WO2000067865A1

WO2000067865A1 - Computer game accessory having a lap-shaped contour

Info

Publication number: WO2000067865A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/012848
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Michael Morelock; Kelly D. Tyler; Thomas John Roberts
Original assignee: Mad Catz, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-05-11
Filing date: 2000-05-10
Publication date: 2000-11-16
Also published as: AU4837500A

Abstract

An accessory (10) for a computer game can be placed on a table top or in a person's lap. The accessory includes a contoured underside (20) having concavities (26, 28) sized and spaced to fit against the lap of the game player.

Description

COMPUTER GAME ACCESSORY HAVING A LAP-SHAPED CONTOUR

The present invention is directed to a computer game accessory or other device that rests on a person's lap, and more particularly to a contoured underside surface on such devices that fits the lap's contour.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Computer games are often accessorized with input devices, such as a joystick, that a player can hold in his or her hand. As games are getting more advanced, however, different types of input devices are being created.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic game accessory which can rest comfortably on a player's lap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a contoured surface on the underside of a computer game accessory which can be used by the thighs of a player to stabilize the accessory as the player plays the game.

A still broader aspect of the present invention is to provide a contoured surface on the underside of a device that rests on a person's lap, the contoured surface being design to fit against the contour of the lap.

These and other objects are achieved by providing an article of manufacture having a contoured surface, said contoured surface including a pair of concavities sized and spaced such that they fit against the top of the lap of a sitting person. These and other objects are also achieved by providing an accessory for an electronic device, comprising a portable housing; an input device on said portable housing operable by a person, for inputting commands to the electronic game; and a contoured surface on an underside of said portable housing, said contoured surface including a pair of concavities sized and spaced such that they fit against the lap of the person.

The present invention provides a table- or lap-mounted device with a contoured underside configured to fit against the contour of a person's lap.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the description and examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are not intended to limit the breadth of the invention since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below, together with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a computer game accessory according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Figures 3(a) to 3(g) show alternative shapes to the contoured concavities according to various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although the following description of the preferred embodiments refers to an accessory for a computer game, it should be understood that the accessory can be any remote input and/or output apparatus connected through wired or wireless connection(s) to an electronic device, such as a computer game, or the accessory can be a self-contained electronic device or game. The computer games contemplated by the present invention include games played on personal computers, electronic games played on televisions or other monitors through dedicated game systems such as Nintendo64 or Sony PlayStation, as well as stand alone self-contained games.

Figure 1 shows a computer game accessory according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the accessory is an input apparatus having, as input devices, a gear shifter 13 and a steering wheel 12. The steering wheel is connected to a rotatable shaft 14. The accessory 10 is used by the player of the computer game to input signals in order to play the computer game. A wired or wireless communication line 16 transmits signals and/or power to and/or from the accessory 10 to a remote unit (not shown) which can be a personal computer, a dedicated game device, or any other remote terminal used to receive and/or transmit signals to/from the accessory 10. The communication line 16 is known in the art and need not be further elaborated herein, except to note that it is an optional feature and can be omitted if the accessory 10 is a self-contained game.

The artisan will recognize that the present invention finds applicability to accessories having input devices other than a steering wheel 12 and gear shifter 13, such as joysticks. Output components such as sound generators and/or visual indicators (not shown) can also be used with or without the input components.

The present invention allows the player to use the accessory comfortably from a sitting position. The accessory 10 is preferably light enough to rest comfortably on the player's lap, and has an outer body 18 made of plastic or other rigid material housing the accessory's internal electronic circuitry. The body 18 is preferably formed from at least two pieces which are attached during the accessory's latter stages of manufacture.

The body 18 includes an underside surface 20 having a width spanning between left and right edges 22 and 24, as viewed from the player's perspective. The left and right edges 22, 24 are spaced so as to span a person's lap. For adults, the width may be on the order of 45 cm (18 inches) or more in order to accommodate a lazy sitting position in which the knees are far apart, although the present invention is not limited to any particular width. For accessories designed specifically for children, the width is preferably smaller. In the preferred embodiment, the accessory 10 is on the order of 22 cm deep and 17.5 cm high, disregarding the steering wheel, but the invention is not limited to any particular dimension. The underside surface 20 includes two symmetric concavities 26, 28 designed to fit against the lap of the player while he or she is sitting. At the intersection of the two concavities 26, 28 is a ridge 30 which lies, in use, between the thighs of the player.

