GB2515589A

GB2515589A - Entertainment Chair

Info

Publication number: GB2515589A
Application number: GB1321817.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edwin Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-15
Filing date: 2013-12-10
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Also published as: GB201222663D0; GB201321817D0

Abstract

A chair for the use in gaming that comprises of a chair assembly 1 attached to a collapsible frame/base 2 and mat assembly 15, wherein, the chair can be removed to be placed on the floor and the frame has the ability to open out and form a gaming station that facilitates a plurality of gaming accessories 13, 14. The base may preferably have an unlocking system that facilities the removal of the chair. The base when collapsed may have the means of allowing accessories to be connected to an integrated power cable that is situated in the mat assembly.

Description

Entertainment Chair

Field of the Invention

An entertainment chair having two modes of deployment, the first mode being as a conventional seat at a normal height so that a user may sit thereon with his / her feet resting on the floor, the second mode in which the seat is located nearer to the floor, accompanied with displaceable pads from the seat base creating gaming positions with hand and feet control mounts suitable for driving or flying computerised games.

Background

Increasing numbers of people are playing video games. These games are often played in standard living areas which are not necessarily correctly equipped for a more enhanced reality of gameplay.

These standard living areas can be difficult to equip for a more immersive gameplay, in particular driving and flying video games.

Such gaming simulators which provide seating and mounting facilities for a steering wheel and peddles for driving video games or joystick and peddles for flying video games, can be large and cumbersome in form, which makes storage a fundamental issue. Separate chairs can be used but require surfaces such as tables or mounting platforms which can be impractical to store.

According to the present invention a combined seat base/store provides a base for a purpose made seat to be located at the normal height of a chair, which can be utilised in a living environment thus eliminating the need to store the seat separately. The seat can be locked to the seat stand securing it into position. When the seat is unlocked it can easily be lifted out of the seat stand.

The seat base/store also secures and encompasses a flexible mat and displaceable pads, the displaceable pads consisting of; a fold out hand control mount, a fold out feet control mount and an attachment utilised for altering the angle of the seat.

The mat is removable from the seat base/store and placed on the floor in a desired location.

The hand control mount and feet control mount separate from the seat base/store and fold out to secure on to the mat, in conjunction with the seat secured to the mat creating a gaming position suitable for driving or flying video games. The hand controls and feet controls that are loosely stored in the seat base/store can be attached to the corresponding mounts. The triangular attachment is used to alter the angle of the seat creating two game positions.

An external power lead can be used to provides electricity to the mat, in turn providing electricity to the gaming hand controls and feet controls through their corresponding mounts.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: United States patent application US 2011 254 327 (HALSEY) discloses a foldable, deployable chair for video game controller presentation, comprising: a folding frame supporting a chair seat, a back support, and left and right armrests, each armrest having a rearward end proximate the chair back and a forward end in the unfolded, deployed mode; a substantially planar hand controller support surface extending from the forward end of one of the left and right armrests to the forward end of the other left and right armrest, the controller support surface pivoted to a frame extension at one end, and resting on a frame extension at the other end, such that the surface is substantially horizontal and may be raised and rotated about the pivot at the frame extension at the one end, allowing a user to be seated in the chair, and then lowered about the pivot, presenting the controller support surface to a seated user in a position within comfortable reach of a users hands; and a fastening interface on the hand controller support surface adapted to fasten one or more hand-operable controller devices to the support surface.

United States patent application WO 2011 117 905 (TROMBETTA) discloses a collapsible console for a simulation or entertainment video game system, comprising a stationary frame having a seat on the upper part and a housing compartment in the lower part, and a movable frame carrying a collapsible support structure for an interface of the video game system, wherein said movable frame is connected to said stationary frame so that it is slidable horizontally and reversibly from a storage position inside the housing compartment of the stationary frame to a use position which is adjustable to said stationary frame, characterised in that said collapsible support structure. is a tiltable structure and rotatably supports a shelf which is connected by means of an articulated mechanism to said collapsible support structure and to said movable frame and is adapted to support an interface of the video game system.

