AU2005220258A1 - Universal electronic gaming machine topper sign - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO: The Bright Group Pty Limited ACN 068 027 467 Graham Wood Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE TOPPER SIGN 2004 906 661 22 November 2004 Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:m:\docs\20051055\087152.doc 2 O This invention relates to display panels and more particularly to a

O

universal electronic gaming machine topper sign for displaying information and/or advertisements on the top of gaming machines.

00oo I Toppers for gaming machines usually carry some message regarding the game installed in the machine to which the topper is attached for i example, MYSTERY JACKPOT.

There is a need for a universal gaming machine topper sign which is easy to assemble, provides appropriate illumination and enables the displayed message to be changed without difficulty.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a universal machine topper sign comprising a front portion having a border portion having light apertures and a central portion for receiving a display panel, the display panel being located within the front portion, a rear cover having a parabolic reflector, an annular printed circuit board having illumination means around its periphery adapted to be placed in alignment with the lighting apertures of the front portion and a cold cathode lamp in front of the reflector adapted to illuminate the display panel.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a universal topper sign for a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the invention incorporating a display panel, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the universal topper shown in Fig. 1 without the display panel, Fig. 3 is an exploded cross sectional view of the universal topper as shown in Fig. 2, and 07/10/05 3 O Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the universal topper shown in Fig. 2.

The universal machine topper 10 shown in the drawings has a front 00oO I portion 11 and a rear cover 12 with a printed circuit board 13 therebetween.

The front portion 11 which is vacuum formed with a metallised front face is N generally elliptical in shape with a border 14 having light apertures 15 and a central portion 16 for receiving a translucent, clip-in display panel 17 such as the MYSTERY JACKPOT display shown in Fig. 1. The front portion 11 also has a mounting base 18 and a peripheral flange 19.

The printed circuit board 13 is essentially an elliptical ring having surface mounted light emitting diodes 20 spaced around the ring and in register with the openings 15 in the border portion of the front portion 11. At the top of the ring 13 there is an inwardly directed tab 21 which seats in a correspondingly shaped recess in the inner face of the front portion 11 to ensure correct alignment of the printed circuit board 13 with the front portion 11.

The rear cover 12 is also vacuum formed and has an integral parabolic reflector 22. A cold cathode lamp 23 is mounted in front of the parabolic reflector 22 as can be seen in Fig. 3. The rear cover 12 has a border portion 24 and a peripheral flange 25 which seats within the peripheral flange 19 of the front cover 11. The border portion 24 includes an annular elliptical recess 26 in which the printed circuit board 13 is seated. Recesses 27 are formed in the border portion 24 as required to suit the shape and the componentry of the printed circuit board 13.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

07/10/05

Claims (8)

1. A universal machine topper sign comprising a front portion having a oo border portion having light apertures and a central portion for receiving a (Ni display panel, the display panel being located within the front portion, a rear I cover having a parabolic reflector, an annular printed circuit board having Sillumination means around its periphery adapted to be placed in alignment with the lighting apertures of the front portion and a cold cathode lamp in front of the reflector adapted to illuminate the display panel.

2. A universal machine topper sign according to claim 1 wherein the display panel is a translucent, clip-in display panel.

3. A universal machine topper sign according to claim 1 wherein the annular printed circuit board is an elliptical ring and the illumination means comprises surface mounted light emitting diodes.

4. A universal machine topper sign according to claim 3 wherein the elliptical ring has an inwardly directed tap which seats in a correspondingly shaped recess in the inner face of the front portion to ensure correct alignment of the printed circuit board with the front portion.

A universal machine topper sign according to claim 1 wherein the rear cover is vacuum formed and the parabolic reflector is integrally formed therewith. 07/10/05 0

6. A universal machine topper sign according to claim 1 wherein the rear cover has a border portion and a flange portion which seats within a flange portion of the front cover. (N

7. A universal machine topper sign according to claim 6 wherein the border n portion of the rear cover has an annular elliptical recess in which the printed circuit board is seated.

8. A universal machine topper sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7 day of October 2005 The Bright Group Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 07/10/05