Adjustable game stool assembly

• US 5,678,886 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gasser Chair Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Infanti Chair Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Infanti, Vittorio
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/543,750
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 297/172, 297/174, 297/217.3, 297/217.6, 297/344.1, 297/344.13, 297/344.19, 297/344.2, 297/344.21, 248/500, 248/501, 248/510, 248/222.2
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/00 Stools for specified purposes with rotatable seats A47C3/18; with vertically adjustable seats A47C3/20 ; other seating furniture for specified purposes A47C15/004; footstools A47C16/02; prayer stools A47C16/04; platforms or seat-boxes specially adapted for angling A01K97/22
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/022 movably mounted on a working-table or the like for hairdressers A47C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects

Abstract

A detachable and fully adjustable game stool assembly for a slot machine including an elongated base plate member detachably connected at the front end to a rigid support member which is fixedly connected to the slot machine, and including a fully adjustable seat configuration secured to the opposite end of the base plate. The seat configuration includes a seat connected to the base plate through suitable electrically powered motors and actuating devices so as to readily facilitate positioning of the seat relative to the slot machine and to the base plate for maximum comfort of the patron. Additionally, a suitable motor and actuating device is provided to readily facilitate tilting of the back portion of the seat relative to the base portion of the seat for maximum comfort of the patron. In alternative embodiments of the invention, a telescopic housing is mounted on the base plate and connected to the seat so as to shield the various aesthetically unappealing electrical motors and adjustment devices from the view of a patron. In additional embodiments of the subject invention, a detachable electrical connector is provided so as to establish an electrical connection of high integrity between the game stool assembly and the slot machine.

Claims

1. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine, said assembly comprising:

a rigid support member fixed to said gaming machine;

an elongated base member having opposed front and rear edges, said front edge for detachable engagement with said rigid support member of said gaming machine;

an adjustable seat configuration secured to said elongated base member adjacent said rear edge thereof, said adjustable seat configuration including;

a seat having a base portion, two arm portions, and a back portion;

a tilting means mounted on said base portion of said seat and connected to said back portion of said seat for angularly tilting said back portion of said seat relative to said base portion of said seat; and

adjustment means mounted on said elongated base member and connected to said seat for adjusting said seat relative to said elongated base member and said gaming machine; and

a detachable electrical connection means interconnecting said front edge of said base member and said rigid support member for detachable electrical connection of said tilting means and said adjustment means to a power supply of said gaming machine.

2. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 1, wherein said detachable connection means includes:

an upper electrical connector fixed to said rigid support member and electrically connected to said power supply of said gaming machine;

a lower electrical connector fixed to said front edge of said elongated base member and electrically connected to said tilting means and said adjustment means of said adjustable seat configuration, said lower electrical connector corresponding to said upper electrical connector for detachable electrical engagement of said upper electrical connector with said lower electrical connector.

3. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 2, wherein said upper electrical connector includes:

a non-conductive housing having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface fixed to said rigid support member; and

a plurality of resilient V-shaped conductive wiping arms projecting from said bottom surface of said housing and electrically connected to said power supply of said gaming machine, each V-shaped wiping arm having a first end fixed to said bottom surface of said housing and a second end slidably engaged with said bottom surface of said housing, the apex of each V-shaped wiping arm defining an intermediate projecting contact point.

4. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 2, wherein said lower electrical connector includes:

a non-conductive housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and opposing side surfaces, said lower surface fixed to said front edge of said elongated base member, said upper surface and one side surface having a plurality of recesses having L-shaped cross-sections; and

a plurality of base contacts fixed within said recesses of said housing and electrically connected to said tilting means and said adjustment means of said adjustable seat configuration.

5. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 1, wherein said tilting means includes:

an electrical motor fixed to said back portion of said seat;

a gear train operably connected to said electrical motor and interconnecting said back portion and said base portion of said seat for tilting said back portion of said seat; and

manually operable switch means fixed to one arm portion of said seat and electrically connected to said electrical motor for actuation of said motor for tilting said back portion of said seat.

6. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 1, wherein said adjustment means includes:

adjustable elevating means fixedly mounted on said elongated base member for enabling said seat to be adjusted vertically up and down, and

adjustable mounting means connecting said seat to said adjustable raising means for enabling said seat to be adjusted toward and away from said gaming machine.

7. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine, said assembly comprising:

a rigid support member fixed to said gaming machine;

an elongated base member having opposed front and rear edges, said front edge for detachable engagement with said rigid support member of said gaming machine;

an adjustable seat configuration secured to said elongated base member adjacent said rear edge thereof, said adjustable seat configuration including;

a seat having a base portion, two arm portions, and a back portion;

a tilting means mounted on said base portion of said seat and connected to said back portion of said seat for angularly tilting said back portion of said seat relative to said base portion of said seat;

adjustable elevating means fixedly mounted on said elongated base member for enabling said seat to be adjusted vertically up and down; and

adjustable mounting means connecting said seat to said adjustable raising means for enabling said seat to be adjusted toward and away from said gaming machine;

a detachable electrical connection means interconnecting said front edge of said base member and said rigid support member for detachable electrical connection of said tilting means, said adjustable elevating means and said adjustable mounting means to a power supply of said gaming machine; and

an aesthetic post housing for shielding said adjustable elevating means from view.

8. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 7, wherein said aesthetic post housing includes:

an outer cylinder fixedly connected to said elongated base member and surrounding said adjustable elevating means; and

an inner cylinder fixedly connected to said adjustable mounting means and surrounding said adjustable elevating means, said inner cylinder adapted to slidably engage and telescopically mate with said outer cylinder so that said inner cylinder projects beyond said outer cylinder as said seat moves up and said inner cylinder recedes into said outer cylinder as said seat moves down.

9. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 7, wherein said tilting means includes:

an electrical motor fixed to said back portion of said seat;

a gear train operably connected to said electrical motor and interconnecting said back portion and said base portion of said seat for tilting said back portion of said seat; and

manually operable switch means fixed to one arm portion of said seat and electrically connected to said electrical motor for actuation of said motor for tilting said back portion of said seat.

10. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 7, wherein said detachable electrical connection means includes:

an upper electrical connector fixed to said rigid support member and electrically connected to a power supply of said gaming machine; and

a lower electrical connector fixed to said front edge of said elongated base member and electrically connected to said tilting means, said adjustable mounting means and said adjustable elevating means of said adjustable seat configuration, said lower electrical connector corresponding to said upper electrical connector for detachable electrical engagement of said upper electrical connector with said lower electrical connector.

11. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 10, wherein said upper electrical connector includes:

a non-conductive housing having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface fixed to said rigid support member; and

a plurality of resilient V-shaped conductive wiping arms projecting from said bottom surface of said housing and electrically connected to said power supply of said gaming machine, each V-shaped wiping arm having a first end fixed to said bottom surface of said housing and a second end slidably engaged with said bottom surface of said housing, the apex of each V-shaped wiping arm defining an intermediate projecting contact point.

12. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 10, wherein said lower electrical connector includes:

a non-conductive housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and opposing side surfaces, said lower surface fixed to said front edge of said elongated base member, said upper surface and one side surface having a plurality of recesses having L-shaped cross-sections; and

a plurality of base contacts fixed within said recesses of said housing and electrically connected to said tilting means and said adjustment means of said adjustable seat configuration.

13. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine, said assembly comprising:

a rigid support member fixed to said gaming machine;

an elongated base member having opposed front and rear edges, said front edge for detachable engagement with said rigid support member of said gaming machine;

an adjustable seat configuration secured to said elongated base member adjacent said rear edge thereof, said adjustable seat configuration including;

a seat having a back portion;

vibrating means operably connected to said seat for enabling said back portion of said seat to be vibrated;

an electrical light configuration mounted on said seat;

adjustable elevating means fixedly mounted on said elongated base member for enabling said seat to be adjusted vertically up and down;

adjustable mounting means connecting said seat to said adjustable raising means for enabling said seat to be adjusted toward and away from said gaming machine;

a detachable electrical connection means interconnecting said front edge of said base member and said rigid support member for detachable electrical connection of said vibrating means, said electrical light configuration, said adjustable elevating means and said adjustable mounting means to a power supply of said gaming machine; and

an aesthetic post housing for shielding said adjustable elevating means from view.

14. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 13, wherein said aesthetic post housing includes:

an outer cylinder fixedly connected to said elongated base member and surrounding said adjustable elevating means; and

an inner cylinder fixedly connected to said adjustable mounting means and surrounding said adjustable elevating means, said inner cylinder adapted to slidably engage and telescopically mate with said outer cylinder so that said inner cylinder projects beyond said outer cylinder as said seat moves up and said inner cylinder recedes into said outer cylinder as said seat moves down.

15. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 13, wherein said detachable electrical connection means includes:

an upper electrical connector fixed to said rigid support member and electrically connected to said power supply of said gaming machine; and

a lower electrical connector fixed to said front edge of said elongated base member and electrically connected to said vibrating means, said electrical light configuration, said adjustable elevating means and said adjustable mounting means of said adjustable seat configuration, said lower electrical connector corresponding to said upper electrical connector for detachable electrical engagement of said upper electrical connector with said lower electrical connector.

16. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 13, wherein said vibrating means includes:

an electrical vibrator operatively connected to said seat for vibration of said back portion of said seat; and

manually operable switch means electrically connected to said electrical vibrator for the actuation of said vibrator for vibration of said back portion of said seat.

17. An adjustable game stool assembly for a gaming machine as in claim 13, wherein said vibrating means includes:

at least two electrical vibrators operably connected to said seat for vibration of said back portion of said seat; and

manually operable switch means electrically connected to said electrical vibrators for the actuation of said vibrators for vibration of said back portion of said seat.