Hand-held game apparatus and housing part of the same

• US 8,512,152 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ehara, Yui, Miyatake, Junichiro, Goto, Hiroki, Kawai, Kochi, Ishibashi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/030,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20110306412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position

Abstract

A game apparatus has an upper housing and a lower housing which are foldable. A first part, a second part, and a third part constitute the upper housing. A fourth part, a fifth part, and a sixth part constitute the lower housing. By assembling the parts, the game apparatus comes to have a three-layered structure when folded, thereby enhancing operability, a degree of freedom of design, and the like.

Claims

1. A group of parts constituting an upper housing and a lower housing of a hand-held game apparatus, the hand-held game apparatus comprising:

the upper housing including a first component being substantially-rectangular-shaped and a first connecting part protruding from a central portion of a bottom surface of the first component; and

the lower housing including a second component being substantially-rectangular-shaped and being a portion on top of which the first component of the upper housing lies when the hand-held game apparatus is folded and a second connecting part being a portion above the second component and having protrusion parts at both ends, the lower housing foldably connected to the upper housing by connecting the second connecting part to the first connecting part, wherein

housed inside the upper housing are;

a first LCD being a naked-eye stereoscopic view display system;

an image pickup unit integrally assembled, including a first image pickup device and second and third image pickup devices for stereo shooting such that an imaging direction of the first image pickup device is opposite to an imaging direction of each of the second and third image pickup devices for stereo shooting;

right and left loudspeakers; and

a first LED for indicating a display state of a stereoscopic view of the first LCD,

housed inside the lower housing are;

a second LCD being a planar view display system, having a display area smaller than a display area of the first LCD, and having mounted thereon a touch panel;

an analog key and a cross key;

a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch arranged in a cross-like manner;

a fifth switch, a sixth switch, and a seventh switch arranged in a linear manner;

a eighth switch, a ninth switch, a second LED, a third LED, and a battery; and

a memory card readout unit for having attached therein a detachable memory card and for reading out data of the memory card, and

the group of parts including;

a first part having formed therein a third component having a substantially same shape and a substantially same size as a shape and as a size of a front surface of the first component of the upper housing and arranged inside the upper housing and having formed therein a front surface side part of the first connecting part of the upper housing;

a second part being flat-plate-like and having a substantially same shape and a substantially same size as the shape and as the size of the front surface of the first component of the upper housing;

a third part including surfaces constituting a back surface, both side surfaces and a top surface of the upper housing and including a back surface side portion of the first connecting part;

a fourth part including surfaces constituting back surface side portions of both side surfaces, a back surface side portion of the top surface, and a back surface side portion of the bottom surface of the lower housing;

a fifth part including surfaces constituting a front surface, front surface side portions of the both side surfaces, a front surface side portion of the top surface, and a front surface side portion of the bottom surface of the lower housing and including the protrusion parts of the second connecting part of the lower housing; and

a sixth part being flat-plate-like and constituting the back surface of the lower housing,

the first part including in the third component;

a first LCD opening for exposing a display part of the first LCD in a front surface direction;

a front surface image pickup device opening for exposing the first image pickup device of the image pickup unit in the front surface direction;

loudspeaker openings for exposing the loudspeakers in the front surface direction;

a first LED opening for exposing the first LED in the front surface direction; and

screw holes,

the second part

being a resin member whose at least regions corresponding to the first LCD opening and the front surface image pickup device opening are transparent and whose at least region corresponding to the first LED opening has been subjected to printing which causes inscription to appear transparent; and

including, in regions corresponding to the loudspeaker openings, holes,

the third part including;

surfaces constituting the back surface, the both side surfaces and the top surface of the upper housing; and

a recess, for housing the third component of the first part and the second part with the one on top of the other, formed by the both side surfaces, the top surface, and the bottom surface thereof,

the fourth part

including on a back surface side a recess having a size, as viewed from the front, larger than 70% of a size of the back surface of the lower housing, as viewed from the front;

including in the recess;

a battery housing part for housing the battery so as to allow the battery to be taken out from a back surface direction;

first screw holes, the number of which is n;

second screw holes, the number of which is m (m is smaller than n); and

hook slots; and

including in a side surface thereof an opening for inserting the detachable memory card into the memory card readout unit housed in the lower housing, the opening covered by a lid member which is opened and closed in the back surface direction, the opening formed such that a front surface side thereof is open,

the fifth part including in the front surface;

a second LCD opening, for exposing the second LCD in the front surface direction, having an opening area smaller than an opening area of the first LCD opening;

an analog key opening for exposing an operation part of the analog key in the front surface direction;

