Video game controller stand

• US 7,156,026 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mcclellion W. Richard
• Original Assignee: Mcclellion W. Richard
• Inventors: McClellion, W. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; José V.
• Application Number:
  US10/742,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20050132939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 108/43, 108/59, 108/92, 108/94, 108/96, 108/5, 108/102, 108/106, 108/116, 108/124, 108/144.11, 108/147.19, 108/44, 108/45, 108/50.16, 273/148.B, 273/309, 297/423.11, 297/423.12, 297/423.41, 297/172, 248/125.8, 248/125.9, 248/133, 248/149
• US Class Current: 108/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

An ergonomically contoured frame for accommodating a person in a seated position includes an upper section carried by a base section. The base section includes upwardly extending legs, while the upper section includes downwardly extending legs for adjustably interconnecting with the upwardly extending legs to vary the height of the controller stand to accommodate different players. The base section includes a generally U-shaped base carrying the upwardly extending legs. The upper section has a generally U-shaped top integral with and interconnecting the downwardly extending legs. A foot controller platform is carried by the base section for carrying a foot controller for a video game. A hand controller platform is carried by the upper section for carrying a hand controller for a video game. Securing members are carried by the platforms for securing the controllers to each platform.

Claims

1. An ergonomic video game controller stand adapted to adjust the height of the stand to accommodate different user sizes, said controller stand comprising:

a generally U-shaped base section for resting evenly on a floor, and a generally U-shaped upper section integral with and carried above said base section, wherein said base section and said upper section extend in a common horizontal direction;

a pair of curved upwardly extending legs integral with said base section that extend substantially back overtop of said U-shaped base section at an acute angle to said base section so that said upper section is positioned generally overtop of a front of said base section;

a pair of downwardly extending legs integral with said upper section for interconnecting with said upwardly extending legs of said base section so that said upper section, said base section, said upwardly extending legs and said downwardly extending legs form a continuous unitary contoured frame defining a game controller operating cockpit for receiving the user to operate game controls;

a foot controller platform carried by said base section for mounting a foot controller, and;

a hand controller platform carried by said upper section for mounting a hand controller;

whereby said hand controller and foot controller are ergonomically positioned to reduce operator fatigue and discomfort when mounted to said hand controller platform and said foot controller platform.

2. The stand of claim 1 including a first controller-securing member carried by said hand controller platform for securing said hand controller to said hand controller platform to prevent dislodging of said hand controller during use.

3. The stand of claim 1 including a second controller-securing member carried by said foot controller platform for securing said foot controller to said foot controller platform to prevent dislodging of said foot controller during use.

4. The stand of claim 1 including an accessory platform carried by said upper section generally adjacent said hand controller platform for mounting a secondary hand controller in an ergonomic position relative to said hand controller to allow operation of said secondary hand controller in combination with said hand controller and foot controller from within said cockpit.

5. The stand of claim 1 including an adjusting mechanism connecting said upwardly extending legs of said base section and said downwardly extending legs of said upper section to vary the height of said controller stand.

6. The stand of claim 1 wherein said upper section of said stand includes a curved crossmember integral with and interconnecting said downwardly extending legs to define said cockpit together with said base section.

7. A video game controller stand comprising:

a generally U-shaped base section adapted for resting wholly on a floor, and a generally U-shaped upper section integral with and carried by said base section;

each arm of the U-shaped base section connected to a respective arm of the U-shaped upper section;

wherein said base section and said upper section extend in a common horizontal direction and said upper section extends overtop of said base section toward a front end of said base section to form a continuous unitary contoured frame defining a game controller operating cockpit space for receiving a user to operate game controls;

a foot controller platform carried by said base section;

a foot controller carried by said foot controller platform for being operated from said cockpit;

a hand controller platform carried by said upper section;

a hand controller carried by said hand controller platform for being operated from said cockpit;

whereby said hand controller and foot controller are ergonomically positioned by said upper section and base section, respectively, in a functionally spaced arrangement to facilitate simultaneous operation of said hand and foot controllers from said cockpit to operate the video game.

