Retractable wheel assembly for raising and lowering a gaming machine cabinet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11298978-B2
Application number	US-202017004799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2020
Priority date	Jun 15, 2018
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet and a pair of retractable wheel assemblies mechanically coupled to the cabinet. Each retractable wheel assembly includes an elongated structural member including an upper receiving surface and first and second inverted U-shaped portions depending from the upper receiving surface, a first pusher plate pivotably coupled to the first inverted U-shaped portion, a second pusher plate pivotably coupled to the second inverted U-shaped portion, a first retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the first pusher plate, and a second retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the second pusher plate. The first retractable wheel and the second retractable wheel are movable between a retracted position, in which the pair of retractable wheel assemblies allow the cabinet to contact an external surface, and an extended position, in which the pair of retractable wheel assemblies support the cabinet above the external surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a cabinet;
a pair of retractable wheel assemblies mechanically coupled to the cabinet, wherein each retractable wheel assembly comprises:
an elongated structural member including an upper receiving surface and first and second inverted U-shaped portions depending from the upper receiving surface;
a first pusher plate pivotably coupled to the first inverted U-shaped portion;
a second pusher plate pivotably coupled to the second inverted U-shaped portion;
a first retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the first pusher plate; and
a second retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the second pusher plate;

wherein the first retractable wheel and the second retractable wheel of each of the pair of retractable wheel assemblies are movable between a retracted position, in which the pair of retractable wheel assemblies allow the cabinet to contact an external surface, and an extended position, in which the pair of retractable wheel assemblies support the cabinet above the external surface.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises a plurality of mounting fasteners extending upward from the upper receiving surface.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first pusher plate comprises a first caster fork for supporting the first retractable wheel, and wherein the second pusher plate comprises a second caster fork for supporting the second retractable wheel.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the elongated structural member comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween, and wherein the first inverted U-shaped portion is disposed at the first end of the elongated structural member, and wherein the second inverted U-shaped portion is disposed at the second end of the elongated structural member.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises:
a first bolt threadably engaged with the elongated structural member, the first bolt extending through the elongated structural member to contact an engagement surface of the first pusher plate, the first bolt configured to engage with the engagement surface of the first pusher plate to allow the first retractable wheel to move between the extended position and the retracted position; and
a second bolt threadably engaged with the elongated structural member, the second bolt extending through the elongated structural member to contact an engagement surface of the second pusher plate, the second bolt configured to engage with the engagement surface of the second pusher plate to allow the second retractable wheel to move between the extended position and the retracted position.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the cabinet is raised and lowered by engagement of the first bolt with the engagement surface of the first pusher plate and by engagement of the second bolt with the engagement surface of the second pusher plate.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises at least one mounting bracket configured to be mechanically coupled between the elongated structural member of the retractable wheel assembly and an internal frame of the cabinet, such that the retractable wheel assembly is secured on the internal frame of the cabinet.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises:
a first mounting bracket configured to be mechanically coupled between the retractable wheel assembly and an internal frame of the cabinet; and
a second mounting bracket configured to be mechanically coupled between the retractable wheel assembly and the internal frame of the cabinet.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first retractable wheel and the second retractable wheel are in-line.

10. A system of retractable wheel assemblies comprising:
a plurality of retractable wheel assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of retractable wheel assemblies comprises:
an elongated structural member configured to be mechanically coupled to a gaming machine cabinet, the elongated structural member including an upper receiving surface and first and second inverted U-shaped portions depending from the upper receiving surface;
a first pusher plate pivotably coupled to the first inverted U-shaped portion;
a second pusher plate pivotably coupled to the second inverted U-shaped portion;
a first retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the first pusher plate; and
a second retractable wheel mechanically coupled to the second pusher plate, wherein the first retractable wheel and the second retractable wheel are movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

11. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein the first retractable wheel and the second retractable wheel are configured to be extended and retracted independently of one another.

12. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein the first pusher plate comprises a first caster fork for supporting the first retractable wheel, and wherein the second pusher plate comprises a second caster fork for supporting the second retractable wheel.

13. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein the elongated structural member comprises a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween, and wherein the first inverted U-shaped portion is disposed at the first end of the first elongated structural member, and wherein the second inverted U-shaped portion is disposed at the second end of the first elongated structural member.

14. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises:
a first bolt threadably engaged with the elongated structural member, the first bolt extending through the elongated structural member to contact an engagement surface of the first pusher plate, the first bolt configured to engage with the engagement surface of the first pusher plate to allow the first retractable wheel to move between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a second bolt threadably engaged with the elongated structural member, the second bolt extending through the elongated structural member to contact an engagement surface of the second pusher plate, the second bolt configured to engage with the engagement surface of the second pusher plate to allow the second retractable wheel to move between the extended position and the retracted position.

15. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 14 , wherein the gaming machine cabinet is raised and lowered by engagement of the first bolt with the engagement surface of the first pusher plate and by engagement of the second bolt with the engagement surface of the second pusher plate.

16. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises at least one mounting bracket configured to be mechanically coupled between the elongated structural member and an internal frame of the gaming machine cabinet, such that each of the plurality of retractable wheel assemblies is secured on the internal frame of the gaming machine cabinet.

17. The system of retractable wheel assemblies of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of retractable wheel assemblies further comprises:
a first mo

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Au

Inventors

• Mckay Linn Anthony
• Biondo Dominic S
• Mcnierney James Joseph
• Bauer Donald Wayne
• Barbour Timothy Francis

Classifications

• G07F17/3218 Primary

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• G07F17/329

  Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards · CPC title

• B60B33/066 Primary

  by use of a hinge and lever mechanism to swing wheel upwards relative to wheel mount · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/3293

  Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack · CPC title