# US 12,214,285 B2 · Door locking assembly for a button deck of an electronic gaming machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,285 B2 - Document ID: US12214285B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/495,567 - Filed: 2023-10-26 - Published: 2024-02-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-30 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Lindsay McClintock; James McNierney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214285B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/90: Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3216: {Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects} - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An electronic gaming device includes a cabinet having a display for presenting a game to a player and a button deck configured to receive a player input for the game. The button deck includes a housing defining an internal cavity and an access door coupled to the housing. The access door is configured to move relative to the housing between open and closed positions. The housing defines an opening providing access to the internal cavity when the access door is opened. The electronic gaming device further includes a latch coupled to the housing that engages and locks the access door in the closed position. An actuator is coupled to the latch for controlling the latch to release the access door. The actuator extends within the internal cavity from the latch and is accessible at a position of the button deck that is spaced from the access door. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming device comprising: a cabinet; and a button deck coupled to the cabinet, the button deck configured to receive a player input, the button deck comprising: a housing; an access door coupled to the housing; a latch positioned within the housing and configured to engage the access door; and an actuator coupled to the latch for controlling the latch to release the access door, the actuator being accessible at a position of the gaming device that is spaced from the access door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity and the access door is movable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the housing defines an opening providing access to the internal cavity of the housing when the access door is in the open position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a top side and an opposed bottom side, the button deck further comprising a hinge coupling the access door to the bottom side, wherein the access door is configured to open under gravity outward of the bottom side of the housing when the latch releases the access door. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a front end and an opposed rear end, the front end being oriented to face a user during game play, wherein the actuator extends out of the housing through the rear end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the button deck further comprises: a glass insulator defining a top surface of the button deck and an opening extending through the glass insulator; and a pushbutton, the pushbutton being received within the opening defined in the glass insulator, wherein the pushbutton extends through the opening and outward of the top surface of the button deck. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the button deck further comprises a cam lock releasably coupling the pushbutton to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the cam lock is accessible through the opening in the housing when the access door is released. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the cam lock is rotatable to transition the cam lock between a locked configuration in which the cam lock is engaged with the pushbutton, and an unlocked configuration, wherein, in the unlocked configuration, the pushbutton is freely removable from the button deck through the top surface of the glass insulator, wherein the cam lock includes a ring sized to surround at least a portion of the pushbutton and a lever coupled to the ring and extending radially outward therefrom, the lever being accessible through the opening in the housing when the access door is released. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the button deck further comprises a pushbutton and a button lock coupled to the housing, and wherein the housing defines an opening providing access to the button lock when the access door is released. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising a podium including a body laterally spaced from the cabinet, the button deck, and a panel, wherein at least a portion of the panel is moveable relative to the body to provide access to an interior of the podium, wherein the actuator extends from the button deck and into the podium body such that the actuator is accessible to an operator when the panel is opened. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the access door is provided on a first side of the housing, and wherein the actuator is accessible at a second side of the housing that is different from the first side of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pull cable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the latch is a slam latch. ### Claim 13 A button deck for use in an electronic gaming device, the button deck comprising: a housing; an access door movably coupled to the housing; and a latch positioned within the housing and configured to engage the access door; and an actuator coupled to the latch for controlling the latch to release the access door, the actuator being accessible at a position of the button deck that is spaced from the access door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The button deck of claim 13, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity and the access door is movable relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the housing defines an opening providing access to the internal cavity of the housing when the access door is in the open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The button deck of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a top side and an opposed bottom side, wherein the button deck further comprises a hinge coupling the access door to the bottom side, wherein the access door is configured to open under gravity outward of the bottom side of the housing when the latch releases the access door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The button deck of claim 15, wherein the housing further defines a front end and an opposed rear end, the front end being oriented to face a user during game play, wherein the actuator extends out of the housing through the rear end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The button deck of claim 16 further comprising a pushbutton and a button lock coupled to the housing, wherein the housing defines an opening providing access to the button lock when the access door is released. ### Claim 18 A method of servicing a button deck of a gaming device, the button deck including a housing and a door coupled to the housing, the method comprising: accessing an actuator at a position of the gaming device that is spaced from the door; controlling the actuator to move a latch of the button deck and release the door, the latch being positioned within the housing and engaged with the door when the door is in a closed position; and moving the door from the closed position to an open position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising: releasing, after moving the door to the open position, a button lock, the button lock coupling a pushbutton to the housing and being accessible at an opening defined in the housing when the door is in the open position; and lifting the pushbutton out from the button deck. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the housing includes a top side and an opposed bottom side, the button deck further including a hinge coupling the door to the bottom side, wherein the door is moved from the closed position to the open position under gravity and outward of the bottom side of the housing.