U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,871

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a tactile signal-producing vest10that is worn while a wearer is playing a video game.

Vest10comprises a bandoleer vest12which includes a first belt14which is adapted to encircle a wearer's waist when the vest is worn by the user as shown inFIG. 3. The first belt14has a body portion16, a first end18on the body portion16, and a second end20on the body portion16. A first buckle portion22is located on the body16adjacent to the first end18and a second buckle portion24is located on the body16adjacent to the second end20. A longitudinal axis26extends from the first end18to the second end20.

A multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements, such as tactile-producing element30, are mounted on the body portion16of the first belt14. The tactile signal-producing elements30are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis26of the body16of the first belt14. Each tactile signal-producing element30includes a signal-receiving circuit32and a vibration-producing element34connected to the signal-receiving circuit32to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit32connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby. As can be understood fromFIG. 3, each vibration-producing element34of the first belt14is located to contact the wearer when the vest is worn.

A second belt40includes a first body portion42that, as shown inFIG. 3, is adapted to extend over one shoulder of the wearer adjacent to the wearer's neck when the vest is worn. The first body portion42includes a first end44and a second end46as well as a longitudinal axis48that extends between the first end44of first body portion42and the second end46of first body portion42. The first body portion42of the second belt40is adapted to extend across the wearer's chest when the vest is worn. The second belt40further includes an intermediate body portion50which is adapted to extend across the wearer's abdomen when the vest is worn. The intermediate portion50includes a first end52, a second end54, and a longitudinal axis56which extends between first end52and second end54. A second body portion60of belt40is adapted to extend across the wearer's shoulder blades and across the wearer's back when the vest is worn. End54of the intermediate body portion50of the second belt40is fixed to the first belt14. The second body portion60of the second belt40includes a first end62fixed to the first belt14at a location spaced apart from end54of the intermediate body portion50, a second end64, and a longitudinal axis66that extends between the first end62of the second body portion60of the second belt40and the second end64of the second body portion60of the second belt40. The second belt40further includes a first buckle portion68on the first end44of the first body portion42of the second belt40and a second buckle portion70on the second end64of the second body portion60of the second belt40. The second belt40further includes a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements, such as element72, mounted on the first body portion42of the second belt40and on the second body portion60of the second belt40and on the intermediate body portion50of the second belt40. The tactile signal-producing elements72of the second belt40are spaced apart from each other in the directions of the longitudinal axes of the first body portion42of the second belt40and the second body portion60of the second belt40and of the intermediate body portion50of the second belt40. Each tactile signal-producing element72of the second belt40includes a signal-receiving circuit74, a vibration-producing element76connected to the signal-receiving circuit74of the signal-producing element72on the second belt40to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit74connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby. Each vibration-producing element76of the second belt40is located to contact the wearer when the vest is worn.

A third belt80includes a first body portion82that is adapted to extend over a second shoulder of the wearer adjacent to the wearer's neck and to extend across the wearer's chest when the vest is worn. First body portion82includes a first end84, a second end86, and a longitudinal axis88that extends between first end84and second end86. Third belt80further includes an intermediate body portion90which is adapted to extend across the wearer's abdomen when the vest is worn. Intermediate body portion90includes a first end92, a second end94which is fixed to the first belt14at a location spaced apart from end20of the first belt14, and a longitudinal axis96which extends between first end92and second end94. A second body portion100is adapted to extend across the wearer's shoulder blades and across the wearer's back when the vest is worn. The second body portion100of the third belt80has a first end102that is fixed to the first belt14at a location spaced apart from second end94of intermediate body portion90, a second end104, and a longitudinal axis106which extends between the first end102of the second body portion100of the third belt80and the second end104of the second body portion100of the third belt80. The third belt80further includes a first buckle portion108on the first end84of the first body portion82of the third belt80and a second buckle portion110on the second end104of the second body portion100of the third belt80. The third belt80further includes a multiplicity of tactile signal-producing elements, such as element112, mounted on the first body portion82of the third belt80and on the second body portion100of the third belt80and on the intermediate body portion90of the third belt80. The tactile signal-producing elements112of the third belt80are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the first body portion82of the third belt80and the second body portion100of the third belt80and the intermediate body portion90of the third belt80. Each tactile signal-producing element on the third belt80includes a signal-receiving circuit114and a vibration-producing element116connected to the signal-receiving circuit114of the signal-producing element112of the third belt80to be activated when the signal-receiving circuit114connected thereto receives an activating signal and is activated thereby. Each vibration-producing element116of the third belt80is located to contact the wearer when the vest is worn.

A belt-coupling element120is fixed to the second ends of the first body portions of the second and third belts, and is fixed to the first ends of the intermediate body portions of the second and third belts40,80. The belt-coupling element120is located adjacent to the chest of the wearer when the vest is worn and further includes a tactile signal-producing element122thereon which is located adjacent to the chest of the wearer when the vest is worn. Tactile signal-producing element122is identical to the above-described tactile signal-producing elements and thus will not be again described.

The first buckle portions of the second and third belts40,80are located adjacent to the wearer's shoulders when the vest is being worn.

A circuit124is adapted to connect each signal-receiving circuit of the vest to a signal-producing circuit associated with a video game. Circuit124is known to those skilled in the art and thus will not be described.

It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.