Video game chair

• US 7,273,251 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ultimate Game Chair Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultimate Game Chair Incorporated
• Inventors: Real, James K., Florez, Richard Edward Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US11/483,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 297/217.3, 273/148.B, 273/460, 472/130, 463 36- 38, 463/46, 463/47, 463/30
• 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 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like

Abstract

A video game chair for enhancing the enjoyment of a video game includes a chair member formed of a horizontal seat portion with a backrest portion vertically extending therefrom. Adjacent each of two opposing sides of the seat portion is an adjustable arm with a game controller mounted thereon. A speaker and adjustable leg are mounted adjacent each of two opposing sides of the backrest portion. An interface box is removably attached to a lower surface of the seat portion for electrically connecting the speakers and controller to a conventional game box.

Claims

1. A video game chair, comprising:

a chair;

a vibrating mechanism coupled to the chair; and

an interface box having one or more interface jacks and capable of being electrically coupled to the vibrating mechanism and to a video game box, the interface box capable of intercepting game-controller vibration-feedback control signals from the video game box in response to game events and of activating the vibrating mechanism in response to the game-controller vibration-feedback control signals.

2. A video game chair as in claim 1, wherein the vibrating mechanism includes one or more vibrators, each vibrator being associated with one or more vibration intensity levels and capable of vibrating at a particular vibration intensity level when activated.

3. A video game chair as in claim 1, wherein the vibrating mechanism includes one or more vibrators, the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal including one or more of a minimum signal, an intermediate signal, and a maximum signal, the minimum signal capable of activating a small number of the one or more vibrators, the maximum signal capable of activating all of the one or more vibrators, and the intermediate signal capable of activating an intermediate number of the one or more vibrators, the small number being at least one, the intermediate number being equal to or greater than the small number.

4. A video game chair as in claim 1, wherein the vibrating mechanism includes one or more vibrators included in a game controller.

5. A video game chair as in claim 1, further comprising an ottoman, the vibrating mechanism being further coupled to the ottoman.

6. A video game chair as in claim 1, further comprising an audio mechanism coupled to the chair, the interface box being further capable of activating the audio mechanism in response to the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal.

7. A video game chair as in claim 1, further comprising a visual mechanism coupled to the chair, the interface box being further capable of activating the visual mechanism in response to the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal.

8. A video game chair as in claim 7, wherein the visual mechanism includes on or more LEDs.

9. A video game chair as in claim 1, further comprising a protective case capable of housing the interface box, the protective case allowing for selectively exposing the one or more interface jacks.

10. A video game chair as in claim 1, wherein the interface box is further capable of being disposed in a protective case, the protective case capable of being coupled to the chair.

12. A method as in claim 2, wherein, activating the vibrating mechanism includes activating one or more vibrators, each vibrator being associated with one or more vibration intensity levels and capable of vibrating at a particular vibration intensity level when activated.

11. A method comprising:

sending game controller signals by game controllers to a video game box to control game play, the video game box generating an electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal in response to the game play;

intercepting the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal from the video game box by an interface box electrically coupled to a video game chair; and

activating a vibrating mechanism coupled to the video game chair in response to the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal intercepted from the video game box.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein activating the vibrating mechanism includes activating one or more vibrators, the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal including one or more of a minimum signal, and intermediate signal, and a maximum signal, the minimum signal capable of activating a small number of the one or more vibrators, the maximum signal capable of activating all of the one or more vibrators, and the intermediate signal capable of activating an intermediate number of the one or more vibrators, the small number being at least one, the intermediate number bring equal to or greater than the small number.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein activating the vibrating mechanism includes activating one or more vibrators included in a game controller.

15. A method as in claim 11, further comprising activating an audio mechanism coupled to the video game chair in response to the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal received from the video game box.

16. A method as in claim 11, further comprising activating a visual mechanism coupled to the video game chair in response to the electrical game-controller vibration-feedback control signal received from the video game box.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the visual mechanism includes one or more LEDs.

18. A method as in claim 11, wherein activating the vibrating mechanism includes activating the vibrating mechanism included in an ottoman, the ottoman being included in the video game chair.