U.S. Pat. No. 9,687,735

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2showing perspective views of handheld game controller assembly adapted to combine with various portable electronic devices (separated from an external retaining device) according to the instant disclosure. The present disclosure provides a handheld game controller assembly adapted to combine with various portable electronic devices, which includes a game controller10, a receiving receptacle20, and an external retaining device30for retaining a portable electronic device. Concerning the electrical connecting manner between the portable electronic device40and the game controller10, they can be connected wirelessly, such as Bluetooth, NFC, and etc. . . . , or connected via a cable etc., or by OTG (On-the-Go).

The game controller10has a pair of holding portions12and a transversal portion14arranged between the pair of holding portions12. Besides, the game controller10has a plurality of operation switches on a top surface thereof, such as multi-directional buttons16a, navigation switches16b, and controlling buttons16c.

As shown inFIG. 2of this embodiment, the transversal portion14of the game controller10has a concave portion140. The concave portion140is concavely formed at a front surface of the transversal portion14, the receiving receptacle20is arranged in the concave portion140. The height of the concave portion140is substantially equal to the height of the receiving receptacle20.

The receiving receptacle20is fixed and disposed at a front end of the transversal portion14. Also, the receiving receptacle20is arranged perpendicular to a top surface of the game controller10in this embodiment. The receiving receptacle20of this embodiment can be a metallic plate made by bending, but it is not limited thereto. The receiving receptacle20has a base plate21fixed to the transversal portion14and a pair of side boards22formed at two sides of the base plate21. An inserting slot (not labelled) is formed between the base plate21and the pair of side boards22. The side boards22are substantially L-shaped and extending forward from two sides of the base plate21.

The external retaining device30has a plugging unit32that is removably engaged and fixed in the receiving receptacle20, an adaptor portion31connected to the plugging unit32, a supporting board33obliquely extended from the adaptor portion31, a extending board34slidably connected to the supporting board33, a prop stand37, and a pressing cover38pivotally connected to a top end of the extending board34. The prop stand37has a top end pivotally connected to a top end of the extending board34. The prop stand37is arranged at a supporting position when a bottom end of the prop stand37is rotated far away the extending board34. Thus, the external retaining device30can stand independently. The supporting board33and the extending board34are cooperatively formed as a retaining unit to support or fix to various portable electronic devices, such as smart mobile phones and tablets. The plugging unit32has a contour corresponding to the shape of the inserting slot of the receiving receptacle20.

Please refer toFIG. 1. In this embodiment, the supporting board33is integrally formed with the adaptor portion31, and has a lower stopper330arranged adjacent to the adaptor portion31. The extending board34is arranged at a bottom surface of the supporting board33, and is able to slide upward to adapt with various sizes of portable electronic devices. Two sides of the supporting board33have a lateral shielding portion332. The lateral shielding portion332can shield the sides of the extending board34, so that user can hold conveniently. Besides, the lateral shielding portion332can stop an upward displacement of the extending board34. In other words, the lateral shielding portion332can block the clipping tabs342. The lower stopper330can be used independently to support the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the pressing cover38can be rotated upward from the top end of the extending board34, to cooperatively hold the portable electronic device with the lower stopper330. There is an angle between the supporting board33and the plugging unit32, so that the portable electronic device can be properly disposed on the external retaining device30in an oblique manner.

As shown inFIG. 2, the retaining unit further includes an elastic element36connecting the supporting board33to the extending board34. In this embodiment, the elastic element36is a tensioned spring, but it is not limited thereto. The elastic element36has one end fixed to the supporting board33, and the other end fixed to the extending board34. When the second arm34is pulled upwardly away from the first arm33, the elastic element36provides the extending board34an elastic force toward the supporting board33. In this embodiment, the extending board34has an accommodating portion346protruded from a bottom surface thereof. The accommodating portion346is substantially semi-cylinder shaped, which can be held by user to slide the extending board34upward. The elastic element36is received in the accommodating portion346.

