Reconfigurable modular overhead display assembly for a gaming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11436890-B2
Application number	US-202017039547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A multi-module overhead display assembly for use with a gaming system. The multi-module overhead display assembly has a housing module releasably connected to one or more other housing modules for display of content above a game machine. A mounting structure for the releasably connected housing module is provided to be connectable to a mount system. At least one housing module comprises a controller having a processor and memory storing instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to individually control each of the housing modules to display the content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-module overhead display assembly for a gaming system comprising:
one or more gaming machines having a plurality of housing modules having respective configurable toppers, each housing module including a lighting device;
a bracket connector to releasably connect a first housing module having a first lighting device to a second housing module having a second lighting device, and a first configurable topper to a second configurable topper; and
an interface operable to releasably connect the first lighting device to the second lighting device,
wherein at least one housing module comprises a controller having a processor and memory storing instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to individually control each of the housing modules to display at least one of a content and an image to be viewable near the one or more gaming machines.

2. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first housing module comprises at least one base display module and the second housing module comprises at least one end display module.

3. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base display module includes a first plurality of mount panels with a first plurality of display panels, and the end display module includes a different second plurality of mount panels with a second plurality of display panels.

4. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of housing modules further comprises a plurality of display panels operable to display the at least one of the content and the image.

5. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of display panels are releasably coupled to a mount panel.

6. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 5 , wherein the mount panel is releasably connected to at least one of the first housing module and the second housing module.

7. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 5 , further comprising one or more magnetic fasteners to couple the mount panel to at least one of the plurality of housing modules.

8. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of display panels are individually removable.

9. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the display panels is one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a light-emitting diode (LED) panel.

10. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure operable to receive at least one of the plurality of housing modules over the one or more gaming machines.

11. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of display panels operable to display a portion of the content and the image.

12. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a back plate operable to removably cover the support structure.

13. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 10 , wherein the support structure comprises an extendable portion to increase a height of the support structure.

14. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first housing module is a master display module and the second housing module is a slave display module, and wherein the master display module is operable to control the slave display module.

15. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises at least one of a daisy-chain interface.

16. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket connector comprises at least one of a clip, fastener, and interlocking connector to mechanically and electrically connect the plurality of housing modules.

17. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first lighting device and the second lighting device comprises a continuous lighting rope secured around some portions of each of the plurality of housing modules.

18. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first lighting device and the second lighting device comprises a discrete LED strip secured around some portions of each of the plurality of housing modules.

19. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the respective configurable toppers is removable and reconfigurable.

20. The multi-module overhead display assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first configurable topper is a base topper, and the second configurable topper is a configurable end topper.

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Chambers Keith
• Hendrickson Scott
• Egar Daniel
• Curtis John

Classifications

• G07F17/34 Primary

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

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title