Game controller with clamp for portable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802118-B2
Application number	US-201414574219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A game controller for use with handheld game devices, for example smartphones, includes a cradle for holding the smartphone. The cradle is pivotable between an open position, extending from a base of the game controller, and a closed position in which the cradle is about a bottom wall of the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A videogame controller, comprising:
a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall coupled by side walls;
a plurality of input devices extending through the top wall of the housing;
a cradle, dimensioned to hold a handheld device, pivotably coupled to the housing, the cradle pivotable from a position in a latitudinal cutout in the bottom wall of the housing to a position extending away from the housing.

2. The videogame controller of claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a backing and opposing first and second arms, the first min extending from about a first end of the backing and the second arm extending from about a second end of the backing, the first and second ends of the backing being opposing ends of the backing.

3. The videogame controller of claim 2 , wherein the cradle is pivotably coupled about a first of the side walls of the housing.

4. The videogame controller of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the cradle is inset within a cutout of the first side wall.

5. The videogame controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input devices comprise a pair of analog stick controls and a plurality of game pad buttons and a plurality of directional buttons.

6. The videogame controller of claim 5 , further comprising a pair of input devices positioned in hollows of the bottom wall of the housing.

7. The videogame controller of claim 2 , wherein the cradle includes tabs extending parallel to the base from end of each of the first and second arms.

8. The videogame controller of claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second arms includes pads facing each other.

9. The videogame controller of claim 7 , wherein the first and second arms are pivotably connected to the backing, the first and second arms moveable from a position substantially parallel to the backing to a position substantially orthogonal to the backing.

10. The videogame controller of claim 1 , wherein the housing is dimensioned substantially the same as a smartphone.

11. The videogame controller of claim 2 , wherein the backing includes a first insert and a second insert biased towards each other by springs, such that the first arm and the second arm form ends of a clamping device for holding a smartphone between them.

12. A videogame controller, comprising:
a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall coupled by side walls;
a plurality of input devices extending through the top wall of the housing;
a cradle, dimensioned to hold a handheld device, pivotably coupled to the housing, the cradle pivotable from a position about the bottom wall of the housing to a position extending away from the housing,
wherein the cradle includes a backing and opposing first and second arms, the first arm extending from about a first end of the backing and the second arm extending from about a second end of the backing, the first and second ends of the backing being opposing ends of the backing,
wherein the cradle is pivotably coupled about a first of the side walls of the housing,
wherein a portion of the cradle is inset within a cutout of the first side wall, and further comprising a post coupled to the cradle, a foot of the post insertable into a cavity in a side of the cutout.

13. The videogame controller of claim 12 , further comprising a spring biasing the post towards the side of the cutout.

14. The videogame controller of claim 13 , further comprising a button biased by the post to protrude from the cradle, the button depressible to bias the post away from the side of the cutout such that the foot of the post clears the cavity in the side of the cutout.

15. A videogame controller device, comprising:
a base including a plurality of input devices; and
a cradle hingedly coupled to the base so as to be moveable from a closed to an open position, the cradle including a substantially square U-shaped bracket for receiving a smartphone, the cradle including a post insertable into a cavity of the base when the cradle is in the open position.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the post is biased towards a wall of the base including the cavity.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the post is biased by a spring.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the cradle further includes tabs extending inwardly from ends of the square U-shaped bracket.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the cradle further includes pads on inward facing sides of the square U-shaped bracket.

20. The device of claim 15 , wherein the sides of the square U-shaped bracket are foldable towards a base of the square U-shaped bracket.

Assignees

• Activision Publishing Inc

Inventors

• Hirshberg Eric
• Guinchard Lee
• Miller Duncan
• Clark Tim

Classifications

• A63F13/98

  Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• A63F13/92

  Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing · CPC title