Please refer toFIGS. 3 and 4, which are perspective views of the handheld game controller assembly (assembled with an external retaining device) of the present disclosure. When the present disclosure is assembled, the plugging unit32of the external retaining device30is inserted into the top portion to the bottom portion of the receiving receptacle20. The external retaining device30can be fixed to the receiving receptacle20by frictional force or a locking mechanism. The supporting board33and the extending board34are mutually coupled. The pressing cover38can be lifted upward and is operated with the lower stopper330to clip the portable electronic device, such as mobile phone. Alternatively, the extending board34can be pushed upward. The pressing cover38can be laid on and covering the supporting board33, so as to retain a bigger portable electronic device, such as tablet. The supporting board33and the pressing cover38have an anti-slip pad331,381attached on top surfaces thereof, respectively.

Please refer toFIGS. 3 and 4, which are perspective views of the handheld game controller assembly of the present disclosure clipped to the portable electronic device40. When the present disclosure is assembled, the plugging unit32of the external retaining device30is inserted into the receiving receptacle20from the top portion to the bottom portion of the receiving receptacle20. The external retaining device30can be fixed to the receiving receptacle20by frictional force or a locking mechanism. The first arm33and the second arm34are mutually coupled, and the portable electronic device40is clipped by the upper holder341and the lower stopper331.

Concerning the way to fix the elastic element36, an example is illustrated as followed with reference toFIG. 4A. The first arm33has a first fixing part333extended into the accommodating portion346of extending board34and connected to a top end of the elastic element36. The second arm34has a second fixing part343to connect the bottom end of the elastic element36. When the second arm34is pulled upward, the second fixing part343is moved simultaneously to compress the elastic element36. When the user releases the second arm34, the elastic element36recovers and returns to the original position and a force toward the first arm33is provided to the second arm34. Thus, the portable electronic device40can be clipped between the first arm33and the second arm34. A guiding rod can be fixed to the second retaining part343and slidably pass through the first retaining part333and through the elastic element36if necessary.

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 3. The external retaining device30of this embodiment further includes a locking unit311arranged on the adaptor portion31. The locking unit311fixes the plugging unit32to the receiving receptacle20. The locking unit311has a sliding button3110. The sliding button3110is exposed from the adaptor portion31and arranged adjacent to the plugging unit32. For a preferable embodiment, the locking unit311is automatically locked and fixed when the plugging unit32of the external retaining device30is inserted into the receiving receptacle20. The fixing manner can be engagement, tight matched, or inserting. The sliding button3110can be pushed to unlock, so that the external retaining device30can be removed from the receiving receptacle20.

Please refer toFIG. 2andFIG. 4. Concerning the positions of the external retaining device30, the bottom end of the prop stand37can be rotated outward and far away from the extending board34, which can be defined as a supporting position (P2). Further, the adaptor portion31has a pair of leg portions312. The leg portion312preferably has a skid-proof pad314fixed on a bottom surface thereof. The pair of leg portions312and the bottom end of the prop stand37can make the external retaining device30erect independently. Moreover, a part of prop stand37can be accommodated between the two leg portions312.

Please refer toFIG. 4andFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a perspective view of the external retaining device of the handheld game controller assembly arranged in a withdraw position. The prop stand37has a through hole370corresponding to a contour of the accommodating portion346. The extending board34has a pair of clipping tabs342proximate to the adaptor portion31. As shown inFIG. 5, the withdraw position (P1) is a position when the prop stand37is rotated to cover on the extending board34. The accommodating portion346passes through the through hole370. The pair of clipping tabs342fastens two sides of the prop stand37, so that the prop stand37is engaged and proximate to the extending board34.