a cross key opening for exposing an operation part of the cross key in the front surface direction;

a first switch opening, a second switch opening, a third switch opening, and a fourth switch opening, for exposing operation parts of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch in the front surface direction, arranged in a cross-like manner;

a fifth switch opening, a sixth switch opening, and a seventh switch opening, for exposing operation parts of the fifth switch, the sixth switch, and the seventh switch in the front surface direction, arranged in a linear manner; and

a sheet key top mounting part, for mounting a sheet key top covering upper portions of the fifth switch opening, the sixth switch opening, and the seventh switch opening, including thereinside the fifth switch opening, the sixth switch opening, and the seventh switch opening, the sheet key top being integrally formed and horizontally long,

the second LCD opening and the sheet key top mounting part arranged such that in a rectangular region arranged in a substantially central portion of the front surface of the fifth part, the second LCD opening is placed in an upper region of the rectangular region and the sheet key top mounting part is placed in an lower region of the rectangular region in a manner adjacent to each other, the fifth part including in one of the side surfaces;

an eighth switch opening for exposing an operation part of the eighth switch in a side surface direction; and

a second LED opening for guiding emitted light of the second LED and for arranging a lens member so as to protrude from the opening, the fifth part including in the other of the side surfaces;

a ninth switch opening for protruding an operation part of the ninth switch in a side surface direction, the fifth part including in the bottom surface

a third LED opening for guiding emitted light of the third LED and for arranging a lens member so as to protrude from the opening, the fifth part including

screw holes, the number of which is n, corresponding to the first screw holes,

the sixth part

being a flat plate having a size corresponding to a size of the recess of the fourth part, and

including screw holes, the number of which is m, corresponding to the second screw holes of the fourth part,

horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the second component of the fifth part being made smaller than horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the first component of the third part, and

horizontal and vertical dimensions of back surface edges of the portion corresponding to the second component of the fifth part being made smaller than horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the second component of the fourth part,

when the hand-held game apparatus is folded, front surface edges of side surfaces of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of side surfaces of the third part, front surface edges of a bottom surface of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of a top surface of the third part, further, back surface edges of side surfaces of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of side surfaces of the fourth part, and further, back surface edges of the bottom surface of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of a bottom surface of the fourth part, thereby forming recesses in middle portions of side surfaces and a bottom surface of the hand-held game apparatus when folded.

2. The first part, according to claim 1, constituting the upper housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

3. The second part, according to claim 1, constituting the upper housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

4. The third part, according to claim 1, constituting the upper housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

5. The fourth part, according to claim 1, constituting the lower housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

6. The fifth part, according to claim 1, constituting the lower housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

7. The sixth part, according to claim 1, constituting the lower housing among the group of parts constituting the upper housing and the lower housing.

8. A hand-held game apparatus comprising:

an upper housing including a first component being substantially-rectangular-shaped and a first connecting part protruding from a central portion of a bottom surface of the first component; and

a lower housing including a second component being substantially-rectangular-shaped and being a portion on top of which the first component of the upper housing lies when the hand-held game apparatus is folded and a second connecting part being a portion above the second component and having protrusion parts at both ends, the lower housing foldably connected to the upper housing by connecting the second connecting part to the first connecting part, wherein

housed inside the upper housing are;

a first LCD being a naked-eye stereoscopic view display system;

an image pickup unit integrally assembled, including a first image pickup device and second and third image pickup devices for stereo shooting such that an imaging direction of the first image pickup device is opposite to an imaging direction of each of the second and third image pickup devices for stereo shooting;

right and left loudspeakers; and

a first LED for indicating a display state of a stereoscopic view of the first LCD, and

housed inside the lower housing are;

a second LCD being a planar view display system, having a display area smaller than a display area of the first LCD, and having mounted thereon a touch panel;

an analog key and a cross key;

a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch arranged in a cross-like manner;

a fifth switch, a sixth switch, and a seventh switch arranged in a linear manner;

a eighth switch, a ninth switch, a second LED, a third LED, and a battery; and

a memory card readout unit for having attached therein a detachable memory card and for reading out data of the memory card,

the upper housing and the lower housing of the hand-held game apparatus including;

a first part having formed therein a third component having a substantially same shape and a substantially same size as a shape and as a size of a front surface of the first component of the upper housing and arranged inside the upper housing and having formed therein a front surface side part of the first connecting part of the upper housing;

a second part being flat-plate-like and having a substantially same shape and a substantially same size as the shape and as the size of the front surface of the first component of the upper housing;

a third part including surfaces constituting a back surface, both side surfaces and a top surface of the upper housing and including a back surface side portion of the first connecting part;

