Gaming machine chair and wagering game systems and machines with a gaming chair

• US 8,678,936 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Lesley, Paul M., Glenn, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICONOVICH, ALEXANDER R
• Application Number:
  US12/944,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148.B, 463/13, 463/16, 463/46, 463/47, 297/68, 297/217.1, 297/217.4, 297/217.6, 381/301, 381/333
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16
• 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 7/723 with display screens
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/727 with speakers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

Gaming machine chairs and wagering game systems and machines with a gaming chair are presented herein. A gaming chair is disclosed that includes a base, a seat portion supported by the base, one or more speaker assemblies, and a backrest assembly. The backrest assembly includes a backrest and a mounting frame. The mounting frame has a polymeric honeycombed body comprising a plurality of ribs that define an array of compartments. Optionally, the mounting frame body has at least one contoured face. The mounting frame is attached to the backrest and speaker assembly, coupling both the backrest and speaker assembly to the base. The mounting frame may be fabricated with numerous fastening regions that are integrally formed with the polymeric body. In this optional configuration, at least some of the fastening regions lie in a respective plane divergent from the other fastening regions.

Claims

1. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one display configured to display outcomes of the wagering game;

at least one input device configured to receive wagers from players; and

a gaming chair, including;

a base;

a seat portion attached to the base;

at least one speaker assembly;

a backrest; and

a mounting frame having a polymeric body with opposing front and rear faces, the front face including a plurality of regions each with a distinct forward-projecting curvilinear profile having a distinct set of dimensions, the mounting frame being attached to the backrest and the at least one speaker assembly, the mounting frame operatively attaching both the backrest and the at least one speaker assembly to the base.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions includes a first region with a first width and thickness and a second region with a second width and thickness greater than the first width and thickness.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions includes a first fastening region with a first contoured shape and a second fastening region with a second contoured shape different from the first contoured shape.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the first fastening region comprises fastening structure to which is attached the backrest, and the second fastening region comprises fastening structure to which is attached the at least one speaker assembly.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions includes first and second fastening regions integrally formed with the mounting frame body, the first fastening region lying in a first plane and the second fastening region lying in a second plane different from the first plane.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the first plane is angularly offset from the second plane.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame body comprises a first plurality of ribs connected to and generally transverse with a second plurality of ribs to collectively define a plurality of compartments.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame body comprises a plurality of variable-thickness ribs cooperatively defining at least one of the forward-projecting curvilinear profiles.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mounting frame defines a slot, and the at least one speaker assembly includes a mating surface complementary with the slot such that the mating surface is slidably received in the slot and the at least one speaker assembly seats within the slot and couples to the mounting frame.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one speaker assembly includes a first shell member attached to a second shell member via a central connector, the central connector providing the complementary mating surface.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming chair further comprises a rear trim, the backrest being attached to the front face of the mounting frame and the rear trim being attached to the rear face of the mounting frame, the mounting frame and the at least one speaker assembly being sandwiched between the backrest and the rear trim.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one lighting assembly including a light source and a reflective surface, the at least one lighting assembly being attached to a rear trim of the gaming chair such that the light source and the reflective surface are not viewable by a player from a player position seated in the gaming chair.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the light source is concealed by the rear trim of the gaming chair, the light source emitting light in a first direction through a lens in the rear trim to the reflective surface, and the reflective surface redirecting light in a second direction away from the player position.

14. A gaming system for playing at least one wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one display configured to display an outcome of the at least one wagering game, the outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

at least one wager input device configured to receive a wager from a player to play the at least one wagering game;

at least one player input device configured to receive play input from the player; and

a gaming chair including a base, a seat portion supported on the base, a speaker assembly, a backrest, and an internal mounting frame supported on the base and having a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of compartments, the mounting frame having opposing front and rear faces, the front face including a plurality of regions each with a distinct forward-projecting curvilinear profile having distinct dimensions, the internal mounting frame being attached to and supporting both the backrest and the speaker assembly.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of regions includes an upper region with a first front-to-back thickness, a lower region with a second front-to-back thickness greater than the first thickness, and an intermediate region between the upper and lower regions, the intermediate region having a third front-to-back thickness less than both the first and second front-to-back thicknesses.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of regions includes first and second fastening regions integrally formed with the mounting frame, each of the fastening regions lying in a respective plane divergent from the other fastening regions.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the internal mounting frame defines an elongated slot configured to slidably receive the speaker assembly, the speaker assembly being seated within the elongated slot and fixed to the mounting frame.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the elongated slot is generally U-shaped, the speaker assembly including a first shell member attached to a second shell member via a central cylindrical connector, the central cylindrical connector being received in the U-shaped slot and having an outer diameter approximately equal to the lateral width of the U-shaped slot.

19. The gaming system of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one lighting assembly including a light source and a reflective surface, wherein the light source is housed between the mounting frame and a rear trim of the gaming chair, the light source emitting light in a first direction through the rear trim to the reflective surface, the reflective surface redirecting light in a second direction away from a player position.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one lighting assembly is attached to the rear trim of the gaming chair such that the light source and the reflective surface are not visible from the player position.

21. A gaming chair for a wagering game system or machine, the gaming chair comprising:

a base;

a seat portion supported by the base;

a mounting frame with a body having a front contoured face in opposing spaced relation to a back contoured face, the front contoured face including a plurality of fastening regions each with a distinct forward-projecting curvilinear profile having a distinct set of dimensions;

a backrest attached to the mounting frame; and

a speaker assembly attached to the mounting frame,

wherein the mounting frame operatively attaches the backrest and the speaker assembly to the base.

22. The gaming chair of claim 21, further comprising at least one of a wiring harness and a wireless interface operatively coupling the gaming chair to the wagering game system or machine.

23. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

at least one display for displaying randomly selected outcomes of the wagering game;

at least one input device for receiving wagers from players; and

a gaming chair including a seat portion, a backrest, a speaker assembly, and a mounting frame coupled to the seat portion and the speaker assembly, the mounting frame including front and rear faces, the front face including a plurality of fastening regions each with a distinct forward-projecting curvilinear profile having distinct dimensions, the backrest being attached to a first of the fastening regions and the speaker assembly being attached to a second of the fastening regions.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the mounting frame has a slot providing a U-shape to the mounting frame, the speaker assembly being positioned within the slot.

25. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the first fastening region has first mounting surfaces for receiving fasteners coupling the backrest to the mounting frame, the second fastening region having second mounting surfaces for receiving fasteners coupling the speaker assembly to the mounting frame, the first mounting surfaces being on a different plane than the second mounting surfaces.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the forward-projecting curvilinear profiles are defined by end portions of a plurality of structural ribs on the mounting frame.

27. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the gaming chair further includes at least one actuator providing movement to the chair, the forward-projecting curvilinear profiles of the mounting frame helping to maintain a player'"'"'s position on the gaming chair when the gaming chair is moving.