Adapter for attachment to a game controller

• US 10,463,979 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collective Minds Gaming Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Collective Minds Gaming Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Dornbusch, Ken, Ali, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhr, Justin L
• Application Number:
  US15/688,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20170354895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users

Abstract

An adapter for use with a video game controller of a video game console includes a housing for attachment to the controller, a pair of lever switch mechanisms for operation by the left and right hand, and a console port. Each lever switch mechanism includes a contact switch and a lever. The contact switch is actuable between an open state and a closed state. The lever has a finger-engaging surface and an actuator portion. The lever is pivotable relative to the housing in response to a manual force applied to the finger-engaging surface, whereupon the actuator portion moves to actuate the contact switch between the open state and the closed state. The console port is operatively connected to the contact switch, and adapted to communicate electronic signals controlled by the contact switch to the game console to actuate a game function.

Claims

1. An adapter for use with a video game controller of a video game console, the adapter comprising:

(a) a housing for attachment to the controller;

(b) at least one lever switch mechanism comprising;

(i) a contact switch actuable between an open state and a closed state;

(ii) a lever comprising a finger-engaging surface and an actuator portion, wherein the lever is pivotable relative to the housing in response to a manual force applied to the finger-engaging surface, whereupon the actuator portion moves to actuate the contact switch between the open state and the closed state; and

(c) a console port operatively connected to the contact switch, and adapted to communicate electronic signals controlled by the contact switch to the game console to actuate a game function.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the at least one lever switch mechanism comprises a left lever switch mechanism, and a right lever switch mechanism.

3. The adapter of claim 2, further comprising:

(a) a left programming button and a right programming button;

(b) a controller port adapted to interface with the controller to receive a game function from the controller; and

(c) a function control module operatively connected to the left programming button, the right programming button, and the controller port, wherein the function control module is configured to be programmable to assign the game function to either;

(i) the left lever switch, in response to receiving an input created by depressing the left programming button when the game function is received from the controller;

or

(ii) the right lever switch, in response to receiving an input created by depressing the right programming button when the game function is received from the controller.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a first elongate section that extends rearwards substantially horizontally with a horizontal planar orientation, a transverse section that extends outwardly from a rear end of the first elongate section with a vertical planar orientation, and a tip section comprising the finger-engaging surface of the lever that extends rearward again from the transverse section with a vertical planar orientation.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the finger-engaging surface of the lever is oriented vertically, when the housing is attached to the controller.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a hand grip comprising a finger-contacting surface, wherein the finger-engaging surface of the lever is disposed immediately adjacent the finger-contacting surface of the hand grip, when the housing is attached to the controller.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the finger-engaging surface of the lever and the finger-contacting surface of the hand grip extend substantially parallel to each other, when the housing is attached to the controller.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the contact switch is biased toward a normal state being either the open state or the closed state.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the contact switch is disposed inside the housing; and

(b) the actuator portion of the lever passes from outside the housing to inside the housing via an aperture defined by the housing, to engage the contact switch.

10. The adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a first ferromagnetic member attached to the housing; and

(b) a second ferromagnetic member attached to the lever;

wherein at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic members comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the lever is removably attached to the housing by magnetic attraction between the first and second ferromagnetic members.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein:

(a) either one of the first and second ferromagnetic members defines a cylindrical disc; and

(b) the other one of the first and second ferromagnetic members defines a cylindrical recess;

wherein the recess is sized to receive the disc in an axial direction and permit rotation of the disc relative to the recess when the lever pivots relative to the housing, while circumscribing the disc to prevent radial translation of the disc relative to the recess.

12. The adapter of claim 10 wherein:

(a) the first ferromagnetic member is disposed inside the housing; and

(b) the second ferromagnetic member passes from outside the housing to inside the housing via an aperture defined by the housing, to contact the first ferromagnetic member.

13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lever switch mechanism further comprises a resilient pad attached to the lever, wherein the pad is positioned on the lever so as to be compressed between the lever and the controller when the housing is attached to the controller and the lever pivots relative to the housing.

14. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lever pivots relative to the housing about a substantially vertical axis, when the housing is attached to the controller.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the lever extends along an underside of the controller, when the housing is attached to the controller.

16. A device for use with a video game controller adapter comprising a housing for attachment to the game controller, a contact switch actuable between an open state and a closed state, and a first ferromagnetic member attached to the housing, wherein the device comprises:

(a) a lever comprising a finger-engaging surface and an actuator portion, wherein the actuator portion is positioned to move and thereby actuate the contact switch between the open state and the closed state, when the lever is attached to the housing and pivoted relative to the housing in response to a manual force applied to the finger-engaging surface; and

(b) a second ferromagnetic member attached to the lever, wherein at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic members comprises a permanent magnet, and wherein the lever is removably attachable to the housing by magnetic attraction between the first and second ferromagnetic members, wherein;

(i) either one of the first and second ferromagnetic members defines a cylindrical disc; and

(ii) the other one of the first and second ferromagnetic members defines a cylindrical recess sized to receive the disc in an axial direction and permit rotation of the disc relative to the recess when the lever pivots relative to the housing, while circumscribing the disc to prevent radial translation of the disc relative to the recess.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the finger-engaging surface of the lever is oriented vertically, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising a resilient pad attached to the lever, wherein the pad is positioned on the lever so as to be compressed between the lever and the controller when the housing is attached to the controller, the lever is attached to the housing, and the lever pivots relative to the housing.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the lever pivots relative to the housing about a substantially vertical axis, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the lever extends along an underside of the controller, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.

21. A device for use with a video game controller adapter comprising a housing for attachment to the game controller, a contact switch actuable between an open state and a closed state, the device comprising a lever comprising a finger-engaging surface and an actuator portion, wherein the actuator portion is positioned to move and thereby actuate the contact switch between the open state and the closed state, when the lever is attached to the housing and pivoted relative to the housing in response to a manual force applied to the finger-engaging surface, and wherein the lever comprises a first elongate section that extends rearwards substantially horizontally with a horizontal planar orientation, a transverse section that extends outwardly from a rear end of the first elongate section with a vertical planar orientation, and a tip section comprising the finger-engaging surface of the lever that extends rearward again from the transverse section with a vertical planar orientation, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the lever pivots relative to the housing about a substantially vertical axis, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the lever extends along an underside of the controller, when the lever is attached to the housing, and the housing is attached to the controller.