AU2007100069B4 - Game box - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 ANTHONY FISH COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Game Box The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a game booth and more particularly to a semi-enclosed booth for housing electronic game equipment.

Background of the Invention Game booths are typically constructed off-site and then delivered to the site where it is to be used. As such, a monitor, electronic game equipment, such as XboxTM or PlayStationTM, and other peripheral equipment such as a steering wheel and pedals are fixed into the supporting structure of the booth. Thus, it is difficult for a user, typically a home user, to interchange the game playing equipment to suit the user's needs.

Alternatively, game playing equipment that is associated with a computer and computer monitor can be placed on a flat surface and used to play a video game for example. However, this has the drawback of not providing a semi or fully enclosed booth as if the user was in their own enclosed space to provide them with a more comfortable and more enjoyable feeling playing the video game. Furthermore, in such situations where the video game can be played for long periods of time there is no comfortable support for a user playing an electronic game particularly where other peripheral equipment is used, such as a steering wheel or foot pedals. By not providing the appropriate posture support for the user it can lead to muscle soreness and potentially damage the posture of the user.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages by providing a semi-enclosed booth in which a user can play or use electronic game equipment in a partially sheltered environment and adjustable to provide the correct posture for the user.

Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a semi-enclosed booth comprising: a pair of side panels; a back panel affixed to each side panel, the back panel having a padded seat back fitted to an interior surface of the back panel; a top panel affixed to a portion of each side panel; a first shelf for supporting a monitor; a second shelf positioned below the first shelf for supporting electronic game equipment and steering wheel equipment; a seat fitted with a padded cushion, the seat connected to each side panel and the back panel and supported by a seat front panel; m:\specifications\500000\505000\5051 72resreo.doc wherein the back panel, padded seat back and padded cushion provide support for the posture of a user when the user is seated on the seat and using the steering wheel equipment to play an electronic game provided by the electronic game equipment.

The semi-enclosed booth may further comprise a foot board for the user's feet that is adjustable in position. Preferably, the foot board extends between each side panel and is adjustable to a number of positions to accommodate differing heights and therefore differently sized leg lengths of various users thereby providing further support to the posture of each user. The foot board may have one or more foot pedals attached thereto for control by the user in order to play the electronic game.

Preferably, the semi-enclosed booth is supplied as separate components and constructed as a kit by the user.

Advantageously, the foot board is inclined at an angle with respect to the ground.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the only drawing wherein: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a semi-enclosed booth in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Fig I there is shown a semi-enclosed booth 10. The booth 10 has side panels 12 and 14, a top panel 15 and a back panel 16 which is affixed to each side panel 12 and 14. In the interior of the booth 10 a first shelf 18 and a second shelf extend between each side panel 12 and 14. A seat 22 is provided for the user which is supported by each of the panels 12, 14 and 16 and a seat front panel 24. An adjustable foot board 26 is also provided that extends between lower portions of the side panels 12 and 14.

The first shelf 18 is used to support a monitor, such as a television or computer monitor and a second shelf 20 is used to support and house electronic game equipment, such as XboxTM or PlaystationTM. It may also be used to support peripheral equipment such as steering wheel or joy stick controls. The foot board 26 is adjustable between a number of positions. Such adjustment is provided by means of holes drilled into each of the lower portions of the side panels 12 and 14, essentially in two lines on each panel 12, 14. Thus, a further series of holes are drilled in a line into each of the side panels above the first line such that the foot board 26 is able to be inclined and supported by shelf supports, in the form of rods, that are insertable into the holes to support the foot board 26. Corresponding grooves may be formed on a back surface of the foot board m:\specifications\500000\505000\505172resreodoc 26 to provide greater support and stability into which each of the rods fit. Thus, the user can adjust the foot board 26 to whatever position they require in order to provide a m:\specifications\500000\5050005051 72resreo.doc 4 Scomfortable position for the feet and to operate foot pedals that may be attached to the C foot board 26.

A transverse rail 28 is affixed between the side panels 12 and 14 to support one I end of a shelf The interior side of the back panel 16 is fitted with a padded seat back 21 formed of padded material and on the top portion of seat 22 is a padded cushion 23.

This aids in maintaining support for the posture of the user whilst they are playing an electronic game. The padded seat back 21 and the padded cushion 23 may be made from any suitable material such as foam or rubber and covered in a durable material such as vinyl.

Each of the side panels 12 and 14, the top panel 15, the back panel 16, seat 22 and seat front panel 24 as well as the first and second shelves 18 and 20 are connected using suitable connectors, such as mini fix connectors. Each of the panels are preferably made of melamine board, 16mm in thickness and having PVC edging.

The semi-enclosed booth 10 is packed in a flat pack design such that the user assembles the booth by themselves. All panels are drilled and edged and a set of instructions is provided for the user on how to construct the booth. The package consists of ten items being side panels 12 and 14, first shelf 18, second shelf 20, top panel 15, back panel 16 which is padded on the inside surface thereof, a padded seat 22, a seat front panel 24, foot board 26 and rail 28 together with the required connection hardware to connect all the components.

Once the user has assembled the booth in accordance with the instructions, the user may set up a suitable monitor on first shelf 18, video game equipment on second shelf 20 together with any peripheral items such as joy stick controls or steering wheel (which can be affixed to the shelf20 using rubber suction cups or clipped onto the front of the shelf 20 using brackets). If required, the foot board 26 can be fitted with foot pedals where a particular game requires the use of foot pedals.

The overall design of the booth provides an open area between the top panel and side panels 12 and 14 for the cables of the equipment to protrude through such that they are out of the way and not likely to cause anyone to trip over the cables.

The booth 10 provides openings to enable cables associated with the electronic game equipment to be placed out of the way of a thoroughfare or a part of the room that is used by other persons. More particularly, the present invention allows the construction of a semi-enclosed booth at the home of the user from a kit of separate components that is constructed by the user. Thus, it overcomes the expense and m:\specifications\500000\505000\505172reo.doc disadvantages associated with having to have a permanently erected booth delivered to their premises. The booth 10 also provides support for the user's posture.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

m:\specifications\500000\505000\505172reo.doc

Claims (3)

1. 2. A semi-enclosed booth according to claim 1 further comprising a foot board for the user's feet, the foot board being adjustable in position, to cater for differently sized leg lengths of users and thereby providing further support to the posture of each user.
2. 3. A semi-enclosed booth according to claim 2 wherein the foot board extends between each side panel and is able to accommodate one or more foot pedals for use by the user to play the electronic game.
3. 4. A semi-enclosed booth according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the foot board is inclined at an angle with respect to the ground. A semi-enclosed booth according to any one of the previous claims supplied as separate components and constructed as a kit by the user. Dated this third day of May 2007 Anthony Fish Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO m:\specifications\500000\505000\505172resreo.doc