Game apparatus

• US 5,213,327 A
• Filed: 10/24/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kitaue, Kazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US07/781,867
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 273/85 G, 273/148 B, 273/433, 273/434, 273/438
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04725 with coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04748 Position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04785 the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0205 Lever arrangements for operating keyboard cursor control keys in a joystick-like manner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

Game apparatus for use with a hand-holdable video game device of the type having a video display screen, at least one depressible control button, and at least one multi-position operating control operative to "play" the video game. The game apparatus includes a housing adapted for support on a generally horizontal support surface and having a recess to receive the video game in predetermined relation. A magnifying lens overlies and magnifies the display screen on the video game. The game apparatus has depressible control knobs and an upstanding joystick operative to selectively actuate the control buttons and multi-position control on the video game, thereby enabling two-handed play of the video game in a manner simulating play of large-scale video games.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a video game device having a housing supporting a video game including a video display screen, at least one depressible control button and at least one multi-position operating control exposed through a wall of the game device housing and operable from externally of said housing to effect play of the video game;

said apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a base portion enabling support of the apparatus on a support surface and having a recess adapted to receive and support said video game housing in predetermined relation to said base portion, said apparatus housing having an opening enabling viewing of the video display when the video game device is disposed within said recess, first depressible operator means supported by said apparatus housing in spaced relation from the depressible control button and having actuating lever means selectively operable in response to depression of said depressible operator means from externally of the apparatus housing to actuate the control button on the video game device when disposed within said recess, and second operator means supported on said apparatus housing and including an upstanding joystick selectively operable from externally of the apparatus housing and spaced from the multi-position operating control on the video game device, said second operator means including a plurality of actuating linkages responsive to selective movement of the joystick in generally mutually perpendicular directions to actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the video game device includes a plurality of control buttons operative to effect different game functions, said first depressible operator means on said apparatus housing including a plurality of control knobs each of which is selectively operable from externally of the apparatus housing to actuate a selected one of the control buttons on the video game device when disposed within said recess.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said control knobs are spaced from said recess, and including actuating lever means cooperative with each of said control knobs to depress a corresponding one of the control buttons on the video game device in response to depression of the control knobs.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said joystick has a generally upstanding control shaft enabling an operator to manipulate the joystick, said actuating linkages being interconnected to said control shaft and responsive to selective movement of the joystick to actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game device when disposed within said recess.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the multi-position operating control on the video game device has a generally cross-arm configuration defining four depressible arm portions lying on two generally mutually perpendicular axes, said actuating linkages interconnected to said joystick including actuating arm means operative to project into said recess in response to selective movement of the joystick in directions corresponding to said mutually perpendicular axes so as to depress the corresponding arm of the multi-position operating control on the video game device when disposed within said recess.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means cooperative with said joystick to guide the joystick in said directions corresponding to said mutually perpendicular axes in response to selective manipulation of the joystick.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said first depressible operator means supported by said apparatus housing includes a depressible control knob, said actuating lever means being responsive to depression of said control knob to effect depression of a control button on the video game device.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the video game device includes a plurality of control buttons operative to effect different game functions, said apparatus housing supporting a plurality of control knobs each of which is selectively operable from externally of the apparatus to actuate a selected one of the control buttons on the video game device when disposed within said recess.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including magnifying lens means supported by said apparatus housing in a position to overlie and magnify the display screen of the video game device when disposed within said recess.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the video game device includes sound generating means operative to produce a sound during operation of the video game, said apparatus including speaker means supported by said apparatus housing, and circuit means operatively associated with said speaker means and adapted for releasable interconnection to the video game device when inserted within said recess such that sound produced by the video game device during operation is caused to emanate from said speaker means.

11. Apparatus for use with a video game device including a housing having a longitudinal axis and supporting a video game including a video display screen and at least one depressible control button and at least multi-position operating control operable from externally of said housing to effect play of the video game;

said apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a base portion and an upwardly inclined portion, said apparatus housing further having a recess adjacent said upwardly inclined portion and adapted to receive and support said video game housing with its longitudinal axis disposed at an upwardly inclined angle from horizontal, first operator means including a plurality of control knobs supported by said apparatus housing forwardly of said recess for selective depression from externally of the apparatus housing, said first operator means including actuating arm means associated with each of said control knobs for movement into said recess in response to depression of the corresponding control knob to depress a selected one of the control buttons on the video game device when disposed within said recess, and second operator means including an upstanding joystick supported on said apparatus housing forwardly of said recess, said second operator means including linkage means operative to project into said recess and actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game device in response to manipulation of said joystick.

12. Game apparatus for use with a video game device having a housing supporting a video game including a video display screen and at least one depressible control button and at least one multi-position operating control operable from externally of said housing to effect play of the video game;

said game apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a base portion enabling the apparatus to be supported in a free standing operating position on a generally horizontal support surface, said apparatus housing further having an upstanding portion inclined upwardly from horizontal and defining a recess adapted to receive and support said video game housing at an upwardly inclined angle from horizontal, magnifying lens means supported by said upstanding portion of said apparatus housing in a position to overlie and magnify the display screen of the video game device when disposed within said recess, first operator means supported by said apparatus housing and including at least one depressible control knob supported on a forward end of the apparatus housing spaced from said recess, and actuating lever means selectively operable in response to depression of said control knob to actuate the control button on the video game device when disposed within said recess, and second operator means including an upstanding joystick supported on said forward end of said apparatus housing and operable from externally of the apparatus housing to actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game device.

13. Game apparatus as defined in claim 12 including illumination means supported within said apparatus housing to enhance the image created on the video display screen for viewing through said magnifying lens means.

14. Game apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said apparatus housing includes a magnifying lens means support frame releasably supported on the upstanding inclined portion of the apparatus housing.

15. Apparatus for use with a video game device having a housing supporting a video game including a video display screen, at least one depressible control button and at least one multi-position operating control operable from externally of the housing to effect play of the video game;

said apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having a recess adapted to receive and support said video game housing in predetermined relation, first operator means supported by said apparatus housing and selectively operable from externally of the apparatus housing to actuate the control button on the video game device, and second operator means supported on said apparatus housing and selectively operable from externally of the apparatus housing to actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game device, said video game housing having a generally rectangular configuration establishing an upper surface defining an opening enabling viewing of said video display screen, said depressible control button and said multi-position operating control extending through said upper surface, said recess in said apparatus housing being substantially rectangular and defined in part by a wall disposed in juxtaposed relation to the upper surface of said video game housing when disposed within said recess, said first operator means including an actuator arm pivotally movable between a first position removed from said recess and a second position extending into the recess to depress the control button on the video game in response to actuation of said first operator means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said second operator means includes a joystick supported by said apparatus housing, and linkage means cooperative with said joystick and selectively operable to extend into said recess to actuate the multi-position operating control on the video game.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said linkage means cooperative with said joystick includes a plurality of actuator arms each of which is responsive to a predetermined position of the joystick to extend into said recess and effect predetermined actuation of the multi-position switch on the video game.