Video game race car simulator assembly

• US 6,083,106 A
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian R. Mcdowell
• Original Assignee: Brian R. Mcdowell
• Inventors: McDowell, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COBURN, CORBETT B
• Application Number:
  US09/146,564
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/38, 463/6, 463/46, 434/62, 434/71, 434/29, 472/1, 472/130
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A video game race car simulator assembly for simulating the sitting in the driver seat of a racing car when playing video game racing car simulations. The assembly includes a base frame with a seat mounted thereto. A spaced apart pair of elongate arm members are pivotally coupled to the front end member of the base frame and upwardly extend from the base frame. A crossbar connects the upper ends of the arm members and a steering wheel input device is mounted to the crossbar. Each of the side members of the base frame has a telescopically extendable elongate support brace upwardly extending therefrom. Each of the arm members has a tubular collar disposed therearound. Each of the collars is coupled to the top end of an adjacent support brace. A stick shift input device is pivotally coupled to one of the side members. A pair of foot pedal input devices are mounted to the front end member of the base frame.

Claims

1. A video game race car simulator assembly for use with a racing car simulation video game, said assembly comprising:

a base frame having spaced apart elongate front and back end members and a spaced apart pair of side members extending between said front and back end members;

a seat being mounted to said base frame towards said back end member of said base frame;

a spaced apart pair of elongate arm members upwardly extending from said base frame, each arm member having opposite upper and lower ends;

said lower ends of said arm members being pivotally coupled to said front end member of said base frame, said upper ends of said arm members being extended in a direction towards said back end member of said base frame;

an elongate crossbar extending between said upper ends of said arm members;

a steering wheel input device being mounted to said crossbar, said steering wheel input device being adapted for electrically connecting to a central processor of a racing car simulating video game;

each of said side members of said base frame having a telescopically extendable elongate support braces upwardly extending therefrom, each of said support braces having top and bottom ends, said bottom ends of said support braces being coupled to the respective side member;

each of said arm members having a tubular collar disposed therearound, each of said collars being coupled to the top end of an adjacent support brace;

a stick shift input device being pivotally coupled to one of said side members, said stick shift input device being adapted for electrically connecting to a central processor of a racing car simulation video game; and

a pair of foot pedal input devices being mounted to said front end member of said base frame, said foot pedal input devices being adapted for electrically connecting to a central processor of a racing car simulation video game.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said side members are telescopically extendable.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base frame has a plurality of downwardly depending feet provided on each of said side members.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat is slidably mounted on side members of said base frame to permit sliding of said seat in a direction extending between said front and back end members of said base frame.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said arm members are telescopically extendable.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said support braces has a locking pin slidably mounted thereto towards said top end of the respective support brace, each of said locking pins being slidably insertable through the adjacent collar and into the adjacent arm member to releasably hold the arm member in a position with respect to base frame and said support brace.

7. A video game race car simulator assembly for use with a racing car simulation video game, said assembly comprising:

a base frame being generally rectangular in configuration and having spaced apart elongate front and back end members and a spaced apart pair of side members extending between said front and back end members;

said front and back end members extending generally parallel to one another, said side members extending generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to said front and back ends members;

said end and side members of said base frame generally lying in a common plane;

said base frame having a length defined between said front and back end members and a width defined between said side members;

each of said side members being telescopically extendable, each of said side members having front and back telescopic portions;

said front telescopic portions of said side members being located adjacent said front end member, said back telescopic portions of said side members being located adjacent said back end member;

said back telescopic portion of each side member telescopically receiving the associated front telescopic portion;

said base frame having a plurality of downwardly depending feet provided on each of said side members;

wherein each of said side members has three feet depending therefrom;

a first foot of each side member being located towards said front end member, a second foot of each side member being located towards said back end member, and a third foot of each side member being interposed between said first and second feet of the respective side member and being located on said back telescopic portion of the respective side member;

a seat being slidably mounted on side members of said base frame to permit sliding of said seat in a direction extending between said front and back end members of said base frame, said seat being positioned adjacent said back end member of said base frame;

said seat having a latching mechanism for releasably holding said seat in a position on said base frame between said front and back end members;

a spaced apart pair of elongate arm members upwardly extending from said base frame, each arm member having opposite upper and lower ends;

said lower ends of said arm members being pivotally coupled to said front end member of said base frame, said upper ends of said arm members being extended in a direction towards said back end member of said base frame;

each of said arm members being telescopically extendable, each of said arm members having upper and lower telescopic portions;

said upper telescopic portions of said arm members being located adjacent said upper ends of said arm members, and said lower telescopic portions of said arm members being located adjacent said lower ends of said arm members;

said lower telescopic portion of each arm member telescopically receiving the associated upper telescopic portion;

an elongate crossbar extending between said upper ends of said arm members;

said arm members being extended generally parallel to one another and generally parallel to said side members of said base frame, said crossbar being extended generally perpendicular to said arm members and generally parallel to said front and back end members of said base frame;

a steering wheel input device being mounted to said crossbar, said steering wheel input device being electrically connectable to a central processor of a racing car simulating video game;

said steering wheel input device having a base portion and a steering wheel portion rotatably mounted to said base portion, said steering wheel facing in a direction towards said seat;

said base portion being coupled to said crossbar wherein said cross bar having a mounting plate coupled thereto, wherein said base portion is coupled to said mounting plate;

each of said side members of said base frame having a telescopically extendable elongate support braces upwardly extending therefrom, each of said support braces having top and bottom ends, said bottom ends of said support braces being coupled to the respective side member;

each of said arm members having a tubular collar disposed therearound, each of said collars being coupled to the top end of an adjacent support brace;

each of said support braces having a locking pin slidably mounted thereto towards said top end of the respective side member, each of said locking pins being slidably insertable through the adjacent collar and into the upper telescopic portion of the adjacent arm member to releasably hold the associated upper telescopic portion in a position with respect to the associated lower telescopic portion of the respective arm member and hold the arm member in a position with respect to base frame;

a telescopically extendable stick shift input device being pivotally coupled to one of said side members, said stick shift input device being adapted for electrically connecting to a central processor of a racing car simulation video game;

a pair of foot pedal input devices having a base being mounted to said front end member of said base frame, said foot pedal input devices being adapted for electrically connecting to a central processor of a racing car simulation video game; and

wherein said base frame has a cross member extending between said side members, said base of said foot pedal input devices being mounted on said cross member.