Tactile signal-producing vest worn while playing a video game

• US 20050250582A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miguel Lopez
• Original Assignee: Miguel Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, Miguel
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/47
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser

Abstract

A vest that is worn while playing a video game is in the shape of a bandoleer and has a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements thereon. The tactile-signal producing elements are located all around the player so the player will receive tactile signals from all directions and the signals can be received simultaneously so action in the video game will be accurately and realistically reproduced in the form of tactile signals.

Claims

1. A tactile signal-producing vest worn while playing a video game comprising:

a) a bandoleer vest which includes

(1) a first belt which is adapted to encircle a wearer'"'"'s waist when said vest is worn by the user, the first belt having a body portion, a first end on the body portion, a second end on the body portion, a first buckle portion on the body adjacent to the first end, a second buckle portion on the body adjacent to the second end, a longitudinal axis which extends from the first end to the second end, and a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements mounted on the body portion of the first belt, the tactile signal-producing elements being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body of the first belt, each tactile signal-producing element including a signal-receiving circuit, a vibration-producing element connected to the signal-receiving circuit to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby, each vibration-producing element of the first belt being located to contact the wearer when the vest is worn,

(2) a second belt which includes a first body portion that is adapted to extend over one shoulder of the wearer adjacent to the wearer'"'"'s neck and to extend across the wearer'"'"'s chest when said vest is worn, the first body portion of the second belt including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end of the first body portion of the second belt and the second end of the first body portion of the second belt, the second belt further including an intermediate body portion that is adapted to extend across the wearer'"'"'s abdomen, the intermediate body portion of the second belt further including a first end that is fixed to the first belt, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the intermediate body portion of the second belt and the second end of the intermediate body portion of the second belt, the second belt further including a second body portion that is adapted to extend across the wearer'"'"'s shoulder blades and across the wearer'"'"'s back when said vest is worn, the second body portion of the second belt further including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the first end of the second body portion of the second belt and the second end of the second body portion of the second belt, the first end of the second body portion of the second belt being fixed to the first belt at a location spaced apart from the second end of the intermediate body portion of the second belt, the second belt further including a first buckle portion on the second end of the first body portion of the second belt and a second buckle portion on the second end of the second body portion of the second belt, the second belt further including a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements mounted on the first body portion of the second belt and on the intermediate portion of the first body portion of the second belt and on the second body portion of the second belt, the tactile signal-producing elements of the second belt being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the first body portion of the second belt and the second body portion of the second belt, each tactile signal-producing element on the second belt including a signal-receiving circuit, a vibration-producing element connected to the signal-receiving circuit of the signal producing element on the second belt to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby, each vibration-producing element of the second belt being located to contact the wearer when the vest is worn,

(3) a third belt which includes a first body portion that is adapted to extend over a second shoulder of the wearer adjacent to the wearer'"'"'s neck and to extend across the wearer'"'"'s chest when said vest is worn, the first body portion of the third belt including a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis which extends between the first end of the first body portion of the third belt and the second end of the first body portion of the third belt, the third belt further including an intermediate body portion that is adapted to extend across the wearer'"'"'s abdomen when said vest is worn, the intermediate body portion of the third belt further including a first end that is fixed to the first belt at a location spaced apart from the second end of intermediate belt portion of the second belt, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the intermediate body portion of the third belt and the second end of the intermediate body portion of the third belt, the third belt further including a second body portion that is adapted to extend across the wearer'"'"'s shoulder blades and across the wearer'"'"'s back when said vest is worn, the second body portion of the third belt further including a first end fixed to the first belt at a location spaced apart from the first end of the intermediate body portion of the second belt, a second end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the first end of the second body portion of the third belt and the second end of the second body portion of the third belt, the third belt further including a first buckle portion on the second end of the first body portion of the third belt and a second buckle portion on the second end of the second body portion of the second belt, the second belt further including a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements mounted on the first body portion of the third belt and on the intermediate portion of the first body portion of the third belt and on the second body portion of the third belt, the tactile signal-producing elements of the third belt being spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the first body portion of the third belt and the second body portion of the third belt and the intermediate portion of the third belt, each tactile signal-producing element on the third belt including a signal-receiving circuit, a vibration-producing element connected to the signal-receiving circuit of the signal-producing element on the third belt to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby, each vibration-producing element of the third belt being located to contact the wearer when said vest is worn,

(4) a belt-coupling element which is fixed to the second ends of the first body portions of the first and second belts, and is fixed to the first ends of the intermediate body portions of the first and second belts, the belt-coupling element being located adjacent to the chest of the wearer when said vest is worn and further including a tactile signal-producing element thereon which is located adjacent to the chest of the wearer when said vest is worn,

(5) the buckle elements of the first and second belts being located adjacent to the wearer'"'"'s shoulders when said vest is being worn; and

b) a circuit adapted to connect each signal-receiving circuit of said vest to a signal-producing circuit associated with a video game.