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of Figure 1. The steering wheel 12 (not shown) extends from front surface 40. It is preferable for the underside surface 20 to have generally horizontal regions 42, 44 adjacent the left and right edges 22, 24 beyond the side edges of the player's lap. On those horizontal regions 42, 44 are two optional suction cups 32, 34 that can be used to secure the accessory 10 to a table top or other smooth surface while the player plays the game, as an alternative to resting it on the player's lap. Rubber or felt pads on the horizontal regions 42, 44 can be substituted for (or supplement) the suction cups 32, 34. By giving the two horizontal regions 42, 44 a length along the length of the body 18, they provide a stable surface for supporting the accessory 10 on a table top. At the back end of the accessory 10, a third generally horizontal region 46 is also preferably formed (or attached) on the body 18 so that the accessory 10 has three coplanar surfaces to support it when placed on a table top. A rubber or felt pad, or a suction cup (not shown) can also be used on the third horizontal region 46.

As seen in Figure 2, the concavities 26, 28 have outer sides 36, 38 where they transition into the horizontal regions 42, 44 near edges 22, 24. These outer sides 36, 38 together with the shape of the ridge 30 define the shape of the concavities. The shapes of the concavities, which are preferably arcuate and symmetrical in cross section but need not be, not only provide a comfortable surface for resting the accessory against the player's lap, but also can assist the player in playing the game. For example, when steering wheel 12 is used as the input component, a spring device (not shown) can be used to urge the wheel toward its neutral position. By turning the wheel to the left or right, the spring creates a torque that urges the body of the accessory 10 to rotate along with the wheel, but the player's thighs prevent such rotation. By forming the concavities 26, 28 such that the outer sides 36,

38 engage the outer sides of the player's thighs, especially in the lap area closer to the knee, the user can have better control over his or her steering of the game. Other input components, such as joysticks, may influence the use of different shapes for the concavities. In a preferred embodiment, each concavity is recessed about 4 cm (1.5 inches) from the elevation of the horizontal regions 42, 44, the ridge 30 is also recessed relative to the horizontal regions 42, 44, and each concavity is about 20 cm (8 inches) in width.

In Figure 2, the shape of the concavities is such that the outer sides 36, 38 are spaced farther apart near the front surface 40 than at the back end of the accessory, making the central axes of the concavities converge as considered in a direction away from the player's torso. In Figure 2, the size of the ridge is generally constant between the front surface 40 and the back end of the accessory.

Figures 3(a) to 3(g) show geometric cross sections exemplifying alternative shapes contemplated for the concavities of the present invention. Figure 3(a) shows an embodiment in which the concavity, or both of them, is continuous, meaning that it is designed to contact the player's thigh throughout the length of the concavity. The arcuate cross sectional shape of the concavity may be different at various locations along the length of the concavity, but contact with the thigh is expected.

Figure 3(b) shows an alternative in which the concavity, or both of them, has a front concave region 50 disposed near the front surface 34 and having an arcuate cross section, and a back concave region 54 disposed near the back end of the accessory 10 and having another arcuate cross section. Between the front and back regions 50, 54 is a further depressed region 52 at a different height relative to the front and back regions 50, 54 such that the depressed region 52 does not contact the thighs of the player. The arcuate cross sections of the front and back concave regions 50, 54 can be identical or different, and the depressed region 52 can be arcuate in cross section but need not be. Preferably, the embodiment of Figure 3(b) has a smooth transition from the front concave region 50 to the depressed region 52 and back to the back concave region 54.

Figure 3(c) shows embodiments in which the concavities diverge or converge, depending on whether the front surface 34 of the accessory 10 is where the concavities are close together, as at reference 60 in the figure, or far apart as at reference 62. In either of these embodiments, the ridge 30 between the concavities can have a constant size throughout the length of the concavities, or it can increase (or decrease) in width as the concavities diverge (converge).

