Hand-held electronic game devices

• US 5,685,776 A
• Filed: 11/23/1994
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tiger Electronics, Ltd. (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Mercurio, Frank, Stambolic, Zarko, Morrison, Howard J., Smith, Shari L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/344,329
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 463/1, 463/3, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/7
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

Hand-held electronic game devices employing push buttons and other controls to manipulate game play and action on electronic displays, e.g., Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Light Emitting Diode (LED) display devices. The game devices have unique elongated, tubular forms in the shape of a stick. The electronic displays are integral with the unique tubular forms and generally centrally mounted therein. Various types of controls are employed at either or both ends of the game devices including, e.g., push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms, or the like. Game concepts and operations are utilized based upon the particular control mechanisms employed as well as the unique physical shape and appearance of the devices.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic game device for being held by a player'"'"'s hand comprising:

a stick body;

means for controlling at a first end of said stick body;

an electronic display intermediate said stick body responsive to said control means.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises a member attached at said first end of said stick body manipulatable by the player'"'"'s hand as a user interface providing input signals to the hand-held electronic game to control said electronic display.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said control means comprise at least one of push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, momentary switches, slide switches, twist knobs, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means for controlling at a second end of said stick body comprising a member attached at said second end of said stick body manipulatable by the player'"'"'s hand as a user interface providing input signals to the hand-held electronic game to control said electronic display.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said control means at said second end of said stick body comprise at least one of push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, momentary switches, slide switches, twist knobs, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms.

6. A hand-held electronic game device for being held by a player'"'"'s hand comprising:

an elongated tubular body having an intermediate portion and first and second ends;

an electronic display located at the intermediate portion of said elongated tubular body;

a switch control at the first end of said elongated tubular body operable with the player'"'"'s hand; and

an electronic circuit responsive to said switch control for controlling said electronic display, the electronic circuit being housed within said elongated tubular body.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said switch control at the first end of said elongated tubular body comprises a member attached to said elongated tubular body, manipulatable by the player'"'"'s hand for controlling said electronic display.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said switch control comprise at least one of push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, momentary switches, slide switches, twist knobs, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a second switch control at the second end of said elongated tubular body.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said second switch control at the second end of said elongated tubular body comprises a second member manipulatable by the player'"'"'s hand.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second member comprise at least one of push buttons, pull switches, spring-loaded balls, flip switches, momentary switches, slide switches, twist knobs, mouse controls, pointer balls, lever arms.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the electronic game is operable by the player'"'"'s hand holding the elongated tubular body in a vertical orientation.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12 wherein said second member is manipulatable by the player'"'"'s hand holding said first end while pushing said second end against a surface exerting force thereby.

14. A device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the electronic game is operable by the player'"'"'s hand holding the elongated tubular body in a horizontal fashion.

15. A device in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first and second ends of the elongated tubular body are each held in the player'"'"'s hands.

16. An enclosure for housing a hand-held electronic game, the enclosure comprising:

an elongated body having two ends and a generally tubular intermediate portion;

a recessed opening defined along the intermediate portion of said elongated body; and

a hand operable control member abutting one of the ends of said elongated body.

17. An enclosure in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a second hand operable control member abutting the other of the ends of said elongated body.

18. An enclosure in accordance with claim 17 wherein said hand operable control members provide a user interface for the hand-held electronic game.