Speaker system for a gaming machine

• US 8,000,484 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei; Xu
• Application Number:
  US11/569,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 381/301, 381332-335, 381/388, 381/87, 381/337, 381/345, 381/349, 381/351, 463/35, 463/46, 297/217.4, 181/182, 181/187, 181/189
• US Class Current: 381/301
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/022 movably mounted on a working-table or the like for hairdressers A47C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49723 including reconditioning of part

Abstract

A system includes a chair having an electrical connection to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device and a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection. The speaker package includes a speaker mounted to a central member between a first shell defining a front cavity and a second shell defining a back cavity.

Claims

1. A speaker system comprising:

a chair having an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device;

a shell assembly comprising,

a first shell that at least partially defines a first cavity, the first cavity in communication with a first port,

a second shell that at least partially defines a second cavity distinct from the first cavity, the second cavity in communication with a second port, and

a central member that extends between and separates the first cavity and the second cavity, wherein a first perimeter of the first cavity and a perimeter of the second cavity are in offset relation to one another; and

a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection, the speaker package including a speaker mounted to said central member and directed to emit sound waves into the first cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package, including the speaker mounted to the central member extending between and separating the first cavity and the second cavity, is mounted to a back of the chair.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package includes at least three speakers, a first speaker is positioned about midway up a back of the chair and a second and a third speaker are positioned on an upper shoulder of the back of the chair.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair is removably connectable to the gaming device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the chair includes a base, and the base is mechanically and electrically connectable to the gaming device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shell and the second shell are mounted to opposing sides of the central member and are positioned upside down relative to each other such that the first cavity and the second cavity are not completely overlap.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the central member includes a generally planar member having a hole for mounting the speaker, the generally planar member longitudinally extending in a direction substantially parallel with the back of the chair and partially defining the first and second cavities.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central member, the first shell, and the second shell are integral to each other.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker package includes a second speaker and a third speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell, and

wherein the first shell includes an upper extending section having a port located approximately between the second speaker and the third speaker near a symmetrical center line of the chair and spaced from all speakers, the port having a size and shape configured to allow air and sound to pass through to a person seated in the chair.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the chair includes a chair back mounted over a portion of the speaker package, the chair back comprising a grill cap mounted over the second speaker, the third speaker, and the port.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the grill cap is attached to a front part of the chair back.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the grill cap is integral to a back part of the chair back.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair includes a back mounting frame including a U-shaped cut-out, and

wherein the speaker package includes a corresponding U-shaped outer surface such that a portion of the speaker package fits within the U-shaped cut-out.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the speaker package is mounted to the back mounting frame such that the first shell is on one side of the frame and the second shell is on a second side of the frame.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair includes a removable or hinged back configured to provide access to the speaker package.

16. A speaker system comprising:

a chair having an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device;

a shell assembly comprising,

a first shell that at least partially defines a first cavity, the first cavity in communication with a first port,

a second shell that at least partially defines a second cavity having a similar size as the first cavity, the second cavity in communication with a second port, and

a central member that extends between and separates the first cavity and the second cavity, wherein a first perimeter of the first cavity and a perimeter of the second cavity are in offset relation to one another; and

a discrete speaker package mounted to a back frame of the chair and filling at least a portion of a chair back, the speaker package including a speaker mounted to the central member and directed to emit sound waves into the first cavity.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first shell and the second shell are mounted to opposing side of the central member, in a non-aligning manner, and are positioned upside down relative to each other.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the central member includes a generally planar member having a hole for mounting the speaker, the generally planar member longitudinally extending in a direction substantially parallel with the chair back and partially defining the first and second cavities.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the central member, the first shell, and the second shell are integral to each other.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the speaker package includes a second speaker and a third speaker mounted on an upper surface of the first shell, and

wherein the first shell includes an upper extending section having a port located approximately between the second speaker and the third speaker and spaced from all speakers, the port having a size and shape configured to allow air and sound to pass through to a person seated in the chair.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the chair back is mounted over a portion of the speaker package, the chair back comprising a grill cap mounted over the second speaker, the third speaker, and the port.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the back frame of the chair includes a U-shaped cut-out, and

wherein the speaker package includes a corresponding U-shaped outer surface such that a portion of the speaker package fits within the U-shaped cut-out.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the speaker package is mounted such that the first shell is on one side of the back frame and the second shell is on a second side of the back frame.

24. A speaker system comprising:

a chair having an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device;

a shell assembly including a first shell, a central member, and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell mounted in an opposite manner to the central member such that a perimeter of the first shell is offset relative to a perimeter of the second shell; and

a

speaker package incorporated into a back of the chair and coupled to the electrical connection, the speaker package including a speaker mounted to the central member disposed between and separating the first shell defining a first cavity and the second shell defining a second cavity,

wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are discrete cavities, each providing an air space in communication with a port.