Patent Arcade By KellDann
KellDann.com

U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,157

STEERING WHEEL STAND FOR ELECTRONIC GAME CONTROL

Issue DateSeptember 13, 2005

Illustrative Figure

Abstract

The steering wheel stand for an electronic game control is an apparatus for supporting a game controller having a steering wheel. The stand supports the game controller in a manner that simulates the driving experience. The steering wheel stand includes a frame made of hollow tubing, which rests on a pair of base legs. The base legs bend toward the user at one end, and contact the surface on which the user is seated, at the opposite end. The frame is telescopically adjustable to allow for users of different sizes. The base legs also support a pedal plate for the placement of a video game's pedal controls. The pedal plate may be vertically adjusted to accommodate users of different leg lengths. The steering wheel controls sit on a tray on top of the frame in front of the user.

Description

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is directed towards a steering wheel stand for electronic game control, the stand being referred to generally in the drawings as10. Referring toFIGS. 1-3, the steering wheel stand10is designed to be used in conjunction with a chair12or a sofa to create a more realistic feel for a person playing a video game system14that uses steering wheel controls16and a pedal module18. The steering wheel stand10includes a pair of base legs20that rest on the floor. The base legs20may be equipped with rubber feet. Each base leg20has a series of apertures24positioned so that the apertures24are in registry. As shown inFIG. 3, a removable support rod26is inserted through aligned apertures24. The rod26supports a pedal plate28upon which the pedals18are placed, the rod26extending through a sleeve60extending from a side of the plate28. The series of apertures24and rod2624allow the height of the pedals18to be adjusted to accommodate users of different size. Referring toFIG. 5, a horizontal support bar30extends between the base legs20and may be formed integrally with legs20. An upwardly extending central support member64is attached approximately in the center of the horizontal support bar30, the central support member64having a lower end, which may be swaged, inserted into a tubular stub33extending centrally from horizontal support bar30in a direction opposite to legs28. The central support member64is divided into three different sections: a lower section32, a middle section34, and an upper section36, as shown inFIG. 1. The swaged end of the lower section32may have a spring detent button50that releasably engages a hole52defined in stub33. This detachable construction allows the leg assembly of the steering wheel stand10to be detached for convenient storage and transport when not in use. The middle section34joins the lower section32at an angle of approximately 135°. Similarly, the ...

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed towards a steering wheel stand for electronic game control, the stand being referred to generally in the drawings as10. Referring toFIGS. 1-3, the steering wheel stand10is designed to be used in conjunction with a chair12or a sofa to create a more realistic feel for a person playing a video game system14that uses steering wheel controls16and a pedal module18.

The steering wheel stand10includes a pair of base legs20that rest on the floor. The base legs20may be equipped with rubber feet. Each base leg20has a series of apertures24positioned so that the apertures24are in registry. As shown inFIG. 3, a removable support rod26is inserted through aligned apertures24. The rod26supports a pedal plate28upon which the pedals18are placed, the rod26extending through a sleeve60extending from a side of the plate28. The series of apertures24and rod2624allow the height of the pedals18to be adjusted to accommodate users of different size.

Referring toFIG. 5, a horizontal support bar30extends between the base legs20and may be formed integrally with legs20. An upwardly extending central support member64is attached approximately in the center of the horizontal support bar30, the central support member64having a lower end, which may be swaged, inserted into a tubular stub33extending centrally from horizontal support bar30in a direction opposite to legs28. The central support member64is divided into three different sections: a lower section32, a middle section34, and an upper section36, as shown inFIG. 1. The swaged end of the lower section32may have a spring detent button50that releasably engages a hole52defined in stub33. This detachable construction allows the leg assembly of the steering wheel stand10to be detached for convenient storage and transport when not in use.

The middle section34joins the lower section32at an angle of approximately 135°. Similarly, the upper section36joins the middle section34at an angle of approximately 135°. The upper section36may be telescopically extendable through the use of swaged tubing to accommodate users with different leg lengths. A spring detent button50may engage holes in the extended portion of the upper section36to secure upper section36in place at a desired length.

