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Gaming machine with article holderGaming machine with article holder description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080070701, Gaming machine with article holder. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]The present invention relates generally to gaming machines, and more particularly, to a gaming machine incorporating an article holder. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Gaming is an activity that people do to have an entertaining and pleasurable experience. Many people can entertain themselves at a gaming machine for hours at a time. During these extended periods, a player likely will desire refreshments, such as a beverage and/or snack, to satisfy a feeling of thirst and/or hunger. Furthermore, some players who smoke will typically have a desire to smoke their favorite tobacco product. [0003]In offering entertainment for their patrons, casinos have numerous gaming machines placed throughout their gaming areas. Typically, a bank of gaming machines are located on one or more gaming machine stands in side-by-side relationship. The stand or stands generally define a planar supporting surface which extends outwardly of the sides of the gaming machines. Patrons may place articles such as ashtrays, beverage containers, coin cups and personal effects, such as purses, next to the gaming machines on these surfaces. [0004]This has been an inadequate arrangement in addressing the placement certain articles, including ashtrays and beverage containers. Unsecured beverage containers and ashtrays are susceptible to being knocked over and having their contents spilled on the floor. This can cause extra and unnecessary work for casino personnel, as well as expense associated with any breakage. Consequently, there is a need to provide a more secure means of retaining/holding such items to limit the possibility of damage and/or spillage. In addition, these stand surfaces are often low to the ground and thus out of convenient reach to the player. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005]The present invention is a gaming machine with at least one article holder. The gaming machine includes a housing which houses/supports the article holder. In one embodiment, the article holder is movable about or along an axis between a first position and a second position. The first position is preferably a retracted or stowed position and the second position is an extended or operable position. In the retracted or stowed position, the article holder is preferably located with or closely adjacent to the housing. In its extended or operable position, the article holder extends outwardly of the housing and is configured to support an article such as a beverage container or ashtray. [0006]In one embodiment, the article holder includes a primary support, such as a base, which is configured to support one or more articles. The article holder may include one or more secondary supports, such as beverage container supporting rings, for further securing an article associated with the article holder. [0007]In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the article holder is mounted to an exterior surface of the housing, such as a front or side thereof. In one configuration, the article holder comprises a frame for mounting to the exterior of the gaming machine housing. A base or support is mounted to the frame and configured for supporting an article. The base is preferably movable about a first axis between a first position and a second position. The base may be mounted on a first mounting or coupling element on the frame. In a preferred embodiment, the first mounting or coupling element comprises a first hinge that defines the first axis. In its operable position, the base presents a generally flat surface upon which an article, such as a beverage container or ashtray, may rest. To facilitate the movement of the base between its positions, the first hinge may be spring-loaded. [0008]In a modified design of this embodiment, the housing further includes a side panel adjacent to the front panel, with the article holder mounted to the side panel. In either contemplated location, the article holder can conveniently receive a container such as an ashtray or a beverage container and is within ready reach of the user of the gaming machine. [0009]The article holder in another embodiment includes a secondary support, such as ring that is mounted to the frame and configured to secure an article. Preferably, the ring is movable about a second axis between a first position and a second position. Similar to the base, the ring may be mounted on a second mounting or coupling element on the frame. The second mounting or coupling element may comprise a second hinge that defines the second axis. The second hinge, in one embodiment, may be spring-loaded, similarly to the first hinge. The ring preferably assumes an operable position where it may receive and securely hold an article, such as, for example, a beverage container. [0010]In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the article holder is configured to be housed wholly or partially within the housing of the gaming machine. For example, the housing may define a recessed or interior area for containing the article holder when the article holder is in its retracted position. In one embodiment, the article holder may be configured to rotate or move linearly out of the housing, such as by rotating about a pin or hinge. [0011]The gaming machine which includes the article holder may have various configurations. In one embodiment, the gaming machine has a pair of opposing sides or side panels and a front, front panel or door. It is within the scope of the invention for the gaming machine to include multiple article holders. When incorporating a plurality of article holders, one of the article holders maybe mounted to a first of the two side panels and another of the article holders may be mounted to a second of the two side panels. Accordingly, a user may utilize an article holder on which ever side panel is most convenient, or, alternatively, may utilize multiple article holders for various purposes. [0012]Still other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a variety of embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrates several aspects of the present invention and together with the description serves to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine with an article holder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an article holder illustrated in FIG. 1 in its home or rest position in accordance with the present invention; [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article holder illustrated in FIG. 1 in its operable position in accordance with the present invention; [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an article holder in accordance with the present invention, the article holder mounted in an inset area, with the article holder shown in its home or rest position in solid line presentation and its operable position in phantom line presentation; [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the article holder of FIG. 4 in its operable position with a beverage container shown being held in phantom line presentation; [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an article holder that is mounted within the housing of the gaming machine, with the article holder shown in its home or retracted position; [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the article holder of FIG. 6 in an intermediate position between its home or retracted position; Continue reading about Gaming machine with article holder... Full patent description for Gaming machine with article holder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gaming machine with article holder patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Gaming machine with article holder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Real-time gaming system having scalable database Next Patent Application: Method of tracking gaming system Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Gaming machine with article holder patent info. 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