U.S. Pat. No. 11,642,599

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system.

Depicted inFIGS.1-4Bis an adapter10that can be coupled to a controller60and hold a display of a portable video game system, as shown inFIGS.5-8. The adapter10includes three components, a controller attachment device20, a support member40, and a display attachment device30, that are joined by hinges46and48. The controller may include the electronics necessary to operate the game system and control the action on the video game system the controller is associated with it.

The controller attachment device20may include a base portion22, a clip portion24and a rear portion26with an aperture28extending through the rear portion. The rear portion26and the clip portion24are located on opposite ends of the base portion22and extend in a same direction away from the base portion22. The clip portion24and the rear portion26operate to secure the controller within the controller attachment device20by a friction fit. The aperture28provides access to the charging port62of the controller60(as shown inFIG.6).

The display attachment device30may include a base member32that extends along the length of a back of display50(as shown inFIG.6). The display attachment device30may further include two side mount members34, each side mount member34having a protrusion, wherein the protrusions have a size and shape to engage a groove of the display. The display attachment device30may further include a catch38, wherein the catch operates to assist in retaining the display coupled to the display attachment device30.

The device10may include a support member40coupled between the controller attachment device20and the display attachment device30. The support member40includes an aperture42to provide access for a charging cable for the display50to extend through (as shown inFIG.6). The support member40is rotatably coupled to the controller attachment device20with hinge46and rotatably coupled to the display attachment device30with hinge48. Hinge46allows the support member40to rotate with respect to the controller attachment device20. Hinge48allows the display attachment device30to rotate with respect to the support member40. The hinges46and48are utilized to orient the display50of the portable video game system in a user defined position, as shown inFIGS.4A and4B. Further, the hinges46and48operate to orient the controller60in a user defined angle with respect to the display50of the portable video game system to place the controller in a comfortable position for the user.

Referring further to the drawings,FIGS.5-8depict the adapter10in use with a display50and a controller60. The controller60may be coupled to the controller attachment device20, wherein the controller60is secured by the clip portion24and the rear portion26in a friction fit or a snap-in fit. The display50is coupled between the side mount members34. In the embodiment shown, a channel52of the display50is slidingly engaged with the protrusions36of the display attachment device30.

With the controller60and the display50coupled to the adapter, the display50may be rotated to position a center of mass of the display of the portable video game system over a center of mass of the controller to reduce torque on the wrists and hands of the user while holding the controller and playing the video game system (SeeFIG.8). This provides for a more comfortable gaming experience.

Additionally, the drawing figures depict a display that is also the portable video game system. For example, the portable video game system is a Nintendo Switch, wherein the display50is also the portable video game system. In these embodiments, the controller is a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Accordingly, the display attachment device30includes a base member32rotatably coupled to the support member40and two side mount members34are coupled on opposing ends of the base member32and extending perpendicular to base member32, wherein the two side mounts34operate to retain the Nintendo Switch within the display attachment device30. Further, each side mount34of the display attachment device30further comprises a protrusion36, wherein the protrusions36have a size and shape to engage a groove52of the Nintendo Switch50, wherein the protrusions36slide within the grooves52on opposing ends of the Nintendo Switch50to secure the Nintendo Switch50within the display attachment device30.

In an additional embodiment, shown inFIG.9, the base portion22of the controller attachment device20may be flat and designed to balance on a level surface to allow for a tabletop mode of playing the video game system. This is especially useful for multiplayer gaming. In tabletop mode, the adapter allows plenty of space beneath the charging port to allow the user to plug in their device during game play. The display may be rotated into a position to resist tipping of the adapter.

Further still, the support member40rotates with respect to the controller attachment device20and the display attachment device30to orient the display50of the portable video game system in a folded position with a controller attachment device20located adjacent the display50. Additionally, the controller attachment device20and the controller60are an integrated unitary member. In other words, the controller with all of the electronics for controlling the game system and the adapter that couples to the display of the game system (which may also be the entire game system) is a single unit or may be considered an integrated unitary member.

Another embodiment includes a method 70 of use of the adapter. The method 70 may include coupling a controller to a controller attachment device of the adapter (Step 71); coupling a display to a display attachment device of the adapter (Step 72); positioning the display to align the center of mass of the display over the controller (Step 73); and reducing torque on the hands and wrist of the user in response to aligning the center of mass of the display over the controller (Step 74).

Another embodiment includes a method of coupling a controller and a display of a portable video game system. The method includes coupling a controller to a display; and flexibly positioning the display over the controller. The method may also comprise positioning the display to align the center of mass of the display over the controller, and reducing torque on the hands and wrist of the user in response to aligning the center of mass of the display over the controller.

Accordingly, the components defining any video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining any video game controller adapter for holding a display of a portable video game system may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacturing of these components separately or simultaneously may involve 3D printing, extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.