Gaming machine with slide-out button deck assembly and manually operable push-to-release latch mechanism

A manually operable push-to-release latch mechanism for a slide-out button deck assembly secured to a gaming machine by a latch element including a release lever, the latch mechanism comprising:

• a rotatable handle element coupled to the button deck assembly and being movable from a closed position to an open position on an exterior of the button deck assembly;
• a linearly movable link mounted interior to the button deck assembly, the linearly movable link including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is displaced by a manual rotation of the rotatable handle element;
• and
• a rotational link coupled to the second end of the linearly movable link and actuating the release lever of the latch element when the linearly movable link is displaced.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming support structure;
• a game controller;
• and
• a slide-out player interface coupled to the game support structure and operationally responsive to the game controller, the slide-out player interface comprising:
• a button deck in communication with the game controller and including video display, a glass insulator, and a capacitive touch screen layer on the glass insulator overlying the video display;
• a bracket including a rim extending past an outer periphery of the glass insulator;
• a flange surrounding at least a portion of the button deck, the flange being a single piece cast element formed with a front side and first and second lateral sides depending from the front side, at least the first and second lateral sides defining an upper channel and a lower channel, the upper channel receiving the rim to provide a degree of waterproofing to prevent a spill on a top surface of the glass insulator from damaging the video display;
• first and second drawer slide assemblies coupled to the lower channel in each respective first and second lateral side of the flange and also coupled to the gaming support structure;
• and
• a latch element and a manually operable push-to-release mechanism for releasing the latch element from the gaming support structure.