Lanyard and controller assembly

• US 10,561,936 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Chen, Yi-Yaun, Ellis, Shane Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/964,732
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 224255, 224219, 224220, 224221, 224930, 224257, 24 313
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a controller lanyard assembly that minimizes accidental damage to a controller. The controller includes a removable front cover that, when removed, exposes a receptacle that includes a cavity that receives a portion of the lanyard. The cavity of the receptacle is further connected through a channel located on an external surface of the controller. A first portion of the lanyard can reside within the cavity and a second portion of the lanyard can exit through the channel of the controller. The receptacle can further include detents that protrude into the channel, thereby preventing the first portion of the lanyard from exiting the cavity of the receptacle. Altogether, the first portion of the lanyard is coupled to the controller while the second portion of the lanyard is worn by the individual.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a controller comprising;

a channel connecting an external side of the controller to an internal side of the controller;

a receptacle located on the internal side of the controller, the receptacle comprising a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity connected to each other, the second cavity further connected to the channel;

a lanyard comprising;

a first portion residing within the second cavity of the controller; and

a second portion passing through the channel of the controller and residing external to the controller.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises one or more detents protruding into the channel.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more detents form a detent opening in the channel, the detent opening having a size that is less than a width of an end of the first portion of the lanyard.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a size of the first cavity is greater than a size of the second cavity.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a depth of the second cavity is greater than a depth of the first portion of the lanyard.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cavity comprises curved walls, wherein the second cavity is located along the curved walls of the first cavity.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the second cavity comprises curved walls that are in contact along the rounded end of the first portion of the lanyard.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the lanyard forms a rounded end.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the lanyard comprises layers of a stopper, a strap, and a fabric strip.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a removable front cover, the receptacle of the controller located internal to the removable front cover.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the removable front cover is coupled to a rear panel of the controller, the removable front cover and the rear panel forming a handle of the controller.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the channel is located at the rear panel of the controller.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a battery opening configured to receive a battery for powering the controller.