Reconfigurable chair-based electronic gaming machines and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10957148-B2
Application number	US-201815956886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2018
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

Gaming machines, methods, and systems include gaming chairs integrated with player interface hardware elements in a chair structure and in communication with a game controller. The gaming chairs allow modular assembly and reconfigurability of gaming machines and systems without customized gaming machine cabinetry. Modular pedestals and secondary gaming elements supported on the pedestals may also be provided in combination with the gaming chairs for assembly into different game bank configurations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gaming chair comprising:
a chair structure comprising a chair base, a seat supported by the base, at least one arm rest, and a backrest;
a game controller located inside the chair base and below the seat, the game controller including a processor that executes game play instructions in accordance with game play rules to determine a game play outcome, the game controller configured to be communicatively coupled to a main video display and to output the game play outcome to the main video display;
a plurality of player interface hardware elements in communication with the game controller and incorporated into one of the at least one arm rest or the backrest, wherein the plurality of player interface hardware elements is selected from the group of: a speaker, a secondary video display, an input/output element, a card and/or ticket reader, a printer, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism, and a coin or token output mechanism; and
a game deck, wherein the chair base is rotatably mounted to the game deck and selectively positionable relative to the game deck between a game play position in which the chair base, in combination with the game deck, encloses the game controller and a service position providing access to the game controller.

2. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm rest includes the card and/or ticket reader.

3. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm rest includes at least one mechanical pushbutton.

4. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the secondary video display is mounted to the at least one arm rest, and wherein the game controller outputs the game play outcome to the secondary video display to facilitate localized game play on the gaming chair.

5. The gaming chair of claim 4 , wherein the secondary video display is a touch screen.

6. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm rest is rotatably mounted to the backrest, and wherein the one input/output element is integrated in the rotatably mounted arm rest.

7. The gaming chair of claim 1 , further comprising a local power supply inside the base, wherein the game controller further includes:
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store the game play instructions thereon; and
at least one meter module configured to monitor player credit, wherein the local power supply is configured to coordinate with the game controller to save a state of the at least one meter module in the memory during a power loss event.

8. The gaming chair of claim 1 further comprising a local power supply inside the base, wherein the local power supply is configured to power the main video display, and wherein the chair base, in combination with the game deck, encloses the local power supply when the chair base is in the game play position and provides access to the local power supply when in the service position.

9. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the game controller further includes:
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store the game play instructions thereon; and
a random number generator module configured to generate at least one random number for use by the processor during game play.

10. The gaming chair of claim 1 , in combination with at least one secondary gaming element selected from the group of: the main video display, a virtual reality component, an augmented reality component, a hologram component, a projector element or a slot machine reel.

11. The gaming chair of claim 1 , wherein the chair base comprises a front edge oriented to face the main video display, the chair base being rotatably mounted to the game deck at the front edge, and wherein the chair base is configured to rotate relative to the game deck about the front edge.

12. A gaming machine comprising:
at least one gaming chair comprising:
a chair structure comprising at least a chair base, a seat supported by the chair base, at least one arm rest, and a backrest;
a plurality of player interface hardware elements incorporated into the at least one arm rest or the backrest, wherein the plurality of player interface hardware elements is a combination of different interface hardware elements selected from the group of: a speaker, a video display, an input/output element, a card and/or ticket reader, a printer, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism, and a coin or token output mechanism; and

at least one game controller including a processor that executes game play instructions in accordance with game play rules to determine a game play outcome, the at least one game controller located inside the chair base and below the seat, the at least one game controller in communication with the plurality of player interface hardware elements and operatively responsive to a player's interaction with the plurality of player interface hardware elements to execute the game play instructions in accordance with the game play rules and output the game play outcome;
a game deck, wherein the chair base is movably mounted to the game deck and selectively positionable relative to the game deck between a game play position in which the chair base, in combination with the game deck, encloses the at least one game controller and a service position providing access to the at least one game controller; and
at least one secondary gaming element separate from the chair structure and in communication with the game controller, the at least one secondary gaming element being selected from the group of: a main video display, a virtual reality component, an augmented reality component, a hologram component, a projector element or a slot machine reel, wherein the game controller is configured to output the game play outcome to the secondary gaming element.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12 , further comprising:
at least one pedestal, the pedestal supporting the at least one secondary gaming element in a spaced relation from the at least one gaming chair; and
a local power supply positioned inside the chair base, the local power supply powering the at least one secondary gaming element.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13 , wherein the at least one pedestal supports a plurality of secondary gaming elements.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14 , wherein the secondary gaming elements are main video displays.

16. The gaming machine of claim 12 , further comprising a local power supply inside the chair base, the local power supply powering the game controller, the plurality of player interface hardware elements, and the at least one secondary gaming element, wherein the game controller further includes:
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to store the game play instructions thereon; and
at least one meter module configured to monitor player credit, wherein the local power supply is configured to coordinate with the game controller to save a state of the at least one meter module in the memory during a power loss event.

17. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein the game deck extends between the chair base and the at least one secondary gaming element.

18. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming chairs each comprising:
a chair structure comprising at least a chair base, a seat supported by the base, at least one arm rest, and a backrest; and
a plurality of player interface hardware elements incorporated into the arm rest or the backrest and accessible by a player seated on the chair to provide a game play input, wherein the plurality of player interface hardware elements i

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Au
• Aristocrat Techonologies Australia Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Barbour Timothy Francis
• Mckay Linn Anthony
• Jadeja Rajendrasinh Banesinh

Classifications

• A47C7/725

  for illumination, e.g. lamps · CPC title

• G07F17/3216 Primary

  Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects · CPC title

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• A47C7/723

  with display screens · CPC title