Patent ID: 6933861
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. A key-operating device for a hand-held video game apparatus which has a display screen, depressible left and right keys, and a depressible function key, said key-operating device comprising: a shell including opposite front and rear shell halves that are coupled together to define a mounting chamber therebetween, said rear shell half having an inner rear face confining a rear side of said mounting chamber, and an outer rear face opposite to said inner rear face, said shell being formed with a central opening extending through said front and rear shell halves, said outer rear face being adapted to be connected to the hand-held video game apparatus in such a manner that the display screen can be viewed through said central opening, said outer rear face being formed with a key-receiving opening that is disposed adjacent to said central opening and that is adapted to receive the left and right keys therein, said front and rear shell halves including a pair of opposing wings extending oppositely in a direction away from said central opening; a spring-biased lever mounted pivotally on said inner rear face and having two opposite ends with key-pressing protrusions that are adapted to project rearwardly and respectively toward the left and right keys; an operating wheel having an annular inner face that surrounds said shell, and formed with a pair of circumferentially extending retaining slots that extend inwardly of said operating wheel from said annular inner face and that receive respectively said wings so as to permit rotation of said operating wheel relative to said shell between first and second angular positions; and an actuating member connected to and projecting from said annular inner face of said operating wheel toward said lever and engageable with said lever in such a manner that rotation of said operating wheel to said first angular position results in fulcrum movement of said lever in a first direction, which, in turn, results in pressing of one of the left and right keys by a respective one of said key-pressing protrusions, and that rotation of said operating wheel to said second angular position results in fulcrum movement of said lever in a second direction opposite to said first direction, which, in turn, results in pressing of the other one of the left and right keys by the other one of said key-pressing protrusions.