Button panel mount for a gaming machine cabinet

A button panel structure for a gaming machine, the gaming machine having a cabinet that defines an interior volume and a front opening and also having a door pivotally connected to the cabinet so as to be pivotable between a closed position covering at least a portion of the front opening and an open position in which an inner side of the door is accessible from outside of the cabinet, the button panel structure including:

• (a) a button panel frame defining a button panel opening on the door, the button panel frame including (i) a panel support surface facing oppositely to the inner side of the door, (ii) a capture structure at a first boundary of the button panel opening, and (iii) a blocking structure located at a second boundary of the button panel opening opposite to the first boundary;
• (b) a button panel base having an upper side and a lower side, and also having a first edge and opposing second edge, the button panel base being sized so that when the first edge is received in the capture structure of the button panel frame the second edge is received on the panel support surface at the second boundary of the button panel opening;
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• (c) a locking flange extending from the lower side of the button panel base and having at least one locking projection mounted thereon, each locking projection being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, such that when the button panel base is in an operating position in which the first edge of the button panel base is received in the capture structure of the button panel frame and the second edge of the button panel base is received on the panel support surface at the second boundary of the button panel opening, the locking projections in the extended position contact the blocking structure to retain the button panel in the operating position.

A method of installing a button panel in a gaming machine, the gaming machine having a cabinet that defines an interior volume and a front opening and also having a door pivotally connected to the cabinet so as to be pivotable between a closed position covering at least a portion of the front opening and an open position in which an inner side of the door is accessible from outside of the cabinet, the method including:

• (a) with the door of the gaming machine in the open position, positioning a button panel base above a button panel frame on the door, the button panel frame defining a frame opening having a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to the first boundary, the button panel frame also including a support surface formed around the frame opening;
• (b) positioning a first edge of the button panel base in a capture structure on the first boundary of the frame opening;
• (c) with the first edge of the button panel base positioned in the capture structure, rotating a second edge of the button panel base about the first edge of the button panel base until the second edge of the button panel base contacts the support surface;
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• (d) extending a first locking projection located beneath the button panel base to an extended position to engage a blocking structure associated with the button panel frame, the engagement between the first locking projection and the blocking structure preventing the button panel base from being removed from the support surface of the button panel frame, thereby installing the button panel in the gaming machine.