Automated gaming chairs and wagering game systems and machines with an automated gaming chair

• US 9,449,456 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Granger, Toriono A.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US13/487,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

Gaming chairs and wagering game systems and machines with a gaming chair are presented herein. A gaming chair is disclosed for a wagering game system with a controller operable to output signals associated with a wagering game. The gaming chair includes a backrest portion, a seat portion, and a base for supporting the seat and backrest portions. The base includes a height adjustment mechanism. The gaming chair also includes a motion-enabling mounting assembly that is attached to the seat portion and has at least one actuator configured to selectively move the seat portion in response to signals from the controller. The mounting assembly is movably mounted on the height adjustment mechanism of the base such that the mounting assembly, seat portion, backrest portion, and actuator(s) can be unitarily repositioned between a plurality of distinct heights.

Claims

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

a display device configured to display an outcome of the wagering game, the outcome being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

a controller configured to output signals related to the wagering game;

a gaming chair including a seat assembly, a base configured to support the seat assembly, and a height adjustment mechanism between the base and the seat assembly; and

a motion-enabling mounting assembly attached to the gaming chair and having a structural movable element and at least one actuator configured to selectively move the seat assembly in response to signals from the controller, the mounting assembly being movably mounted to the height adjustment mechanism such that the structural movable element, the seat assembly, and the at least one actuator move simultaneously vertically between a plurality of distinct heights.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the structural movable element is an elongated mounting shaft, and wherein the height adjustment mechanism includes an elongated support column configured to attach to the elongated mounting shaft.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the mounting shaft and the support column is tubular such that the mounting shaft is operable to telescope with the support column between the plurality of distinct heights.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the mounting shaft includes one or more longitudinally spaced apertures, and the support column includes one or more longitudinally spaced holes, and wherein the mounting shaft can be telescoped with the support column to align one of the apertures with a respective one of the holes such that a locking pin can be received therein to lock the gaming chair at one of the plurality of distinct heights.

5. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises at least one mounting bracket attaching the at least one actuator to the mounting shaft, the mounting shaft being coupled directly to the base and being coupled to the seat assembly via the at least one actuator.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator consists of a first actuator spaced from a second actuator.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the structural movable element is an elongated mounting shaft with a bracket having at opposing ends thereof first and second sleeves, each of the first and second sleeves receiving therein a respective one of the first and second actuators.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a multi-directional connector, the mounting assembly being connected to the seat assembly via the multi-directional connector and the at least one actuator.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the at least one actuator includes a first actuator spaced from a second actuator, the first and second actuators being selectively actuatable in cooperation with the multi-directional connector to impart motion to the gaming chair in at least two-degrees of rotational freedom.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the multi-directional connector includes a spherical bearing that is slidable along and pivotable about a support pin that is buttressed at opposing ends by a cradle.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the structural movable element is an elongated mounting shaft with a bracket at one end thereof, the spherical bearing, the support pin and the cradle cooperatively attaching the bracket to the seat assembly.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate attached to the seat portion, the mounting plate including a first arrangement of fastener holes configured to attach the seat assembly to the motion-enabling mounting assembly and a second arrangement of fastener holes configured to attach the seat assembly to a second mounting assembly structurally distinct from the motion-enabling mounting assembly.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a movable shroud operatively attached to the gaming chair, the movable shroud inhibiting access to a region subjacent the seat assembly at which the motion-enabling mounting assembly is located.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the movable shroud is coupled directly to the seat assembly such that movement of the seat assembly directly moves the movable shroud.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, further comprising a stationary boot substantially circumscribing the base, the stationary boot at least partially overlapping the moveable shroud to substantially envelop the motion-enabling mounting assembly.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the movable shroud comprises a flexible material, the stationary boot being in flexural engagement with the movable shroud to bend the movable shroud during actuation of the at least one actuator.

