Education and demonstration – Vehicle operator instruction or testing – Bicycle or motorcycle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-05-22
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Vehicle operator instruction or testing
Bicycle or motorcycle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234800
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a simulator, particularly to a simulator including a rockable riding portion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a simulator including a rockable riding portion on which a player or the like is to ride, there are known various game machines such as motorcycle games and so on.
One of such known simulators for playing the motorcycle games comprises a base placed on the floor, a riding portion that is modeled on a motorcycle and rockable transversely on the base portion, and a handlebar formed on the riding portion.
In such a simulator, a player rides on the riding portion with his or her feet placed on the base. The player operates a twist grip throttle and brake lever provided on the opposite ends of the handlebar. Thus, the player can control the speed of the moving motorcycle represented on a display. When the player tilts the entire riding portion leftward or rightward, he or she can control the direction of the moving motorcycle represented on the display.
However, this conventional simulator cannot provide a realistic driving feel since the player must operate the riding portion with his or her feet placed on the base.
When the player tilts the riding portion leftward or rightward, the player's head will also be tilted about the axis of the riding portion. Therefore, the player's head will largely be out of the center of the display so that it will be difficult for the player to see the display. In addition, a motion such as a simple leftward and rightward tilting of the riding portion is artificial in comparison with the real motorcycle. This also loses a feeling of driving a real motorcycle.
Furthermore, the player on the riding portion is required to exert a relatively large force when the entire riding portion is to be tilted leftward or rightward about the axis thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simulator having an improved operability and reality, which can be tilted and held by a player at a predetermined inclination with the player's feet being separated away from a base and in which a riding portion can easily be returned from the tilted position to the neutral position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulator which can be operated by a player with increased reality while looking the direction of advance since the player's head will not largely be out of the neutral position even if the riding portion is highly tilted by the player.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simulator in which a riding portion can be operated by a player with a reduced force and yet which permits the player to act with more reality.
To this end, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulator comprising: a base; a riding portion located above the base; a rear end supporter located on the base for supporting the rear end of the riding portion at a rocking point; and a forward end supporter located on the base for supporting the front end of the riding portion for lateral rocking motion from a neutral position about the rocking point of the rear end supporter.
The riding portion of the simulator has its rear part supported by the rear end supporter and its front part supported by the forward end supporter for lateral rocking motion. Thus, a player can easily rock the front part of the riding portion laterally about the rocking point of the rear end supporter with a reduced force. Furthermore, the player may easily rock the riding portion by moving the player's weight on the riding portion with his or her feet being separated apart from the base. In addition, the player can easily return the riding portion from a rocked position to the neutral position since the entire riding portion will not laterally be displaced on rocking.
Therefore, a simulator having an improved operability can be realized.
The upper-half body of the player will largely be moved laterally by laterally moving the front part of the riding portion about the rocking point. Thus, the player can feel an increased reality.
The forward end supporter may support the riding portion in such a manner that the riding portion is tilted in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the front end of the riding portion on rocking.
In the simulator of the present invention, the player can feel the inclination of a vehicle on cornering since the riding portion is tilted on rocking. Thus, the player can feel such a reality as he or she actually drives the vehicle.
Since the riding portion is tilted in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the front part of the riding portion, the player's head can minimally be changed in position due to the rocking motion of the riding portion. Thus, the player's line-of-sight will not be largely moved from the viewpoint of the player riding on the riding portion in the neutral position.
In order to realize such a simulator, the forward end supporter may be formed of a four-link mechanism comprising: a pair of intermediate links connected at their lower ends to the base through two pairing elements; and a top-side link connected to the top ends of the respective intermediate links through two other pairing elements, the front end of the riding portion being connected at its forward end to the top-side link.
It can thus be realized that a simulator having an improved operability and increased reality for the player is of a simplified structure.
When the forward end supporter is of such a four-link mechanism, the distance between the two other pairing elements connecting the pair of intermediate links to the top-side link may be smaller than that between the two pairing elements connecting the pair of intermediate links to the base.
In such an arrangement, the intermediate links will not be tilted laterally at their tilted positions on rocking of the riding portion. Therefore, the player can easily return the riding portion from its tilted position to its neutral position with a reduced force.
The top-side link may include a steering portion. When the player pulls the steering portion toward himself or herself, the rocked and displaced riding portion can be returned to its neutral position. Thus, the player can surely do the returning operation of the riding portion even though the player's feet are separated apart from the base.
The steering portion may include at least one handlebar fixedly mounted on the top-side link for the player to comfortably operate the simulator.
If the two other pairing elements for connecting the pair of intermediate links to the top-side link in the forward end supporter is formed of a ball-and-socket joint, any change in the distance between the top-side link and the rear end supporter on rocking can be absorbed by such ball-and-socket joints.
The riding portion may be connected to the rear end supporter through a ball-and-socket joint structure. Thus, the riding portion held (or supported) by the rear end supporter can freely be rocked about the holding point (or rocking point). In addition, this ball-and-socket joint structure can simply accomplish the inclination of the riding portion on rocking. In such a manner, the simulator of the present invention can be of a simplified and inexpensive structure since the complicated action in the riding portion can be realized by the simple structure or ball-and-socket joint structure.
The rear end supporter may allow any fore and aft shift in the rocking point supporting the riding portion on rocking. In such an arrangement, any change in the distance between the forward end supporter and the rear end supporter due to the lateral rocking motion of the front part of the riding portion from its neutral position can smoothly be absorbed by shifting the rocking point in the rear end supporter.
Allowing the fore and aft shift in the rocking point may be accomplished by any suitable means. For example, the rear end supporter may include a
Aiki Shinichiro
Koyama Jun-ichiro
Cheng Joe H.
Namco Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Simulator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Simulator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simulator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520430