Media chair apparatus, system, and method

• US 10,303,242 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avegant Corp
• Original Assignee: Avegant Corp
• Inventors: Evans, Allan Thomas, Welch, III, Warren Cornelius, Tang, Edward Chia Ning
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US14/678,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20160195921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 2972174, 2972173, 2972175, 29734421, 29734422
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/18 Chairs or stools with rotatable seat adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03 Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A media chair apparatus (200), system (100), and method (900). The media chair apparatus (200) includes a support assembly (400) that can be at least temporarily substantially fixed in an at least substantially fixed position while a seat assembly (300) rotates relative to the support assembly (400). A port (500) in the support assembly (400) can be used to interface with the operating environment (80) while a port (500) in the rotatable seat assembly (300) can be used to interface with a portable access device (150) used by the user (90) to access or otherwise enhance a media experience (800).

Claims

1. A media chair apparatus located in an operating environment wherein the media chair apparatus provides for being sat on by a user while accessing media content, said media chair apparatus comprising:

a seat assembly, said seat assembly including a seat surface, wherein said seat surface provides for supporting the user sitting on said seat surface;

a support assembly, said support assembly including a base, wherein said base provides for supporting said support assembly, wherein said support assembly provides for supporting said seat assembly, and wherein said seat assembly provides for rotating relative to said support assembly;

a plurality of ports, said plurality of ports including an environment port and a user port, wherein said environment port is located in said support assembly, said environment port including an environment power port, and wherein said user port is located in said seat assembly, said user port including a user power port; and

a plurality of cords, said plurality of cords including an external cord and an internal cord, wherein said internal cord connects said environment port to said user port, and wherein said external cord provides for connecting said environment port to the operating environment, and said plurality of cords including a plurality of power cords, said plurality of power cords comprising a plurality of external power cords and an internal power cord, said plurality of external power cords including a first external power cord and a second external power cord, wherein said first external power cord provides for connecting a power source in the operating environment to the environment power port, wherein said internal power cord connects said environment power port to said user power port, and wherein said second external power cord provides for connecting said user power port to a portable access device.

2. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly rotates 360 degrees or more with respect to said support assembly.

3. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly rotates 720 degrees or more with respect to said support assembly, and wherein said support assembly provides for being fixed while said seat assembly rotates.

4. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder and a base that includes a plurality of wheels.

5. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portable access device is a wearable access device.

6. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portable access device is a visor worn on the head of the user.

7. The media chair apparatus of claim 6, said seat assembly further including an adjustable member that provides for supporting said visor.

8. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said of external cord further includes an external USB cord, and an external Ethernet cord.

9. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support assembly provides for being locked into a fixed position while the seat assembly is rotated.

10. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly includes a plurality of controls, said plurality of controls including at least two of:

(a) a button;

(b) a joystick;

(c) a trackpad; and

(d) a trackball.

11. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly includes a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors including at least two of:

(a) a camera;

(b) a retina sensor;

(c) a fingerprint sensor;

(d) a motion sensor;

(e) a position sensor; and

(f) a microphone.

12. The media chair apparatus of claim 11, wherein said media chair apparatus provides a user authentication heuristic to authenticate an identity associated with the user with data from one or more sensors.

13. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, said media chair apparatus further comprising a plurality of output components, said plurality of output components including a speaker and a haptic feedback mechanism.

14. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, said media chair apparatus further comprising a wireless adaptor.

15. The media chair apparatus of claim 1, said media chair apparatus further comprising a media player.

16. A media system that provides for a user to engage in a media experience while in an operating environment, said system comprising:

a media chair apparatus, said media chair apparatus including;

a seat assembly, said seat assembly including a seat surface that provides for supporting the user in a seated position;

a support assembly, said support assembly provides for being stationary while said seat assembly provides for rotation relative to the support assembly, wherein said seat assembly provides for supporting the user in a seated position, and wherein said support assembly provides for supporting said seat assembly; and

a plurality of ports, said plurality of ports including an environment port in said support assembly and a user port in said seat assembly;

a visor that provides for being worn on the head of the user;

a media player that provides for communicating the media experience to the visor;

a plurality of external cords, said plurality of external cords including a plurality of external power cords and a plurality of external data cords, said plurality of external power cords including a first external power cord connecting a power source in the operating environment to said environment port, said second external power cord connecting said user port to said visor, said external data cords including a first external data cord connecting said media player to said environment port and a second external data cord connecting said user port to said visor.

17. The media system of claim 16, wherein said media chair apparatus includes a sensor, a control and an output component;

wherein said seat assembly further includes a seat surface, an arm rest, a back surface, and an adjustable support member for said visor;

wherein said support assembly further includes a base with a plurality of wheels and a pneumatic cylinder; and

wherein said plurality of ports include a wireless adaptor.

18. A media chair apparatus comprising:

a support assembly;

a seat assembly configured to rotate relative to the support assembly;

an environment port located in the support assembly;

a user port located in the seat assembly;

an internal cord configured to connect the environment port to the user port; and

an external cord configured to connect the environment port to an operating environment;

wherein said seat assembly includes a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors including at least two of;

a camera;

a retina sensor;

a fingerprint sensor;

a motion sensor;

a position sensor; and

a microphone; and

wherein said media chair apparatus provides a user authentication heuristic to authenticate an identity associated with the user with data from one or more sensors.

19. The media chair apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the environment port including an environment power port;

the user port including a user power port;

a plurality of external power cords and an internal power cord, wherein a first external power cord provides for connecting a power source in the operating environment to the environment power port, wherein the internal power cord connects the environment power port to the user power port, and a second external power cord provides for connecting the user power port to a portable access device.