GB2281200A - Composite games station with seat and shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

A games station, e.g. for carrying a VDU and associated controls, includes a seat 9, and a shelf 12, spaced from each other and joined by a pair of side walls 3, 4 and it may also include a foot rest 2. The distance between the seat, the front shelf and/or the foot rest may be adjustable so as to accommodate users of different size. The component parts of the games station are flat and are connected by slotted joints. Thus the games station can be transported or sold as a flat package kit which can be assembled, preferably without the use of tools, for display or use. The flat component parts may be cut from wood, reinforced card, hardboard, chipboard or composite board provided adequate rigidity is achieved. In general the load bearing parts, particularly the seat and foot rest, will be of greater rigidity than the other parts. The rear section of the games station may be hingeably mounted on the rest of the station (Fig. 4) so that the space taken up by the station may be reduced when not in use. <IMAGE>

Description

GAMES STATION This invention relates to a games station, and particularly to a games station adapted for carrying visual display units and associated controls.

For use in offices and similar environments so-called 'work stations1 are provided which comprise one or more shelves, often adjustable in height, on a stand with facilities for the connection of electrical power supplies and data lines. Such work stations are used by an operator seated on a conventional office chair. In many cases the work stations have wheels or castors fitted so that they can be easily moved. The shelves or other fittings are arranged to carry an array of equipment such as a visual display unit (VDU), keyboard, microprocessor, mouse, and often also disc drives and a printer. The operator of such work stations will normally be using the equipment for word processing, accounting or managing data.

A considerable quantity of software exists which enables equipment of the type used in work stations to be used to provide games and educational programs of in which the operator interacts with the program using controls such as buttons, joy sticks, steering wheels and pedals. Sound is usually associated with these programs. Junior users of programs, such as those involving driving, flying, warfare and similar skills, require a greater feeling of involvement than is achieved by a conventional work station or desk.

An object of the present invention is to provide a games station which enables the user to become closely involved when operating a training or games program. A further object is to provide a games station in a kit form which is easily assembled form for ease of transport and storage.

According to the present invention there is provided a games station comprising a rear section including a seat, a front section including a shelf, the sections being spaced from each other and joined by a pair of side wall sections.

Preferably the front section includes a foot rest.

In a preferred embodiment the distance between the seat, the front shelf and/or the foot rest are adjustable so as to accomodate users of different size. In order to improve strength and stability a support, preferably in the form of a vertically oriented sheet member, is located between the underside of the seat and the surface on which the games station is located. In a most preferred embodiment the side walls and the front and rear sections are flat components connected by slotted joints. Such an arrangement allows the games station to be transported or sold as a flat package kit which can be assembled, preferably without the use of tools, for display or use.

The seat is supported at its ends by the side sections through which it is fitted, preferably by insertion of the ends into appropriately located slots in the sections In a preferred embodiment a supplementary support, in the form of a vertical panel, is fitted between the underside of the seat and the base of the games station. The support prevents the seat bending downwardly under heavy loads.

For operating convenience further transverse shelves are provided for the storage of accessories and equipment.

When located at the front and rear of the games station such shelves also increase the rigidity of the assembled structure.

The rigidity of the frame formed by the four main sections may be enhanced by the addition of supplementary panels.

Such panels may serve the dual purpose of improving rigidity and providing a functional service. A front vertical panel may act as a modesty panel while a rear horizontal panel may act as a supplementary shelf providing extra storage space for equipment associated with the games station.

The flat sections forming the games station may be cut from wood, reinforced card, hardboard, chipboard or composite boards provided adequate rigidity is achieved. In general the load bearing portions, particularly the seat and foot rest, will be of greater rigidity than the other sections.

In one embodiment the rear section of the games station may be hingeably mounted on the rest of the station so that the space taken up by the station may be reduced when not in use. In such an embodiment the rear includes sidewalls, head rest section, seat and any other rear Sections. Such a rear section is hingeably mounted on the main portion so that it may be tipped forward into a storage position when not in use.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a games station according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the components for the games station of Figure 1 in disassembled form, Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of a games station according to the invention, Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a modified form of the a games station according to the invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a games station showing a seat support and a stability panel, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a games station showing a seat support, a stability panel and a supplementary shelf, Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a games station showing a seat support and a supplementary shelf, Figure 8 shows a plan view of the side sections used in the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7, and Figure 9 shows a flat sheet of material marked with the cutting pattern for the components of the games station shown in Figure 5.

A games station, see Figure 1, consists of a rear section 1 and a front section 2 joined by a pair of side wall sections 3 and 4. The sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 formed from rigid sheet material. The side wall sections 3 and 4 carry slots 5 which allow the ends of the rear section 1 to be fitted through the wall section. The front section 2 is fitted into the side walls 3 and 4 by means of cooperating slots 6 cut out of the sections.

In the games station shown in Figure 1 the rear of the station carries a shoulder rest 7 fitted into the sections 3 and 4 by means of cooperating slots 8. The station further includes a seat 9 whose ends protrude outwardly through slots 11 in the side walls 3 and 4. The combination of the rest 7, rear section 1 and seat 9 fitted into their respective slots 8, 5 and 11 ensures that the side walls 3 and 4 are held securely in position at the rear of the station.

