U.S. Pat. No. 9,421,472

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the stand with a game controller16retained within the holder. While this figure may show a particular wireless game controller, the game controller16can take a different visual appearance and the retainer or stand is configured to accommodate the particular geometry of the wired or wireless controller16. In this preferred embodiment the holder has a rear leg40with a front22and a rear (not shown) supporting cradle. The holder further includes a base surface with an extending surface(s)21and41to elevate the stand. The surface21and41can include feet, texture or surface treatment that increases the coefficient of friction between the surfaces21,41and the contact surface of the rear leg. This reduces movement of the stand and a game controller when the game controller is being used in the stand. The game controller has two separate hand grips14and15and the stand supports the game controller16by retaining the game controller16between the two separate hand grips14and15.

When the game controller is placed into the stand the stand provides an enlarged grip area for the remote control that allows a user to safely hold the game controller without fear of activating the buttons and controls as the person lifts the holder and game controller and sets the holder and game controller down as a single unit. The stands does not restrict use of the functions of the game controller. A user can use the game controller while the game controller is installed on the stand while the stand is sitting on a table, desk or other surface. Game controllers generally have curved surfaces to conform to the hand or hands of a user. Because the surfaces are curved, activation of a button while the game controller is sitting on a curved housing will cause the controller to rock on the curved surface and thereby making the controller unstable.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of the holder19with the leg59(in phantom) folded in front of the housing. This figure also shows the internal compartment with the batteries90also in phantom. The supporting member20has a shape that extends from the back of an installed controller (not shown installed in this view) to the front22of a controller to provide support to the front and the back of a hand controller. The supporting leg40is hinged through the bottom of the supporting member20to allow the leg40to pivot from the back to the front of the supporting member20.

In the rear deployed position the leg40provides additional support to prevent the stand, and an installed controller, from rocking back. When the leg is rotated to the front position59the leg provides additional protection to the front of the controller and also provides a denser package for sales packaging, shipping and transportation. The bottom of the supporting member has a tab or foot21that extends from the bottom of the supporting member20to elevate the supporting member20from a desk, table or shelf. A mid cover60extends from the sides of the supporting member20to wrap around the internal cavity created by the supporting member20and encloses replacement batteries90. It is contemplated that the holder can include charging capability for charging the spare batteries and or an installed controller.

FIG. 3shows the holder17configured with detents for the hand grips of the controller, andFIG. 4shows the holder18without the hand grip detents. These two different embodiments are shown side-by-side to provide different variations to support controllers with different geometric configurations. The holders can be game controller specific or can be a generic shape that accommodates game controllers from different gaming systems and manufacturers. Both figures show the leg20is the rear and in the rotated forward59configurations.

In the configuration shown inFIG. 3, detents62and63are shown on the sides of the mid cover. These detents allow for clearance of handles on the game controller (not shown). A depression61is also shown to provide clearance from the hand controller. It is contemplated that the mid covers can be interchangeable to accommodate different game controllers while the supporting member20remains unchanged. In these embodiments the supporting member has a lower tab21and the leg40further has a supporting tab41to support the holder above a desk table or shelf. More detailed images of the specific components are shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5shows an exploded view of the holder with the detents for the handles of the controller andFIG. 6shows an exploded view of the holder without the detents for the handles of the controller. The supporting member20is shown with supporting feet or tabs21and22. An opening23provide clearance for access to a compartment for storing a spare set of batteries or a battery pack. InFIG. 5a tab, loop or hook28is shown for retaining the mid cover60. The mid cover60bridges over the sides68and69the spare battery compartment and provides a lower support for an installed hand controller (not shown). The mid cover60shown inFIG. 5shows the recesses to accommodate hand controller geometry.

The leg40shows tabs42for pivoting the leg in recesses24in the supporting member20. The leg40further includes tabs48that engage into the supporting member20to provide a lock that prevents the leg from freely rotating. The battery cover80is secured into the supporting member20with hinge pins83, and84on tabs81and82that engage into the supporting member20. Tabs86engage into holes26in the supporting member20to retain the battery cover in a closed configuration.

These embodiments show a snap together design where the components are held together with locking tabs. It is further contemplated that the components could be held together with adhesives, ultrasonic heat staking or fasteners without altering the features or function of the holder.

FIG. 7shows a skin detail for the holder in a first preferred embodiment andFIG. 8shows a skin detail for the holder in a second preferred embodiment. The placement of the skins are shown in figureFIG. 9Athat shows a first perspective view of the holder with detents showing decal placement,FIG. 9Bthat shows a second perspective view of the holder with detents showing decal placementFIG. 10Athat shows a first perspective view of the holder without detents showing decal placement andFIG. 10Bthat shows a second perspective view of the holder without detents showing decal placement. The decals or skins provide a temporary image for a particular game or gaming station that can be user installed and removed.

The supporting member20has a skin103or113that covers the front of the vertical rear portion. Skin108or118covers the rear surface of supporting member20. Skin102or112covers the front surface of the supporting member20. The battery cover80is covered with skins107or117and the sides within the battery cover are covered with skin portions105,106or115,116. The leg40is covered with skin104or114. The top of the mid cover60is covered with skin101or111.

FIG. 11shows a cross sectional view of a holder showing the internal connected components cut through the middle of the holder. From this figure the leg40is shown with a swing57between the two extremes of travel. In the forward position the leg40has a hook58that engages57onto a front edge of the supporting member20to retain the leg40from swinging. The interaction of the battery cover80is shown secured within the supporting member20with the mid cover60over the top of the batteries90within the holder. An optional power cord92provides electrical power to charge the batteries90and or to charge the game controller (not shown) when the game controller is installed onto the holder. While this figure shows the leg40moving through a pivoting axis, it is also contemplated that the leg could also move through a track or can be secured with interference tabs that allows the leg40to be removed, rotated (flipped) and then secured to the opposing side of the housing.

Thus, specific embodiments of a holder for a game controller have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.