Ergonomic support apparatus having situational sensory augmentation

• US 8,902,159 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christian Snuggs, Christopher Lee, John Matthews, Steven Hollis, Victor Mcganey
• Original Assignee: Christian Snuggs, Christopher Lee, John Matthews, Steven Hollis, Victor Mcganey
• Inventors: Matthews, John, Lee, Christopher, Snuggs, Christian, Hollis, Steven, McGaney, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): GIESY, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US13/556,764
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/023 Arm supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for combined ergonomic support and situational sensory augmentation interface during an interactive session within a virtual environment generated by a computer system. The apparatus comprises a resilient body defining a mid portion extending laterally between a pair of side portions projecting transversely outward therefrom to terminate at respective free ends. The mid portion extends across a lap of a user. The mid and side portions collectively define an upper surface for hand and forearm support for the user and an inner side surface contoured about a cradle space for receiving a torso of the user in cradling manner. At least one actuator disposed on the resilient body is selectively driven in cooperation with the interactive session to generate tactile feedback to the user through at least one of the upper and inner side surfaces of the resilient body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for combined ergonomic support and situational sensory augmentation interface during an interactive session within a virtual environment generated by a computer system, comprising:

a portable resilient body defining a mid portion extending laterally between a pair of side portions projecting transversely outward therefrom to terminate at respective free ends, said mid portion extending across a lap of a user, said mid and side portions collectively defining an upper surface for hand and forearm support for the user and an inner side surface contoured about a cradle space for receiving a torso of the user in cradling manner; and

,

a plurality of actuators integrated in said resilient body to respectively bear against a plurality of preselected anatomical parts of the user during the interactive session, each of said plurality of actuators being selectively driven in cooperation with the interactive session to generate tactile feedback to a corresponding one of the preselected anatomical parts of the user.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to said actuator, said controller communicating with the computer system to drive said actuator responsive thereto, the tactile feedback being thereby generated in time synchronized manner with progression of the interactive session within the virtual environment.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a docking station for an external communication device recessed within said resilient body, said docking station being coupled to said controller to maintain an audio and video link with a remote site through the external communication device docked therein during the interactive session.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one communication device disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller to establish an audio and video link with a remote site therethrough to maintain a real-time trash talk link during the interactive session.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said side portions includes a bottom surface defining a concave contour for conformed engagement of the user'"'"'s lap.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuator is disposed to deliver the tactile feedback to the user through at least one of said upper, inner side, and bottom surfaces of said resilient body.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said mid and side portions is reconfigurable in shape.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said mid and side portions includes a malleable frame member embedded therein for providing structural support.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said side portions is detachably coupled to said mid portion by at least one said malleable frame member extending internally therebetween.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of actuators are disposed on said resilient portion displaced one from the other, said actuators being selectively driven by said controller for delivering haptic feedback to at least one corresponding area of the user'"'"'s torso, forearms, or thighs.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said actuators are each embedded within said resilient body, each said actuator including a transducer of a type selected from the group consisting of:

electromechanical, electroacoustic, thermoelectric, and electropneumatic.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one tactile sensor disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller, said tactile sensor generating a sensory signal for supplemental controlling input to the virtual environment responsive to tactile actuation thereof by the user.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one said actuator is reconfigurable in mode of operation to said tactile sensor.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient body includes at least one pocket defining a storage compartment for accessory equipment.

15. An ergonomic support apparatus for delivering haptic feedback to a user in accordance with computer interactive user activity within a virtual environment generated by a computer system, comprising:

a portable resilient body defining a bridge portion extending laterally between a pair of malleably reconfigurable wing portions projecting transversely outward therefrom to terminate at respective free ends, said bridge portion extending across a lap of a user, said bridge and wing portions collectively defining an upper surface for hand and forearm support for the user and an inner side surface contoured about a cradle space for receiving a torso of the user in cradling manner;

a plurality of actuators integrated in said resilient body to respectively bear against a plurality of parts of the user'"'"'s torso during the interactive session, each of said plurality of actuators being selectively driven in coordination with the computer interactive user activity to generate tactile feedback to a corresponding part of the user'"'"'s torso through at least one of said upper and inner side surfaces of the resilient body; and

,

a controller disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said actuator, said controller communicating with the computer system to drive said actuator responsive thereto, the tactile feedback being thereby generated in time synchronized manner with progression of the computer interactive user activity within the virtual environment to augment sensory feedback to the user.

16. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one communication device disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller to establish an audio and video link with a remote site therethrough to maintain a real-time trash talk link during the interactive session.

17. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said wing portions includes a bottom surface defining a concave contour for conformed engagement of the user'"'"'s lap;

and, said upper surface of said resilient body defines an undulating contour.

18. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said wing portions is detachably joined to said bridge portion by a skeletal frame member extending malleably therebetween for providing structural support.

19. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said plurality of actuators are disposed on said resilient portion displaced one from the other, said actuators being selectively driven by said controller for delivering haptic feedback to the user at corresponding parts of the user'"'"'s torso, forearms, and hands.

20. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said actuators are each embedded within said resilient body, each said actuator being selectively energized to apply tactile feedback of a type selected from the group consisting of:

force, pressure, vibration, and temperature.

21. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one tactile sensor disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller, said tactile sensor generating a sensory signal for supplemental controlling input to the virtual environment responsive to tactile actuation thereof by the user.

22. An ergonomic support apparatus for delivering haptic feedback to a user in accordance with computer interactive user activity within a virtual environment generated by a computer system, comprising:

a portable resilient body malleably reconfigurable to selectively conform to the user'"'"'s anatomy, said resilient body defining a bridge portion extending laterally between a pair of wing portions projecting transversely outward therefrom to terminate at respective free ends, said bridge portion extending across a lap of a user, said bridge and wing portions collectively defining an upper surface for hand and forearm support for the user and an inner side surface contoured about a cradle space for receiving a torso of the user in cradling manner;

a plurality of actuators integrated in said resilient body displaced one from the other to respectively bear against a plurality of preselected parts of the user'"'"'s anatomy during the interactive session, each of said plurality of actuators being selectively driven in coordination with the computer interactive user activity to generate tactile feedback at a corresponding one of the parts of the user'"'"'s torso, forearms, and hands through at least one of said upper and inner side surfaces of the resilient body;

a controller disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said actuators, said controller communicating with the computer system to drive said actuators responsive thereto in time synchronized manner with progression of the computer interactive user activity within the virtual environment, sensory feedback to the user being thereby augmented; and

,

at least one communication device disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller to establish an audio and video link with a remote site therethrough to maintain a real-time trash talk link during the interactive session.

23. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising at least one tactile sensor disposed on said resilient body and coupled to said controller, said tactile sensor generating a sensory signal for supplemental controlling input to the virtual environment responsive to tactile actuation thereof by the user.

24. The ergonomic support apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein:

said resilient body includes at least one skeletal frame member malleably embedded therein;

each of said wing portions includes a bottom surface defining a concave contour for conformed engagement of the user'"'"'s lap; and

,

said upper surface of said resilient body defines an undulating contour.