Abstract:
A portable video display unit is adapted for use with variously configured electronic video-processing devices, such as video game consoles. The video display unit includes a base member adapted for removably attaching the video display unit to the electronic video processing device. The base member includes a locking device to securely affix the video display to the game console and permit portability while attached. The locking device includes interchangeable brackets to accommodate varied dimensions/configurations of a specific console. The locking device also provides a surface mirroring a portion of the console to which it attaches the console to permit attachment of add on accessories to the display that would otherwise attached to the console itself.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/237,054 filed on Sep. 9, 2002, Ser. No. 10/600,566 filed on Jun. 23, 2003 and Ser. No. 29/271,593 filed on Jan. 23, 2007 and are each hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to consumer electronics, and more particularly to a detachable, compact screen apparatus for a video game console and mechanism for connecting to the gaming console having various configurations.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     various electronic video-processing devices, and particularly dedicated video game consoles, etc., are becoming more and more popular. Usually, they include a box-shaped casing provided with a plurality of female plugs for interconnecting to two or more respective control units, a TV monitor and a power adapter. Typically, larger sophisticated electronic video-processing devices are sold separately, without a dedicated display screen, and are adapted to work with conventional TV monitors. Therefore, when children without a TV in their rooms are playing video games or using the video player, they are tying up family TV monitors, precluding other household members from watching regular TV shows. Furthermore, many dedicated platforms are configurable providing for attachment accessories such as hard drives and wireless connectivity interfaces. These attachment accessories often change the configuration/dimensions of the dedicated console making the attachment of a display screen difficult or impractical.  
         [0006]     Thus, there is a need for a compact, portable video screen unit adapted to be used with the electronic video-processing devices, in particular with dedicated video game consoles, such as Microsoft™ X-BOX 360 and provide ability to change various physical connection configurations to accommodate different dimensions due to changes in a particular platform due to accessory attachments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a novel, portable video display unit for various electronic video-processing devices, especially for the dedicated video game console.  
         [0008]     In accordance with the present invention, the portable video screen unit is specifically adapted to be used with the X-Box. 360 console manufactured by Microsoft Corp. and comprises a base member adapted to be removably attached to the X-Box 360, a video display member pivotally mounted on the base member for rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position and configurable connection systems to accommodate changes in dimensions due to variances in a specific console or presence of various accessories attached to such a specific console.  
         [0009]     The base member includes a screen support member integrally formed with and upwardly extending from a top surface of the base panel adjacent to a rear edge thereof. The screen support member has a front control panel provided with a power switch, a volume control, a screen brightness control, a screen color control, and an earphone plug socket.  
         [0010]     A rear panel/side of the base member/screen support member includes audio and video inputs (S-video input socket, components input sockets, composite audio/video input sockets, stereo audio output and socket for connected to a DC/AC adapter providing low voltage DC current.  
         [0011]     The base panel of the base member further includes a locking attachment device provided for removably engaging and positively securing the video display unit to the video game console. Three removable brackets are provided to engage opposite sides of the console. Two brackets are selectively interchangeable to accommodate different widths and/or various configurations of the console, such as the presence or omission of an attached removable hard drive unit. Two pivotal legs are also provided to support a rearmost portion of the game screen. The legs are dimensioned to engage a planar surface on which the dedicated console is disposed to produce additional and independent vertical support to the game screen.  
         [0012]     The mounting flange extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the base panel substantially perpendicularly thereto and is formed along the side edge thereof. The mounting flange of the present invention includes at least one mounting rib formed substantially complementary to grooves provided on a front side face of the casing of the video game console. Preferably, the mounting rib is formed of two front tab members adapted to appropriately position the base panel of the video display unit relative to the front face of the casing of the X-Box 360 video game console. The front tab members are formed at the opposite ends of the front edge of the base panel and extend inwardly to engage a grooved recess formed in the front of the video console.  
         [0013]     The screen device further provides a releasable connector to positively engage and secure to the rear of the console. Two tabs extend from the base member of the screen to engage recesses in the console.  
