Articulating hinge assembly for use with a gaming machine cabinet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11028625-B2
Application number	US-201916585877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2019
Priority date	Sep 27, 2019
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine that includes a cabinet, a display, and a hinge assembly coupled therebetween. The hinge assembly includes a first bracket coupled to the cabinet, a second bracket coupled to the display, a first link pair extending from the first bracket, and a second link pair extending from the first bracket. A third link pair is coupled to the first link pair, is coupled to the second link pair, and is coupled to the second bracket. A fourth link pair is extending from the second bracket, and is coupled to the second link pair. The link pairs are coupled to each other and to the brackets at pivot points. The hinge assembly is expandable and retractable between a retracted or expanded position, and is configured to swing the display from a lowered to a raised position as the hinge assembly is expanded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet;
a display; and
a hinge assembly coupled between the cabinet and the display, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket coupled to the cabinet;
a second bracket coupled to the display;
a first link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a first pivot point;
a second link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a second pivot point;
a third link pair coupled to the first link pair at a third pivot point, coupled to the second link pair at a fourth pivot point, and coupled to the second bracket at a fifth pivot point; and
a fourth link pair coupled to and extending from the second bracket at a sixth pivot point, and coupled to the second link pair at a seventh pivot point,
wherein the hinge assembly is selectively expandable and retractable between a fully retracted position and a fully expanded position, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to swing the display from a lowered position to a raised position as the hinge assembly is expanded from the fully retracted position to the fully expanded position.

2. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the display is orientable substantially vertically when the hinge assembly is in the fully retracted position, and is orientable substantially horizontally when the hinge assembly is in the fully expanded position.

3. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured to move the display in a parabolic range of motion between the fully retracted position and the fully expanded position.

4. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second link pair comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section oriented obtusely relative to the second section, and the second section oriented obtusely relative to the third section.

5. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the fourth pivot point is defined between the second section and the third section of the second link pair.

6. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the third link pair comprises a first section and a second section oriented obtusely relative to the first section.

7. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly has a range of motion configured to progressively increase a distance between the first bracket and the second bracket as the hinge assembly is expanded from the fully retracted position to the fully expanded position.

8. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one gas spring coupled between the cabinet and the display.

9. A hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket comprising a first mounting surface;
a second bracket comprising a second mounting surface;
a first link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a first pivot point;
a second link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a second pivot point;
a third link pair coupled to the first link pair at a third pivot point, coupled to the second link pair at a fourth pivot point, and coupled to the second bracket at a fifth pivot point; and
a fourth link pair coupled to and extending from the second bracket at a sixth pivot point, and coupled to the second link pair at a seventh pivot point,
wherein the hinge assembly is selectively expandable and retractable between a fully retracted position and a fully expanded position, wherein the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface are substantially perpendicular to each other when the hinge assembly is in the fully retracted position, and are substantially parallel with each other when the hinge assembly is in the fully expanded position.

10. The hinge assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured to move in a parabolic range of motion between the fully retracted position and the fully expanded position.

11. The hinge assembly in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the second link pair comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section oriented obtusely relative to the second section, and the second section oriented obtusely relative to the third section, and wherein the third link pair comprises a first section and a second section oriented obtusely relative to the first section.

12. The hinge assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the fourth pivot point is defined between the second section and the third section of the second link pair, and between the first section and the second section of the third link pair.

13. The hinge assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the first section is coupled to the first bracket at the second pivot point, and the third section is coupled to the fourth link pair at the seventh pivot point.

14. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet;
a display; and
a hinge assembly coupled between the cabinet and the display, the hinge assembly comprising:
a first bracket coupled to the cabinet;
a second bracket coupled to the display;
a first link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a first pivot point;
a second link pair coupled to and extending from the first bracket at a second pivot point;
a third link pair coupled to the first link pair at a third pivot point, coupled to the second link pair at a fourth pivot point, and coupled to the second bracket at a fifth pivot point; and
a fourth link pair coupled to and extending from the second bracket at a sixth pivot point, and coupled to the second link pair at a seventh pivot point,
wherein the hinge assembly is selectively expandable and retractable between a fully retracted position and a fully expanded position, wherein the hinge assembly is configured to swing the display through a range of motion having an apex positioned exterior of the cabinet.

15. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured to move the display in a parabolic range of motion through the apex between the fully retracted position and the fully expanded position.

16. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the range of motion is defined by a substantially linear component and an arcuate component positioned closer to the apex than the substantially linear component.

17. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the second link pair comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section oriented obtusely relative to the second section, and the second section oriented obtusely relative to the third section, and wherein the third link pair comprises a first section and a second section oriented obtusely relative to the first section.

18. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the fourth pivot point is defined between the second section and the third section of the second link pair, and between the first section and the second section of the third link pair.

19. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first section is coupled to the first bracket at the second pivot point, and the third section is coupled to the fourth link pair at the seventh pivot point.

20. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the hinge assembly has a range of motion configured to progressively increase a distan

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Au

Inventors

• Chaudhari Deepak
• Mutukundu Prabhakar
• Abali Muharrem

Classifications

• E05F1/1091

  with a gas spring (E05F1/1292 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05D3/16 Primary

  with seven parallel pins and four arms · CPC title

• G07F17/3216 Primary

  Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects · CPC title

• E05D2003/163

  Horizontal pivot-axis · CPC title

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title