Figure 3(d) shows an alternative in which the concavities are parallel to one another. The arcuate cross section of each concavity need not be identical throughout its length. Rather, the parallel shape is based on the directions of the main axes of the concavities as considered along their length.

Figure 3(e) shows embodiments in which the concavities themselves increase or decrease in cross sectional shape, depending on whether the front surface 34 of the accessory 10 is where the arcuate cross section is smaller, as at reference 70 in the figure, or larger as at reference 72. Figure 3(f) shows an embodiment in which the height of the ridge 30 increases or decreases along the length of the concavities, depending on whether the front surface 34 of the accessory 10 is where the ridge 30 is at an equal or higher elevation than the height of the outer sides 36, 38, as also shown in Figure 1, or where the ridge 30 is at a lower elevation. In this embodiment elevation is relative, meaning that the outer sides 36, 38 may rise along their length as the ridge's elevation in the player's lap stays constant, or the outer sides may remain constant as the ridge 30 increases (decreases) in height.

Figure 3(g) shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 3(f), but where the outer sides 36, 38 increase or decrease in height along their lengths. In Figure 3(g), the elevation of the ridge 30 remains generally equal to or higher in elevation than the outer sides 36, 38. The artisan will appreciate that the embodiments of Figures 3(a) through 3(g) can be mixed and matched as necessary.

The invention having been thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways, not only in construction but also in application. For example, the contoured underside of the accessory can be textured or covered with a friction material such as rubber in order to enhance the stability of the accessory against the player's lap. The contour can also be formed from a padded material such as foam or rubber. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, but rather as modifications intended to be encompassed within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture having a contoured surface, said contoured surface

including a pair of concavities sized and spaced such that they fit against the top of the lap

of a sitting person, said concavities contacting an outer side of the lap.

2. An accessory for an electronic device, comprising:

a portable housing;

an input device on said portable housing operable by a person, for inputting

commands to the electronic game; and

a contoured surface on an underside of said portable housing, said contoured surface

of the person.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein said input device is a steering wheel.

4. The accessory of claim 2, further comprising a signal line operatively connected to

said input device for carrying the inputted commands to a remote terminal.

5. The accessory of claim 2, wherein, when resting on the lap of the person, each of

said concavities includes a first region adj acent the torso of the person, and a second region

distal from the torso, the first portion having a first cross sectional shape and the second

region having a second cross sectional shape.

6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the first cross sectional shape is identical to the

second cross sectional shape.

7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein said concavities are symmetrical with respect to

one another.

8. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the first and second cross sectional shapes are

generally arcuate, a width of the first cross sectional shape being larger than a width of the

second cross sectional shape.

9. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the first and second cross sectional shapes are

generally arcuate, a width of the first cross sectional shape being smaller than a width of the

second cross sectional shape.

10. The accessory of claim 5, wherein each of said concavities is a continuous concavity

extending from said first region to said second region and designed to contact a respective

thigh of the player along the continuous concavity.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

along their lengths, said axes diverging as considered in a direction away from the person.

12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

along their lengths, said axes converging as considered in a direction away from the person.

13. The accessory of claim 10, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

along their lengths, said axes being parallel to one another.

14. The accessory of claim 5, wherein each of said concavities includes a depressed

region between said first region and said second region, said depressed region being at a

different height relative to said first and second regions such that said depressed region does

not contact the thighs of the player.

15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

between the first and second regions, said axes diverging as considered in a direction away

from the person.

16. The accessory of claim 14, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

between the first and second regions, said axes converging as considered in a direction away

from the person.

17. The accessory of claim 14, wherein said concavities have respective axes running

between the first and second regions, said axes being parallel to one another.

18. The accessory of claim 5 , wherein the first cross sectional shape is different from the

second cross sectional shape.

19. The accessory of claim 2, wherein said accessory is a self-contained stand alone

computer game.

20. An accessory for an electronic game, comprising:

a portable housing having a width approximately equal to the width of a person's lap;

a steering wheel input device on said portable housing operable by a person, for

inputting commands to the electronic game;

including a pair of concavities sized and spaced to fit against respective thighs of the

person's lap; and

at least two regions on the underside of said portable housing, said regions

permitting said portable housing to sit, with stability, on a smooth surface.