         [0014]     Therefore, the video screen unit in accordance with the present invention represents a novel arrangement that is compact and portable and adapted to be conveniently used with the electronic video-processing devices, in particular with the X-Box 360 video game consoles manufactured by Microsoft Corp. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an audio and video accessory for an electronic device according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a right side view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the audio and video accessory for an electronic device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is an isolated elevated left side perspective view of the audio video accessory of  FIG. 1  connected to a computer game console.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is an isolated elevated right side perspective view of the audio video accessory of  FIG. 1  connected to a computer game console.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is an isolated elevated left side perspective view of the audio video accessory of  FIG. 1  of an alternate embodiment connected to a computer game console of a different configuration.  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is an isolated elevated right side perspective view of the audio video accessory of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is an isolated elevated view of the left side bracket of the audio video accessory shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  is an isolated elevated view of the left side bracket of the audio video accessory shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0029]      FIGS. 14-15  is isolated rear views of the gaming console depicted in  FIGS. 8-10 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with the reference to accompanying drawings.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the video display unit  1  includes a video screen  3  mounted in a display panel  5  pivotally mounted to a base member  7 . The video display panel includes all the necessary electrical components to display video images produced by an electronic device such as a dedicated computer gaming console. Specifically the video panel  5  includes an LCD display screen  3 , a pair of speakers  11 , head phone jacks  13 , volume button  15 , and a menu button  17  for controlling the LCD display such as adjusting picture quality (brightness/contrast) as well as the input signal types. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the display panel  5  also includes audio output RCA jacks,  17 , a DC voltage source input jack  19  composite audio/vide input RCA jacks  21 , component vide input jack  23 , and an S-video input connector  25 . The display panel  5  contains all the necessary electronic components to display a quality video image and generate stereo sound as is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be disclose in greater detail. Such video display devices, in an of themselves, are well known to hose of ordinary skill in the art. The present invention is directed to the novel means to connect such a video display device to an electronic video generating device, preferably Microsoft&#39;s X-box 360. The mechanism to connect the display deice will be discussed in more detail.  
         [0032]     The display panel  5  is pivotally mounted to a base member  7 . the display panel may pivot within a range of motion from viewable position as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a closed position pivoting downward in excess of ninety degrees to lie flush against a gaming console such as the console  51  depicted in  FIGS. 8-11 . The base member is adapted to be firmly secured to a computer gaming console and particularly to Microsoft&#39;s X-box 360. A pair of removable brackets  71 , 72  are secured to opposite sides of the base member each by a screw  73  that extends through the brackets to threadingly engage a threaded recess (not shown) formed in the side wall of the base member  7 . The bracket is permitted to translate along the screw to facilitate ease of installation when securing the display unit to the gaming console  51 . The bracket  71  may also be replaced with another bracket  71   a  to accommodate differently sized/configured consoles as will be explained later.  
         [0033]     Each of the brackets  71 , 72  are provided with a locating pin  74  which projects inwardly top engage a corresponding recess formed in the side of the base member  7 . The locating pins  74  and recesses formed in the base member assist in properly positioning/orienting the brackets as well as establishing a more firm connection to the base member. At least one of the brackets  72  is also provided with at least one projection  76  (three shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 13 ) which are properly positioned to engage corresponding recesses formed in a side surface of the gaming console and thereby properly position the base member, and thus display unit) relative to the console when connected thereto. The ability to for the bracket  72  to me removed or outwardly positioned while loosely screwed to the base member  7  allows for easy insertion of the projections  76  into the recesses of the gaming console. Bracket  71  may also be provided with such projections when connecting to the x-box 360 in a configuration where both sides of the console included recesses.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , bracket  71  differs from bracket  72  in that no projections are provided. Rather bracket  72  is configured to accommodate an accessory secured to the gaming console. