Controls for a game bike

• US 4,637,605 A
• Filed: 02/17/1984
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Ritchie
• Original Assignee: Frank Ritchie
• Inventors: Ritchie, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US06/581,362
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 272/73, 272/69, 273/DIG. 28, 273/148 B, 188/24.11, 188/24.12
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/40 characterised by details of platform network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories

Abstract

The present invention relates to a video game control arrangement in which player movement is controlled on a video screen from the handlebars of an exercise device such as a stationary exercise bicycle. The arrangement is set up such that the video controls can only be operated with a pre-set acceptable exercise level below which the controls are non-operational.

Claims

1. A video game control arrangement comprising manually operated controls for controlling player movement on a video screen and mounting means for mounting said controls in a supported position on hand and arm rest suppoting means of an exercise device for manual operation of said controls with such manual operation being guided by the supporting means of the exercise device, said manually operated controls comprising hand grip members operating cables for controlling a potentiometer control for controlling player movement on the video screen.

2. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hand grip members operate electrical switches for controlling player movement on the video screen.

3. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said manually operated controls comprise cables connected to the supporting means of the exercise device, the exercise device comprising an exercise bicycle with the supporting means comprising moveable handlebars on the exercise bicycle for operation of the cables to control player movement on the video screen.

5. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 including a rack wrapped around said potentiometer control device for adjustment thereof through said hand pressure operated members.

4. A video game control arrangement for operation from the handlebars of an exercise device comprising individual hand pressure operated members mounted by mechanical means in a position beneath and using the handlebars as a stationary support for guiding operation of the hand pressure operated members to control player movement on a video screen, said arrangement including selector means for setting a proposed exercise pace, means for relating actual with the proposed exercise pace, on-off means for enabling said hand pressure operated members with favourable relation and disabling said hand pressure operated members with unfavourable relation of the actual and proposed paces, and a cable arrangement fitted to a potentiometer control device which is adjusted through movement of said hand pressure operated members to control the player movement in a single plane.

6. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said manually operated controls operate electrical switches.

7. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said electrical switches control player movement in a multiple of planes.

8. A video game control arrangement as claimed in claim 7 including right and left hand controls for up/down and side to side player movement on the video screen.