Cabinet for video game consoles, cartridges, accessories, and instruction booklets

• US 4,394,055 A
• Filed: 08/13/1981
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Smith
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US06/292,352
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 312/196, 312/139, 312/242, 312/9, 312/12, 312/22, 312/21, 312/23, 312/DIG. 33, 229/2.5 R, 248/DIG. 12, 248/676, 248/678, 248/172, 248/670, 206/387, 206/318, 206/527, 206/814
• US Class Current: 312/196
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• 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: Y10S 206/814 Space filler

Abstract

A cabinet or container particularly adapted for holding in an organized manner video game consoles of different sizes and shapes and also for holding accessories constructed for use with different systems. The cabinet has a top opening particularly shaped and constructed to receive and accommodate different control consoles or systems such as different Atari control consoles and also a Mattel Intellevision control console. Typically the dimensions of the control consoles vary and typically they have a base part of different dimensions. The open top of the cabinet is particularly configurated to receive and accommodate the different consoles. The base part of a control console can extend down through the opening. The console may be supported on peripheral surfaces of the opening itself or on ledges extending inwardly with respect to the opening at a level below the surface of the top. The lower part of the cabinet is preferably compartmentalized uniquely to hold different cartridges. Compartments are formed with means adapted to receive different sizes of cartridges.

Claims

1. As an article of manufacture a cabinet for holding video game playing equipment including control consoles and accessories, said cabinet having a top having an opening in it, the periphery of the opening being constructed to provide supporting surfaces for accommodating a plurality of different control consoles having varying configurations, said opening having portions whereby to provide support surfaces and means forming additional support surfaces at said opening which are positioned whereby the said support surfaces can accommodate control consoles having a base portion of smaller dimensions which can extend through said opening to be supported on said additional surfaces, the said cabinet having a lower section constructed for holding accessories, said opening has portions of different width than other portions, said other portions being constructed to accommodate a control console having a base part of a size to be accommodated to be received in the said opening at the position of said other portions, said opening includes inwardly extending ledges having portions extending inwardly from the ends of the said opening, to accommodate a console having a base part extending into the opening, said opening has narrower end portions which form shoulders in the said top between the opening portions, the said ledges including portions extending inwardly from said shoulders, providing a rectangular configuration to receive and hold a narrower base portion of another console.

2. An article as in claim 1 wherein said ledges include a slanting portion extending between the ledge and the top of said first opening at the end, to accommodate base part of a console having slanting sides.

3. An article as in claim 2 wherein said ledges include a slanting surface extending from an edge of the ledge beyond the shoulder to the top edge of the said first opening.

4. An article as in claim 1 wherein each of said ledges has a flat portion parallel to an end of the said first opening and a flat portion parallel to a side of an end part of the first opening.

5. As an article of manufacture a cabinet for holding video game playing equipment including control consoles and accessories, said cabinet having a top having an opening in it, the periphery of the opening being constructed to provide supporting surfaces for accommodating a plurality of different control consoles having varying configurations, said opening having portions whereby to provide support surfaces and means forming additional support surfaces at said opening which are positioned whereby the said support surfaces can accommodate control consoles having a base portion of smaller dimensions which can extend through said opening to be supported on said additional surfaces, the said cabinet having a lower section constructed for holding accessories said opening includes inwardly extending ledges having portions extending inwardly from the ends of the said opening and portions extending inwardly from sides of the said opening, to accommodate a console having a base part entending into the opening each of said ledges has a flat portion parallel to an end of the said opening and a flat portion parallel to a side of an end part of the opening, each of said ledges has a cut-out at an inner end thereof to accommodate a control console having a base part of a smaller size so that the base part can extend down through said cut-outs in the ledges.

6. As an article of manufacture, a cabinet for holding video game playing equipment including a control console the said cabinet having a lower section constructed for holding cartridges, said cabinet having a top having an opening in it, the periphery of the opening being constructed to provide supporting surfaces for accommodating a plurality of different control consoles having varying configurations, said opening being shaped to accommodate supporting control consoles which have a main part having a bottom surface and a base part having a bottom surface the base part having smaller dimensions than the main part, the said opening having a shape to allow the base part of a control console to extend through it and the periphery of said opening including means to provide support for at least one of said surfaces including ledge members extending inwardly from the said top opening at a level below the surface of the top in a position to accommodate supporting the said base part of said control component said inwardly extending ledge members have at least one cut-out therein whereby to accommodate having the base part of a control console extend downwardly through the cut-out and below the level of the ledge means.

7. An article of manufacture as in claim 6 said ledge members having a construction to accommodate control consoles wherein the base part of the component has slanting side surfaces, the said ledge means including slanted surface means extending from the ledge means to the upper edge of the opening in the top, the said slanted surfaces having a slant to accommodate contiguous engagement with portions of slanted sides of the base part of the control module.

8. As an article of manufacture, a cabinet constructed for holding video game playing equipment including any one of a plurality of control consoles and accessories, the consoles including one having a generally rectangular main part and an extending base part which is shorter and narrower then the main part and at least one other console having an extending base part which is substantially as long as the main part, but narrower than the main part, the improvements comprising said cabinet having a an upper part having a first flat surface portions having a rectangular configuration of a size to receive and hold the base part of at least one of said consoles, the said flat surface portions having surfaces to support the base of the console with the main part of the console overhanging the said flat surface portions, additional flat surface portions in the cabinet providing a rectangular configuration to receive and hold at least one end of the base part of the said other console having a base part which is substantially as long as and narrower then the main part of the console, said additional support surfaces being constructed to retain sides of the base part of the console with the main part of the console positioned in the operating position above the said first flat surfaces of the cabinet.

9. An article as in claim 8, wherein said first support surfaces includes side and end members which hold and restrain the base of the one console with respect to lateral movement, the said additional supporting surfaces including members engageable with the base of the other console to restrain it against lateral movement either to the right or left, forward and backwards.

10. As an article of manufacture a cabinet constructed for holding video game playing equipment including any one of a plurality of control consoles and accessories, the consoles including one having a generally rectangular main part and an extending base part which is shorter and narrower then the main part, and at least one other console having an extending base part which has portions extending deeper than the base part of the one console, the improvements comprising said cabinet having an upper top part having flat surface portions, said top part having a recess in it having a rectangular configuration of a size to receive the base part of either of said consoles, the said recess having ledges providing bottom portions to support the base of the one console with the main part of the console positioned in operating position above the top flat portions with parts overhanging the recess;

the ledges extending inwardly from sides and ends of the recess the said recess being shaped to receive and hold the base part of the said other console, said ledges having cut outs whereby the said portions of the other console can protrude past the ledges, said recess and ledges being constructed to retain sides of the base part of the consoles with the main part positioned in operating position above the said top flat surfaces of the cabinet.