Granted United States patent US 7 625 288 (STEELMAN) discloses a gaming machine comprising: (a) a bottom portion; (b) an intermediate portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, wherein the intermediate portion houses at least two central processing units, and wherein the intermediate portion has opposite sides; (c) two desks extending from the intermediate portion in opposite directions, wherein each desk includes at least one ticket printer in electrical communication with a different one of the central processing units; (d) first and second separate spaced apart display housings extending upwardly from the intermediate portion, wherein the first and second display housings each house at least one touch screen display in electrical communication with a different one of the central processing units and the touch screens on the first and second display housings face in opposite directions; and (e) a tower affixed to one of the sides of the intermediate portion, the tower having a first side that faces the same direction as the screen side of the first display housing and a second side that faces the same direction as the screen side of the second display housing, wherein the tower includes at least two bill acceptors one on the first side and the other on the second side of the tower.

United States patent application GB 2 469 307 (POOLE) discloses a base for a gaming chair and game controls for use by a player of a video game, the base comprising: a floor engaging portion for resting on the floor; a chair supporting portion for supporting the gaming chair; a hand-control supporting portion supporting, or for supporting, a hand control for the video game so that a player sitting on the chair can operate the hand control with their hand; and a foot-control supporting portion supporting, or for supporting, a foot control for the video game so that a player sitting on the chair can operate the foot control with their foot or feet; characterised in that: the base is for use with a gaming chair of the rocker type; and the chair supporting portion of the base enables the rocker chair to be placed thereon and stably supported thereby, and to be readily removed therefrom.

Granted Korean patent KR 100 874 940 (ROH et al) discloses a chair for a console game machine is provided to enable a player to enjoy a game in the console game machine while feeling the sense of the real and to allow a control part to operate a plurality of vibration motors and speakers embedded in a body part of the chair. In a chair for a console game machine, which is connected to a console game machine body and a console game machine controller, the chair for the console game machine comprises a body part in which a plurality of vibration motors and speakers are embedded, a main frame on which the body part is mounted, a supporting part which supports the body part and main frame, and a control part formed between the main frame and the supporting part. The control part includes: a sound processing part connected to the console game machine body to process a sound signal; and a vibration processing part which has an MCU(Micro-Controller Unit), and which is connected to the console game machine controller to process a vibration signal. The sound processing part and vibration processing part operate the vibration motors or speakers by extracting an audio signal of the console game machine body or a vibration signal of the console game machine controller.

United States patent application US 6 089 663 (HILL) discloses a chair apparatus for use with video game controllers, said apparatus comprising: a longitudinally and laterally concave base comprising a top surface, a front portion and a rear portion; a console mounted on said base front portion, said console comprising a top surface; and a seat portion disposed on said base rear portion.

In contrast the present invention provides an aesthetically pleasing means of incorporating a gaming environment into a standard living space without alteration of either or purchase and use of unnecessary clutter.

Description

According to the present invention there is provided a seat and seat base, said base providing a location for insertion for a flexible mat, displaceable parts and a purpose made seat to be elevated and maintained at a fixed height to that of a chair, which all displace from the seat base to create two gaming positions with hand and feet control mounts suitable for flying or driving computerised games.

The seat is purpose made for the seat base ensuring that a good fit is achieved, wherein the seat is prevented from movement in the seat base creating a chair which can be used as a permanent fixture within the room, and easily be lifted out of the seat stand and be placed on to the flexible mat or on to the floor in a different location when needed.

The seat base has a mechanism to lock the seat to the seat base securing it into position, when the seat is unlocked it can easily be lifted out of the seat base.

The flexible mat and displaceable parts are secured and encompassed by the seat base thus eliminating the need to store said parts, which all can be easily lifted out of the seat base.

The flexible mat is removed from the seat base and placed flat on the floor in a desired location. The hand control mount and feet control mount separate from the seat base and fold out to secure into the locating points of the flexible mat. In conjunction with the seat securing to the flexible mat via the locating points, the hand control mounts and feet control mounts that are securely stored in the seat base can be attached to the additional locating points of the flexible mat. An attachment is used to alter the angle of the seat located on the flexible mat, creating two game positions suitable for driving or flying computerised games with the use of a steering wheel and/or a joystick and/or a tiller.

