Collapsible enclosure for playing games on computers and gaming consoles

• US 9,186,577 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visual Sports Systems
• Original Assignee: Visual Sports Systems
• Inventors: Weitzner, Daniel, Muellerchen, Peter, Scott, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US13/577,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20120329580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• 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 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a portable game console or computer for playing video games on a large screen television where the game involves tracking the position and movement of a moving object. The enclosure has a fabric cover and a frame which is movable between a collapsed position whereby the enclosure may be easily stored and an expanded position for playing a game. The fabric cover of the enclosure in the expanded position has an open front, side and top walls and a rear wall. The rear wall is provided as a netting material which is selected to arrest the movement of a moving object projected into the enclosure through the open front, while permitting a user to observe an image displayed on a large screen television placed to the rear or side of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer for playing sport based video games on a large screen television where the sport based video game involves tracking the position and movement of a moving object, the enclosure comprises a fabric cover and a frame which is movable between a collapsed position whereby the enclosure may be easily stored and an expanded position for playing a sport based video game, the fabric cover of the enclosure in the expanded position having an open front, side and top walls and a rear wall, the rear wall being a netting material which is selected to arrest the movement of a moving object propelled into the enclosure through the open front, while permitting a user to observe an image displayed on a large screen television placed to the rear of the enclosure through opening of the netting material, the frame including a collapsible base having a peripheral input device including object tracking devices attached thereto to track the position and movement of the moving object propelled into the enclosure when the enclosure is in the expanded position, the object tracking devices being located on the base to be at the corners of enclosure in the expanded position, the peripheral input device including a means for receiving the output of the object tracking devices for determining the presence of the moving object, a means for calculating the position and velocity vector of the moving object from the output of the object tracking devices and a means for converting the position and velocity vector of the moving object into a human interface device signal which is passed to the computer or game console as a signal from the peripheral input device through a universal serial bus, the peripheral input device allowing for the use with any sports game utilizing simulation games including a moving object.

2. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 1 wherein the fabric cover is provided with a plurality of loops along the edges of the side, top and rear walls to engage the frame.

3. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 2 wherein the frame includes collapsible poles attached to the collapsible base to support the enclosure.

4. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 3 wherein the collapsible base comprises side members attached to a rear member by releasable locking pivots which have releasable locking means to releasably lock the side members and the rear member when the collapsible base is in the expanded configuration.

5. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 4 wherein the releasable locking pivots comprise a plate attached to the adjacent ends of each of the side members and rear member by a suitable fastening means, the plates to the interior of the side or rear member being provided with releasable locking means.

6. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 5 wherein the releasable locking means comprise a pin or bolt which cooperates with a hole in both the plate and the side or rear member to be releasably inserted in aligned holes of the plate and side or rear member to releasably lock the locking pivot plate to each of the side and rear members in the expanded configuration, the pin or bolt being releasable to allow the collapsible base to be placed in the collapsed configuration.

7. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 6 wherein an object tracking device is attached to each of the side members of the collapsible base.

8. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 7 wherein the rear member of the collapsible frame comprises two or more individual members connected to one another by pivot plates attached to the adjacent ends of each of the rear members by a suitable fastening means, the plates to the interior of the rear member being provided with releasable locking means.

9. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 8 wherein the collapsible poles comprise a plurality of individual sections releasably connectable to one another.

10. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 9 wherein the collapsible poles comprise metal or fiberglass shock corded rods or poles which are of a length greater than the height of the enclosure.

11. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 10 wherein the corners of the base are provided with a means for engaging an end of the collapsible pole.

12. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 11 wherein the means for engaging the collapsible pole comprises a hollow tube extending upwardly from the corner of the base into which the end of the collapsible pole may be placed.

13. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 12 wherein a first end of the collapsible pole is provided with a means to engage the corner of the collapsible base and a second end of the collapsible pole is provided with a hook means to engage and hold loops provided at upper corners of the fabric cover, whereby when the pole ends are hooked into the loops, the pole is bowed outwardly under tension to maintain the enclosure in the expanded configuration.

14. A portable, collapsible enclosure for use with a game console or personal computer according to claim 13 wherein the fabric cover is provided with a plurality of loops along the edges of the side walls to engage the poles when the enclosure is in the expanded position, the loops being elasticized to accommodate the bowing of the pole.