8. The stand of claim 7 including a first controller-securing member carried by said hand controller platform for securing said hand controller to said hand controller platform, and a second controller securing member carried by said foot controller platform for securing said foot controller to said foot controller platform to prevent dislodging of said hand and foot controllers from their platforms during use.

9. The stand of claim 7 including an accessory platform carried by said upper frame section;

a secondary hand controller carried by said accessory platform in an ergonomically and functionally arranged position relative to said hand controller on said hand controller platform to allow operation of said secondary hand controller in combination with said hand controller and foot controller from within said cockpit.

10. The stand of claim 7 wherein said base section comprises a generally U-shaped base carrying a pair of curved upwardly extending legs connecting with and supporting said upper section.

11. The stand of claim 10 wherein said upper section comprises a generally U-shaped top having a pair of downwardly extending legs interconnecting with said upwardly extending legs of said base section.

12. The stand of claim 11 wherein said downwardly extending legs of said U-shaped top are adjustably Interconnected with said upwardly extending legs of said U-shaped base through en adjusting mechanism to vary the height of said controller stand.

13. The stand of claim 7 wherein said base section includes a pair of elongated base frame members laterally spaced and horizontally aligned for resting on a floor to provide stable floor support;

each of said base frame members carrying an upwardly extending leg for connecting with said upper section; and

a lower transverse support spanning said base frame members for carrying said foot controller platform.

14. The stand of claim 13 wherein said upper section includes a pair of downwardly extending frame legs interconnecting with said upwardly extending leg of said base section;

an upper transverse support interconnecting said pair of downwardly extending frame legs.

15. A video game controller stand comprising:

U-shaped upper section carried by a U-shaped base section, wherein said upper section and base section extending in a common horizontal direction;

said base section having a pair of laterally spaced interconnected base frame members with upwardly extending curved frame legs extending back over said base frame members at an acute angle to said base frame members;

a lower transverse support included in said base section disposed between said base frame members for interconnecting said base frame members that extends in a generally horizontal arrangement perpendicular to said base frame members;

a foot controller platform carried by said lower transverse support for carrying a foot controller;

said upper section having a pair of interconnected downwardly extending frame legs integrally connecting with said upwardly extending frame legs of said base section so that said upper section extends towards a front of said base section at an acute angle to said base section to form a continuous unitary contoured frame defining a game controller operating cockpit space for receiving a user to operate game controls;

an upper transverse support included in said upper section disposed between said downwardly extending frame legs for interconnecting said downwardly extending frame legs that extends in a generally common horizontal direction with said lower transverse support and generally perpendicular to said downwardly extending frame legs;

a hand controller platform carded by said upper transverse support for carrying a hand controller;

whereby said hand controller and foot controller are ergonomically positioned by said upper section and base section, respectively, in a functionally spaced arrangement to promote simultaneous operation of said hand and foot controllers from said cockpit to operate the video game.

16. The stand of claim 15 including en adjusting mechanism connecting said upwardly extending frame legs of said base section and said downwardly extending frame legs of said upper section to vary the height of said controller stand.

17. The stand of claim 15 including a first controller-securing member carried by said hand controller platform for securing said hand controller to said hand controller platform, and a second controller securing member carded by said foot controller platform for securing said foot controller to said foot controller platform to prevent dislodging of said hand and foot controllers from their platforms during use.

18. The stand of claim 15 including an accessory platform carried by said upper section generally adjacent said hand controller platform for mounting a secondary hand controller in an ergonomically and functionally arranged position relative to said hand controller on said hand controller platform to allow operation of said secondary hand controller in combination with said hand controller and foot controller from within said controller cockpit.

19. The stand of claim 15 wherein said base frame members and said lower transverse support of said base section comprises a generally U-shaped base carrying said upwardly extending frame legs for supporting said upper section.

20. The stand of claim 19 wherein said downwardly extending frame legs and upper transverse support of said upper section comprises a generally U-shaped top interconnecting with said upwardly extending frame legs of said generally U-shaped base.