Game chair apparatus

• US 5,290,034 A
• Filed: 01/15/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funtek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Tachyon International, Inc.
• Inventors: Hineman, Derral
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/009,921
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/438, 273/85 G, 273/313, 273/316, 297/463, 434/29, 434/45, 434/62, 272/73, 272/97, 272/129
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft

Abstract

Game chair apparatus includes a seat which is adjustable height wise for accommodating users of different sizes. The chair apparatus includes a movable plate to which is secured a joy stick and which is movable by the user of the seat to provide multiple outputs in response to the mechanical movement of the joy stick. In addition, the joy stick includes trigger elements for providing desired output signals for playing electronic games to which the chair apparatus may be connected.

Claims

1. Game chair apparatus for use with electronic games, comprising in combination:

base means for supporting a seat;

a seat supported by the base means; and

control box means secured to the base means for supporting switch elements for the electronic games, including

a movable plate,

means for supporting the movable plate relative to the seat,

joy stick means secured to the movable plate for moving the plate in response to a user seated on the seat, and

switch elements actuable in response to movement of the plate for providing output signals for the electronic games.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the joy stick means includes a first portion secured to the movable plate and a pair of arms secured to the first portion, and the user moves the arms to move the movable plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the joy stick means is pivotal relative to the movable plate for storage and transport purposes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the control box means further includes

a plate secured to the base means,

a control box secured to plate and having a top and four walls, and the switch elements are secured to the walls and the movable plate is secured to the top.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the joy stick means includes a pair of arms and a central portion, and the center portion is secured to the movable plate and the arms are secured to the center portion for moving the movable plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the control box means further includes a housing secured to the plate and the control box is disposed in the housing, and the seat is pivotally secured to the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the top of the control box of the control box means includes- apertures for

providing communication between the switch elements and the movable plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which each microswitch includes a portion extending through the apertures in the top of the control box and movement of the movable plate contacts the portions of the microswitches extending through the apertures in the top to provide an output signal in response to the movement of the movable plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the control box means further includes compression spring means for biasing the movable plate to a neutral position and in opposition to movement of the joy stick means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the joy stick means includes handle means gripped by a user for moving the movable plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the handle means includes handle switch means for providing output signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the base means further includes chair back means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the chair back means includes a fixed portion and a cushion portion movable relative to the fixed portion between an up position for use and a down position for transport and storage.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the base means includes a front portion, a back portion pivotally secured to the front portion, and a horizontal portion pivotally secured to both the front and back portions, and the control box means is secured to the horizontal portion.