Modular security enclosure for gaming machine

Abstract

A security enclosure for a gaming machine having a main housing defining a chamber and having a major opening. A door assembly is connected to the housing and moves between an open position providing external access to the chamber and a closed position securing the major opening. The door has a number of components, at least some of which are elongated elements having fasteners at opposed end portions. At least one of the elements may be unplated or have a different surface finish, because the members may be finished prior to assembly. Each element is narrow enough to be received in a relatively shallow and narrow plating tank that would be inadequate to receive the assembled door.

1 . A security enclosure for a gaming machine comprising: 
 a main housing defining a chamber and having a major opening;    a door assembly operably connected to the housing and movable between an open position providing external access to the chamber and a closed position securing the major opening; and    the door comprising a plurality of components, at least some of the components being elongated members having fasteners at opposed end portions.    
     
     
         2 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the door comprises a pair of opposed vertical stiles each having an upper end, an opposed lower end, and an intermediate portion, and including at least one cross member extending between the stiles, the cross member having opposed ends each having a fastener engaging a corresponding fastener on each of the stiles.  
     
     
         3 . The enclosure of  claim 2  including a top rail extending between the upper ends of the stiles, an intermediate rail extending between intermediate portions of the stiles, and a bottom rail extending between the lower ends of the rails.  
     
     
         4 . The enclosure of  claim 3  including a belly door connected to the door and operable between an open position in which a selected one of the rails is visible, and a closed position in which the selected one of the rails is concealed.  
     
     
         5 . The enclosure of  claim 4  wherein the selected on of the rails is provided with a first surface finish, and at least some of the others of the rails are provided with a different second surface finish.  
     
     
         6 . The enclosure of  claim 5  wherein the second surface finish has a higher quality of cosmetic finish than the first surface finish.  
     
     
         7 . The enclosure of  claim 5  wherein the first surface finish is a coating applied directly to the material forming the selected component, and wherein the second surface finish is a metal plating.  
     
     
         8 . The enclosure of  claim 2  wherein the fasteners include threaded studs protruding from the end portions of the at least one cross member.  
     
     
         9 . The enclosure of  claim 1  where the fasteners are threaded elements.  
     
     
         10 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the door components has a different surface finish than the other door components.  
     
     
         11 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the components are secured closely to each other, such that the door is free of gaps to prevent unwarranted entry to the chamber when the door is closed.  
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a door for security enclosure for a gaming machine comprising: 
 providing a plurality of elongated door components;    providing at least some of the door components with fasteners at end portions of the components;    finishing at least some of the components with a selected surface finish; and    after finishing, securing the components to each other to form the door.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein providing the components includes fabricating at least some of the components from sheet metal, including welding and smoothing selected seams of the sheet metal to form a cosmetically smooth surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein finishing the components includes finishing a selected component with a different surface finish than at least one of the other components.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including attaching a belly door to the door after securing the components to each other, and wherein attaching the belly door includes concealing the selected component having the different surface finish.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein finishing the selected component includes applying a coating directly to the material forming the selected component, and wherein finishing the at least one of the other components includes plating the at least one of the other components.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  including plating some but not all of the components.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  including providing a cosmetically superior finish on at least some of the components relative to at least one of the components.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein finishing includes plating an elongated component by immersion in an elongated plating tank having a length substantially greater than its width and depth, and where in the width and depth are each substantially less than the width of the finished door.