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the gaming console includes a hard drive united secured to the one side of the console. The configuration with the hard drive  101  alters the configuration and dimensions of the unit increasing its width for example. Furthermore the side surface is smooth without recesses to accommodate projections. As shown in  FIG. 2 , bracket  72  includes an integrally formed spacer portion  78  to outwardly displace the bracket to accommodate a wider console. A substantially C-shaped bracket is integrally formed with the bracket to snugly hug along the top side and bottom portions of the hard drive unit  101 . When screws  73  are tightened the brackets  71 ,  72  are drawing inwardly and bracket  71  clamps onto the hard drive unit and left side of the gaming console while bracket  72  clamps onto the right side of the console and projections  76  engage recesses in the console. As a result the base member, and entire display unit, is thereby securely fashioned to the gaming console and the display pivoted to a desired position for optimal viewing. A player need only make the properly audio video electrical connections as is routine in the art.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 10-11  depict the display unit in an alternate configuration. As cab nee seen in  FIG. 10 , the left side of the gaming console is dimensionally configured differently than in the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-9 . In this configuration no hard drive unit is employed and the left side of the gaming console substantially mirrors the right side of the gaming console as shown in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment bracket  71  is removed and replaced by bracket  71   a . Bracket  71   a  is substantially a mirror image of bracket  72  and includes projections  76  to engage the recesses formed in the side of the gaming console. Thus the display unit of the present invention allows for varied dimensional configurations of the gamin console while providing a secure connection thereto. The base member and associated display unit are thus securely fitted to the console without freedom of movement in any direction. Additional support for the display unit is also provided to reduce the stress on the connection between the base member and gaming console as will be explained below.  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  depicts a bottom view of the display unit. A pair of support legs  81 ,  83  is stored in a corresponding cavity in the base member. When the base member is connected to the gaming console  51 , as for example shown in  FIG. 9 , the legs may be pivoted to an extended position to provide additional support to the base member and display device to reduce stress on the connection between the base member and gaming console. The legs  81 ,  83  are simply fixed to extend downwardly from the base member equal to the height H that the base member sits above a platform to which the console is supported. A locking member is employed to lock the legs  81 ,  83  in the vertical position when supported the base member  7 . Release tabs  82 ,  84  are simply depressed to release the legs when desired to be positioned in the stored position within the cavity. The locking mechanism may simply be a locking tab penetrating a recess formed in the leg when in the vertical position. Depressing the release tabs  82 ,  84  simply dislodged the locking tab  86 , 88  from the recess in the legs  81 , 83  and the legs  81 , 83  may then be simply rotated to the stored position as shown in  FIG. 7 . The locking tabs  86 , 88  are preferably spring biases such that when the legs  81 ,  83  are pivoted to the vertical support position the tabs  86 , 88  automatically engage the recess in the legs to lock in place when the legs reach the proper support position.  
         [0037]     The display unit includes additional connection points to the console to provide an even supper rigid connection between the base member and gaming console.  FIGS. 14-15  depict the rear surface of the gaming console. As can be seen a pair of recesses are formed in the rear panel of the gaming console. The recesses are sufficiently open to allow slight access to the internal space of the console. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2  a pair of locking tabs  121  are disposed between the interchangeable connecting brackets  71 ,  72  and extending from the substantially vertically surface of said base member  7 . The locking tabs  121  are provided to correspondingly engage the pair recesses  111  formed on the rear side surface of the console  51 . In order to maintain the ability to connect an additional accessory device such as an wireless adapter port, the base member  7  has a pair of second recesses  211  precisely mirroring recesses  111  of the console thereby facilitating connection to another accessory device when the base member  7  is connected to the console  51  that would otherwise connect directly to the gamin console. Each of said locking tabs  121  have an outwardly facing detent  121   a  such that when said locking tabs  121  are inserted within recesses  111 , the tabs  121  deforming inwardly toward one another until the detents  121   a  pass through the wall surface of the console and upon further insertion the locking tabs  121  at least partially spring back towards its resting position such that the detents  121   a  engage an inner surface of the console with a snap fit fashion to positively engage said console. The base member further includes a releasing mechanism  151  to urge at least one of the locking tabs  121  inwardly thereby allowing said locking tabs  121  to be easily withdrawn from recesses  111 . The release mechanisms may simply be a projection that upon depression urged the tab inwardly by a simply camming mechanism as is well within the knowledge of one or ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0038]     While the foregoing invention has been shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those possessing skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example it is preferred to form the adjustment collars  11   a ,  11   b  and locking collars out of steel. However, other materials of sufficient strength may be employed.