Low impact switch apparatus

• US 7,361,856 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ladd Anderson
• Original Assignee: Ladd Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Ladd
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US11/515,298
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 200/85.R, 200341-345, 200520-521, 200294-295, 200/329, 463 33- 43
• US Class Current: 200/85.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches

Abstract

A platform of the type holding a plurality of normally-open electric switches in position for activation of a selected individual switch by application of a force in a direction normal to a surface of the switch by a portion of a human body. An exemplary platform according to the invention forms a dance platform on which a user steps to activate switches in accordance with instructions viewed on a video display device. A joining structure may by used to hold two platforms in a side-by-side competition arrangement. A security vault may be affixed to structure associated with platform to resist theft of a commercially available game controller adapted to operate the video display and to receive switch input from a platform. Certain aspects of the invention include one or more, typically inert, practice platforms structured to represent the user interface surface of an activatable platform. A method for using a system of active and inert platforms is also disclosed.

Claims

1. In a rigid platform of the type used in machine dance activity and having a substantially planar top surface defining an area bounded by a perimeter, with the top surface being spaced apart in a vertical direction from a support surface, the platform including a plurality of switches disposed for actuation of the switches by a stepping action of a user'"'"'s foot, the improvement comprising:

a resilient element disposed in a load bearing path between said top surface and said support surface, said resilient element being operable to deflect responsive to a foot strike on said top surface effectively to reduce repetitive contact stress imparted to a user, wherein;

said resilient element is disposed beneath all switch structure and above said support surface.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a friction enhancing element disposed for contact with said support surface and effective to resist transverse displacement of said platform during use in said machine dance activity.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein:

said friction enhancing element is operable to deflect responsive to a foot strike on said top surface effectively to reduce repetitive contact stress on a user.

4. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said resilient element comprises a shock-absorbing structure sized in substantial agreement with a size of said planar top surface.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein:

said shock-absorbing structure comprises a foam pad.

6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein:

said foam pad has a substantially uniform resilience throughout.

7. In a rigid platform of the type used in machine dance activity and having a substantially planar top surface defining an area bounded by a perimeter, with the top surface being spaced apart in a vertical direction from a support surface, the platform including a plurality of switches disposed for actuation of the switches by a stepping action of a user'"'"'s foot, the improvement comprising:

a resilient element disposed in a load bearing path between said top surface and said support surface, said resilient element being operable to deflect responsive to a foot strike on said top surface effectively to reduce repetitive contact stress imparted to a user;

wherein;

said resilient element is configured and arranged for removable association with said platform by a user; and

said resilient element comprises a tub configured for drop-in reception of said platform.

8. In a platform of the type used in machine dance activity and having a substantially planar top surface spaced apart in a vertical direction from a platform support surface, the platform including a plurality of switches disposed for actuation of the switches by a stepping action of a user'"'"'s foot, the improvement comprising:

a resilient element operable to deflect responsive to a foot strike on said top surface effectively to reduce repetitive contact stress imparted to a user, said resilient element being disposed in a load bearing path defined in a platform disposed in a conventional horizontal use position and starting beneath switch structure of said platform and extending to said platform support surface.

9. The improvement according to claim 8, wherein:

said resilient element is configured and arranged for removable association with said platform by a user.

10. The improvement according to claim 9, wherein:

said resilient element comprises a tub configured for drop-in reception of said platform.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, said tub further comprising:

a ramp edge disposed around a perimeter of said platform and configured to accommodate a difference in elevation between said top surface and said platform support surface, thereby to resist twisting an ankle of a user who steps on that perimeter.

12. The improvement according to claim 10, said tub further comprising:

a friction enhancing element disposed for contact with said support surface and effective to resist transverse displacement of said platform during use in said machine dance activity.

13. The improvement according to claim 9, wherein:

said resilient element comprises a shock-absorbing structure sized in substantial agreement with a size of said planar top surface.

14. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein:

said shock-absorbing structure comprises a foam pad.

15. The improvement according to claim 14, wherein:

said foam pad has a substantially uniform resilience throughout.