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

an input device configured to receive a wager to play the wagering game;

a display configured to display an outcome of the wagering game, the outcome being determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

a controller;

a gaming chair including;

a seat portion,

a base,

a height adjustment mechanism between the seat portion and the base, and

a mounting assembly with a structural movable element, a multi-directional connector, and at least one actuator cooperatively coupling the mounting assembly to the seat portion, the at least one actuator being configured to selectively move the seat portion in response to signals from the controller, the mounting assembly movably mounting the seat portion to the height adjustment mechanism such that the structural movable element, the seat portion, and the at least one actuator move simultaneously vertically between a plurality of distinct heights.

18. A gaming chair for a wagering game system with a controller operable to output signals associated with a wagering game, the gaming chair comprising:

a backrest portion;

a seat portion;

a base configured to support the seat portion and the backrest portion, the base including a height adjustment mechanism; and

a motion-enabling mounting assembly attached to the seat portion and having a structural movable element and at least one actuator configured to selectively move the seat portion in response to signals from the controller, the mounting assembly being movably mounted on the height adjustment mechanism of the base such that the structural movable element, the seat portion, the backrest portion, and the at least one actuator move simultaneously vertically between a plurality of distinct heights.

19. The gaming chair of claim 18, wherein the structural movable element is an elongated mounting shaft, and the height adjustment mechanism of the base includes an elongated support column, and wherein at least one of the mounting shaft and the support column is tubular such that the mounting shaft is operable to telescope with the support column between the plurality of distinct heights.

20. The gaming chair of claim 19, wherein the mounting shaft includes one or more longitudinally spaced apertures, and the support column includes one or more longitudinally spaced holes, and wherein the mounting shaft can be telescoped with the support column to align one of the apertures with a respective one of the holes such that a locking pin can be received therein to lock the gaming chair at one of the plurality of distinct height.

21. The gaming chair of claim 19, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises at least one mounting bracket attaching the at least one actuator to the mounting shaft, the mounting shaft being coupled directly to the base and being coupled to the seat assembly via the at least one actuator.

22. The gaming chair of claim 18, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a multi-directional connector, the mounting assembly being attached to the seat assembly via the multi-directional connector and the at least one actuator.

23. The gaming chair of claim 22, wherein the at least one actuator includes a first actuator spaced from a second actuator, the first and second actuators being selectively actuatable in cooperation with the multi-directional connector to move the gaming chair in at least two-degrees of rotational freedom.

24. A motion-enabling mounting assembly for a gaming chair with a seat assembly and a base assembly, the base assembly including a support column projecting from a support surface, the motion-enabling mounting assembly comprising:

first and second actuators configured to attach to the seat assembly, the first and second actuators each being selectively actuatable to apply rectilinear forces to the seat assembly;

a multi-directional connector configured to attach to the seat assembly, the multi-directional connector having at least two-degrees of rotational freedom;

a tubular mounting shaft attached to the first and second actuators and the multi-directional connector, the tubular mounting shaft being configured to attach to the gaming chair via the first and second actuators and the multi-directional connector, the tubular mounting shaft being configured to telescope with and connect to the support column of the base to thereby lock the gaming chair at any one of a plurality of heights, the tubular mounting shaft, the seat assembly, and the first and second actuators being movable simultaneously vertically between the plurality of distinct heights.

25. A method of mounting a gaming chair for a wagering game system with a controller, the gaming chair having a seat portion and a base assembly, the base assembly having a support column projecting from a support surface, the method comprising:

connecting a motion-enabled mounting assembly to the seat portion of the gaming chair, the mounting assembly including a tubular mounting shaft attached to at least one actuator configured to selectively move the seat portion in response to signals from the controller;

telescoping the mounting shaft onto the support column;

translating the mounting shaft with respect to the support column to thereby simultaneously move vertically the seat portion, the at least one actuator, and the mounting shaft to a desired height; and

securing the mounting shaft to the support column to thereby lock both the gaming chair and the mounting assembly at the desired height.