The front of the station carries an upper shelf 12 and a lower, composite, shelf formed of sections 13 and 14. The shelf 12 fits into cooperating slots 15 in the sections 3 and 4. The two sections of the composite shelf 13 and 14 fit into cooperating slots 16 and 17 in the side walls 3 and 4. The combination of the slot fitted elemnts 2, 12, 13 and 14 and ensure that the side walls 3 and 4 are held securely in position at the front of the station.

The shelves 12 and 13 with 14 may carry the various parts of games apparatus such as a video display unit (VDU) 18 and microprocessors, keyboards, etc. (not shown). In order to provide scale a human figure 19 is shown seated in the station.

All the elements used in the construction of the station are planar so that the station can be transported as a flat pack. The planar elements will be more clearly understood by reference to Figure 2 in which they are shown disassembled. Like numbers indicate like sections. The same reference numeral is used for cooperating slots on the two elements involved. It will be seen that the design allows the elements to be quickly assembled or disassembled. When assembled the cooperating slots ensure the formation of a rigid and safe station.

If necessary for additional security when the sections of the games station have been slotted together the slotted joints may be further secured by wedges, screws, adhesive or other fixing means.

In an alternative arrangement, see Figure 3, like numbers indicate like sections in function although different in non-functional aesthetic design aspect. The end section 2, which also acts as a foot rest, has supplementary fixing slots 21 and 22 in the side walls 3 and 4. This arrangement permits comfortable use by people of different size and, in the case of children, adjustment may be made for growth. The shoulder rest section 7 is raised to a higher level so that it also supports the head.

The lower lower, composite, shelf in the embodiment of Figure 3 is formed of three sections 13, 14 and 23. The front section 13 and the central section 23 fitting into slots 24 and 25 cut through the side walls 3 and 4.

In a further variation, see Figure 4, the rear section of the games station may be hingeably mounted on the rest of the station so that the space taken up by the station may be reduced when not in use. In this embodiment a rear section has a sidewall 31 and a further sidewall, not shown, joined by a head rest section 32, a back rest section 33 and a seat 34. The seat 34 has an extended portion 35 which fits into an aperture 36 in the side wall section 4. The rear section may be tipped forward in the direction shown by the arrow 37 to a storage position, indicated by dashed lines.

The outer sufaces of the games station may be painted, varnished and carry designs to enhance the visual appearance. Fittings may be included such as foot switches or pedals on the inner surface of the section 2.

Cable holding means, push buttons, headphone fittings or loud speakers may form part of the equipment.

In a further variation the distance between the side wall sections 3 and 4 may be increased so that the station can accomodate two users. In such an arrangement it may be necessary two provide supplementary support means, such as a hinged downwardly directed flap, centrally on the lower surface of the seat 9 to accomodate the increased load.

Further alternative embodiments, see Figures 5, 6 and 7, will be described in which like numbers indicate like sections in function although different in non-functional aesthetic design aspect.

When the seat 9 is supported at its ends by the side sections 3 and 4 through which it is slotted it will bear the weight of a seated user without difficulty. However when used in a juvenile environment it is possible that users or companions may either stand or jump on the seat which may result in mechanical failure of the seat. For this reason supplementary supports 41, see Figures 5, 6 and 7, may be fitted as vertical panels in slots 42.

The rigidity of the frame formed by the sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 may be enhanced by the addition of vertical modesty panels 43, see Figures 5 and 6, fitted into slots 44. A supplementary shelf 45, see Figures 6 and 7, located at the rear of the games station provides storage space for cassettes and other items associated with the station and increased rigidity of the rear section.

Views of the side wall section 3 showing the necessary slots for seat supports 41, modesty panels 43 and supplementary shelves 45 are shown in Figure 8. View (a) corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, (6) corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 6 and (c) corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

The panels forming the sections, shelves, etc. may be cut from a single sheet of suitable material with minimal wastage. As can be seen from Figure 9, the complementary forms of the edges of components such as the front section 2 and the modesty panel 43 permit them to be formed by a single cut.

Claims (14)

1. A games station comprising a rear section including a seat, a front section including a shelf, the sections being spaced from each other and joined by a pair of side wall sections.

2. A games station as claimed in claim 1 in which the front section includes a foot rest.

3. A games station as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the distance between the seat, the front shelf and/or the foot rest are adjustable so as to accomodate users of different size.

4. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the side walls and the front and rear sections are flat components connected by slotted joints.

5. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the rear section of the games station is hingeably mounted on the rest of the station so that the space taken up by the station may be reduced when not in use.

6. A games station as claimed in claim 5 in which the rear section includes the sidewalls, head rest section, seat and any other rear sections.

7. A games station as claimed in claim 5or claim 6 in which the rear section is so hingeably mounted on the main portion so that it may be tipped forward into a storage position when not in use.

8. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the seat has a substantially vertically oriented support panel located beneath it.

9. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the upper part of the front section carries a modesty panel.

10. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a supplementary storage shelf is located at the rear of the station.

11. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the rear section, the front section and the side wall sections are cut from wood, reinforced card, hardboard, chipboard or composite board.

12. A games station as claimed in any of the preceding claims in the form of a flat package kit.

13. Games stations as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

14. Games stations as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.