Zero weight articulating access door
AssigneeAristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
InventorsTimothy Francis Barbour, Dominic S. Biondo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A weightless articulating door mount for a gaming machine is disclosed. The weightless articulating door mount has a four link mechanism and a cam. A biasing mechanism interacts with the weightless articulating door mount through the cam and provides a uniform force counteracting the weight of the door/monitor. With the door/monitor effectively weightless, the door may be opened and will remain in place absent any further disturbance.
Claims19
An articulating mount for an access door, comprising:
- a four-link mechanism having a stationary link configured to couple to a gaming console, a door link opposite the stationary link, the door link configured to couple to a door, an upper link coupled to the stationary link and the door link, and a lower link coupled to the stationary link and the door link;
- a biasing mechanism coupled to at least one link of the four link mechanism;
- and
- a cam coupled to a link adjacent the at least one link, the cam providing a position dependent interface for the biasing mechanism to bias the orientation of the door link against a known force.
A gaming console, comprising:
- a cabinet enclosing a processor and a non-transitory memory storing instructions for execution of an electronic game of chance;
- a door providing access to an interior of the cabinet;
- and
- at least one mount securing the door to the cabinet, the at least on mount comprising:
- a four-link mechanism having a stationary link coupled to the gaming cabinet, a door link opposite the stationary link, the door link coupled to the door, an upper link rotatably coupled to the stationary link and the door link, and a lower link rotatably coupled to the stationary link and the door link;
- a biasing mechanism coupled to at least one link of the four link mechanism;
- and
- a cam coupled to a link adjacent the at least one link, the cam providing a position dependent interface for the biasing mechanism to bias the orientation of the door link against a known force.
A method of securing a door to a gaming console, the method comprising:
- rotatably securing a top link to the gaming console;
- rotatably securing a bottom link to the gaming console;
- rotatably securing the top link to the door;
- rotatably securing the bottom link to the door;
- coupling a cam to of the top link, the bottom link, the door, and the gaming console;
- providing an upward bias to the door through the cam, the cam configured to provide a uniform upward force to the door throughout a working range of the door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.