Externally Hinged Cabinet Door for Gaming Machine Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines require improved access to internal components for maintenance and troubleshooting while maintaining aesthetics and structural integrity, with existing designs often limiting access and stability.
Innovation Solution
An externally hinged door mechanism with pivotally connected swing arms and a biasing lift assembly that allows the door to open easily, providing additional internal space and an ornamental feature, while ensuring structural integrity and ease of maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If internally-mounted hinge designs are used, then the door mechanism is compact, but the housing loses internal space and aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is extracted from the internal housing structure and relocated to the external surface of the housing. The swing arms are mounted on the outer surface, allowing the door to pivot externally without occupying valuable internal space. This extraction resolves the contradiction by providing internal space while maintaining a functional door mechanism through external mounting.
2Ease of operation
If manually operated door mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but maintenance access requires excessive force and effort
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing lift assembly is incorporated into the door mechanism that provides a counterbalancing force to the door weight. This counterweight mechanism reduces the effort required to open and close the door by offsetting the gravitational force, making maintenance access easier while using a mechanical spring-based system rather than complex powered actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The door mechanism transitions from a static, fixed-position door to a dynamically assisted system where the biasing lift assembly actively adjusts the door position and reduces opening effort. The swing arms rotate through a defined arc, and the biasing mechanism dynamically provides force assistance throughout the motion range, improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the door is designed to open easily with minimal force, then maintenance access is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into distinct functional components: swing arms for pivoting, biasing lift assembly for force assistance, and latch mechanism for secure closing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively maintaining structural integrity through proper distribution of mechanical loads and forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical parameters of the door system are optimized to balance ease of operation with structural integrity. The biasing force of the lift assembly is calibrated to provide sufficient opening assistance without excessive force that could damage components. The swing arm dimensions, pivot point locations, and latch engagement forces are all adjusted to achieve the optimal balance between operational ease and structural strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances access to internal components, reduces maintenance effort, and maintains the machine's aesthetic appeal by using externally mounted swing arms and a biasing lift assembly, providing a stable and efficient way to open and close the door with minimal force required.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing lift assembly within the housing. In the closed position, the biasing lift assembly imposes a bias on the door assembly to urge the door assembly toward the open position when the door assembly is unlatched
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a gaming terminal, a gaming cabinet and a gaming machine that include a housing having gaming components therein. The housing includes a door opening for accessing gaming components inside the housing and a door assembly having an open position that exposes the door opening, and a closed position that covers the door opening. At least one pair of externally mounted swing arms connect the door assembly to a biasing lift assembly within the housing. When the door assembly is in the closed position and a latching assembly is released, the biasing lift assembly urges the door assembly toward the open position.