Abstract:
An arm support mountable onto a video machine housing has a first portion configured for resting on a console of the video game machine without blocking the machine&#39;s interactive controls. An optional second portion is unitary connected to the first portion and extends downwardly therefrom, partially extending along the front of the machine. The contact surfaces of the support are soft and pliant, allowing reduction of stress on the user&#39;s hands, wrists and arms. An optional food support tray is secured to the first portion and provides support for auxiliary items within easy reach of the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an accessory for a video game, a gaming machine or an arcade video game machine that is designed to be detachably positioned on a console of the video game machine. 
   Video game machines increase in popularity every year. In addition to the traditional arcade game machines, the gambling industry has developed a multitude of machines for playing the games of chance (such as slot machines, video poker and the like). While playing a gaming machine a user may sit or stand in front of the machine. The user plays by and inserting coins, currency bills or other forms of credit, and manipulating one or more controls located in the gaming machine. 
   Players may spend hours playing a game, much like persons typing at a computer keyboard. The same symptoms of tiredness in the wrist accompany long hours of playing game machine. The gaming machines are not equipped to provide different levels of control locations for different size individuals or persons with disabilities. As a result, many players find that long hours of pushing the controls on a gaming machine or a video game machine cause stress and discomfort in the wrist, resulting in symptoms not unlike carpal tunnel syndrome that afflicts many computer users. 
   There exists, therefore, a need for an arm or wrist support accessory that can be detachably positioned on the console of a video game machine or slot machine to provide comfortable support for the user&#39;s arm. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an armrest for use with a video or slot machine. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an armrest that can be detachably mounted on the game machine console. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an arm and wrist support pad that is deformable to accommodate different pressure exerted on the pad by the user. 
   These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of an arm support device mountable onto a video machine housing. The support device has a first portion configured for resting on a console of the video game machine without blocking the machine&#39;s interactive controls. An optional second portion is unitary connected to the first portion and extends downwardly therefrom, partially extending along the front of the machine. The first portion has an upper surface formed from a soft, pliant material. A peripheral lip extends about the upper surface. 
   The second portion has a front surface formed from a soft pliant material. A peripheral lip extends about the front surface. The peripheral lips of the first portion and the second portion are secured together along a connecting line, which may be a hinge line. The pliant upper surface and the pliant front surface deform according to the weight rested on them by the user, allowing reduction of stress on the user&#39;s hands, wrists and arms. An optional food support tray is secured to the first portion and provides support for auxiliary items within easy reach of the user. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will not be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the arm in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the arm support of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the arm support of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral  10  designates the armrest device in accordance with the present invention. The device  10  is adapted for detachable positioning on a console of a gaming machine  12 , which is shown in phantom lines in the drawings. The gaming machine is adapted to rest on a support surface  11 , such as a floor of a video arcade or a gaming hall. The gaming machine  12  has an upper front wall  14  opposite an upper back wall  16 , a lower front wall  18  opposite a lower back wall  20  and two opposing sides  22 ,  24  extending between the upper and lower front walls  14 ,  18  and upper and lower back walls  18 ,  20 . A console  30  extends between the upper front wall  12  and the lower front wall  18 . In some gaming machines the console  30  may be inclined forwardly. 
   The front wall  12  encloses a screen  32  that allows the user to watch the visual images on the screen. A lower portion of the tipper front wall  12  provides a user interface buttons  34  for selective manipulation by the user. The console  30  may have a coin input  36 , while the lower front wall  18  may have a currency receptacle  38  and a coin dispenser  40 , where the player&#39;s winnings are deposited. The game player can insert coins into the coin input  36 , view the screen, or gaming display  32 , and operate control buttons  34  during the game. 
   The device  10  is configured to rest on the console  30 . The device  10  is made from soft, deformable material, suitable for absorbing shock of repetitive hand movements of the player. Alternatively, the device  10  may be made of a solid, non-deformable inner layer and a deformable outer layer that covers the solid inner layer. The device  10  comprises an upper portion  50  and an optional downwardly extending portion  52 , which may hinge in relation to the upper portion  50 , if desired. The upper portion  50  has a planar upper surface  54 , which forms support for the user&#39;s arms and wrists. 