a fourth part including surfaces constituting back surface side portions of both side surfaces, a back surface side portion of the top surface, and a back surface side portion of the bottom surface of the lower housing;

a fifth part including surfaces constituting a front surface, front surface side portions of the both side surfaces, a front surface side portion of the top surface, and a front surface side portion of the bottom surface of the lower housing and including the protrusion parts of the second connecting part of the lower housing; and

a sixth part being flat-plate-like and constituting the back surface of the lower housing,

the first part including in the third component;

a first LCD opening for exposing a display part of the first LCD in a front surface direction;

a front surface image pickup device opening for exposing the first image pickup device of the image pickup unit in the front surface direction;

loudspeaker openings for exposing the loudspeakers in the front surface direction;

a first LED opening for exposing the first LED in the front surface direction; and

screw holes,

the second part

being a resin member whose at least regions corresponding to the first LCD opening and the front surface image pickup device opening are transparent and whose at least region corresponding to the first LED opening has been subjected to printing which causes inscription to appear transparent; and

including, in regions corresponding to the loudspeaker openings, holes,

the third part including;

surfaces constituting the back surface, the both side surfaces and the top surface of the upper housing; and

a recess, for housing the third component of the first part and the second part with the one on top of the other, formed by the both side surfaces, the top surface, and the bottom surface thereof,

the fourth part

including on a back surface side a recess having a size, as viewed from the front, larger than 70% of a size of the back surface of the lower housing, as viewed from the front;

including in the recess;

a battery housing part for housing the battery so as to allow the battery to be taken out from a back surface direction;

first screw holes, the number of which is n;

second screw holes, the number of which is m (m is smaller than n); and

hook slots; and

including in a side surface thereof an opening for inserting the detachable memory card into the memory card readout unit housed in the lower housing, the opening covered by a lid member which is opened and closed in the back surface direction, the opening formed such that a front surface side thereof is open,

the fifth part including in the front surface;

a second LCD opening, for exposing the second LCD in the front surface direction, having an opening area smaller than an opening area of the first LCD opening;

an analog key opening for exposing an operation part of the analog key in the front surface direction;

a cross key opening for exposing an operation part of the cross key in the front surface direction;

a first switch opening, a second switch opening, a third switch opening, and a fourth switch opening, for exposing operation parts of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch in the front surface direction, arranged in a cross-like manner;

a fifth switch opening, a sixth switch opening, and a seventh switch opening, for exposing operation parts of the fifth switch, the sixth switch, and the seventh switch in the front surface direction, arranged in a linear manner; and

a sheet key top mounting part, for mounting a sheet key top covering upper portions of the fifth switch opening, the sixth switch opening, and the seventh switch opening, including thereinside the fifth switch opening, the sixth switch opening, and the seventh switch opening, the sheet key top being integrally formed and horizontally long,

the second LCD opening and the sheet key top mounting part arranged such that in a rectangular region arranged in a substantially central portion of the front surface of the fifth part, the second LCD opening is placed in an upper region of the rectangular region and the sheet key top mounting part is placed in an lower region of the rectangular region in a manner adjacent to each other, the fifth part including in one of the side surfaces;

an eighth switch opening for exposing an operation part of the eighth switch in a side surface direction; and

a second LED opening for guiding emitted light of the second LED and for arranging a lens member so as to protrude from the opening, the fifth part including in the other of the side surfaces;

a ninth switch opening for protruding an operation part of the ninth switch in a side surface direction, the fifth part including in the bottom surface

a third LED opening for guiding emitted light of the third LED and for arranging a lens member so as to protrude from the opening, the fifth part including

screw holes, the number of which is n, corresponding to the first screw holes,

the sixth part

being a fiat plate having a size corresponding to a size of the recess of the fourth part, and

including screw holes, the number of which is in, corresponding to the second screw holes of the fourth part,

horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the second component of the fifth part being made smaller than horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the first component of the third part, and

horizontal and vertical dimensions of back surface edges of the portion corresponding to the second component of the fifth part being made smaller than horizontal and vertical dimensions of front surface edges of a portion corresponding to the second component of the fourth part,

when the hand-held game apparatus is folded, front surface edges of side surfaces of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of side surfaces of the third part, front surface edges of a bottom surface of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of a top surface of the third part, further, back surface edges of side surfaces of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of side surfaces of the fourth part, and further, back surface edges of the bottom surface of the fifth part being located inside front surface edges of a bottom surface of the fourth part, thereby forming recesses in middle portions of side surfaces and a bottom surface of the hand-held game apparatus when folded.