Computer game enhancement

• US 6,149,873 A
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mike Potter, Scott Raines
• Original Assignee: Mike Potter, Scott Raines
• Inventors: Potter, Mike, Raines, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/078,627
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 422/122, 422/123, 422/124, 422/5, 239/271-272, 239/309, 239/311
• US Class Current: 422/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• 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

Abstract

A scent apparatus is provided including a scenting mechanism for dispensing a scent upon the actuation thereof. Further included is an actuation mechanism connected between the scenting mechanism and either a computer or a game unit for actuating the scenting mechanism during a game.

Claims

1. A computer actuated scent apparatus comprising, in combination:

a housing with a rectangular configuration having a square front face, a square rear face and a side wall integrally coupled therebetween defined by four elongated rectangular faces, thereby forming an interior space with a constant square cross-section along an entire length thereof, the front and rear faces each having a circular bore formed in a center thereof and a cylindrical threaded sleeve mounted to an outer surface thereof in concentric relationship with the associated bore and extending outwardly therefrom with a plurality of threaded grooves formed on an outer surface thereof, the housing further including a divider with a size and shape similar to that of the front and rear faces, the divider integrally coupled within the interior space of the housing at a central extent of the side wall, wherein the divider has an aperture formed in a central extent thereof;

a pair of conduits each having a cylindrical configuration, the conduits including an input conduit with a first end sealingly coupled to an inner surface of the rear face of the housing in axial alignment with the circular bore thereof and a second end sealingly coupled to a first face of the divider for providing hermetical communication between the aperture of the divider and the bore of the rear face, the conduits further including an output conduit with a first end sealingly coupled to an inner surface of the front face of the housing in axial alignment with the circular bore thereof and a second end sealingly coupled to a second face of the divider for providing hermetical communication between the aperture of the divider and the bore of the front face;

a scented filter assembly including a tubular shell with a pair of open ends and a scented filter materiel situated within the shell for dispensing a scent upon the flow of air therethrough, wherein the scented filter assembly is removably inserted within the output conduit;

a piercing assembly including a rigid cylindrical sleeve mounted on the first face of the divider in concentric relationship with the aperture, an elastomeric bushing mounted within the sleeve of the piercing assembly with a disk-shaped recess formed in an end thereof, and a pin mounted within the bushing in concentric relationship therewith with a first end in communication with the aperture of the divider and a second end extending from the bushing;

a compressed air tank with a cylindrical configuration removably inserted within the input conduit, whereby the air tank is pierced by the pin of the piercing assembly upon the insertion of the same within the input conduit such that compressed air is dispensed through the aperture of the divider for being directed through the scented filter assembly;

a solenoid valve mounted within the divider of the housing and having a transducer with an unbiased orientation covering the aperture for precluding the flow of air to the scented filter assembly and a biased orientation for allowing the flow of air to the scented filter assembly only upon the actuation thereof, wherein the solenoid is connected to a cable which exits the housing at the rear face thereof and terminates at an adapter for releasably connecting with a control means which is adapted to actuate the solenoid valve during a computer game; and

a plurality of caps each having a circular face with a peripheral lip coupled to a periphery of the circular face and extending therefrom with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an inner surface thereof, the caps including a first cap with a single enlarged bore formed in the circular face thereof for allowing scented air to be directed directly therethrough upon being secured to the threaded sleeve of the front face of the housing, a second cap with a matrix of small bores formed in the circular face thereof for allowing scented air to be directed therethrough in a dispersed manner upon being secured to the threaded sleeve of the front face of the housing and a third cap with a closed circular face for being secured to the threaded sleeve of the rear face of the housing to effect the piercing of the compressed air tank.

2. A scent apparatus comprising:

scenting means for dispensing a scent upon the actuation thereof;

wherein the scenting means includes an air supply means for supplying air, the air supply means including a compressed air tank wherein the air from the air supply means is scented upon the actuation of the scenting means;

a piercing assembly including a rigid cylindrical sleeve with an elastomeric bushing mounted in the sleeve of the piercing assembly, a pin being mounted in the bushing in concentric relationship with the bushing, the pin having a first end and a second end, the second end extending from the bushing such that the air tank is piercable by the pin of the piercing assembly; and

actuation means connected between the scenting means and at least one of a computer and a game unit for actuating the scenting means during a game.

3. A scent apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the scenting means includes a scented filter for scenting air which flows therethrough, wherein the air tank is connected to the scented filter.

4. A scent apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the scented filter and the air tank are situated within a common housing.

5. A scent apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the scenting means includes an air flow scenting means for scenting air which flows therethrough, wherein further included is a plurality of caps for selectively governing such flow of air from the air flow scenting means.

6. A scent apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the scenting means includes an air flow scenting means for scenting air which flows therethrough and a supply of air, wherein the actuation means includes a solenoid valve.