Manual lever with locking function for mounting CPU enclosure

A removable processor enclosure apparatus for use in a gaming machine, said gaming machine having a housing defining an interior portion, and a first electrical connector disposed in said interior portion, said enclosure apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure containing processor electrical components therein for controlling the gaming operation of the gaming machine, and adapted for sliding receipt in the interior portion of the gaming machine housing between a mounting condition, mounting the enclosure to the housing and electrically coupling a second electrical connector of the enclosure to the first electrical connector of the housing, and a removal condition, enabling removal of said enclosure from the housing;
• a release device interengaged between the housing and the enclosure, and including a manual lever adapted to selectively operate said release device between a first position, retaining the enclosure in the mounting condition, and a second position, releasing the enclosure from the mounting condition to the removal condition and disconnecting the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector;
• and
• said enclosure further including a door movably mounted between a closed position, enclosing at least a manually operable portion of the manual lever inside the enclosure to prevent accessible operation thereof, and an opened position, enabling access to the manually operable portion of the manual lever for operation thereof.

A modular processor enclosure apparatus for use in a gaming machine, said gaming machine having a power source, a housing defining an interior portion and a first electrical connector disposed in said interior portion, said enclosure apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure containing processor electrical components therein for controlling the gaming operation of the gaming machine, and adapted for sliding receipt in the interior portion of the gaming machine housing between a mounting condition, mounting the enclosure to the housing and electrically coupling a second electrical connector of the enclosure to the first electrical connector of the housing, and a removal condition, enabling removal of said enclosure from the housing and electrically de-coupling the second electrical connector of the enclosure from the first electrical connector of the housing;
• a release device interengaged between the housing and the enclosure, and including a manual lever adapted to selectively operate said release device between a first position, retaining the enclosure in the mounting condition, and a second position, releasing the enclosure from the mounting condition to the removal condition and disconnecting the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector;
• said enclosure further including a door movably mounted between a closed position, enclosing at least a manually operable portion of the manual lever inside the enclosure to prevent accessible operation thereof, and an opened position, enabling access to the manually operable portion of the manual lever for operation thereof;
• and
• a sensor device configured to couple the power source to the electrical components when the housing is in the mounting condition and to decouple the power source from the electrical components when the modular enclosure is moved from the mounting condition toward the removal condition and prior to the electrical disconnection of the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector.

An electronic gaming machine comprising:

• a housing defining an interior portion;
• a first electrical connector disposed inside the housing;
• a modular electronic enclosure arranged to fully and securably enclose processor electrical components therein for controlling the essential gaming operation of the gaming machine, and adapted to be received in the housing interior portion between a mounting condition, mounting the modular enclosure to the housing in a manner electrically connecting a second electrical connector of the electrical components with the first electrical connector, and a removal condition, enabling removal of the modular enclosure therefrom and electrically disconnecting the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector;
• a release device cooperating between the modular enclosure and the housing, and selectively movable between a first position, such that the modular enclosure is in the mounting condition, and a second position, such that the modular enclosure is in the removal condition;
• and
• a locking device cooperating with the release device for selective placement between a first locked condition, locking the release device in the first position to prevent inadvertent electrical disconnection of the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector, and a second locked condition, locking the release device in the second position to prevent inadvertent electrical connection of the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector.

An electronic gaming machine comprising:

• a housing defining an interior portion;
• a first electrical connector disposed inside the housing;
• a modular electronic enclosure arranged to securably enclose the electrical components essential to the operation of the gaming machine therein, and adapted to be received in the housing interior portion between a mounting condition, mounting the modular enclosure to the housing in a manner electrically connecting a second electrical connector of the electrical components with the first electrical connector, and a removal condition, enabling removal of the modular enclosure therefrom and electrically disconnecting the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector;
• a release device cooperating between the modular enclosure and the housing, and including a manual lever adapted to selectively operate said release device between a first position, retaining the modular enclosure in the mounting condition, and a second position, releasing the modular enclosure from the mounting condition for movement toward the removal condition;
• and
• said enclosure further including a door movably mounted between a closed position and an opened position, enabling access to the manual lever for operation thereof, said manual lever being configured to prevent movement of said door from the opened position to the closed position when said release device is in the second position.