A U-shaped member62is attached to the upper section36of the central support member64, as shown inFIG. 3. The U-shaped member62has a crossbar38, which is attached to the upper section36, and two arms40at either end of the crossbar38. As shown inFIGS. 1,2A and2B, arms40extend downward, extending away from the upper section36opposite the middle section34so that tray42is essentially parallel to the ground, the arms40being designed to rest on a chair12or a sofa, while at the same time straddling a user's legs so that the user has a more realistic experience when playing a driving game. Rubber feet22may be attached to the arms40to protect the surface on which the arms40rest.

A tray42or other platform is attached on top of the intersection of the upper section36of the central support member64and the crossbar38of the U-shaped member62. The tray42supports the steering wheel control16.

A further feature of the steering wheel stand10is a downwardly extending back leg44that is attached to the horizontal support bar30. By tipping the steering wheel stand10so that the back leg44rests on the floor, the steering wheel stand10may be either stored or used in an upright position, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. A rubber foot22may be attached to the back leg44.

The steering wheel stand10may be constructed of a variety of different materials, such as plastic or metals, for example, aluminum.FIGS. 1-5show the base legs20, central support member64and U-shaped member62made of hollow tubing, but other types of material may be utilized, and the tubing may be solid. Other features shown inFIGS. 1-4include wire holders46or guides for securing the cables48of the video game system14.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

  1. A steering wheel stand for an electronic game control, comprising: a U-shaped leg assembly having a crossbar and a pair of parallel base legs extending from the crossbar, the legs having at least one pair of aligned holes defined therein;a pedal platform having at least one sleeve extending therefrom, the pedal platform being adapted for supporting a pedal assembly of the electronic game control;a rod removably inserted through a pair of the aligned holes and the sleeve;a central support member extending from the crossbar of the U-shaped leg assembly, the support member having two bends forming obtuse angles at opposite ends thereof;a U-shaped tray support extending from the central support member opposite the leg assembly, the tray support having a crossbar and a pair of parallel arms extending from opposite ends of the crossbar;and a tray attached to the tray support, the tray being adapted for receiving an electronic game controller with a steering wheel.
  1. The steering wheel stand as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the bends in said central support member forms an angle of about 135°.
  2. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , wherein the bends in said central support member define an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section.
  3. The steering wheel stand according to claim 3 , wherein said upper section further comprising a telescoping extension for adjusting the length of the upper section.
  4. The steering wheel stand according to claim 3 , further comprising a tubular stub extending centrally from the crossbar of said U-shaped leg assembly, the lower section of said central support member having a swaged end detachably received in the tubular stub.
  5. The steering wheel stand according to claim 5 , wherein said tubular stub has a hole defined therein, the swaged end of the lower section of said central support member further comprising a spring detent button releasably engaging the hole defined in the tubular stub for securing the leg assembly to the central support member.
  6. The steering wheel stand according to claim 3 , wherein the arms of said U-shaped tray support extend downward from the upper section opposite the middle section in order to maintain the tray in a level position, the arms being adapted for resting on a user's seat straddling the user's legs.
  7. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , further comprising a rubber foot attached to an end of each of the legs for providing traction.
  8. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , further comprising a rubber foot attached to an end of each of the arms.
  9. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of aligned holes defined in said legs comprises a plurality of pairs of aligned holes disposed along said legs, whereby said pedal platform is adjustable at an angle relative to a surface supporting the legs for accommodating a user's height.
  10. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , further comprising a back leg extending downwardly and rearwardly from the U-shaped leg assembly for supporting the stand in an upright position.
  11. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one wire holder mounted on said central support member adapted for securing wires of said electronic game controller to said central support member.
  12. The steering wheel stand according to claim 1 , wherein said leg assembly, said central support member, and said tray support are made of tubular material.

Disclaimer: Data collected from the USPTO and may be malformed, incomplete, and/or otherwise inaccurate.