   The upper portion  50  is sized and shaped to substantially cover the console  30  in the areas, where the user is expected to rest his arms and hands. The downwardly extending portion  52  is sized and shaped to cover the areas of the machine  12 , which the user is expected to contact with his elbows or wrists, depending on the movement. A cutout  53  is formed in the upper portion  50  to accommodate the coin input  36 . A cutout  55  is formed in the downwardly extending portion  52  to accommodate the currency receptacle  38 . 
   A forward lip  56  extends along a front edge  58  of the planar upper surface  54 ; the lip  58  is unitary connected to the upper portion  50 . Opposing end lips  60 ,  62  extend along end edges  64 ,  66  of the upper portion  50 , and a distant lip  68  extends along an edge  69  of the upper surface  54 . The lips  56 ,  60 ,  62 , and  68  are unitary connected to the upper portion  50 . The lips  56 ,  60 ,  62  and  68  may be formed as a single peripheral lip extending about the peripheral edges of the upper surface  54 . The lips  56 ,  60 ,  62  and  68  may be inclined in relation to the surface  54 , or formed at a right angle, if desired. In cross-section, the upper portion  50  can have a rectangular shape or that of a parallelogram. 
   The downwardly extending portion  52  comprises a planar front surface  70 , an upper lip  72 , a pair of opposing end lips  74 ,  76  and a bottom lip  78 . The lip  72  is unitary connected to the forward lip  56  of the upper portion  50 ; the line of connection between the lips  56  and  72  may form a hinge line. The connection line between the lips  56  and  72  substantially covers a sharp edge  42  of the gaming machine  12 , providing a soft contact surface for the user&#39;s arms. 
   The lips  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  may be formed as a continuous peripheral lip extending about the periphery of the planar surface  70 . The lips  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  may be inclined in relation to the surface  70 , or formed at a right angle, if desired. In cross-section, the downwardly extending portion  52  can have a rectangular shape or that of a parallelogram. 
   A pair of opposing planar securing members  80 ,  82  is secured to the opposing lips  74 ,  76 , respectively, of the downwardly extending portion  52 . The securing members  80 ,  82  are configured to snap onto the end walls  22 ,  24  of the machine  12  and facilitate secure positioning of the device  10  on the machine  12 . The securing member  80 ,  82  extend transversely to the plane of the front surface  70  and in a substantially parallel relationship to the sidewalls  22 ,  24  of the video game machine  12 . 
   A cup holder/food tray  90  is secured to the upper portion  50  and extends outwardly therefrom. The cup holder  90  may be secured in a known manner, such as by adhesive or strips of hook-and-loop fasteners. The cup holder  90  comprises a first planar portion  92  and a second planar portion  94 . The second planar portion  94  is securely attached to the lip  60 , abutting the lip  60  as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The first portion  92  may be cantilevered from the second portion  94 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first portion  92  of the tray  90  may support snacks, candies or other food within easy reach of the user. The second planar portion  94  has an opening  96 , which is adapted to receive an auxiliary item, such as for instance a cup with a drink or coins, or an ashtray, depending on the user&#39;s preference. 
   The first portion  92  extends at a substantially obtuse angle to the second portion  94 . It is preferred that the first portion extend in a substantially parallel relationship to a support surface of the game machine, for instance a floor of a video game parlor, to prevent food items positioned on the first portion  92  from sliding off the tray  90 . If desired, a small lip may be formed about the periphery of the first portion  92  to further ensure stable position of the food items on the tray  90 . 
   The device  10  is made lightweight, relatively durable and inexpensive. The contact surfaces are preferably made smooth, without protrusions, pliant and allow the video machine owner to clean and sanitize the contact surfaces between uses. The device  10  may, however, be made of other or additional materials, including heavier materials, including bases made of molded plastic, acrylic, fiberglass, aluminum and other materials to add further stability and rigidity to the device  10  when positioned on the associated gaming machine  12 . 
   Many changes and modifications may be made in the design of the arm support device in accordance with the present invention. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.