and can be pivoted between opened and closed positions. 
   
   
       11 . The player interface according to  claim 10 , wherein the panel is in the form of a pivotally mounted door or hatch that when located in a closed position forms at least part of the front face of a gaming machine. 
   
   
       12 . The player interface according to  claim 8 , wherein liquid-tight seal is formed between the touch screen and the panel. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the touch screen is able to be removed and substituted with a fresh replacement touch screen. 
   
   
       14 . The player interface according to  claim 8 , whereby when the touch screen is located in an operative position, a gap or spacing between the touch screen and the display screen of the monitor is less than or equal to 20 mm. 
   
   
       15 . The player interface according to  claim 8 , whereby when the touch screen is located in an operative position, a gap or spacing between the touch screen and the display screen of the monitor is less than 10 mm and suitably in the range of 1 to 4 mm. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine assembly comprising:
 i) a cabinet for containing components of the machine, the cabinet having an openable and closeable front panel to allow access to at least some of the components of the machine;   ii) at least one monitor located inside the cabinet and the front panel having an opening through which a display screen of the at least one monitor can be observed when the front panel is located in a closed position; and   iii) a touch sensitive screen over the opening of the front panel and being located in an operative position with the images on at least one display screen when the front panel is located in a closed position and an inoperative position when the front is opened in which the touch screen is displaced from the monitor to prevent a player from using the touch screen in associate with the monitor.   
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the front panel of the cabinet has one or more than opening over which at least a part of the touch sensitive screen is mounted. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the machine includes multiple monitors and one of said touch screens is operable in respect of two or more of the display screens of the monitors. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the machine includes multiple monitors and a touch screen is operable in respect of the touch screens of the monitors. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein a liquid-tight seal is formed between the touch screen and the panel. 
   
   
       21 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the touch screen is able to be removed and substituted with a fresh replacement touch screen. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the front panel is pivotally mounted to a gaming machine and can be pivoted between opened and closed positions. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the panel is in the form of a pivotally mounted door or hatch that when located in a closed position forms at least part of the front face of a gaming machine. 
   
   
       24 . An assembly for a gaming machine, the assembly comprising:
 i) a touch sensitive screen; and   ii) a monitor on which symbols or images relating to a game being played can be displayed, the touch screen being releasably mounted in front of the monitor so as to allow each to be separated from each other during servicing and either one of the touch screen or the monitor can be repaired, replaced or removed as desired.   
   
   
       25 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the touch screen is releasably mounted to the monitor or a panel that is attached to the monitor via fasteners such as, but by no means limited to screws, bolts, rivots, clamps, snap lock fittings or adhesives.