The mat provides more than one locating points to each side of the mat, to enable the user to locate and fix the hand control and feet control mounts into a position that suits the users dimensions.

An external power lead can be used to provide electricity to the mat, in turn providing electricity to the gaming hand controls and feet controls through the corresponding mounts.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.

Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows the entertainment seat secured in the seat base; Figure 2 shows one permutation of how the seat can be secured to the seat base; Figure 3 shows the seat detached from the seat stand within the living environment; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of one permutation of the seat base; Figure 5 shows one permutation of how the displaceable parts can be secured to the seat base; Figure 6 shows the displaceable pads secured in position to the seat base; Figure 7 shows the displaceable pads been used in conjunction with the seat; Figure 8 shows the displaceable pads separated from the seat base and into their intended positions to be used in conjunction with the seat; Figure 9 shows one permutation of the construction of the hand and feet control mounts; Figure 10 shows one permutation of electrical components within the mat; Figure 11 shows one permutation of an electrical connection between the mat and hand/feet control mounts; Figure 12 shows some of the different permutations of the mat; Figure 13 shows a different permutation of the hand control mount that slides out from the seat base;

Detailed Description of Figures

The embodiments are ideally formed from a structural sheet material or structural framework and the preferred mat is to be formed from flexible material, consisting of high quality polymers and/or fibre reinforced polymers.

Figure 2 shows how the seat can be secured to the seat stand from the following highlighted pads; 1, Seat 2, Seat base 3, Groove in seat fits over 4 4, Extruded portion of the stand 5, Sliding lock in the open position 6, Sliding lock in the closed position 7, Front anchor point to prevent it tipping backwards out of the base Figure 3 shows the seat been used in front of the television; 1, Seat 2, Seat base Figure 4 illustrates one possibility of how the seat base can be constructed; 8, Extruded anchor points from the side of the seat base to secure the hand control mount 9, Extruded anchor points from the side of the seat base to secure the feet control mount 10, Extruded anchor points from the side of the seat base to secure the flexible mat rolled around the attachment 11, Two separated side panels of the seat base 12, Braces that fix to the side panels of the seat base Figure 5 illustrates how 8, 9 and 10 seat base anchor points are to be used in conjunction with the flexible mat and displaceable parts; 11, Two separated side panels of the seat base 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control mount 15, Flexible mat rolled around the attachment 16, Attachment Figure 6 shows the location of the flexible mat and displaceable parts secure into the seat base; 2, Seat base 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control Mount 15, Mat rolled around the attachment Figure 7 shows how the flexible mat and displaceable parts in conjunction with the seat fit to the mats locating points to form the two driving positions A and B, Position A the seat is placed flat on the flexible mat and Position B the attachment is secured to the flexible mat under the seat tilting it back; 1, Seat 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control mount 15, Flexible mat rolled out 16, Attachment 17, Locating points 18, Seat locating points Figure 8 shows how the flexible mat and displaceable parts secure to the mat; 1, Seat 2, Seat base 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control mount 15, Flexible mat rolled out 16, Attachment Figure 9 shows how the hand control mount and feet control mount hinge joints can be constructed; 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control mount 19, Spring loaded hinge pin to hand control mount 20, Hinge pin to hand control mount 21, Hinge pin to feet control mount Figure 10 shows how an electrical supply can be built into the mat; 15, Flexible mat rolled out 22, Power supply built into the flexible mat 23, External power lead 24, Electrical contact plates within the locating points Figure 11 illustrates how an electrical connection can be made between the flexible mat and both hand control mount and feet control mount; 13, Hand control mount 14, Feet control mount 15, Flexible mat rolled out 24, Electrical contact plates within the locating points 25, Electrical connection point Figure 12 shows some of the different methods of constructing the mat; A, Rolled up mat, the preferred flexible mat B, Fold up mat C, Segmented mat D, Solid Mat Figure 13 shows an alternative sliding hand control mounting platform attached to the inner side panels of the seat stand; Position A, shows the sliding mounting platform in the retracted position Position B, shows the sliding mounting platform in the extended position

