Modular portable gaming simulator systems and methods

• US 6,155,928 A
• Filed: 05/19/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Burdick, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/081,127
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 434/46, 434/55, 434/66, 434/67, 463/6, 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/025 the object being a shop, cafeteria or display the object being a theatre or stagethe object being a workshop B60P3/14

Abstract

A modular portable gaming simulator system includes a transport trailer with at least one movable sidewall to which two or more gaming simulation stations are attached. The movable sidewall can be selectively raised and lowered between a transport or upright position for transporting the system, and a deployed or active position for displaying and operating the gaming simulation stations. The gaming simulation stations are interconnected so that the gaming simulation stations can interactively execute a software program application, such as in head-to-head competition. In the deployed position, the movable sidewall forms a stage on which the gaming simulation stations rest. In order to transport the system, the sidewall is raised into the upright or transportable position for transportation. During transportation, the gaming simulation stations remain attached to the sidewall in a horizontal, sideways position.

Claims

1. A modular, portable gaming simulator system, comprising:

a first gaming simulation station and a second gaming simulation station, wherein said first gaming simulation station and said second gaming simulation station are interconnected by a gaming program application so that said first and second gaming simulation stations can interactively execute said gaming program application; and

a transport trailer having opposed first and second walls, wherein said first wall is moveable between a transport position and a deployed position, and wherein said first gaming simulation station is attached to said first wall of said trailer.

2. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, wherein said first gaming simulation station is configured as a racecar.

3. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, wherein said first wall includes an inside surface and an outside surface when in said transport position, and wherein said first gaming simulator station is attached to said inside surface of said wall.

4. The gaming simulator system of claim 3, wherein said first gaming simulator stations is attached to said first wall such that when said first wall is in said deployed position then said first gaming simulation station is in an operable position, and when said first wall is in said transport position then said first gaming simulations station is in an inoperable position.

5. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, wherein said second wall is moveable between a transport position and a deployed position, and wherein said second gaming simulation station is attached to said second wall of said transport trailer.

6. The gaming simulator system of claim 5, wherein said transport trailer has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said first gaming simulation station is longitudinally displaced along said longitudinal axis of said transport trailer in relation to said second gaming simulation station.

7. The gaming simulator system of claim 6, wherein a portion of said first gaming simulation station is on one side of said longitudinal axis and a remainder of said first gaming simulation station is on an opposite side of said longitudinal axis when said first and second walls are in said transport position.

8. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, further comprising a support trailer which can be electrically coupled to said transport trailer for providing electrical power to said transport trailer.

9. The gaming simulator system of claim 8, wherein said support trailer includes climate control means for providing individual climate control for each of said first and second gaming simulation stations.

10. The gaming simulator system of claim 8, wherein said support trailer includes indicia for promoting one selected from the group consisting of a sport and a consumer product.

11. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, wherein said transport trailer is configured to transport at least four gaming simulation stations.

12. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, further comprising a pit unit remotely located with respect to said transport trailer and including a plurality of pit terminals, wherein each pit terminal is operatively connected to a respective one of said gaming simulation stations for providing user adjustments to said gaming program application.

13. The gaming simulator system of claim 1, further comprising public projection means for publicly presenting video signals generated by the execution of said gaming program application.

14. A method of interactive gaming, comprising the steps of:

providing a modular, portable stage which includes a first configuration for transportation and a second configuration for interactive gaming, wherein the stage includes a plurality of gaming simulation stations attached to the stage in the first and second configurations; and

interactively executing a gaming program application at each of said gaming simulation stations.

15. The interactive gaming method of claim 14, further including the step of transporting the modular portable stage while in the first configuration prior to said step of interactively executing a gaming program application.

16. The interactive gaming method of claim 14, further including the step of interfacing the gaming program application to a public communication network to allow interactive gaming over the public communication network.

17. The interactive gaming method of claim 14, further including the step of providing a pit unit comprising a plurality of pit terminals, wherein each pit terminal is associated with a respective gaming simulation station.

18. The interactive gaming method of claim 14, further comprising the step of powering the modular portable stage by a support vehicle which provides electrical power.

19. The interactive gaming method of claim 14, wherein said step of providing a modular, portable stage which includes a first configuration for transportation includes the step of longitudinally displacing the gaming simulation stations along a longitudinal axis of the modular, portable stage.

20. A modular, portable gaming stage, comprising:

a first stage portion including at least a first gaming simulation station;

a second stage portion which is movably connected to said first stage portion, and which includes at least a second gaming simulation station; and

a gaming program application that can be interactively executed by at least said first and second gaming simulation stations.

21. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 20, further comprising a third stage portion disposed between said first and second stage portions, wherein said first and second stage portions are pivotally attached to said third stage portion.

22. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 21, wherein said first stage portion is angled upward with respect to said third stage portion, and said second stage portion is angled downward with respect to said third stage portion, whereby said gaming stage can create an appearance of a banked turn in a racetrack.

23. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 20, further comprising a second modular, portable gaming stage coupled to said modular, portable gaming stage, wherein said second modular, portable gaming stage includes at least a third gaming simulation station which interactively executes said gaming program application.

24. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 20, wherein said first gaming simulation station is configured as a traction vehicle.

25. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 24, wherein said traction vehicle is configured as a racecar.

26. The modular, portable gaming stage of claim 20, further comprising a support trailer which stores goods for said gaming stage, and which operates as a backdrop to said gaming stage.