Please refer toFIG. 4andFIG. 4A. In this embodiment, a top end of the extending board34has a pivoting seat344. The pivoting seat344has a plurality of locating blocks3444protruding toward the prop stand37. The locating blocks3444are formed on an inner surface of the pivoting seat344facing the prop stand37. The quantity of the locating block3444can be at least one, and the shape can be triangular. The locating blocks3444block the prop stand37at the supporting position (P2). In more details, the pivoting seat37includes a top board3441connected substantially perpendicularly to the top end of the extending board34, and a pair of side boards3442located at two sides of the extending board34. One end of the prop stand37and one end of the pressing cover38are pivotally connected to the pair of side boards3442, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 4A, when the prop stand37is arranged in the supporting position (P2), the prop stand37and the pair of leg portions312can make the external retaining device30independently and firmly erected on a table. The pressing cover38covers the supporting board33. The external retaining device30can independently support a heavier tablet T. The game controller10can be operated and separated from the external retaining device30.

As shown inFIG. 4B, a cross-sectional view of the external retaining device30is shown with a mobile phone M arranged in transverse manner. The external retaining device30is combined with the game controller10and the mobile phone M is transversely retained on the supporting board33. The pressing cover38is rotated upward to cooperatively retain the mobile phone M with the lower stopper330on the external retaining device30. Meanwhile, the prop stand37can be drawn toward the plugging unit32and be engaged by the clipping tabs342proximate to extending board34.

As shown inFIG. 4C, a cross-sectional view of the external retaining device30is shown with a mobile phone M arranged in an erected manner. The external retaining device30is combined with the game controller10and the pressing cover38is rotated upward. The extending board34is slided upward along the bottom surface of the supporting board33, so as to enlarge the space to retain the mobile phone M. The mobile phone M is disposed on the supporting board33in an erective manner. The pressing cover38and the lower stopper330cooperatively retains the mobile phone M on the external retaining device30. In the meanwhile, the prop stand37can be rotated away from the extending board34and stood on a table with the leg portions312, so that the external retaining device30can standup independently. Alternatively, the prop stand37can be withdrawn into the withdraw position as shown inFIG. 4B.

Please refer toFIG. 6, which shows a handheld game controller assembly adapted to combine with various portable electronic devices of second embodiment according to the present disclosure. The difference between this embodiment and the above embodiment is that the game controller10further has a detecting switch142arranged adjacent to the concave portion140. When the plugging unit32of the external retaining device30is engaged to the receiving receptacle20, the detecting switch142is activated, so as to automatically rotate on or activate the electronic element connected to the portable electronic device40via Bluetooth or NFC (Near Field Communication).

Besides, the receiving receptacle20has a plurality of first conductive terminals18, which are electrically connected to the game controller10, whereas the first conductive terminals18are exposed from the inserting slot (not labeled). The external retaining device30has a plurality of second conductive terminals322fixed in the plugging unit32. When the external retaining device30is fixed to the game controller10, the second conductive terminals322are electrically connected to the first conductive terminals18and can be arranged to electrically connect to the portable electronic device40that is retained on the retaining unit. A connector39can be set on the lower stopper330of the first arm33. The connector39of this embodiment is exposed on the top surface of the lower stopper330, and it can be elastic terminals or in other manner, to electrically connect to the portable electronic device40, such as contacts on a peripheral cradle arranged at one side of a smart phone or a tablet.

Besides the external retaining device30, this embodiment can also provide a cable39ato electrically connect the second conductive terminals322of the external retaining device30to the game controller10. The cable39acan be extended from the bottom of the adaptor portion31outwardly, which can transfer signals or electrical power between the game controller10and the portable electronic device40.

In summary, the external retaining device30of this embodiment can be detachably assembled with the game controller10, to retain various portable electronic devices, such as mobile phone M and tablet T, when required. Therefore, user can operate the portable electronic device by the game controller10. The external retaining device30can be easily and quickly assembled to the game controller10when required. The external retaining device30can stand independently to support the portable electronic device. The assembling manner between the receiving receptacle20and the plugging unit32can provide well supporting force. Moreover, the retaining unit, which is formed by the supporting board33and the extending board34, can be adjusted to form different space, so that various portable electronic devices can be retained thereon.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.