Claims

Claims 1. An entertainment chair having two modes of deployment, the first mode being as a conventional seat located on a base with the seat at a normal height and an essentially upright backrest so that a user may sit thereon with his I her feet resting on the floor on which the base of the seat is standing and a second mode in which the seat is removed from the base and located nearer to the floor and in a posture suitable for playing computerised games, the chair comprising:-i) a seat having a backrest and an area on which to sit or recline; ii) a base, adapted to stand stably on a floor and further adapted to that the seat is removably locatable on the base in the first mode of deployment and that the seat is removed from the base and located at a different position in the second mode of deployment for playing games, the base being further adapted to provide a storage space for the flexible mat, in its rolled up form, for the hand control(s) and its mounting and for the foot! feet control(s) and its mounting; iii) a flexible mat having locating points for the seat, the hand control(s) mounting and the foot! feet control(s) mounting and being storable in a rolled up mode and deployable in an unrolled mode on a floor such that the locating points are accessible; iv) a hand control(s) and its mounting adapted to fit in one or more of the locating points on the flexible mat and having means for a person using the chair to interface manually with said means to play a computer game; and v) a foot! feet control(s) mounting adapted to fit one or more of the locating points on the flexible mat and having means for a person using the chair to interface pedally with said means to play a computer game; characterised in that in the first mode of deployment the mat, in its rolled up mode, and the hand and foot! feet control mountings are stored in the storage space in the base and the seat placed on the base so that a person may sit on the chair in a normal upright posture and in the second mode of deployment the seat is removed from the base and the mat and hand and foot I feet controllers are removed from the base storage space and the mat is unrolled and laid on the floor adjacent to a television or monitor screen and the seat, hand and foot I feet controllers are engaged with suitable locating points on the mat so that a person may sit or partially recline in the seat and engage with the hand and foot I feet controllers to play a computer game via a television or monitor screen.
2. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chair is designed and made of materials such that, in its first mode of deployment, it becomes an item of domestic furniture.
3. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 2, wherein latching or locking means are provided to secure removably the seat to the base in the first mode of deployment.
4. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the components of the chair are made of high quality polymers and! or fibre reinforced polymers.
5. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the storage area in the base is accessible when the seat is removed from the base.
6. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 5, wherein points I positions are provided in the base to locate the mat, foot and hand controllers and their respective mountings securely.
7. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seat in its second mode of deployment is provided with members to allow is to rest stably on the floor.
8. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 7, wherein a means is provided to adjust the posture of the seat on the floor to suit the requirements of the used.
9. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claims 7 or 8, wherein means are provided on the seat to engage with locations on the mat.
10. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mat is formed of interconnected strips so that it may be rolled up for storage or unrolled in its deployed mode.
11. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hand control(s) and its mounting are formed of members which are foldable or separable to facilitate storage and which are unfoldable or assemblable for fitting to location points on the mat in the second mode of deployment.
12. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hand control(s) include a steering wheel and! or a joystick and/or a tiller and / or switches, buttons or the like and/or dials or instrumentation.
13. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the foot / feet controller(s) and its mounting are formed of members, which are foldable or separable to facilitate storage and which are unfoldable or assemblable for fitting to location points on the mat in the second mode of deployment.
14. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the foot control(s) include a pedal(s) and / or other foot operated device(s).
15. An entertainment chair, as claimed in claims 11-14, wherein the positions of the mountings in location points for the hand and foot! feet controllers on the mat are adjustable to suit the height of the person playing the computer game.
16. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an electrical input is provided to the mat with connections to each of the locating points on the mat so that these connections can mate with contacts on the mountings of the hand and foot / feet controllers thus providing an electrical connection to the hands and foot /feet controls irrespective of in which particular locating points the individual mountings are sited.
17. An entertainment chair, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein electrical connections and / or wireless connections are provided, as required, between the mat, the television or monitor screen and a gaming computer.
18. An entertainment chair as described in and by the above statement with reference to the accompanying drawings.